Hi, just been reading your threads on Mackay. Our visa was finalised on Monday and we are planning on moving to Mackay in early October. My husband has a job to go to and we are going to be in rented accommodation supplied by his company for the fist few weeks. So the first thing we will need to do is to find our own rental home. I was researching some of the suburbs and its hard to choose until we arrive and see for ourselves. So it was good that a few of the places that I quite liked have been discussed. We have two boys aged 8 and 10, schooling is very important and we wouldn't want to be too far from the school. We are uncertain about bringing our furniture. How easy is it to get furniture? the only place I have found that sells furniture is a shop called "Super A-Mart". Seems quite reasonably priced.

Any info you can pass on about what we probably should bring with us and what to buy new would be appreciated.

Nikki

Hi Nikki,

The areas to live in are really nice but be just abit careful if you have seen some where in Glennella as it got flooded in Febuary and they are still rebuilding the houses. But everywhere else is ok. They are just building some new houses in Eimeo where we live so there might be some more rentals there. Super A Mart is good for furnature and well priced. For white goods there is Harvey Norman and the Good Guys. If you are paying cash you can barter the price down and play one off against the other to get a better deal. My company paid for us to bring our things out here but you have to be carefull with the wood products you bring are if anything contains seeds as they are very Strict on what you can bring in.
As far as I know of the schools are very good but not too sure on where they all are.
What do you both do for a job?
If there is anything we can help with just let us know.

Rick.

Thanks Rick.

Richard is a Engineering Draughtsman and I used to be a secretary before I had the children. Since then I did go back and work in an office but i didn't really enjoy it and have since been working as a care worker for the elderly both in a home and out inthe community. It was a job that I found very rewarding. Not sure if there are any old folks homes in Mackay! I won't be working to begin with but once the kids are settled into school i am thinking I might get a job. Doing what I don't really know!

Hubby's company are paying the shipping costs but to be honest it might just be better to leave the big items and buy new when we arrive. Just ship over our personal stuff.

Are there any items that we should definatley bring with us?

Any info will help.

Nikki

Hi Nikki,

Who is your hubby going to be working for? Sounds like your in the same boat as us, the company I will be working for are paying for our stuff to be brought over and we just picked the big stuff to take and get the rest out there. We leaving anything made from wood as Customs are really strict on this. We should be out there just before you

Ste

Did you tell the carrier at least Dick Turpin had the decency to wear a mask !

Just waiting on feed back on flights now, should be flying arouind 24th Sept. Moving into temp accomodation but seen a cracking house in Eimeo & put an enquiry on it. Fingers crossed.

Ste

Hubby will be working for Connell Wagner. They are arranging a removal company to contact us with regards to coming over and giving us a quote. We We are renting out our property and the family moving into our house want to be in by the end of September as they don't want to extend the rental where they currently live for another month. At first I thought there is no way we will be ready by then, but I suppose there is good chance if we get organising. I'm just a bit nervous about the huge step we are about to make and in my head I was thinking of leaving end of Oct. Need to do lots of clearing out (started today) and do lots of car boots etc. I also have a cat that i need to re-home. I'm not sentimental about the cat but I am about selling my car!!!

Keep you posted

Nikki

He he I know what you mean, my sis-in-law is moving into our house so luckily the dog will be ok, too expensive and he's too old to to bring with us. We got to sell 2 cars and my motorbike before we go, should be interesting. My wife, Lisa isnt sure whether to go back to work or not, it won't be for a while anyway as Lydia is only 3 and she will busy with Mel (11) and Jess (9) with schools and things, Lisa is a bit worried she may get bored though.

I'm going to be working on the goods yard in Sarina for the coal exportation, I think its to make things easier for the coal depot at Hay Point.

Can't wait to get there been speaking to some great people who have already made the move. Gonna be a few beers over the coming spring me-thinks.

Cheers

Ste

Hi All

Best leaving the fridge and freeze in the uk as they will not cope with the heat out here and will be dead in a few months and if you have any camping gear you want to bring over DON'T customs will charge you to fumigate it and it will hold up your shippment. Any wood that is treated will be fine to bring over. Our things arrive on monday at our house in Eimeo. They left on the 25th of June from our house in the uk and arrived in Brisbane on the 9th August. They then have to go throught customs and then be brought up to Mackay. If you are bringing any things like bikes and things that have been near muck or mud have to be very clean. Get some thing called Jays fluid and spray the bikes and any tools with that. This stuff kills germs and stinks so use in a well ventilated area.
Ste where have you seen in Eimeo?
Just a quick note for the ladies!! The area is big in engineering and it is abit hard to find admin jobs if your after one so it may take a little time finding a job. But if you want to be a welder, boiler maker, fitter, Sparkie, or anything like that there are loads of jobs.

Any more info let me know.

Rick.

CFO for a company with manufacturing plant in Sarina. Usually stay in Mackay and drive down each day while up. Spent all last week up (from Sunday to Saturday).

Only thing that bothered me about Blacks beach was the amount of dogs off their leads at night around the beach (with no owners). Bit like having wild dogs running amok.

Found a reasonable resort in Dolphins Heads, hopefully the road works are sorted soon which will mean very quick journey into central Mackay. At the moment even though you get delayed by the works its still a small journey compared to similar in Melbourne (where I am based).

Advice from my PA was buy on top of large hill something to do with a big flood

Sounds like Mackay is getting a few new folks into town

hi all
we have now been in mackay for 20 months from kent, it has been an emotional rollercoaster, but its all been worth it.
we live in Eimeo and have 3 children (15,12 and 7). schools were an eye opener. but all the kids are very settled and it didnt take them very long to make loads of new friends.
we brought all our camping stuff over, canvas tent, cooker etc and had no problems with customs but we did clean everything and sprayed it with jeys fluid, we had a nice big tent but have just brought a new light weight one with the ground sheet sewn in.
the only thing we had to pay customs was a tax on our new washing machine as it was under a year old, but it wasnt much.
summer can get very very hot and humid, but we are now used to the weather and have been feeling the cold in 18 degrees, so dont throw all your jumpers out you may need the odd one on a cold day.well good luck to you all on your travels and if you need any more help or advice you only have to ask.
one other thing you may find intresting, if you look up google earth and go to street level, there are pictures of most streets and houses in mackay.
Denise Peter Bradley,Anya & freya

Hiya

We been looking at Eimeo as it seems pretty handy for the schools, we're over next month and looking forward to it. It won't be easy but nothing ever is Could do with the decent weather !!

Ste, Lisa, Mel, Jess & Lydia

Hi, we have been looking at various areas to rent and Eimeo looks a nice place, just wondering how long it would take to travel by car from Eimeo to the city heart.

Nikki

I'm guessing 15mins as it doesnt look too far to be honest.

Hi All

It takes about 20min to get into the centre of Mackay and it's a pretty easy drive. We live in Mackay in a new house on Village Circuit and that is how long it take's us.

Rick.

Its dual carriageway the whole way. Currently there are roadworks which should be finished shortly. Speed limit of about 80km

Even with the road works it was taking 15 to 20 mins to get on to the main drag into town.

Big Bilo and at least 2 other big shopping centres close by

• Mt Pleasant on way out of town towards blackbeach, eimeo
• Kanlen? Biggest we saw - more in town
• North point - furniture/electronics - on the way into town