Sunshine7

Anybody on here live in Carramar? We were just wondering what it's like as a suburb i.e. family facilities, school catchment area and distance to nearest railway station as OH will be working in Perth CBD. We will need to consider kindy, primary schools and in a year's time secondary schools.

Any information at all would be much appreciated

HelenTD

Sorry to repeat what I've said on other threads, but look further south. There is a great private school in Carramar, but very hard to get into (St Stephen's). Other private schools up there also have waiting lists. From what I've read from others who live that way, local state schools not too hot. Bloody long way to travel to CBD as well. Saying that, others here love it. Carramar's a newer suburb, so lots of new homes, but less infrastructure and services, although it's improving.

As you need high school next year (have you looked up the dates that kids go to high school here?), it's more important to concentrate on finding the right high school, as there's less of them to choose from and the education clock ticks more loudly. There's sometimes a bit more flexibility in finding a primary school and some suburbs have several to choose from (Duncraig, for example). High schools also have gifted and talented programmes, if your child's a bit that way inclined, and if you kid gets in, you don't have to live in the catchment area. Kingseat, soon to return to the UK, has been living in Woodvale, if you want to get some info before she flies away.

Sunshine7

Thanks for that. We want to be round about Joondalup, in an affordable suburb and we are finding it hard to choose really.

HelenTD

Why do you want to be around Joondalup?

Sunshine7

I don't know really, I suppose because we want to have good access to the shops, restaurants, cinemas, medical services, parks and all that without having to drive too far, or maybe without having to drive at all - just jump on a bus. It just seems that Joondalup offers all that?

We just don't want to be anywhere too quiet because that's what we are leaving behind and it really doesn't suit us.

sean bassett

hi
we are flying out on the 11th august staying in quinns rock for 9 weeks and finding a long term rental in north perth from padbury area up to kinross
have you got some where to live in carramar??
we are also looking for areas with good schools
our kids are aged 5-13

Sunshine7

Hi - we are flying out in September with two kids, 3 and 11. We don't have anywhere to stay yet and we are still trying to pick a suburb - it isn't easy. We are looking for decent schools and just somewhere not too quiet really, but we 100% want a pool! We also want to be fairly near a railway station for OH to get to work in the CBD.

JulieFulie

Carramar isn't that far from the CBD, lots of people use the train which I know can get quite busy, my husband leaves the CBD at 4.30 by car and is home by 5.15 most nights and we live in Iluka (between Ocean Reef and Burns Beach). I know some people find it takes a bit longer if they leave at 5pm but its still not that bad! I suppose it depends what you're used to. If you live closer to the CBD then property is going to cost you more. You may find it hard to get somewhere with a pool if you are renting. Not impossible, but difficult. My best advice to you is to take your time when finding a long term rental, easier said than done I know. We made a mistake first time round renting in Quinns, it wasn't for us. But what is one person's hell is another persons heaven, we are all different!

Anyway, good luck to you.

Catkin09

We started out over a year ago by staying with friends in Quinns Rocks. We liked the area, close to the beach, shops, railway station and some good schools.We rented for nearly a year and have now bought a house here and feel really happy. Schools was difficult, the youngest goes to Quinns Beach Primary (boy aged 11), even though it's the furthest of the two primary schools, and the oldest (another boy aged 13) is now in year 8 at Quinns Baptist College. Both are doing well and gaining in confidence. As many have said, and will continue to say, it's a matter of opinion, different people have different ideas, which is what makes the world go round
Catkin