Originally Posted by zerohero

British culture created literature like Shakespeare,Harry Potter,Lord Of The Rings,Peter Pan,Alice In Wonderland,Frankenstein,Dracula,Sherlock Holmes,HG Wells classics,Roald Dahl classics,Charles Dickens classics and countless others which had a worldwide influence.It created different popular music -The Beatles,Rolling Stones,Pink Floyd- psychadelia,glam rock,heavy metal,punk rock,goth music,the fusion of ska and rock etc-these were all British.British culture gave the world street fashions and styles-mods,tudors,punks,goths,new romantics,skinheads(the proper ones)etc.There is a distinct British sense of humour.I could go on for ever about British culture.

For a while Australian culture was seen as an offshhot from Britain.Now Australia has its own sense of humour and the outdoor lifestyle and fusion of Aboriginal and immigrant culture will(is?) create a richer culture in time.
I do wonder why some Brits bother emigrating.If I loved outdoor sports,swimming,surfing,barbies and was desperate for more space then Australia sure beats Britain.Both countries have their good and bad qualities -just don't emigrate and still expect the same things you left behind.

Originally Posted by wardy2

Thanks for the replys I did wonder if it had anything to do with historical buildings and such like. To be honest I'm not sure I would miss that {probably take it for granted right now} Where I live we are surrounded by lots of historical things.

Quite looking forward to sitting on beach and doing nothing although I can see how that may get boring after ....10 years.

Kaye

Originally Posted by sassenach

If you like milton keynes you will love australia as all the cities and suburbs are just as faceless

Originally Posted by sassenach

If you like milton keynes you will love australia as all the cities and suburbs are just as faceless ,i reckon milton keynes is a dump and anywhere that has or had plastic cows is showing how artificial it is .

Originally Posted by northerner

Well I can assure you that where we live has character, history and charm. Granted we're not in 'The Suburbs' ( :scared: ) but your comments are so sweeping and general - think before you write.

As for your comments on cows being a problem, many cities around the UK have had cows in their centres as part of some kind of art thing, Manchester included (where we used to live). So are you saying Manchester has no history or culture because it had some stupid cows in the town centre???

At the end of the day, as others have said, if you move to a tiny little town in the middle of nowhere up in FNQ or wherever, and expect all the comforts/conveniences/shops/ of the UK then you're kidding yourself but personally I find the history of Australia fascinating and far more interesting and relevant because it is so recent. I met someone the other day who had the original plans the plot of land her house is built on - '15 paces north of so and so, 35 paces east of wherever' - I find that incredibly interesting to be honest!

Graham

Originally Posted by bridie

Speak for yourself, I certainly dont find Bunbury faceless, nor Perth CBD for that matter.

The upshot is if you absolutely must be surrounded by old churches, quaint cottages and twisty turny little narrow roads then dont bother coming.

Originally Posted by BadgeIsBack

I'm surrounded by twisty tree-lined lanes, cottages and a church at the end here in melbourne.

Originally Posted by arkon

When we first got here and for the 1st year or so I too used to complain that the country had no culture. I now accept it does have a culture based on what you just said, their clothing style and sense, manners, food, housing style, work ethic, service standards all add up to a culture just not the kind of culture those of us that say there isn't any think of as culture.

For me I now think when I said it had a lack of culture I meant it didn't have any history worth anything, as a result there are not all the festivals, marches, shows, diversity of things to do, go and see, places to visit that are distinctly different from any other place. Melbourne is very different to Sydney, and both to Brisbane etc, but the vast distance of travel between the cities means to all intents and purposes where ever you settle you will quickly run out of diverse things to see and do.

Compare it to Europe where each country has very different styles and culture, marches, festivals, music, food etc. and it's easy to see why you initially think Australia has none.

I think Australia has a culture but mostly in the negative, not worth anything category. When people say Australia has no culture they most likely mean after a few months or a year at most there is insufficient to see and do and the place rapidly becomes one big retirement home with sod all different to do. (That’s what it means to me.)

Originally Posted by sassenach

aussie culture ie beer ,flaggons ,materialism,money grabbing,hanging about in shopping centres.

Originally Posted by bridie

Speak for yourself, I certainly dont find Bunbury faceless, nor Perth CBD for that matter.

The upshot is if you absolutely must be surrounded by old churches, quaint cottages and twisty turny little narrow roads then dont bother coming.

Originally Posted by sel

For a moment there I thought you were talking about Birmingham again (or anywhere in the UK for that matter) ... at least when you return after your 16 years in oz you will not feel out of your depth but will be home from home ... but with the difference of being able to look at some nice old buildings ... I'm sure you will be very happy

Originally Posted by northernbird

You are a decent person Badge, I wish I could be more sympathetic towards people. I agree that change is good and a lot of people come for change but to come from a large city where your life is full of family, friends, pubs, clubs, shops etc etc on your doorstep to a bland australian suburb that doesn't have those things, it's a recipe for disaster in my book.

Originally Posted by Gibbo

Have to say I've never found this, but then I've been here a very long time. Think this is the crux of the matter, you have to be here for more than a few years to be truely accepted. No different than if you go to live in some places in the UK, especially villages, you are looked upon as an outsider for a long time. In some places you're never accepted as a local no matter how long you are a resident. I realize that you have been in Australia for some years, but you have no doubt made your feelings about the country known and those would not have endeared you to the locals.