Kassy

Hi - we are slowly approaching d-day when my kids and I finally move to Melbourne this September (hubby will be joining us some months later). Could someone please recommend some good state primary schools? The plan is to rent for a year or so and then to eventually buy in the same suburb.

Also any views on Auburn Primary and Auburn South Primary schools?


Thanks so much!

Petals

Auburn South Primary School is a good school and lots of professionals from the area send their children there before they go on to private high schools.

My ex employer sent his children there and the community was great. I still have a cook book that the Mums put together to raise money. Lots of involvement going on there.

slipshot

We had the same dilemma in Jan when we moved, knowing we had the chance to get the eldest (4) into a good school because of the catchment area, as that is what it's all about. Without a job we were totally flexible in our location.

After speaking to many different people, one name that came out frequently was Camberwell Primary School and thus we moved into the catchment area (the catchments are not that often publicly available but some sweet talking to the school gets a map of it and off you go - and the map is definitely needed as the roads bear no resemblance to say a 5 mile radius or anything else.

We thus took a hit by renting in Camberwell, a very expensive suburb, to get our daughter into what we understand to be the best, if not top 5 school in Melbourne.

We'll see next year if it is worth it, but she's guaranteed a place because of our location so it works very well.

Kassy

Thanks for that!

The problem is the schools (Auburn South Primary) don't seem to publish the catchment on their website. So all these days have been trying to get an idea of rentals and only looking for places on streets in front/immediately next to the school - so not much choice then...lol

How about Auburn Primary - that seems to be a smaller school - anything nice to say about it?

Auburn South Primary looks very good. Will also check out Camberwell Primary now - thanks for the heads up on that. The advantage with Hawthorn is the transport and proximity to transport and CBD, what with us on our own and no car initially.

We were planning to rent a 4 bed at first(that was when we were going to move the entire family, bag and baggage). But now with just the girls and myself, would be quite content with a 2-3 bed unit/apartment for sometime.

Petals

Auburn South takes students from Hawthorn and Hawthorn East areas and only its catchment as its highly desirable.

http://www.thisreview.com.au/Reviews...-East-Victoria

ossigeno

These are both great schools. You can't do much better than these, state or private. But the catchment areas are extremely small.

ossigeno

You can ring them and they will tell you the street boundaries.

Kassy

Thanks - will do that and give them a call.

Geelong Gent

We are not far from there. You could also try Malvern
http://www.malvernps.vic.edu.au/

Kassy

Thanks GG....

BTW are there any streets/roads that we should steer clear off (e.g. crime hotspots) in these areas:

Hawthorn
Hawthorn East
Kew
Kew East
Malvern
Camberwell


Am nervous as it would just be myself and the kids initially and I've never stayed alone before

slipshot

Or call in and get a map which is what we did to get into Camberwell Primary school...

Hebe

I know the area pretty well - if you want help then PM me.

ossigeno

You are picking the best suburbs in Melbourne for family living.

These areas stretch quite far. I would avoid the side of Malvern that goes down to Princes freeway and Hawthorn border with Burnley.

Not any particular crime hotspots in these areas I am aware of.

Camberwell has a fast train service to city. Hawthorn on same line but is a slow train. Malvern station is down near the Princes freeway. None of the other suburbs have a train service.

Camberwell and Hawthorn are the pick of the crop.

Buying a house in any of these suburbs will cost $1M plus.

Geelong Gent

I would correct this statement by saying stay clear of being right on the Dandenong road - but don't rule out this side of Malvern if you can afford it

(Prices started at $1.8m+) The train journey is 12 mins (ie Caulfield too Parliament).

The Hawthorn border with Burnely is more Richmond (smaller plots/more flats/units). Busy roads main and side roads.

Have a look at Glen Iris (tree lined, well located for trams, trains and access to and from the city by city link).

You might also wish to look at Armadale but house plots get smaller (but access to city is faster).

Geelong Gent

Be wary when reading crime stats - these areas are high risk for burglaries due to high profile and wealthy residents. I say be wary because the stats do not reflect the level of safety or sense of security.

But the most safe and secure areas for families and my wife is often left home alone with the kids while I travel interstate and she has no issues.