Re: Melbourne or Brisbane
 

Hi

It's been a while, but I thought I'd like to add a quick comment re Melbourne's weather.

We've been living down in the Mornington Peninsula for just over 3 years now and we are thinking of moving to Brisbane. There are a number of reasons for this, but one of the main ones is the weather.

We originally came from Glasgow, so we know what cold weather is all about. Funnily enough (as most of you will know) your typical Aussie (or just about any foreigner) thinks the UK and esp. Scotland are very cold in the winter - losts of frost n snow. It's not - it's most cold n wet n windy. (Although watching all the news and talking to my parents suggests this winter has been a cracker!)

Obviously, Melbourne winters are not as bad (nor are any of the other seasons), but it's still a relative thing. I know that some of it is down to getting used to it, but I do think the winter's here are cold. Part of this is to do with the sizeable commute into the city each day. You leave when it's dark and get home when it's dark - and when it's obviously that little bit colder. Yes, if I'm out and about in winter at the weekend I can get by with a light coat or a heavy jumper, with an umbrella not too far away.

In Glasgow, a dull n wet winters day is 5-15 degrees - you have to put on a coat (not usually a scarf or gloves), you have to put the heating on in the house and you have to put on the electric blanket at night. In Southern Victoria it may get up to 15-20 degrees, but that's only in the afternoon. The rest of the time you still have to put on a coat over your suit jacket (and I see loads of people wearing gloves n scarves on the train - definitely Aussies!), you still have to heat the house (pretty poor house insulation and NO double glazing here) and you still have to put the electric blanket on.

We considered Brisbane before coming over and went with Melbourne because we had friends already here and we were a little bit afraid of how hot n humid it might be in QLD. Now I think we're ready to give it a try. We've been on a few holidays 'up the coast' and had no real problems with the humidity.

Cheers David

Re: Melbourne or Brisbane
 

oh no, dont do this to me! Just when i thought i was clear in my mind about moving to melbourne! it does sound very chilly if you need your heating on.well, you cant have it all. I guess its difficult to tick all the boxes for the move to oz.

Re: Melbourne or Brisbane
 

Good luck. I guess like everything it comes down to what an individual likes. For some Brisbane is too humid in summer, for others Melbourne is too cold and windy in winter. Maybe NSW is the answer ;)

Re: Melbourne or Brisbane
 

yes,NSW sounds like the winner weather wise which is were I would have chosen but it doesnt tick most of the other boxes for me.well, i wont know till i try melbourne for myself, if i dont like the weather, there's always the option to move, like you are doing.

Re: Melbourne or Brisbane
 

Me :eek: I'm not moving from sunny Brisbane down to those frigid climes :ohmy:

Of course, can see why others might prefer that weather, well I try to understand anyway :blink:

Re: Melbourne or Brisbane
 

Brisbane for us. We aint taking no chances with cold weather again, especially after this cold UK winter.

Melbourne would remind me to much of the UK climate - 4 seasons in 1 day. :blink:

Re: Melbourne or Brisbane
 

The top and bottom is that you will experience cold weather is Melbourne in Winter! or anytime from may to September. WOW Shock, its gets cold in OZ! so if you require year round warm weather head north. You will also expeience a lot of rain in the summer in QLD and NSW (coastal), although beingwarm, so its not perfect everywhere.

Mate in your posts, you come across as a bit shallow and nieve, that you are basing everything around the weather. Believe me you will find that its more about the culture and what a place can offer you thats the important factor, the weather anywhere you go in Australia is a hell of a lot better than the UK, so you are already at an advantage anyway!

If its about weather you might as well move to spain as its closer to home.

Re: Melbourne or Brisbane
 

Just remember you will get a lot of rain in Brisbane in Summer, with a lot less variety and culture than Melbourne.

I love hearing about people avoiding Melbourne because they think it gets cold, it quite honestly makes me chuckle.!!:rofl:

I have lived in Mel 5 years and never experienced 4 seasons in one day, I have experienced dramatic shifts in temp but that is generally from 40 to 26 degrees!

Melbournes year round climate is comparable to Central California, not the UK!


Yes Melbourne gets colder winters than most other capital cities in Oz, but they are nothing like UK Winters, they are comparible to a Spanish Winter. The problem lies within Australia Houses not the natural environment, they are not built for colder weather, I havegenerally found that it is colder in your house than it is outside!

Re: Melbourne or Brisbane
 

thanx for this, although your comment is a bit harsh.I am merely reacting to peoples comments just like everyone is.There's no need to be so touchy! I visited melbourne,sydney,brisbane and perth in August and i did notice the difference.I am not from outer space, i do have an idea but i am not an expert on oz weather hence this forum.

Re: Melbourne or Brisbane
 

Lots of people have already commented on the weather in Melbourne but thought I would add my take on it!

To me, comparing to the UK Melbourne is like 'one season better'. By this I mean, melbourne winter feels like UK autumn/spring, melbourne autumn/spring feels like UK summer. Eg at the moment is is starting to get autumnal in Melbourne, but I've been cycling around today wearing jeans and a t-shirt - its 22/23 degrees.

Of course, one season better means the summer in Melbourne is hotter and sunnier than it ever is in the UK :)

The winter can feel cold here - especially if you have a house with poor heating/insulation etc (which lots do). Going to the bathroom in the winter in my unheated flat in st Kilda required putting an extra layer on! :blink: I've now moved somewhere with proper heating..

The other main weather characteristic compared to the UK is it hardly ever seems to rain here! This is not always a good thing - sometimes the countryside is very brown and dry. But from a practical point of view in the city its great. You don't have to carry an umbrella/rain coat with you everywhere. You can cycle to work almost everyday without worrying that it will be raining in the evening. :)

Re: Melbourne or Brisbane
 

That would happen 3 or 4 times a year at most.

We've just had 110 days plus of above 20 degrees continuous temps.

The Worst weather we get are the days above 38 degrees accompanied by blast furness winds. I personally would like to get away from those days and those days alone.

In all other aspects comparing Melbourne and Brisbane is a totally one sided comparison. Melbourne is a closer match to London than it is to Brisbane.

Spent the Valentines day weekend up in Sydney, it was 'orribly humid, spent at least 60 pct of the time sweating my nuts orf... didnt get to chaffing stage, but I did start feeling lethargic, . Now if Brisbane is worse than that you can stick it, For weather that is.... I'd be more than willing to have a look around and a go at Brisbane on non humid days.

Re: Melbourne or Brisbane
 

I agree, the description of melbourne climate is very apt, it is one season "better" than the uk. Also I would say that the weather is more volatile than the uk. So yes, you can cycle almost every day without worrying about the rain, but every now and then you'll go out on a sunny day on your bike and within 5mins the skies will darken and you'll get soaked to the skin.

As you say, it is important to understand that many houses in melbourne have little insulation or heating, sometimes none at all. If you are in such a house you will feel that winter is "five seasons worse" than the uk.

There was an incident recently in melbourne, I think it was last June, a lady went to sleep one night but left her window slightly ajar. When they found her in the morning she was completely encased in a giant iceblock.

Re: Melbourne or Brisbane
 

:rofl:

Re: Melbourne or Brisbane
 

That's very true. People have to remember it is winter down south in Australia. Sydney fairs better due to more reliable sunnier days - temps get to high teens for an hour or so. And Brisbane is more yet of the same. Early 20s.

A great way of looking at it. I recall leaving work and feeling warm - or hot - and seeing sunny skies for most (at least half, if not more of the year) in Melbourne. From October to April/May it's fine. It really is!

The only real blip is when DST ends - but that happens in Sydney, it happens in London..

Re: Melbourne or Brisbane
 

We chose Melbourne over Brisbane and 3 years later haven't regretted it.

I did a reccie on both places - here's the results on both -

Brisbane Reccie -

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=412993

Melbourne Reccie -

http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=413388

Buzzy