Hi Guys, we are in the early stages of applying for visas, due to our careers it seems we are not needed in brisbane or perth which would have been our favorable locations. We have been asked if we would like to apply for Melbourne or Adelaide. Wife is a scientist i will retrain as wall and floor tiler once we arrive!

We have 2 young girls 7 and 3. Do you live in either of these areas and do you enjoy the life these areas offer?

How do you find commuting, the climate, the people?
We are just trying to get an idea of what people think. I know everyone is different and we need to see for ourselves, but we would like to hear your views and experiences whether they are good or bad!

Hope this makes sense!

Thanks

Biotech or Pharma?

Any particularly field?

Melbourne tends to have a lot of small operations and the bigger pharma's are mainly sales and distribution.

Can't comment on Adelaide but our friendly Wendy can

Your work as floor & wall tiler is very much in demand but just pay attention to the continued shift in the property environment. Most likely more work out in the new estate suburbs where the govt have released addtional land to feed the demand.

Thanks for the reply, she works in research and can apply skills to bio and pharma!

Do you live in Geelong? How do you find it there?
Thankyou

Darren

Hi Darren

We live in the East, but my AFL team is Geelong (GO CATS GO).

Life is good and gets better and better. The melbourne expat community is strong, friendly and welcoming. Life here evolves around the outdoors and sport and food .

My wife worked in both Bio and Pharma but has not worked since arriving as she is taking time out to spend with our two daughters.

We do however have some contacts if you want to PM me for specific scientific work. You can then email them direct and get on their job lists.

Be funny if your wife is from Novartis or a bio firm near Swindon

Shane

We may well take you up on the contacts job list.

My wife used to work for Aventis but has a friend that works for Novartis.

We have been looking at propertys around the rowville and emerald areas, Do you have any experience with either of these?

I do a fair bit of mountain biking, is there much to be had over there?

Thankyou

Darren

Lived in both - North Adelaide and St Kildas (Melbourne).

Better weather in Adelaide, doesn't change all the time like Melbourne

Better tram system in Melbourne.

Beach is better in Glenelg (Adelaide) than St Kildas imo.

Looking at www.bom.gov.au - the climate is pretty close between the two. Adelaide like Melbourne was pretty much up and down like Melbourne - also suffers very hot dry days and cool changes.

I expect GG will be along soon with some fab pics of the beach at Seaford. St Kilda is not the best bay beach - but I love it for the pier, Sunday market, good old Luna Park and the great shops in Ackland Street

We live in The Basin which is right at the foot of Mount Dandenong - 10 mins of so from Rowville and half an hour from Emerald. You couldn't find two more different suburbs than those two! Rowville - IMO - is mainly one huge housing estate (fairly well placed for access to many areas - though no train station). Emerald, very much the country town - beautiful countryside, but a little too regional for me. The villages around the Dandenong Ranges give you the best of both worlds - not too far from civilisation, but still have a country-feel and village atmospheres Also, as you can imagine, plenty of cycling!!

Adelaide's weather is hot and dry in the summer, it can feel cold in the winter though. I don't think there's much in the temperatures between the two cities, but I believe Melbourne's weather can change during the day (hence the four seasons in one day thing) - here it's pretty stable. I can't compare though as I haven't been to Melbourne.

Adelaide has a 'small town' feel to it, Melbourne I believe is much more the 'city' in comparison. Don't let that confuse you though, there is plenty to do in Adelaide for those that can be bothered looking. The people here are really friendly, the beaches are lovely, there is some stunning scenery and the housing is cheaper than Melbourne.

Really depends what you want out of the move, but I would say look for work and follow that - that is the most important thing at the end of the day.

Here's a piccy of Glenelg Beach for you all (which isn't as nice as Port Noarlunga's beach, second photo ))

Personally we live in Adelaide and in my opinion it wins hands down to Melbourne!! We went there for a weeks holiday, hated it so much we came home early, BUT thats our opinion only, we both said at the time think its what you come from and what you are looking for that is the big difference between the two!!

Melbourne for us, the weather was crap, and it was SOOoooOOO busy, and reminded us to much of England and the reasons why we left!

Adelaide much more laid back and weather MUCH better, more work prospects, housing cheaper etc etc etc!

But my mate here in Oz loves Melbourne to bits and would move there if her husband would let her!! You need to go take a look as they are very different places!!

Visited both places on holiday and we live near(ish) to Adelaide.

I know nothing about either of your fields of work, but I'd start with where the major breadwinner most likely to get the best paid job and then figure out whether that wage will give you the standard of living you want in that particular city. In general, property prices are lower in Adelaide than Melbourne, but then wages are lower too.

Probably not too much help, but you only really figure out what you like and what you don't when you visit. As you'll have seen from this site, for example, some people really love Perth while others really hate it.

There's more than enough to do in either city; it's just that one's quite a lot bigger than the other (about three/four times the size). In my view the choice between the two cities really comes down to whether you can:

• get the jobs/pay you want/expect;
  
• afford to rent/buy the type of house you want;
  
• put up with the commute to work.

[QUOTE=Sham Williams;6167184]

Adelaide much more laid back and weather MUCH better, more work prospects, housing cheaper etc etc etc!

[/QUOTE

As I said check out www.bom.gov.au and you will see very little difference in climate - rather rely on black and white facts than someone's experience of A WEEK in Melbourne!!!

I would also imagine, with Melbourne being much bigger, that there would be more work prospects here - but you would obviously need to research that yourselves for your line of work.

Although Melbourne is a vibrant and large city, you can live in wonderful semi-rural communities within an hour's drive or less. For example, here's The Basin - 45 mins out. Also pic of lake - 25 mins from us and closest Bay beach.

BTW - nothing against Adelaide, I'm sure it's very nice and hope to visit sometime soon!

Melbourne for culture and a cosmopolitan lifestyle. Adelaide for good old fashioned family living at a slow and manageable pace.

Vash - also think, if you live in certain outer suburbs of Melbourne you can also find 'good old fashioned living' - that's what it feels like in The Basin and all around the Dandenong villages - love it! The art is in the correct choice

Hubby's in Melbourne at the moment, i'm in adelaide will give you the lo down when he comes back

Yes, this true! I have mates in the Dandenongs, and it's absolutely gorgeous up there.

Some Dandenong photos here and here from our Aussie Holiday a couple of years ago...