Glindy

Hi, am looking for some info for my friend. She is applying for her visa at present and has three children, two of them under 7, and was interested in moving to Melbourne. She just wants a recommendation of any area that is reasonably priced as she will be renting, think her max is $350 per week, an area that is not too far from the beach, and also not too far from shops, and preferably with good schools, she has heard of Geelong, but would love some info from people that actually live there, could you recommend somewhere, thanks a million.

Geelong Gent

Sent you a PM

http://www.moving-to-melbourne.co.uk...ommodation.htm

The map on here will also give indication of areas near the beach on the east side. Do not know much about Geelong - name refers to my AFL team. But Geelong is definitely an option too consider.

feeonar

Hi Glindy - Geelong is a lovely place, but over an hour out of Melbourne and considered to be Victoria's largest 'regional centre'. People do commute to Melbourne to work, but it is a regional train line or wading through traffic over the Westgate bridge and on the freeway which can be quite a hassle considering the traffic issues we have here in Melbourne (in peak hours can take double time to get there!). If she prefers a more 'country' feel to the town which she lives, then Geelong a great place.
However, if she wants to live in Melbourne itself, Williamstown is really nice area just over the Westgate - great schools, very family orientated, right on coastline and within 30 mins to the CBD. The other option on the south eastern side of the bay would be Moorabbin and Highett... but they can be more pricey re: rental accomodation. All areas very well established - shops everywhere (both shopping centres and village style local shops), public transport (mostly trains and buses) and safe for a stroll down to the beach / coast.
... I think your friends kids would also be very keen to hear that Williamstown has three different home made icecream shops in one strip!
Hope this helps - Good luck!

Petals

Get her to have a look at realestate.com.au and go by the plan then she can find out areas where rentals suit her budget.

Melbourne is a very large area and it would be best to try to get somewhere on a train line. Google world has all the streets on it now in Melbourne so your friend could follow a train line out and then look up the suburbs. Also google the suburb and there will be information about it on there.

stuckinblighty

Dont go to Geelong ..... its rough as a badgers backside there !



Lee

talbot

Another good thing about living here in W'town is it's a small peninsula so no through traffic, and NO FAST FOOD CHAINS!
You can avoid the Westgate by catching the train into the city - 20 mins in nothing.

Damson

I always suggest to people to log onto another expats website (BE is of course very good too of course!) specifically for expats in Victoria. Its called Britvics (www.Britvics.org).
Good luck to her.

bigAPE

I can neither confirm not deny that this may or may not be something which might or might not be a good idea

Al

bigAPE

It should be noted that the prices noted on that site are for short term holiday rentals and are not indicative of long term rental figures.

Glindy

You are all so good, thanks a million for taking the time out to reply, I will pass the info on.
Thank you.

Margaret3

you living there now

koalatea

I would agree with everything that's been said about Williamstown in terms of its attractiveness and would even add that every time I've been over there the weather seems to be great - even in the middle of winter.

However, from what I understand, it has become increasingly popular in recent years since the wonders of Willy were more widely discovered and property prices have been rising faster than almost anywhere else so I doubt there would be much - certainly not of any quality - available for $350 per week to satisfy a family of that size.

Just did a search for three-bed properties or bigger in W'town for $300 to $400 in realestateview.com.au and it through up just three houses - one at $350 that didn;t even have a photo and is "cute", ie small, and one at $370 that says "Don't judge me by my looks".

If you can get somewhere there, then great, but I'd suggest you're going to have to look at the surrounding, not so nice, areas to meet your budget.

stuckinblighty

i'm living the dream

Geelong Gent

And badgers wanting some moisturising cream

JoolsB

I agree-Williamstown is fabulous for families-if I had children it would be top of my list. The jetty, the boats, beach, botanic gardens, the park, nice little cafes and beautiful old houses plus that fantastic view over to the city...We are in S/Yarra which i also love but hubby has to use his car for work and didn't want to neg the bridge on a daily basis.