Perth.
 

We are looking at Perth and the surrounding areas as a location to settle our family into. Anyone have any thing nice to say about any areas that we might find nice to settle in, and/or any areas that seem to be on the way down etc?
Hope this makes sense to everyone:)
We are a married couple with four children, two over fifteen and two under four:eek: i blame the water hubby just grins...
I have a nursing job in the UK (nhs) done it for eleven years now, time to expand my horizons, the hubby works in the metals industry as a hands on manager, but also done other jobs.
Our eldest daughter is at college doing her A levels for university, she wants a law based career:thumbup:
So local college unis would be good, also junior and infants schools close to hand would be nice.
What a wish list:fingerscrossed:
Anyone...

Re: Perth.
 

Hi


Have you definitely decided it's Perth where you want to go?

If you look at my Melbourne/Peth pros and cons thread you might get an idea of what people are saying about Perth at the moment.

Re: Perth.
 

I agree with Suzy especially with older children you might want to look at somewhere with more nightlife clubs etc, although Perth is nice it can seem boring for teenagers especially if they have been brought up in a major city.
Good luck whatever you decide:thumbup:

Re: Perth.
 

Afew nurses i knew in Perth (who emigrated from UK) had to take alot less pay and were underdogs. Very annoying if you are leaving a higher rank in UK.

But it's the price we pay when emigrating.

Re: Perth.
 

Hiya

The only words of wisdom I can personally give you are that its virtually impossible to decide on an area or areas before you actually visit them for yourself.

We visited Perth to validate our visa and we had a long list of areas that we liked the sound of from looking at real estate sites and talking to people on site like this one - the bottom line is that for one reason or another we disliked virtually every single area we went to and ended up liking areas we hadn't even considered.

Following on from our reccie visit we have decided that Perth is not where we want to emigrate to (lots of reasons, most of which are echoed on here time and time again by those who have experienced Perth and Melbourne) and so we are heading for Melbourne instead and can't wait :thumbsup:

All the best.

Kari

Re: Perth.
 

check the transperth website make sure your at least on a bus route otherwise you'll end up being a constant taxi :):):):):)

Re: Perth.
 

Thanks for replies guys, we did originally consider Cairns north Queensland, but decided against it as the humidity readings look so high:eek: shame really as my husband liked the look of it (all be it from a monitor screen over the net).
We also looked at Brisbane, and to be honest it still might be a toss up between there and Perth:confused:
Totally agree that the only true way to decide would be to be there in person, but having little spare time and money to fly here and there for a look see is not really a viable option at the minute:( But i get your point.
Thanks again for replies;)

Re: Perth.
 

That's very true, its so far it's not like you can get a cheap flight with ryanair and have a look round for a couple of days. We've been lucky we've been to Oz twice now and seen Perth, Brisbane, and Melbourne and Melbourne's definitely the place for us. Perth looks nice on the tv and when I see it I always think 'oh lets just move to Perth' but then I have to remember what I thought of it when I was I was there and look at the bigger picture really and it's not all about the blue sea and white sandy beaches, it's about what life's really like there and if you can't get there the only other way of finding out is to come on a forum like this and seeing what people who live there say and I've gotta say it makes for interesting reading. Your younger kids might like it, the older ones might not.

Re: Perth.
 

100% agreement with this statement, even watching the Phil Down Under programme last Friday I was drawn to thinking about Perth again - we even have relatives in Perth and it would make so much sense for us to move there to have their help BUT as we've been there and saw things for ourselves it's definitely not where we want to head.

I'm very much looking to going to Perth for a summer holiday at some stage though as we visited in the winter and it rained for almost the entire 4 weeks we were there :sneaky:

Kari

Re: Perth.
 

Hi

The thing about immigrating is that everyones experience of a place is going to be completely different and obviosly you won't know until you do it. Some brits that I knew( most in fact ) loved their new life and would never go back , and some couldn't wait to get back to blighty and hated it. Then you get the ping pong pommes who just can't decide. ( we are probably in the latter category )

We lived in Perth for four years , my partner is a nurse and I started my own business . She had worked in Mental Health and learning dis for a tad longer than you in the UK , and carried on in Perth without taking a pay cut. Agency work also can pay VERY well. She did mention however, that if you are in management at the moment , you may not neccesarily get an equivalent postion and may have to take a step back to start with. She also mentions there are other benefits working for government organisations in health such as ' salary packaging ' which is tax deductable up to approx. $16,000 per year of living expenses.

To answer your question I can tell you about the Northeren suburbs as that is where my experience lies. We moved originally to Mullaloo - look it up - quite a few Brits , but then they're everywhere - its 25 mins from Perth and one of the more expensive suburbs to live in because of its location on the beach side of the Marmion and glorious beach :thumbsup:
If you can't afford that there are other close suburbs away from the beach or further from Perth that might be considerably cheaper for similar properties. Google map the other side of the marmion in the north and check out these suburbs like Heathridge , Connolly , Currambine .

We bought a place in Quinns Rocks , not bad in the old part , but it didn't work for us and we decided to sell and move back for the time being .

Please get in touch if theres anything else , glad to help.

Dave

Re: Perth.
 

great great reviews thanks all, as we have been looking at perth to move there, but i think i will be looking into cities to make sure it suits us all right.

wife is a nurse, i am able to do anything lol, have 2 kids 3 and 8 both girls. the most important thing wud be to get a great school for the girls, and decent job for wife. every other plus will be great, like beaches, parks, activities etc.

Re: Perth.
 

Brilliant responses again:) Our top priority would be schooling then jobs, yeah it would be nice to be over looking crashing waves and have no one either side of us etc etc blah blah, but to be honest we need to get rid of the UK from our systems, i am as english as the next (it's my birth country) but we have to think of our children and our childrens children. We work hard and like to play harder, your restricted here in the UK, take for example we are lucky enough to also own a large touring caravan, and we like nothing more than getting out and about most weekends, especially in the 'summer' months:eek: (yes my tongue is at present lodged firmly in the side of my mouth) summer/sun:lol::lol::lol:
Either way we still go rain or shine, the kids love it to:D
We have been looking at flight costs from the UK out to Australia:blink: my don't the prices vary from operator to operator:rolleyes:
Our medicals are booked for next week (another expense):p we are waiting for our winter gas/electric bill to land on the mat:frown: thats going to hurt, on that point whats the running cost for your gas/ electric or does it vary across that vast country?
Thanks again.

Re: Perth.
 

here here to all u say lol. i know what u mean another expence lol lets just hope its all worth it when we make the move lol.
talking of bills our last elec bill was £375. but have got used to the high living cosr over here in N.Irelan, its a joke. and then to have and sit in while it rains constanly lol.

Re: Perth.
 

Generally avoid IMO

• Balga
• Mirrabooka
• Balcatta
• Girrawheen
• Wanneroo
• Midland (centre)
• High Wycombe
• Belmont (parts)
• Cannington (parts)
• Thornlie
• Gosnells
• Armadale (main centre)
• Langford
• Maddington (parts)

Re: Perth.
 

I am a mental health nurse with too many years of experience behind me! Was a band 6 prior to emigrating - took a marginal pay cut (lower grade but good penalties) and went part time. Learnt the system and have now had a significant promotion with decent pay - have gone back full time.
Me and my family love Perth, the opportunities it can offer, the slower, less frantic pace of life, the beach life style (my kids & husband have got into it in a big way! Surf life saving etc), family time and shops shut on a sunday-HOORAY!!!!!
Other hate the things I love but it would be dull world if we all liked the same things!

Re: Perth.
 

Love Perth, sure Melbourne is a few years ahead in terms of arts, transport etcetera, but Perth is brilliant (and catching up quick!!) .
In regards to uni, UWA is the way to go, a very well respected uni, beautiful campus in a beautiful area. Good law program too.
Personally northern/western suburbs are the way to go but it always depends how much you want to spend, and what you want in a suburb.

Perth has some brilliant (and not so brilliant) schools. I guess it depends on where you're living. Check out the 'My School' website, gives a comparison. Mind you, don't make your mind up based on results! ;)

WA is a great state. Very diverse, amazing landscapes, some great people, awesome wine regions:):), etc etc etc.
Good luck

Re: Perth.
 

Hi sme, yeah my wifer is a band 6 too, but like you say mite have to take what we can, is there much need for spec diabetic nurses ?

i am trying to find out as much as poss about each city to see where siuts us.

chris

Re: Perth.
 

Perth isn't boring for teenagers or people in their early 20's, it is hardly a small town, there is plenty of nightlife to be had...I know coz I was living in Perth in my early 20's in the late 80's... I don't think its changed that much... granted its not the same as London. From my observations its single people in their late 20's/early 30's that find Perth a bit 'small.'

Re: Perth.
 

School excursions possibilities are very limited. Lack of museums and art galleries. For teenagers who get involved in sport, there are lots of opportunities. Some music and comedy shows around, but usually there's a lot of alcohol involved. Nightlife in the 1980s cannot be compared to nightlife now. Huge amount of binge drinking, violence and drugs in nightclubs and on the streets. Several people killed by the "one punch" syndrome, or cricket or baseball bats. Many Perth people would not travel on the trains or buses at night and it can be hard to get a taxi.

I believe that it's important for Perth people to go and live/work somewhere else for a while, and there are loads of 20-30 year olds who do that. Also more 18 year olds going interstate for uni. I'd hate to be single in Perth.

Re: Perth.
 

LoL, tell me about it. The last school trip my youngest had was a ride on a bus .:rolleyes:

Re: Perth.
 

Have you seen the film "Ground-hog day" ?

Re: Perth.
 

Well I am a teacher and have organised lots of great excursions where the students have had a blast. The Zoo, Holocaust Museum, Aborginal camping expeditions, Mundaring Weir. If you think they are all dying to go to art galleries, well I am sorry, but you are very mistaken.

I agree with you that there is more violence on the street compared to the late 80's. There was a spate of one punch deaths but there hasn't been one for ages. Who are we comparing to, don't say the UK, because my son went to school with a kid who was attacked by a mob in Aberdeen and is nor severly brain damaged. I thing this kind of violence and binge drinking is a culture prevalent in both the UK and Australia in equal measure.

My sons are both at uni and they are out constantly - we hardly see them. They avoid certain night spots but they have joined a lot of clubs at uni, my eldest does debating, rowing and tennis. My youngest plays football and is in the army reserves. There are lots of bands and gigs on. They have lots of outdoor pursuits, and with their mates regularly go camping and boating. They are happy here and are never bored.

Apart from London, how many cities in the UK are full of such things as you mention? "I would hate to be single in Perth," being single in any city past a certain point is a challenge. My cousin lives in New York and got divorced 5 years ago and hasn't had anyone serious since.

Perth is a small city and if you expect all the things and vibrancy only a "world" city like London, Paris or New York could provide, then you will be disappointed. But we wouldn't have the wonderful lifestyle we have here if we we lived in those cities.

Re: Perth.
 

Yes, and if that was your life in Perth, well I am sorry, but that is most likely because you didn't put any effort in. Hang out with my sons, they have a blast in Perth because they put themselves out there, try new things, are adventurous and say yes to everything. They have wonderful, interesting friends. Life really is what YOU make it.

Re: Perth.
 

Perth has become much better for younger people in the last 5 years I've noticed (i'm 25) but to say there is plenty to do for young people in Perth especielly hwen yo ucoem from europe is absolute garbage IMO

Re: Perth.
 

Unfortunately not all teachers are creative in seeking school excursion opportunities and mine have been to Perth Zoo and Mundaring Weir (considered very boring by my child), but not the other 2 you mentioned. I wouldn't want them to visit the Holocaust Museum, though, as they are too young. Their teachers haven't yet arranged for any class to go to the Maritime Musem in Freo, or to try bushwalking, or botanical anything, or science anything, or are these all considered high school stuff? My eldest child and I have had as much as we can take of Scitech, a sorry excuse for a science museum.

I was very lucky with school excursions where I grew up in the UK, and I feel sorry for Perth kids for what they miss. Yes, they gain in some ways, eg most kids in the UK don't get to go to surfing beaches. Obviously they are not going to visit Roman palaces here and there's probably not much rock art near Perth, if any.

I did not say that I expected all kids to want to go to art galleries, which is just as well when you live in Perth. I did say that there are many sporting opportunities, which hopefully keeps them busy and engaged.

I wouldn't want to be single in Perth due to its isolation and its insularity. I find Perthites (not the migrants, obviously :p) very gossipy and very inter-connected in a way that you wouldn't find in a city of a similar population elsewhere, such as the UK. There is little confidentiality, little privacy and an avid interest in other people's lives and mishaps.

Re: Perth.
 

Do you realise how many parents gripe at the cost of excursions. I work at a primary school and so many parents don't want to pay so therefore the majority of kids don't get to go because some places charge too much. We have just sent notes home for year 6/7 surf swimming. Cost $28. Moaning parents, millions!

You have also clearly never lived in a small community in the UK. Gossipy doesn't cover it. In the place I grew up in, my grandmother would know I was on my way to visit before I even got there. You need to take those blinkers off.

Re: Perth.
 

Cost of excursions is not an issue at our school - the teachers are just too lazy to come up with a stimulating programme.

Last year our 6/7 surf swimming lessons, which would be exactly the same as yours, cost us $45. I did complain about that, as the lessons only go up to stage 12+, when my son is beyond that but they don't offer a higher level. So we paid $45 for him to play at the beach for 2 weeks, when we can go there for free any day, and he doesn't get the satisfaction of completing another level like his friends.

How on earth can you think my comments about gossip relate to a small UK community? I was quite clearly talking about a similar-sized community to Perth, Western Australia.

I'm not the one wearing blinkers or rose-coloured glasses - go look in a mirror.

Re: Perth.
 

My daughter is also at level 12, there is nothing the school can do about that - it isn't their problem. You can opt to keep your child out if you wish if you feel it is a waste of time, many parents do.

IMO, you were whining about the gossipy nature of Perth as if it was unique. I was merely pointing out that is isn't.

Re: Perth.
 

If I had to choose I most probably would go south of the river, however not too far south and not too far from the ocean your older ones might like surfing. South because of uni, eg Murdoch and the upcoming brand new Fiona Stanley Hospital next to Murdoch uni. Although that will take a few more years. It seems to me that most new migrants choose the northern suburbs but it's a long way for uni. As an example, if you don't want to live in an older house and one that is affordable, the suburbs south of Murdoch would be an option. It is hot there but you still get the afternoon breeze and with the right house (cross ventilation) and orientation it is ok. Furthermore it is not too far from a large shopping centre (Garden City) and Freo is not out of the world.

For school, check out myschool.com.au

Re: Perth.
 

We visited for 2 weeks just over a year ago, we pretty much just saw the main suburbs around the centre of perth and fremantle. Ideally I'd like to live in North Fremantle, claremont or cottesloe, although on Phil down under when they went to Perth last week they said Cottesloe was the "Beverly Hills" of Perth, so perhaps that be a wee bit beyond our means :p

Re: Perth.
 

You might be surprised to know that the WA Ed Dept and schools can and should do something about it. They obviously haven't adjusted the curriculum to allow for the fact that this year there will be teenagers at primary school. Parents can write to the Minister about it, and push for change. It might not work for the current Year 7s, but might help next year's. I found a way around the brick wall for my child and he went up a level last year and will go up again this year.

There's no way I would make my child stay at school while all his classmates went to the beach for 2 weeks - not exactly fair.

I know Perth very well indeed and perhaps mix with Australians from WA and elsewhere more than others. It's possible that some migrants are living in a happy bubble of existence about how wonderful it all is in Perth.

Life here can be good here, but it's only fair to provide potential migrants with accurate information. Perth does have a peculiar culture, probably due to being one of the most isolated cities in the world. There can be only one explanation for your ignorance or indifference: you've turned into one of them - a fully-paid up, head-in-the-sand Waussie :ohmy:.

Re: Perth.
 

Perth has problems, I realise that. I am neither ignorant nor indifferent. I also don't resort to insulting people that disagree with my view .

Re: Perth.
 

You need to read your posts. You are very defensive and dismissive when someone disagrees with you. You also live in a parallel universe where the northern train line in Perth is not crowded and where Joondalup Hospital is a great place to be treated :rofl:.

Re: Perth.
 

A city entirely of gossips? A little generalisation.

The WA state gallery caters for a major range of people, not just art lovers. Go look at it sometime, it is amazing.

I have thrice been to the art gallery with my school, which is 4 1/2 hour bus trip. It would be unfair to insinuate that no schools do trips.

Personally, I love Perth, but thats just my opinion ;)
If everyone reckoned Perth was amazing, there would be waaay too many people here!

Re: Perth.
 

I didn't say it wasn't crowded, I said it was a piece of cake compared to commuting in London. I also said that my experience of Joondalup Hospital was good. I was there again today at the Orthopedic Trauma Clinic. We were in and out including an xray in 45 minutes. I sometimes do wonder if I live in a parallel Perth to everyone else because none of what happens to others happens to me. It doesn't mean that other peoples experiences aren't valid just that there are always 2 sides to everything.

Re: Perth.
 

But that's the thing - where I came from the the NOR train isn't crowded and Joondalup Hospital is good. We had to travel for 30 minutes to the nearest cinema, a school excursion happened once a year in the summer and it was around 2.5 hours drive to see any big 'stars' in concert.

I like it in Perth, my OH and I are out every Thursday sampling any and every restaurant we can find. The kids are educated, entertained and exhausted at the end of every week. We've seen a number of big names in concert and been on some wonderful holidays to Asia. There are big, clean parks around every corner and we can waterski on the river at the weekends.

I don't depend on the school to take my children on days out, we do it ourselves: Maritime Museum in Freo (the boys loved the submarine), Perth mint, Perth Zoo (we take food and BBQ to make it a great day out), Caversham, Scitech, Fremantle Prison. When we lived in the UK we never had the same opportunities to spend so much quality time with the kids.

Life is what you make it - yours sounds miserable :p

Re: Perth.
 

I think this is a classic case of reading too much of the local newspaper. This is the picture they paint (to sell papers!!) but not one that I recognise as Perth.

If the local paper run front page stories of how well behaved punters were in Northbridge on Friday night (or how police, health or education services got things right), they'd sell less. Simple as.

And it is these largely negative media reports that form some peoples perceptions of what life must be like in Perth!! Even if they never experienced any of it themselves.

In my experience Perth is no different from any other large city. Sure things happen but it's nothing like the media would have you believe. I even got the bus home on few late night occasions and lived to tell the tale!!

Re: Perth.
 

Try living in London, someone was shot dead outside our flat, everywhere has its ugly side these days, you just have to be sensible and make the most of the pros.

Re: Perth.
 

I am going back to Oz but not Perth as I outgrew it in the 3 years I was there, I agree some people are suited to Perth but I was not one of them, I am used to getting a cheap trip to Madrid or Prague for a few days 4 or 5 times a year and I just found perth boring and restrictive, you can only do so much in Perth if you are not into sports or the beach etc...I suppose growing up in London did not help to be honest.

Re: Perth.
 

I did not say that the entire population of Perth were gossips, I realise that a few people are not. There are also issues of privacy, fairness, nepotism and cronyism.

I did not say that no schools run excursions. Obviously there are some creative and thoughtful teachers out there. I just haven't met any of them. Where did I say that it is entirely up to schools to take children on excursions?

People have to deal with with different circumstances and with different financial situations. In our case these have made it difficult to get outside WA. If you didn't have this simple freedom, you would probably have a different attitude. Some posters here are coming across as smug and mean-spirited :thumbdown:.

I lived in London for a long time, and this is a major factor in my reaction to Perth places such as Scitech and the WA Art Gallery.

Where have I said that there is nothing good about Perth? I think it is important to acknowledge the minuses as well.

I have just as much right as you do to write about my experiences. Why get so vicious about other people's views? It is interesting that so many migrants to Perth seem to think that any criticism of Perth is a attack on their personal decision to come and live in Perth.