PS,
While I think Renth usually spouts some good info, I feel his description of Geraldton is a little off the mark.

I have also lived in Carnarvon for 6months and feel he has described this type of town, or some of the remote inland towns. He is way too negative of Geraldton, yes its not perfect but not the hell hole he describes.

Gems

l guess one persons idea of a hell hole is another person paradise, some people love some places others hate them.

I would have to agree with you, just try getting a room at holiday times in Gero , its packed out. It so close to Shark Bay for most tourists that its a must place to go and they are well catered for.

True, strange as it may seem some people actually hate Perth whereas I love it. Takes all sorts I suppose!

One million? This is a mistake surely?

Morning guy's, well I can appreciate all the comments made about Geraldton, both those made by Gems and those by Renth.....I guess it's each to their own opinion and whilst orinally I was meant to be considered for Perth, contracts have since changed.

To be fair these places can't be that bad....after all...your living there.

like everyone has already pointed out, I'll either love it or hate, but take it from someone who's done 3 tours of Northern Ireland, 2 tours of Sierra Leone not to mention living in areas such as Gipton and Halton Moor in Leeds.....and seen some of the most sickening acts known to man, up close and personal all for a good cause. I feel I can adapt to most things....its just that wind, I have enough of my own.

Nope the Australian Government is not paying for me and the family...and our possessions to come out....the company who hopefully will employ us both is.

Would still love info on living there, and who else apart from cricket bat weilding nutters to avoid. Mortgages are a huge concern and areas to avoid (the Gipton's and Halton Moors). Is there any traps I should be aware of in the rental market....abnd where all the good eateries are.....

Thanks

Ian

Only passed through Geraldton on way to Monkey Mia.

It was a shit hole and glad I didn't stop.


This is coming from someone who was brought up in the inner city council estates of Nottingham.


Nottingham is a dive so draw your own conclusions

Ohhhhh yes it is, I agree.

My mate lives in Edwinstowe, which is I know is a fair distance, but classed as the posh end.

I have fond memories of travelling to Trent Bridge and watching my beloved Leeds United play there. Not sure how old you are, but we used to take some right pelters from your lot as we were ushered passed the scratching sheds between the river and the stand. The corrugated tin backing at the top of the stand could be slid down and I must've collected at least 40p in 2 pence pieces. you might have been poor shots....but you were rich poor shots...!!

Excellent days and fond memeries I shall always cherish.

I'm pretty sure crystal meth is the only external activity that people indulge in up in those country western Australian towns

I live down in Mandurah, but have visited Geraldton a couple of times. It is very far from everything, and I found it to be much more expensive than down here. I never saw any aboriginals at all, but I was only in the town centre. I have quite a few friends who live there and really enjoy it, but I would find it difficult being so far from everything else!

A couple of years back a poster called Jaydeee lived in Geraldton - her and her husband ran the local backpackers place. Worth reading through some of her old posts too.

http://britishexpats.com/forum/member.php?u=24758

Its amazing how many people have got an opinion on a town but never actually lived in it.

Myself, Howard Jennings, Island Mike are all families who actually live in Geraldton and all have said on this post that Geraldton is a nice place.
Lekkilizard lives in Geraldton too, and will also admit they like it.
We all cant be lying??

But then again look at the update post on Port Pirie, they seam to think they got misleading info too!

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=653958

Gems

Hello, would like to add my twopenneths worth in that I LOVED living in Geraldton
We moved there for two years for my OH's country posting in the police. He would say that there's about 5 % of the population there causing 99% of the trouble and pretty much amongst themselves. Personally I never witnessed any trouble and felt really comfortable living there, my kiddywinks were 1 and 3 when we first moved there and would normally be out and about on my own with them due to our shift patterns.
Made some lovely friends who we try and get back up there to visit a couple of times a year and I'm always half sorry we're not still there when I see the beautiful foreshore development and growth going on there. My daughter went to a great school - there are a few really good schools there, out of school as they got older they did swimming, gymnastics and horse riding.
We had plenty of relatives stay with us more than once for several weeks there and we and they were never bored. Alsoa good hoping off point for Kalbarri, Shark Bay.....we even drove to Broome once
Probably when we were there we found a few items expensive as there is less choice in shopping around than in Perth, but then it's got to be freighted further.
I'd add that suburbs to avoid living in might be Rangeway and Spalding.
In case you're wondering why we left, we hadn't really imagined we'd want to stay before we moved ther and had began a house build in Perth, and had my parents on their way out to live in Perth near us too, so we were kind of committed. It was sad to leave though and I have truely veryfond memories of our time there. It is different to Perth, the feel, the pace and the isolation?.....Hmm, it never worried me and if i ever thought about it, it was a good feeling to have all that space about us and access so quickly to the ocean or the bush. The 4 hr drive to Perth is easy if you need to do it - we rarely did, other than to visit the house build in the last 6 months. I loved my 6 minute commute to work too!!
Anyway, if you end up there, just embrace it, you'll soon begin to 'get it'
Good luck,
HB x

Shark bay is 4 -5 hours drive from Gero........Its a good place to stop halfway for Shark Bay

Who would have thought, that we could fill 3 pages all about Gero!!