So you haven't been to Adelaide then

Why do so many Poms move to Perth when it is so boring and not a larger more interesting cities like Melbourne and Sydney?

Yep! It's close but Perth takes the cake in the boring stakes. Adelaide a close second.

If I never return to either it will be too soon!

Boring is subjective, however not going to get into that argument again. We came to Perth because it is the only place my husband can work.

Might be the same for us.

So do you find it boring? Sorry cannot remember whether you have children but if you do what's life like for them? Thx

I went to Perth .... once... I'm still in therapy.

This is an interesting question. When I did the year backpacking around Australia, I spent most time in Sydney, Melbourne and Perth. I thought Sydney was sort of OK (but couldn't see myself living there), really liked Melbourne, and loved Perth. I was only intending to visit for a couple of weeks, but stayed 2 months and had a great time staying at the YHA in Northbridge, did a bit of travelling to the South West, then travelled north to Darwin to continue my circuit. I decided that if I were ever to live in Australia, Perth would be the place.

I moved to Perth 5 years later, to join my OH who is from there. My timing wasn't ideal, just in time for a recession, so I had 4 years of dull, intermittent and often low paid jobs. This can really get you in a negative frame of mind, especially if you are used to a better situation.

The things that attracted me to Perth were the low cost of housing, the empty and unspoilt landscapes, and memories of a great time here when backpacking. But, and it's a big but, this was some time ago and housing in good areas is out of the reach of many, locals or migrants. Has Perth become a better place to live in since my first visit? I would have to say no, and it seems so expensive here, even on a 6 figure salary we cannot afford to save anything and we do not have a life over-flowing with material goods. I also think that some Perth people seem poorly equipped to deal with more crowded living conditions.

Those who've been here a while, or professionals who migrate with substantial resources, appear to be very comfortable. Money buys you instant recognition, as it gets you into the best suburbs, the best schools and acceptance into a certain strata of society here. Yes, as others have said, you will be judged on where you live, what you do, and where your children go to school. However, it might be more possible for people to change their destiny here (Perth or Australia in general), than staying in familiar surroundings. I don't see the point of uprooting yourself from a large part of your personal, cultural and spiritual history if you attempt to live the same life in a different location. Brits have got to get past the belief that Australia is the chosen land: it has good points but also flaws. Above all, remember that it has the right to have flaws, because they are Australian ones!

Perhaps someone should set up a poll here, asking how many have ever lived in Perth, how long for, what they like here, or why they left. We could send the results to the WA Govt, might push them into some action to sort the place out. Something needs to be done, or else all the skilled migrants will head east.

Yes it must have been some time ago if you thought the cost of housing was low in Perth l think Perth is now just as expensive as Sydney and Melbourne.

With Adelaide it took me a while to discover that it's negatives are also it's positives.

I wouldn't say Perth is boring. Just very, very, very dull.

There are so many greengrocer's on this site.

My kids are happy enough, I have 2 girls aged 12 and almost 8. My husband and I are not going out people so the lack of a pub culture which is similar to the UK isn't something that has every bothered us. Husband is into fishing, boating, mountain biking etc so is happy with what is on offer. I like to meet friends for coffee or a meal or sit outside with a good book and a glass of wine. I don't need constant stimulation, I am very easy to please. There are enough nice restaurants to cater for us. That is not to say that others will find it the same, I am fully aware of the flaws that Perth has, they just haven't bothered me. the kids may well get bored when they are older and want to spread their wings, they could do that wherever we lived in the world. I am not going to stop them and if they end up settling in Europe somewhere then I will look forward to the holidays. My parents never stopped me moving and I won't do that to my kids either. I have to be comfortable with my life, I can't worry about where my kids may be in years to come. Good luck in whatever you choose.

But if not Perth where?

Sydney?

We all know that's the be all and end all in Oz right?

But then where do you go? Where else is near, where that isn't Australia is near? NZ? That's smaller than even small town Perth!
I spent a Christmas in Byron Bay, a great place so I was told. I hated it, it was tiny and the biggest, bestest place for the next four hours, except for the place near that had good drugs apparently. Fab, if drugs are your thing, oh and yeah, why are Aussies such stoners?.
It was still small town/racist/sexist and had weird adverts for bizarre roadhouses on TV, oh and the national news reporting that not so important car crash in Darwin.
Erm, right.

Australia is tiny, tiny in terms of anything, everything other than geographical area.

To YOU it is all those things....to others it is not. Sounds like you had a terrible time over here tho, poor you
(um, unless you are a troll..)

You put your finger on the essence of what makes Australia different to some parts of the world: large areas with few people; large areas remaining as wilderness. Not ideal for people who prefer metropolii.