Perth or Brisbane
#16
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,040
Re: Perth or Brisbane
I do this. Maybe I'm just lucky. That said virtually impossible in Brisbane - no beach.
#17
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,013
Re: Perth or Brisbane
Hi all,
Could anyone advise the positive and negative differences between Perth and Brisbane please?
I have only been to Perth once (last July) and really liked the lifestyle (compared to London). Although we were surprised how cool/cold and wet it was during our two weeks stay, it was actually drier in Melbourne which we were both surprised about. Anyways... My wife and I liked the space and laid back lifestyle (call it quiet if you must). I haven't been to Brisbane, my wife has been to Brisbane but it was over 10 years ago so no doubt it has changed.
A move is a foot with my UK employer where a move/internal transfer to Oz within the next year is being sought (visas would be processed by my employer removing the headache and cost).
However, I haven't yet been asked about location! My wife and I (have a 10wk old baby) and would like to stay away from the major cities (Sydney & Melbs), we're seeking a more balanced/outdoorsy/laid back lifestyle.
I work as a project manager in the construction/civil engineering sector (associate director level) and my wife (currently on maternity leave) is Head of Systems and Production within IT - Investment Sector and she hopes to go back to work next year either doing what she is doing or something similar/else. So if anyone has any information regarding our sectors and job security within Perth/Brisbane and is able to provide an insight would be great for consideration.
Cheers
Could anyone advise the positive and negative differences between Perth and Brisbane please?
I have only been to Perth once (last July) and really liked the lifestyle (compared to London). Although we were surprised how cool/cold and wet it was during our two weeks stay, it was actually drier in Melbourne which we were both surprised about. Anyways... My wife and I liked the space and laid back lifestyle (call it quiet if you must). I haven't been to Brisbane, my wife has been to Brisbane but it was over 10 years ago so no doubt it has changed.
A move is a foot with my UK employer where a move/internal transfer to Oz within the next year is being sought (visas would be processed by my employer removing the headache and cost).
However, I haven't yet been asked about location! My wife and I (have a 10wk old baby) and would like to stay away from the major cities (Sydney & Melbs), we're seeking a more balanced/outdoorsy/laid back lifestyle.
I work as a project manager in the construction/civil engineering sector (associate director level) and my wife (currently on maternity leave) is Head of Systems and Production within IT - Investment Sector and she hopes to go back to work next year either doing what she is doing or something similar/else. So if anyone has any information regarding our sectors and job security within Perth/Brisbane and is able to provide an insight would be great for consideration.
Cheers
Melbourne was much more to our liking.
You are young, don't go to Brisbane.
#18
Forum Regular
Thread Starter
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 71
Re: Perth or Brisbane
When we were in iur late 50 we had the idea to retire to Australia i.e. Brisbane. We had planned a 4 week stay. After 2 weeks we knew Brisbane and surroundings weren't for us. We found Brisbane a very boring and provincial city.
Melbourne was much more to our liking.
You are young, don't go to Brisbane.
Melbourne was much more to our liking.
You are young, don't go to Brisbane.
#19
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,040
Re: Perth or Brisbane
Brisbane has no beach yet is humid and muggy for most of the year.
To base your choice on a smaller city because you have a young family is a bad mistake. Larger cities have all the bits you desire and in many respects offer more opportunities in many life balancing areas because they are larger.
#20
BE Enthusiast
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 339
Re: Perth or Brisbane
Trust me that Brisbane is a very small city. It's like a village trying to act like a large city. There is nothing outside of the CBD unlike Melbourne and Sydney that have bustling inner city suburbs upto 25K outside the CBD. The same connot be said of Brisbane. There is no bustle even 5K out of the city.
Sure there are many that like the quiet life and Brisbane outer suburbs is about weekends remaking the garden yet again or cleaning the pool that you use for maybe 4 months of the year. Build your own pizza oven as another project to give you something to do at the weekends or drive for 1-2hrs north or south to get to a nice beach. Well, maybe an hour north to get to Bribie but weekend traffic is terrible as is the poor road infrastructure of Brisbane and woeful public transport.
Don't be taken in by advertising campaigns as just like looking for houses they take misleading pictures of the best aspects of the house and same for a city. Just like Venice is a crumbling, dirty, smelly by the water in summer town that still gets promoted as the city of love. And boy does the Rialto bridge need a repaint and repair.
Sure there are many that like the quiet life and Brisbane outer suburbs is about weekends remaking the garden yet again or cleaning the pool that you use for maybe 4 months of the year. Build your own pizza oven as another project to give you something to do at the weekends or drive for 1-2hrs north or south to get to a nice beach. Well, maybe an hour north to get to Bribie but weekend traffic is terrible as is the poor road infrastructure of Brisbane and woeful public transport.
Don't be taken in by advertising campaigns as just like looking for houses they take misleading pictures of the best aspects of the house and same for a city. Just like Venice is a crumbling, dirty, smelly by the water in summer town that still gets promoted as the city of love. And boy does the Rialto bridge need a repaint and repair.
#21
BE Forum Addict
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 2,900
Re: Perth or Brisbane
What people are trying to explain to you is that the suburbs of Australia's biggest cities can be very similar to the smaller cities. In Melbourne you have easy access to the bay if you live nearby, parks, etc. Sydney has coastline beaches, river beaches, national parks, etc. All perfect for young family outdoor activities.
Brisbane has no beach yet is humid and muggy for most of the year.
To base your choice on a smaller city because you have a young family is a bad mistake. Larger cities have all the bits you desire and in many respects offer more opportunities in many life balancing areas because they are larger.
Brisbane has no beach yet is humid and muggy for most of the year.
To base your choice on a smaller city because you have a young family is a bad mistake. Larger cities have all the bits you desire and in many respects offer more opportunities in many life balancing areas because they are larger.
I would encourage you to put better definition on what "balance" and "lifestyle" means to you. To many people it means "more time with the kids" or "work less." Very unlikely you will find that by transferring to Australia - regardless of which capital city you transfer to.
#22
Home and Happy
Joined: Dec 2002
Location: Keep true friends and puppets close, trust no-one else...
Posts: 93,806
Re: Perth or Brisbane
Brisbane weather. Well the winter days are generally quite pleasant but gets pretty cold at night and same problem with housing and insulation. In summer it's like walking around in atomised honey and that's for nearly half of the year during a bad year but at least 4mnths of the year is the norm. Low to high 30's are the norm for summer but anything over 26C and 50% humidity starts to get yukky and so this will be for most of summer. I started out in my late 20's quite able to handle the heat but after 14yrs I hate humid heat. Dry heats not so bad but also something to think about.
#23
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 14,040
Re: Perth or Brisbane
If you are looking to leave "big city headache" behind then you should think regional rather than capital city, and perhaps look at smaller towns in the UK. Perth and Brisbane are not small towns and have the same issues Sydney and Melbourne do and I agree with Beoz's sentiment that you are not likely to find more "balance" in Perth or Brisbane because they are smaller than Sydney or Melbourne.
I would encourage you to put better definition on what "balance" and "lifestyle" means to you. To many people it means "more time with the kids" or "work less." Very unlikely you will find that by transferring to Australia - regardless of which capital city you transfer to.
I would encourage you to put better definition on what "balance" and "lifestyle" means to you. To many people it means "more time with the kids" or "work less." Very unlikely you will find that by transferring to Australia - regardless of which capital city you transfer to.
There's only 2 cities I have lived for 10+ years period of time and that is London and Sydney.
As much as I love London, the long extended length of winter and cloudy skies don't lend itself too well for getting the kids outside. The weather, damp parks, etc tends influence more toward indoor activities.
On the flipside Sydney (I will use that as an example as I know it) has a short winter, even then it's brilliant blues skies, and there's always outdoor activities to do which don't cost.
Put the outdoor part along side parent work, kids school, there's more available balance.
Of course in really hot places kids may gravitate to indoor, airconditoned activities, like what happens in the UK.
Need to find that place with long summers which are temperate to keep the work, life, balance thing. Work is work. Let me know where the 10 hour week is for the same amount of money. We will all go.
Last edited by Beoz; Mar 18th 2018 at 10:08 am.
#24
Re: Perth or Brisbane
Fair point
There's only 2 cities I have lived for 10+ years period of time and that is London and Sydney.
As much as I love London, the long extended length of winter and cloudy skies don't lend itself too well for getting the kids outside. The weather, damp parks, etc tends influence more toward indoor activities.
On the flipside Sydney (I will use that as an example as I know it) has a short winter, even then it's brilliant blues skies, and there's always outdoor activities to do which don't cost.
Put the outdoor part along side parent work, kids school, there's more available balance.
Of course in really hot places kids may gravitate to indoor, airconditoned activities, like what happens in the UK.
Need to find that place with long summers which are temperate to keep the work, life, balance thing. Work is work. Let me know where the 10 hour week is for the same amount of money. We will all go.
There's only 2 cities I have lived for 10+ years period of time and that is London and Sydney.
As much as I love London, the long extended length of winter and cloudy skies don't lend itself too well for getting the kids outside. The weather, damp parks, etc tends influence more toward indoor activities.
On the flipside Sydney (I will use that as an example as I know it) has a short winter, even then it's brilliant blues skies, and there's always outdoor activities to do which don't cost.
Put the outdoor part along side parent work, kids school, there's more available balance.
Of course in really hot places kids may gravitate to indoor, airconditoned activities, like what happens in the UK.
Need to find that place with long summers which are temperate to keep the work, life, balance thing. Work is work. Let me know where the 10 hour week is for the same amount of money. We will all go.
#26
Lost in BE Cyberspace
Joined: Oct 2008
Location: Perth
Posts: 6,775
Re: Perth or Brisbane
Unless right schools kids can indeed grow up 'woolly' and very 'unworldly' . which taking it further infers some hefty out goings from the piggy bank.
#28
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Joined: Oct 2008
Location: Perth
Posts: 6,775
Re: Perth or Brisbane
Depending on the sort of people you are, perhaps harder to adapt to either city mentioned, after living in London than anticipated.
#29
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Joined: Oct 2005
Location: Hill overlooking the SE Melbourne suburbs
Posts: 16,622
Re: Perth or Brisbane
It is still light in Melbourne at 9pm at the summer solstice.
I find that the London / Melbourne work culture is similar. People took things rather more seriously in London: here people will leave early on a Friday or tell you to go home if you are at your desk too long. It's important but not that important (As long as the work gets done). Many professionals read and process email outside work hours but this is more about remaining connected (etc).
I find that the London / Melbourne work culture is similar. People took things rather more seriously in London: here people will leave early on a Friday or tell you to go home if you are at your desk too long. It's important but not that important (As long as the work gets done). Many professionals read and process email outside work hours but this is more about remaining connected (etc).