Melbourne
 

Hi all

We (husband, 2 young children and myself) have just sent off our application for Melbourne after receiving a positive skills test ;) we have had to apply here as our desired state of Perth application is too close to cut off date. We are still very pleased to apply to Melbourne yet all of our research has been on Perth!

Can anyway recommend good areas to live in, which suit a young family, less than an hour from city and preferably close to coast.
I know a lot of threads have been negative about people not getting preferred state.....but I must say we are incredibly happy to be getting in and know how lucky we are. Thanks all.......;)

Re: Melbourne
 

Hello Hayley,

I can't answer your question but just wanted to say "hi" as we're looking to go to Melbs too. We have a 3yr old and a 9wk old so I'll be watching this thread with interest!

Saff x

Re: Melbourne
 

just stick melbourne suburbs in the search box. hundreds of posts should come up. :thumbup:

Just be aware some suburbs will get a little 'nudge' ;) due to peoples business interests. Inner melbourne beachside sububurs will not be cheap:ohmy:

Re: Melbourne
 

I'm not close enough to a beach to "nudge" my business interests :p but an area that is proving very popular recently with new arrivals is Berwick, Cranbourne and surrounding areas. Also Pakenham is extremely nice.

All on the edge of the city, about 1 hour travel to the CBD. Either very good transport links or in the process of being finished.

About 30 minutes from the beach, with lots of new estates but also plenty of exhisting builds as well.

On the other side of the city another up and coming area is the point cook area. Not sure how it is for decent beaches, but I have heard plenty of positive reports recently now that the infrastructure is falling into place more now.

Re: Melbourne
 

I personally think Cranbourne is not pleasant for a family everyone has their opinions but we rented there, can be full of P plate drivers and hoons as they call them in the town centre. Most of the surburbs near the coast under an hour to Melbourne are pricey, we are on the mornington peninsula and I have two young children and mornington, mt martha, mt eliza are very family friendly, full of young families. Best to rent first then look around at areas and check them out and see what feels best, good luck.:thumbup:

Re: Melbourne
 

Hi all. Thanks very much for peoples responses.....we will have a look at areas suggested. Are there any areas we should avoid? ;)

Re: Melbourne
 

We are staying in Rye and slowly exploring all the areas around here whilst on holiday as we have similar requirements to the OP we want to research before we decide whether to emigrate over this way from the UK.

We initially thought Frankston couldn't be as bad as most people on this forum say but looking around the other day I wouldn't be interested moving across the other side of the World to live there :blink:

Only driven through Mornington, Mt Martha and Mt Eliza so far but Hastings and Flinders seemed nice today when we were there.

Will be keeping a watch of this thread too :D

Re: Melbourne
 

Hi
We to are considering Melbourne , the one thing I have noticed just by scouring the web for the south east suburbs is the properties have no pools
I know most of the houses in the inner eastern suburbs , Brighton , Hampton etc are older houses and now have no room
I can travel 30 min max from the CBD, any suggestions ?
Having a pool is the childrens stipulation , mine is being close to the city and a rugby
My wife wants shopping hence the reason I've searched Brighton etc
Jason

Re: Melbourne
 

You can find rentals with pools, just not many (its too cold!!). You will have to search around. Brighton's ok for shopping but you will find small boutique shops in many of the Bayside subs. Black Rock has a good little shopping area - I go there most days. Black Rock and Beaumaris are also near to two railway stations and to a couple of shopping centres, Southland (Westfield) being the nearest and Chadstone a 15 minute drive.

You won't pay quite as much for rentals in these areas and there are some good schools nearby.

Re: Melbourne
 

I assume you mean a rugby club?

If its union, you might have more chance finding a rental with a pool than a rugby club :rofl:

I played myself for over 25 years & my boys were also loving the game when we moved over. Because for us the nearest club is over 30 minutes drive & away matches would be even further, they now play AFL (not bad either, and i'm now a local assistant coach, but not the same :( )

here you will find all the victorian rugby union clubs

http://www.vicrugby.com.au/

Heres the League clubs:

http://www.sportingpulse.com/assoc_p...0-0&sID=196756

Re: Melbourne
 

Areas to avoid in my opinion would be Cranbourne, Packenham, they are both rough at night, lots of hoons around and just a town neither are on the coast. Also Hastings is growing but I have heard bad reports on the schools there, we quite like Hastings but because of friends telling me info about the schools then I wouldn't live there. A friend of mine moved there but made sure her children went to schools outside of Hastings! Mornington, Mt Martha and Mt Eliza are beautiful it gets busy in holiday season but that's to be expected as lots of city people come down for a holiday so the roads get busy. If your renting when you get here its a good opportunity to look around. We liked the Hunt Club Estate in Cranbourne but Cranbourne is not pleasant.

Re: Melbourne
 

Pools cool down swiftly if the temps not warm at night, melb is rarely tropical at night. Summer days can be 40 or 20 and to keep a pool warm in my experience you need hot days and warm nights on a constant basis or the pool temp dips. NIghts in summer in melb are often below 20, pools would need to be heated, nobody wants the cost. Even solar costs to set it up and then back up and running of the pool costs. Of course some have pools in melb but its really not the ideal climate for them, occasional use more than regular.

Landlords dont want the liablilty of a pool.

In qld we use the pool from late oct till around april ( only march this year) and usually in that time its warm /hot day and night even if it rains. Thats with no heating, with solar probably all year.

Re: Melbourne
 

I'm not a fan of Cranbourne either (too many new builds ) , but there are plenty out there that it appeals to, and I have friends in Pakenham & Packenham upper, and they love it there and have lived there for years.

I agree anything towards the Mornington peninsular is very nice, but you are then going to have longer commutes and the OP had mentioned up to an hour to the CBD.

Re: Melbourne
 

Melbourne Late Oct/early Nov till March with Solar, but our kids will use it when it gets around 23-25 degrees in the pool.

We probably have 6-8 weeks a year less use than somebody in QLD, but I do agree with the fact that a pool isnt financially interesting to add to a rental property on a long term basis, unless its a higher end rental with pool maintenance/servicing included in the rent.

Re: Melbourne
 

Hi all. Thanks again for more info finding all really helpful!! ;) hey mr Jason......have you gatecrashed my thread! ;) only joking....any info is good info in my eyes. Keep it all coming ;) :thumbsup:

Re: Melbourne
 

Sorry Hayley,seen the Melbourne thread and just jumped in x
Melbourne fits the bill for us as there is so much contruction work there and nursing for my wife
Looking at the previous posts though , Im just wondering about the weather, compared to the UK I'm sure it's fine but as I said my kids expect a pool or at least going to an outside pool daily
This may seem like a small requirement in comparison to moving to a fantastic City, but you havent met my kids, sports mad that require things to do 24/7 which I'm glad as they never look at playstations etc
Jas

Re: Melbourne
 

There is no way you can use an outdoor pool (for fun) all year round in Melbourne, unless you wear a wet suit/are a seal! No problems with other sports as Melbourne is sports mad and AFL is a religion! We now have a rugby union side (the rebels) and two soccer teams, Victory and Heart. We also have rugby league side, Melbourne Storm and it goes on.

In Bayside where I am there are loads of gyms and personal training studios so no problem staying fit.

Re: Melbourne
 

We used to use our solar heated pool for 6 months of the year easily, then we just winterized it, however our power bills were pretty big, BUT again we had no mains gas so electricity was expensive.

In the S/E I personally wouldnt live in Cranbourne, Pakenam, Officer, Narre South, Hallam....BUT thats just me. I dont like new builds at all and I dont like unestablished. Pakenam is very dodgy at night (first hand experiences) and I have friends who have recently moved away from Cranbourne (Crimebourne is how the locals refer to it apparently!)) and couldnt leave fast enough! Berwick is ok, as are parts of Narre Warren theres also Harkaway Beaconsfield and Upper Beac that are nice, but again thats what *I* like and may not be to everyones taste. We are on the move for the 3rd time in 8 years to what I believe is my forever home :fingerscrossed: We are moving up north :D to the hills and have an acre so I can be really antisocial :thumbsup: Our nearest town will be Belgrave which is the end of the Met Link to the city and is 50 mins. It is also a "proper" town with a high street cos I'm bloody sick of Westfield souless shopping centres which even my teen daughter has noticed, are becoming really feral!

I'm gonna stop now cos I'm sounding like Badge :o:lol:

Re: Melbourne
 

Honestly Jason no problem ;) was just joking :) any info is great! Ohhhh were liking the look of mornington and surrounding areas! Another area my husband has his eye on is williamstown......any one know what it's like there??

Re: Melbourne
 

Hevs
Am loving the honesty!! Would much prefer that than tinted glasses!!
Were not that set on having a swimming pool.....we've 2 young boys and would constantly worry!! There's always a paddling pool to get out when the sunshines ;)
Were looking for a lovely town (not new builds) with great parks, schools, shops. A good community spirit that will let us join in. Preferably close to beach and within an hour from city. Am I just dreaming or do these places exist in Melbourne? ;)

Re: Melbourne
 

They do Hayley, but you will pay for them. Mornington is nice, but I would think way to far out for a daily commute though.

Pools have to be fenced, ours had an auto gate so was never overly worried, just always checked the gate was clear.

Also a "town" feeling can be difficult to find also. Its taken me 8 years, but got there in the end, but they are harder pin down and tick all of the boxes IMHO.

Re: Melbourne
 

Beach, city commutable and civilised... I'd pick Brighton. It's not cheap but it's a nice neck of the woods. If you want something more affordable and still an easy drive to the beach and to the city you could look at South Caulfield, Oakleigh etc which are nice too. From memory, the Oakleigh area has a lovely public pool. Chadstone is a huge shopping centre nearby and the surrounding suburbs have quality boutiques and restaurants. Stick to these areas just south of the city and you should be happy. I agree with those who say they would avoid Cranbourne. Also, bear in mind that in peak times, travel from anywhere could take more than 30 minutes. Caulfield area to the CBD used to take me 45 mins in peak hour.

Re: Melbourne
 

Brissybee
Thanks for the reply......will look more into Brighton. Im sure I read on an old thread that Brighton had a high crime rate and not very good schools.....can't be 100% sure, do I have the wrong impression? (note to self.....must write my research down) haha

Re: Melbourne
 

Hi Hayley, have a look at our area and the areas surrounding it. We live in Mordialloc / Parkdale - we are 45 mins drive or train from the city, 20 mins walk from the beach and have really good schools. It is a big family area with great community stuff going on. Mentone is also very nice, you could consider Aspendale and Edithvale which are further out but still OK.

BB

Re: Melbourne
 

Bayside, where Brighton is, has very low crime rates.

Re: Melbourne
 

My FIL lives in Brighton, the house if hardly flash, the land is V small compared to what we have, but it was valued when the MIL died at 2.2 million. Prices round there are nuts:blink:. Fairly typical of the inner beach burbs.

Re: Melbourne
 

BB......will have a look at those. Thanks ;)

We were having a look on net again last night and quite liked the look of altona meadows and sanctuary lakes. Anyone know about these areas? X

Re: Melbourne
 

Altona wasn't much chop in my day. Each to their own though. :)

Re: Melbourne
 

Altona meadows borders a very heavy industrial area. I reckon its an area that is "coming up" though. Sanctuary Lakes is a new estate. Looks very flash, but I know people who have moved there from Parkdale and have shifted again within 9 months complaining it was "soul-less and empty". Each to their own though.

BB

Re: Melbourne
 

We liked the look of the houses at sanctuary lakes but that's what we was worried about what with it being new development. I really want a house.....or townhouse as there known in oz ;) like the idea of when kiddies go to bed there up out the way ( oh god that sounds awful!) or perhaps it's me wanting a bit of England ;)
There's so many things to consider!!

Re: Melbourne
 

A think the term you're looking for is probably 'highset'...not townhouse.

Re: Melbourne
 

I've never heard Highset, but know what a town house is...its like a double story only taller and often linked.....

Re: Melbourne
 

Re: Melbourne
 

Maybe I'm getting confused with Qld...'double storey' then.

Re: Melbourne
 

Ahhh I forgot your QLD link and when Matt posted that link I was really confused :lol:

Re: Melbourne
 

I lived in Altona Meadows for about 12 years.I wouldn't say it's up and coming.It's as up as far as it can go.It' isn't a new estate.
I wouldn't call Sanctuary Lakes a new estate either.
I've worked on about 15 to 20 houses in there over the years.
The first in 1996,there were about 5 houses in there and the rest was salt marsh.60 grand for a block.At the time it had a completion time scale of 15 years.They more or less achieved it.I tend to agree with your soul-less comment but as you say "each to their own"

Re: Melbourne
 

Hi there. I see your in williamstown....my husband has been looking there, but feels the commute to city could be quite a trek. How do you like it there? And find the travel?

Re: Melbourne
 

Hi.We love it here.
If you're in a position to buy here I would recommend that you do.
It has a great community along with Newport.Some people give Newport a bad rap but I'm telling you the community I know there are brill.Like anything else you have to know the right spots.
Nearly forgot.5 minutes and your on the bridge then into the city.Can't really say how long it will take you to get to work as I have no idea where your working.
Best of luck

Re: Melbourne
 

Lovely. Will add to my list of research. Thanks for the help ;)

Re: Melbourne
 

:(
Consider when its 42 degrees how hot the bedrooms will be. Hence the popularity of the single story in OZ, till the tiny land came along then suddenly the need to build up.

Seriously, when its hot and melb summers can be VV hot some days, the top of the house obviously gets very hot, especially if your looking at the Mcmansion (fur coat no knickers kind of house ) built cheap like a paper box really. Those display home usually impress the english new arrival but really not the best design in the oz climate at all.