MandyB

Hi, I have decided to move my family from New Zealand to Melbourne and would really appreciate some advice regarding suburbs. I would most likely need to work in the city centre and don't mind some travelling and am happy to use public transport, so I guess a suburb not too far out is needed. I also have two children, one almost 13 and one almost 2 so a good high school and good pre-school also needed, child friendly suburbs are my priority.

I intend to start researching suburbs on the internet but at present have absolutly no idea where start so your help would be gratefully received.

Any other information people can give me about life in Melbourne would also be good, I have (unfortunately) never been there and have made the decision to move there purely on people's advice (the other choice was back to the UK but the job situation over there isn't looking good).

We have lived in Christchurch for over 5 years and although it is without question a very beautiful place to live it just doesn't provide enough for us to stay and that includes the low wages.

Thanks in advance for advice

Mike 3G

Hi Mandy

Melbourne is a good choice and there are plenty of nice suburbs to choose from close to the city. However its difficult to give you advice without knowing your rough budget for a rental and then how much you would be willing to pay if or when you do buy a property.

MandyB

Hi Mike

I guess for a rental we would be looking to pay around $350 - $400 per week (similar to what we pay here in NZ). As for buying I couldn't really say until we are earning over there and have a better idea of budgets. Thanks

scrubbedexpat020

http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/m...n-network-map/ metro map and details about fares.

http://bettereducation.com.au/Results/vce.aspx ranking of schools in VIC.

http://www.education.vic.gov.au/findaservice/Home.aspx what schools in which area

http://www.domain.com.au/?mode=rent
http://www.realestate.com.au/rent

http://www.melbourne-suburbs.com.au/ suburb info

http://britvics.org/forum/2937/ VIC forum, not as busy as expats.

Buzzy--Bee

Mandy, $400 per week would rent you a house in my area, Mordialloc/Parkdale, 45 mins to the city, walk to the beach.

Is your older child a girl? If so try and rent in the Mentone girls secondary college zone - http://www.mgsc.vic.edu.au/ as this is an excellent girls state school. There are loads of other good schools all over Melbourne but this might give you a starting point.

BB

MandyB

Cheers Buzzy-Bee, i'll check out your area. Just found a great website called Cityhobo (I think) giving good advice about suburbs but didn't have Mordialloc, or I couldn't find it. My eldest is a boy, though with his long hair he could probably pass as a girl A friend mentioned Essendon to me, though i gather its pretty expensive there. More research tonight if my computer can handle the pressure

MandyB

Thanks for all these links. I will use them wisely

Moracikus

Essendon-Moonee Ponds-Maribyrnong is a great area for living. No doubt, the best one in Northern and Western Suburbs. Essendon is a well known for good schools (Buckley Park, Pentleigh ...), Moonee Ponds has a great deal of shops and coffee bars, while Maribyrnong has heaps of park areas and High Point Shopping Centre. It's only 20 min from the city.
This area is well known as a 'Secret of the West' as it's surrounded by 'troubles': Footscray, St Albans, Broadmeadows, Coburg, Brunswick and Flemington
It is a bit of expensive for renting, but the other things are much more affordable than in Eastern and Southern Suburbs.

If you work in the city, I would strongly recommend it. But, I wouldn't if you travel to inner east or south.

knn

Taylors Lakes in the Northwest is a peaceful suburb.

Here are reviews

http://localvoices.realestate.com.au...lakes/overview

ozzieeagle

Brunswick is more expensive than Essendon, Not sure where this fellow got his ideas about Brunswick and Coburg. .... Underbelly Perhaps... trouble with that is half the crims lived in Essendon. Brunswick South Primary School finished top in the State for Education, beating all of the private schools.... which surprised the bloody hell out of me as it is where my Son attended last year. So I dont think those kids would be considered troubled... LOL.


Essendon is a great place though... Pascoe Vale/Oak Park would be more affordable. Considered Niddrie and Airport West if heading for Essendon. Not quite so much public transport around Essendon as some of the other Inner City places. Personally I really like Niddrie.

Lived in this part of Melbourne for 30 years now, So I love it when people from overseas come on and give opinions without actually living there

Good luck with your hunt... I can understand your confusion as out East over Buzzybees way there is also some fantastic living to be had. As there are in plenty of other parts of Melbourne.

scrubbedexpat020

http://www.travelvictoria.com.au/regions/melbourne/ some suburbs.

http://www.toiletmap.gov.au/default.aspx spend a penny

http://traffic.vicroads.vic.gov.au/viewer.htm current road conditions. Can also use Google maps.

I live in God's own green acre of Ringwood. We could be getting the second Costco soon!!!

elice_in_oz

I'll just add my two-cent-worth of local knowledge. We live in Montmorency, a small suburb in the northeast, between the large suburbs of Greensborough and Eltham. We are on a direct line to the CBD (35-40 mins on express trains) and only a few minutes drive from some of the major roads (Western Ring Rpad, Eastern Freeway). We have huge shopping centres within 5 minutes drive and a local shopping "village" with everything you couds ask for: small supermarket, independent butchers, greengrocer, deli, hair/beauty salons, newsagent/post office, toyshop, specialty shops, takeaway food...

Most houses are on largeish blocks (average about 600-800sqm) and have a garden. There are plenty of good primary schools (I think there is a Montessori one, or it could be Steiner ) not far. There are a few independent/catholic primary schools too. Eltham Highschool and St Helena Secondary College both have a good reputation as government secondary schools. There are some private secondary schools along the train line as well.

We are surrounded by tall gum trees, plenty of parks and walking paths along rivers and creeks, and some hilly countryside. We're only about an hour's drive to the Dandenong Ranges and the Yarra Valley. We are about 45 minutes from the beach but we're not really beach-goers so we don't mind.

I have 2 young boys and they absolutely love everything about our house/garden/community. We have met lovely people and there is a real sense of community which I never encountered in other suburbs (I have lived in 3 other suburbs closer to the city) or even in the UK where we lived.

We get the best of country living with the city on our doorstep. I bet you can tell I love our little piece of Melbourne

Feel free to PM me if you want any more info

Moracikus

Sorry for classifying your area as 'troubled'. Bad impression about Brunswick is driven mainly by Brunswick Secondary College, bloody Sydney Road and other narrow streets and lack of good playgrounds for kids.
And you are right, 4 years living in the area is not enough to have opinion about it

ozzieeagle

It's an Urban area... People come from all over Melbourne to Dine and partake in it's nightlife these days..

Brunswick Secondary College has moved into the top 33pct of schools in the State believe it or not. It's also won State Rock Eisteddfod Awards 3 times in the last 6 years. Great school for Drama and the Arts.

http://www.brunswick.vic.edu.au/inde...isteddfod.html

Brunswick has probably changed more than any Suburb in Melbourne over the last 15 years.

The principles address, probably sums up best what has happened.

From the Principal

Thank you for visiting the Brunswick Secondary College school website. I hope it provides you with a glimpse into the diverse talents and achievements of our students and staff, the continually expanding learning choices we offer students and our commitment to adding value to the learning and growth of each child.
The College’s diversity is its great strength. Our school population is genuinely reflective of both the multiculturalism and recent gentrification of the communities of Brunswick and Coburg. We are proud of the diversity of our specialist programs that among many others include a Select Entry Accelerated Learning Program for highly able students, an expansive selection of specialist subjects and a rich array of student leadership opportunities.
Our teaching staff is our greatest asset. The vibrancy of our programs attracts highly qualified and aspiring new teachers to our school.These graduates are fortunate to be mentored by a core of highly experienced staff who have been responsible for the school's substantial improvement and success over recent years.
At Brunswick Secondary College, our vision and direction is guided by the school values of excellence, persistence, responsibility, achievement and teamwork underpinned by the core value of respect. Our mission is for all students to live these values, achieve their full potential and have a successful pathway beyond our school.
VivienneTellefson

Probably best summed up as "Doing an Islington"

scotsista

[QUOTE=elice_in_oz;9245099]. I bet you can tell I love our little piece of Melbourne

QUOTE]

You've sold it to me!! Sounds just like what we'll be looking for when we arrive in May. Will make sure to visit and check it out.