Heading for Melbourne
 

Hi

We're living in Somerset, UK at the moment but have just got our Visas and plan to leave for Melbourne around the end of August '07. Having dreamed of this moment for the last 6 years, I am now wondering if we're doing the right thing. My heart says "yes yes yes" but my brain is saying "hey hold on, you've got a great job, great house etc. etc.". I just can't believe that I now have doubs about the move, so if any of you can offer some encouragement it would be very appreciated!!

We have 3 children, all girls, 9, 14 and 17. I already have a job so it's just a matter of finding the right house, schooling and Uni.

We live in a rural area and want the same in Oz. I am lucky that I will be able to mostly work from home and will only need to go into the Melbourne CBD every now and then. I will, however, need to fly fairly regularly so I guess I can't be more than a couple of hours from the airport. We want to rent for the first year or so but intend to buy if we like it over there.

We're currently looking at the Mornington Peninsula, Geelong and the Dandenongs. Any suggestions, recommendations etc.?

By the way, I'm 45 and my wife is 43.

Yellowspot

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

Welcome to BE:lol: and congratulatins on choosing to live in Melbourne.

We're off there too, leaving end of July. You'll get loads of recommendations from folks on here. A lot of BE folks are also members of http://z7.invisionfree.com/BritVics/...php?act=SC&c=1 which is a sit dedicated to Victoria alone.

Gill

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

Hi Gill. Pleased to meet you! Thanks for the Brit Vics tip - I will take a look....Steve

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

Steve, you're welcome. You'll find the board get busy with the Aussies during the night so you'll get a lot of replies then I'm sure.

Look forward to maybe meeting you at a Melbourne meet sometime;) .

Gill

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

Yeah I'm heading for Melbourne to, best city in Oz in my opinion, but my wife is from there so I got to see lots of it, Loved living in Flemington, and not as much Altona Meadows, but its all good, love the variety of food, the cafe culture...just everything really..I'm sure you'll love it to

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

Melbourne for us aswell..never been there before tho' :unsure:

welcome

Lee:thumbup:

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

Hi Yellowspot!
We're not far from you in Dorset and we're also heading to Melbourne.
Welcome to B.E.
As herrchook already said - Britvics is a great site - really friendly. we had a meet yesterday and everyone got on so well.
in answer to your question I think once you have got it in your head you just have to go and do it :D

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

Same here Lee - We have travelled from Sydney up to Cairns but decided to go to Melbourne :o
people think we're bonkers :lol:

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

bonkers 'r' us :blink:

Why choose Meb Kap ????

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

Mainly because we want to be near some action. We wouldn't want to be anywhere remote or somewhere where the beach was the only option. My OH is a DJ and would be really keen to carry on doing it in Australia.
It just sounds like Vic is really diverse -City life, cafe culture, beaches, bush.
sounds ideal really :D
What about you?

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

same reasons really and i like the sound of seasonal weather :thumbup:

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

If you want to know anything about Melbourne give us a shout, as my wife lived there for 20 odd years ...and I know a fair bit being a there for a year and other times as well...

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

Thanks to you all for your initial responses - I am feeling better about it already!

I guess it's just human nature (well it is for me anyway) to dwell on the "worse case scanerio" of us having to come back to the UK, tails between our legs, jobless and frankly, looking pretty stupid. If we didn't have the girls to worry about, it we be a complete no-brainer. My 14 year-old daughter is 1 year into her GCSE's and she, quite understandably, wants to finish them, but given my age (45), this is the last chance saloon for us - it's now or never! (cue for a song). We have looked on the web to see if there are any English/International schools that she could go to to finish her GCSE's but we haven't found any to date. Does anyone here know of anywhere or anyway that she could complete them?

On the positive side, I do have a good job to go to that will allow me to work from home when I am not travelling. As far as places to live is concerned, the Mornington Peninsula looks increasingly attractive from the feedback that we have recived thus far. However, we have also been told to look at Torquay, beyond Geelong. Can anyone give me their take on it given that we are looking for a rural setting close to the beach, but not toooooooo far from Melbourne CBD???

Yellowspot

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

Funny that, feel exactly the same as you, but we've only just got my TA back(teaching) and am just about to send off visa application, and am already getting cold feet.
Think it's all the homesickness thing I keep reading on this site etc.
This site has been great for getting our thoughts together and not getting too carried away
We have no complaints about our lives here and have a thriving business, and live in lovely south Manchester, but have a brother in law in Oz and always loved it out there.
My children are 14, 12 and 10, and real outdoor kids, so like you will have a son who will start GCSE's only to be moved.
I change from minute to minute- am I doing the right thing ? God knows, but know if I don't give it a try it will be my one regret in life.
Keep thinking should have done it when the kids were smaller.
We spent 5 weeks in Bris and quite liked it, but relatives have also lived in Melbourne (Frankston) which we loved
We too hope to be in Melbourne by Jan 2008 - that's unless I change my mind again!:thumbup:
Good luck

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

Dunno if this will help any of you with teens.

Anyway we arrived on april 14th, and my teen daughter (15), stayed for two weeks and has now gone back to scotland to sit her exams. She had to come with us to get her visa validated otherwise iit would have been cancelled.

We got her organised with a support network before we left (including moving all her bedroom furniture to where she is staying in scotland).

We flew to melbourne, and she has fought us tooth and nail not to emigrate, and when it was time to fly back she admitted is wasn't as bad as she thought it was going to be:D
Having limited funds it was not possible for us to do a reccie and validate, also we are both 43 so time not on our side. But we had enough (just!!), to send our teen back to sit her exams, she flew back with an escourt service from the airline (emirates), which all went very well.

I am missing her like mad, as is her dad and wee sister (8) , she is returning end june after exams, with the family friend she is staying with, so looking forward to seeing them both.:D

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

Anywhere down the great Ocean Road from Torquay onwards the house prices increase dramatically..Geelong is nice and only about an 45 minutes away by train, you could also look at Williamstown, no beaches to speak of but very nice and relaxed little place

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

My wife has also asked to tell you about these places as well


Geelong, PortArlington, St Leonards, Ocean Grove,Queenscliffe

the thing you have to remember about Australians is that they do not regard distance as any kind of hardship for instance the places my wife has mentioned are all an hour or and hour and half west from Melbourne , Geelong being the 2nd largest city in Victoria approx 30,000 people commute to Melbourne everyday and think nothing of the time and the distance they spend in travel

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

Thanks for the information Fenton, much appreciated.

Just to clarify yoru statement..."Anywhere down the great Ocean Road from Torquay onwards the house prices increase dramatically" ....Do you mean going away from Melbourne towards Torquay the house prices increase or going towards Melbourne??

Steve

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

On the great Ocean road round 13th beach ..ie Torquay and Angelessey the houses prices are expensive, just because they overlook the surf beaches

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

For a more rural lifestyle with access to the CBD and Airport within 1 hour 1 1/2 hours why not try area around Lilydale / Coldstream beautiful large plots good schooling around Lilydale. Far more rural than looking around Mornington and you will get more for your money. I am from Cornwall and need to have the sea on my doorstep so we are looking around Mount Eliza however if I didnt want the sea so close Coldstream and Lilydale would be another area I would look at. You also have easy acces to The Dandenongs which are breathtaking.

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

Yellowspot, you will find Melbourne a fantastic place to live where ever you decide to go. we have been here now for 10 years & love the place.

your kids are going to love life in Australia and so should you & hubby expect nothing from anyone do everything with the family. at school the kids here love the UK accent its as simple as that. i work for the education dept in a school & as i say its great for the kids. The closer you live to the city its more expensive if you move near the sea its horrendous in cost.

But im sure you will do research & if you need help just PM me.

regards



arthur in melbourne

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

Hi Yellowspot.

1. Rural lifestyle
2. Close to beach
3. Reasonable driving distance to airport

I think you'll find it hard to get all three, but hey, two out of three ain't bad.

With the airport about an hour north-west of the CBD, your best bet is probably towards Geelong.

But if you had to give up one of your preferences, which would it be?

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

Sorry I think it was me who wanted beach so the OP was reasonable access to airport CBD for once in a while trip and rural

Cheryl

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

We're in Mornington just now and love it.

The only problem is that it takes approx 1 1/2 hours to get to CBD - 20 mins by car to Frankston and the 1+ by train (unless you get an express which saves 10 mins). And don't try parking in Frankston train car park unless you're there before 7 in the morning.

We're in a rental and are looking to buy soemewhere between Mornington, Mount Eliza and South Frankston. I like the cafe culture and laid back feel to these places.

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

Don't apologise Cheryl! My fault for not reading properly. :embarrassed:

Anyway, Yellowspot shouldn't have a problem finding something suitable.

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

Busy forum that. Wish there was something similar for those of us in the 'first' state ... unfriendly buggers that we are... :D

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

Melbourne for us as well, although no idea where yet!

As Kapri says, BritVics is a useful site and really nice people. We met loads for the first time on Sunday and had a great time.

P.S. Any hints for the following appreciated, needs / wants:-
1. Good school (primary now, senior in 3 years)
2. Airport within 1.5 hours, as I will be flying most weeks
3. Not legoland
4. Largish block, with good family beach within 20 minutes.

Thinking of Frankston, but don't know how long to the airport, or how nice the area is, but the High school looks excellent.

Pete

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

Come join us Hutch, I won't tell if you don't:p

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

Hi Yellowspot, we're Somerset based too, and we're headed to melbourne, on date of receipt of visa+(number of days notice-days holidays left). Skills assessment went in last week.

Had originally looked at just the areas we visited the family in when we were there in Feb, particularily out Gisborne way, and the West of Melbourne generally ( oh dont ask about "the west" on the britvic site, its a sore subject over there )
But from looking on here in the 8 weeks since we got back, I think we missed MOST of it, so will probably wait to decide until we get there.

Thats the problem with not realising how much you want to live there until the week before you have to come back, we could have made much better use of time if we had gone over knowing how much we would like it.

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

Mags- I have had a few wines but my eyes filled up reading this :o
Is she looking forward to joining you back in melbourne when her exams are over?

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

Hi Hon :D it was lovely meeting you both at the weekend.
You know we were looking at Frankston as the beach looks good and I am applying for a job there. However I have just read the Where to live in melbourne PDf that Bordy has and i have changed my mind. Above average crime rate :eek: I think we might try Mt Eliza instead. Still close to Frankston but without the problems.

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

I have to dig out the book, as Bordy sent me a copy. Its really difficult looking at things from a distance :blink: It was nice to meet you and the other's, putting faces to names really helps. I'll have a look into Mt Eliza. Thanks.

Pete

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

We now live out near Gisborne, and if anyone wants rural I wouldn't discount the Macedon Ranges. Easier access to the airport than a lot of other places as well as the airport lies between here and the city. Takes about 50mins on the train to get to Melbourne and about an hour to drive out of rush hour, obviously longer in rush hour :D

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

hi we have just moved to melbourne , we live in bonbeach , not far from frankston , were a family of six looking to meet some new friends, really homesick at the minute , its our first time in oz , here on a working 4 year visa but awaiting residency visas , were keen to know any one from uk anywhere up north, london luton were my husband is from , we have 2 boys , 2 girls , ages 10, 8, 4, 8 months
we look forward to hearing from anyone , baxter-s:)

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

Hi

We are not there yet, but will be soon - March:thumbsup:
We have 16 and 10 year old boys and a 7 year old daughter, looking at Mount Eliza. There seems to be a few on here around the Frankston area and quite a few heading that way.

Keep in touch and we would love to meet up when we arrive, :thumbsup:

Tracy
x

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

Hi,

Welcome to Melbourne.

You might be better, if you look on Britvics

http://z7.invisionfree.com/BritVics/index.php?

There are loads of us on there from Melbourne, and I am sure some will be located near you. We have a meet planned in a couple of weeks, so take a look and see what you think.

Pete

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

Hi Folks.
There are lots of people from Melbourne who post on here who will hopefully be able to tell you when the next meet is and supply you with lots of info :)
Just give them a few hours to wake up :D

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

Hi everyone,

we too are heading for melbourne, never been bu hve friends who live there, one in mornington which is where we plan to go and my other friend lives in crydon,

we are planning on May time, to come out, a little nervous but yet very excited weird feeling u get eh. will have a look on britvics i had completely forgot about that site actually.

would apprecitae any info on the areas above, also anyone living there at mo ?

Me my oh Mic and our boy of 5. what r schools like there. anyone know which are the best. ??

Diane

Re: Heading for Melbourne
 

posh10;

your boy will go into Primary school until he is 13 years old then secondary school. Now then there is a massive difference between Croydon & Mornington the areas are very different. Croydon is mainly Industrial where Mornington has sea views at hand its as simple as that & of course the cost of housing in mornington is much higher but newer housing.

The Primary school are OK, however Croydon sec college is just average ive worked there, in mornington the state school is fine very academic.

But it all depends on your budget for housing.
Regards

arthur