Still waiting...............................

You dont Live in Melbourne, You Live in Pakenham, Worlds Apart Am Afraid

From what i've seen of inner Melbourne it looks just like any other big,dirty horrible city to me.

So whats your point?

just saying....

When the term 'Melbourne Grows on You' it refers to inner city Melbourne, which it is famous for its culture, sport, shopping, lifestyle, diversity Ect Ect, you would have to be living in those areas to experience what that means. Unfortunatley if you are living about 60 K's out towards Gippsland you cannot really saying you are living In Melbourne and what you experiences of living there good or bad are representative of 'Melbourne', as they are not, , really you are experiencing life in Pakenham, which unfortunatley is probably just another bog standard Ozzie town found every where around Austrlia.!
If its not what you want it to be, then I hope it works out for you mate

i hope so too

Of course it's big - but what's dirty and horrible about it I think it's a fab city and I love the eclectic inner burbs - but we're all different

I've always said it grows on you. Arrive on a wet day (only now found in winter) and some of the more inner city burbs could look dodgy.

Pakenham is a dump. I was there last week and it is not a nice place. It does not have the character of some of Gippsland nor of the Dandenongs, even of the prime places in Berwick. The only things it has going for it is affordable new housing, and a stop on the train line, both suburban Metlink and fast train. The centre is very run down.

There are some inner burbs which are more bohemian and colourful, yet terraced and grey but some people like that: The inner North. There are many others which are very smart, inner East eg Malvern, Camberwell and others in between the two extremes: miles of terracing, and shop fronts, but this is no different to Clapham, Camden or parts of London SW. I was surprised/reassured to see a sort of resemblance when I was in South and North London, but even 'dirtier'. I think my eye had adjusted to Melbourne and thought it was dirtier than it was - other cities confirmed it was not so bad.

Then you get the US inspired middle suburbs with loads of infrastructure and hidden parks on a grid system.

Have to agree on you that the centre is run down,one of the reasons why we're moving.

i've heard it called 'Birmingham with sun'

I know - for all the new estates and funding, the centre is quite a worry really.

I've been to country towns where there is much more wealth and trim and happy people.

The only similarities are they are both cities and are mulicultural, it ends there

Yes, I guess that why I like them - such contrasts. I love Fitzroy as much as Toorak

Where are you moving to? personally I love it. I love living by the beach with easy access into the City - I love the fact that you can run along with Beach Road without people shouting obscene comments at you, I love the fact that there are good coffee shops within easy reach and local butchers etc.