emma01

Hi

We are very close to getting our visas now and are seriously starting to panic. We are moving to Perth and having not been there before (i know this might seem mad) i need help with areas. I am trying to find a nice area in perth or outside (we have been looking at the north) that has great schools. I would like to live within and 20-30 mins of beach but schools are obviously the most important thing. Has anyone got any nice places in mind which may start my search. I'm really worried about the kids settling in their new schools so if anyone has done the move with kids please let me know how it went. (i have so many questions)

I'm feeling very stressed about all this at the moment so any help would be greatly appreciated.

regards

emma

ub40fan

Hi Emma

Welcome to BE.

It may help to know if you want to be nearish to a rail station or the freeway, if one of you needs to work in the city. It also may help if you let people know the kids ages (primary/secondary schools) and if you know it the budget you are looking at for houses.

Apart from that, don't worry about never having been before, quite a few people have done it that way and are absolutely fine.

Good luck

Shirley

emma01

Hi

The ages of my children are 9 and 4.

regards

emma

mindblower

Look at the Perth suburbs at www.aussiemove.com.
Allthe best, scary innit the final phase.

Dave

ub40fan

OK Emma,

Your kids are a bit younger than mine, but I reckon that makes it easier. We brought a 16 year old, a 14 year old and a 10 year old (she is now 11) and they have settled fine. They were used to travelling though as Steve was in the army, but kids are generally a lot more resillient thank we think.

What have you been using so far to look for houses? If you don't mind about being inland a bit (within the 20-30 min drive to the sea) I believe Currambine, Carramar, Connoly, Woodvale and Kingsley are all OK (someone will point out if I am wrong!) Sorrento, Hillarys, Kallaroo and Mullalloo are also good if not a bit pricier cos they are beachside. The are the only areas I have heard about/know about

It depends how close you want to be to the CBD really, or if you want to be near the hills, or even a bit of both.

Shirley x

worzel

I was going to recommend that general area. Greenwood is a sort of secret too - good value for money and so is Kinross.

To the OP - don't worry about not being here before - lots of us do it (we did and we settled very easily). It just adds to the excitement and ensures you face everything with an open mind. Just make sure you make every effort to get out and meet people (poms are easier to start with as we have so much in common). Never reject an invite. Join the girls at Hillarys / The Boat for lunch. I have met many people via this forum both from conversations before we came and helping newbies since. She'll be right!

emma01

Thanks everyone for replying. I'll have a look at those areas. I have been looking at aussiehome.com and have seen some nice places but knowing any of the areas i didn't know whether the places were in a nice or bad area. What are the schools like in these areas??

Are the people / children friendly and welcoming of new migrants??

Another question (this may be a pathetic one). The spiders / snakes and other nasty creatures. Do you see alot of them?

This is the first time i have ever used a forum and i would like to thank everyone who has responded. I think i will get on everyones nerves soon with all the questions i have so i hope you guys don't mind me keep asking what might seem silly things but stuff i need answers to.

cheers everyone

emma

worzel

In Perth there are so many poms no one would dare be nasty to us! We had a couple or redbacks, a huntsman and a bobtail in the garden of the rental but I haven't seen anything but 28's (parrots), cats and the occasional tree frog having a dip in the pool at this house in 15 months. Saw a snake on the coastal path once but it slithered away when we saw it. You see the occassional skink too [reader calls up Google to see what all these strange animals are].

Ask away, that's why were here. I asked so many questions 2 years ago my penance is to answer questions on here forever

emma01

I think im going to get addicted to this site.

When you moved did you know anyone there already? I am excited but its such a big step as we have never been to Australia and dont know anyone there and the whole life style thing is so different it all seems so scarey.

Did you rent somewhere before you arrived or did you stay in a hotel until you could look at places? Not sure whats best to do?

Bank account - did you open that while in england or wait until you arrived.

Im starting at the begining of my questions list (hope you don't mind)

regards

emma

ub40fan

We are down in Sorrento at the moment and the only wildlife we have seen are gheckos in the garden, rainbow lorikeets in a tree near the front door, a few ants and a couple of dead roaches when we first moved in (result of a bug bomb we think). Saw a huntsman a couple of years ago, he was in a bin and was ok to look at as long as he wasn't coming toward me!

realestate.com.au is a good one for houses, also try reiwa.com.au

I haven't met any unfriendly people at all yet, everyone in the shops, out and about in public, bars, cafes and restaurants have been nice and helpful.

My 11 year old is in Hillarys primary (we were there when we first arrived) and is doing well and enjoying it. My boys are in Duncraig Senior High, their cousins are there too and all seem to be getting on pretty well, even the 16 year old who went into year 12 at the end of Jan. The school seem to be very on the ball, gave us a warning that he wasn't doing as well as he should be before the end of the first term. A very timely intervention.

I have no experience of any other schools, but others will have.

Shirley x

worzel

BE-anonymous meetings get a very large turnout so don't think you are unusual

What we did, and I totally recommend, is get a furnished place for 3 weeks on arrival. Motel etc does the same thing but for one thing it can get a bit cramped living on top of each other for that long and for another you want to get out into the community a feel real life not tourist life. There are quite a few people who specialise in this sort of stuff - try a search (above).

3 weeks doesn't sound long but it is plenty to drive everywhere and decide on a burb / area then find an unfurnished 6 month rental (just make sure you are ready to apply on the spot as the market is hot at the moment). You'll be amazed what you get done in 3 weeks.

We used Commonwealth Bank whose netbanking.co.uk arm allows you to set up a transfer account from the UK, put GBP in it as you have it, then walk into the migrant banking centre in the city and they will transfer to AUD, set up accounts etc while you wait. I think HSBC do something similar (though they don't have that many branches here) and Westpac possibly too.

Next?

ub40fan

Hi

We stayed with rellies when we first arrived so can't answer that, but I think what Worzel suggests is probably the best thing. A friend of mine arrived recently and they had a couple of days here, a couple of days there and so on, until their rental was available and I don't think it helped at all to be moving so often.

re the banks, we used ANZ in the same way, ie set up from UK transfered money into it and activated it once we arrived - all very easy and straightforward.

Don't worry about not knowing anyone, there are lots of people on here who will help you before and after you arrive. And as you have small children then I am sure you will make friends with some of the mums at the school gate, and that will be just the beginning!

You will be fine, it is a big scarey thing to do, but at least you are not doing it on your own now - there are hundreds of people out there who can help

Take care

Shirley x

wavy_davy

Hi, we're currently living in Harvest Lakes, Atwell, which is only 15mins south of the CBD and smack bang on the new southern suburbs railway, also to top that we're only 15 mins from the beach (Coogee) and 15 mins from Rockingham and 25 mins from secret harbour. It's a beautiful area and there's 2 highly rated secondary schools at Murdoch and Bullcreek which are 10 mins up the road from us also our daughter goes to Atwell pre kindy which feeds into Harmony primary which is a highly rated school also......hope this helps! ##PS We're also selling a new build when it completes in Oct/Nov if you're looking for a house! Will just need flooring, garage door and rear landscaping to finish it off, a great opportunity if you want to put your own stamp on it..it's in Aubin Parklands which is 1 min from Atwell....

shade8

Have a look at EllenbrookAverley both really nice area's about 30-40 mins beach or City.15 mins big shopping centre's plus local shopping centre.
Great schools look at Ellenbrook primary or there are private schools.
Lovely area for bringing kids up 2 mins SWan Valley where all the wineries are.
Both os these area's are new.
Look at real estate www.reiwa.com.au
www.raywhite.com.au
Good luck!

Lyn of North Perth

Hi,
I have just stumbled across your corro with expats in Perth as I was on line to get ideas about where to advertise my short-term rental - our family home - while we are holidaying overseas June/July. When are you coming to Perth?

North Perth would be a great base to check out where you want to settle as it is a central city suburb, within walking distance to shops, restaurants, the CBD, Beatty Park swimming pool/leisure centre, great parks and only 15-20 min drive to some of Perths top beaches (City Beach, Floreat and Scarborough).

Lyn H