Problems in Melbourne?
 

Hi,
Our family including 2 young kids are preparing for a move to Melbourne from UK but I have been made aware only just in the last couple of days of growing problems with car jackings, nighttime home raids and general Sudanese gang violence in more than one suburb of the city. Having watched now some very depressing news clips on YouTube, I am seriously re-considering our migration. Has anyone had firsthand experience of these gangs or is it being blown out of proportion? Is it prevalent in other Aus cities or is it a Melbourne thing?

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

Its a first world city with first world issues. No more trouble than Sydney, Perth, Brisbane, the Gold Coast etc. Read the threads on here about Melbourne and change your viewing habits!

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

Hi Pollyana,
I do don't worry - on here every single day gathering knowledge from all you helpful people! Most of the time I am excited about our new adventure but having watched these clips I feel quite depressed. I am not one of these people expecting Aus to be a utopia - I am a realist, but if it means putting my family at risk from violence that they might not be exposed to here. - it's a worry.

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

We live in the outer east, have been here almost two years, and the most we've run into is people drinking in the park after dark and fighting with each other.

I see the same media reports as you as it ends up on the news every night and you'll notice that they tend to occur mostly in the same suburbs (not naming any, but you'll notice a pattern).

Given the media reports about recent events in Europe, we might think that is an unsafe place to live as well.

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

You are probably right to cancel the move. You don't want to kids knocking around with such evil.

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

Thanks for your advice but are you being flippant about my concerns for the safety of my family?

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

I am being flippant. You will be fine.

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

It's a spike, that's all, it'll be over in 18 months to 2 years. This gang and some copy cat gangs are different in that it does home invasions, car jackings and robberies. Your every day gang, that most Cities here and around the world have are far more likely to be a problem to your kids as they usually target others in their age group.

South London 40 years ago, from where I hail, was a far more dangerous place than the worst part of Melbourne today IMO.

One thing though, you will encounter far more drug culture here, which is a totally different issue than what I know of exists in the UK..... especially in country towns.

A

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

I must admit in the first few years I was worried about what was happening on our doorstep as it were. But the reality is any major city in the UK has exactly the same things daily. In the urban sprawl you don't think of it in the same way. But it happens. And just like anywhere you do not have to be a victim. Lock doors!. Its hot but do not sleep with a window open unless it has bars or Crimsafe screen. Car doors normally autolock once you start off if not do it yourself. see whats going on around you. You do not have to be paranoid just aware of your surroundings. Social media has a lot to answer for. We have a world so scared for our children and those strangers when most are assaulted by trusted friends and family. There is a growing drug problem, I think if they had been a little more lax on people smoking weed things may not be so bad now. But the dealers see it as may as well get hung for stealing a sheep than a lamb. More profit from a highly addictive substance that is ICE. Drives what were once normal law abiding people into jobless, useless thieves. A glance at the face and you`ll know to steer clear. Id rather raise a young family here than the UK no question.

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

Pete, not sure what part of the UK you are coming from. But having lived in Glasgow and all around London. Melbourne is very very safe. There have been a few incidents lately as you have noted, but on the whole these are very minor and have been generally one offs.

The Sudanese gang violence and I think you have found it was with the Pacific Islanders. I believe was a one off and did attract a lot of media attention. Other stuff I have heard off has been related to Indian immigrants and Chinese, mostly racist attacks but I have not seen/heard of anything in the news of late. You still have the late night drunken violence, same for any city I suspect but they have cracked down on it in Sydney. Not sure how long before they implement the same regime in Melbourne, if ever. Australia is a bit of a nanny state.

I live SE Melbourne and probably on the what I would class as the worst 2 rail lines but have not encountered any problems.

When I left E London, the high schools where starting to implement metal detectors, similar to America. I have not heard of anything like that in Melbourne.

I see plenty of signs around my suburb to be aware of car breakins, but have not actually seen any car that has been broken into.

Honestly, I think you are over thinking it.

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

Yes depends what you are comparing it too.

Not at all sure that the bad stuff is isolated to the west/poor/particuarly ethnic suburbs. Was in Richmond today, Multi million dollar house suburb if OP does not know it. Two smack heads got on tram, tried to grab some terrified Chinese girls luxury bag as they got off. Another totally zombied druggie was trying to wash the trams windows :lol: weaving in and out of cars, how the hell he was not run down I dont know. Loads of drugs here, and therefor a fair bit of crime. My kids hate being offered it all the time, when first in melb, it was every time they went out. Ones a student paramedic, sees it all, no way is it just the rough burbs.

Home invasions have been in multi million buck burbs too, east malvern as an eg , another pricey place to live. Up near Tullamarine, houses round us go 900,000+ now, the unit next to us got done the night we moved in, nice 2 am welcome :blink:. On sunday, sons girlfriends moped in security carpark of their complex, in Kensington, was attempted stolen, they could not start it so they trashed it, its pointless and now in melbournes varied !! weather she has to pushbike to work daily.

But you dont stop me going places or doing anything really. Well not in daytime, we shop in the wild west :lol: vietnamese suburbs, love the markets, and food, go there all the time. Nothing has happened to me there, but out Greensborough way I was in Service station that was robbed just after I left.

Worse place I have been is Chapel street, OMG, that is a cesspit of humanity, and St Kilda at night can be dodgy.

One thing I do notice is visitors we have, always comment on the amount of homeless, and the dirty bits of the city, but I think living here you just get used to it. You see the scungey bits then can turn a corner in the city and see absolutely wonderful historic buildings, trees and parks and it all blends in, like any big city, usually a huge mix of people and places.

I really doubt any city is going to be some peaceful crime free haven.

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

The slightly aggro (and in one case very aggro) beggars were a surprise to me a few years ago - there were plenty of them then and I guess they haven't disappeared in that time. I think there is quite a bit of downplaying of the carjacking and home invasions - some of them look particularly bloody - because it is not PC to identify those who may be doing it.

The drug stuff is more worrying - my niece is a paramedic student too and she sees a lot!

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

It is Australia not Afghanistan. Another first world, westernised country. The crime rates for Australia and UK are virtually identical. Melbourne is the pig ugliest city I can think of but I would not be fretting over crime.

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

The home invasions are split into two..... one is Apex gang members (who contrary to belief aren't all Sudanese) and copy cats.... The copy cats are quite likely to be white. The second lot are drug related, rip off, pay back, debit collecting, on places where there are stashes of money, drugs, or people that owe them money.

Car jacking is performed by the gangs to obtain cars for robberies, although there is high end car jacking for parts or by order and those again are likely to be by white people.

In fact, I shouldn't say this, The Part timer girl I work with and she is a lovely girl, her brother was into high end car stealing and she has been arrested as an accessory after the fact, much to everyone's complete amazement and stood down from post, whilst awaiting trial.... stymying my current bloody redundancy package... So I'm not exactly unaffected or too happy about the situation at present. She carries the knowledge at post to organise things the old way in our section and because she is not there at present, I have to stay on in the interim :banghead:

I can go further re the gangs, two of the younger blokes went to a relatively high achieving school with my son at Fitzroy, which is a bit out of the way for them, as it's a south eastern based gang....both born here. Quite lovely young blokes when I've seen them and obviously going through a phase. My son talks to them still whilst they are around the rest of the bods, in the city, with no issues. There are a fair number of white kids in the Apex Gang. He reckons they were soft and quiet when at school.... isn't that always the way.

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

Thanks to all that have commented. I am still reading your replies with interest and may have to get my head around the fact that city life any where in the world comes with it's issues. In answer, I live in a small town / large village on the Wiltshire and Berkshire border, so although of course there is crime and drugs even in our small community, I don't ever come in to contact with it directly.

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

On a grey day it can look grubby and horrid, but on a spring day trees coming out, near some amazing historic building, it can be actually look great.

Yesterday on the tram, a short 15 min ride, saw absolute filth, then movie worthy scenes like the parks and gardens and buildings up parliament area. So many weddings going on, not surprising.

Its a city of contrasts thats for sure.

It really depends on what you can carve out for yourself. And its crowded its competitive.

Weather today is amusing, roof in rental is about to lift by the sound of it :lol: 95 klm+ wind gusts, getting closer to summer the wild weather looks set to start. Luckily no real heat yet, thankfully :thumbup:

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

Without knowing anything else about your circumstances...I'd have to say that you live in one of the areas of the English countryside that I think offers a pretty exceptional quality of life. Living in a sprawling major city will no doubt take some adjustment. I wouldn't be particularly worried about Melbourne's crime though.

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

We live in SE Melbourne, in one of the suburbs that gets mentioned a lot in the newspapers :rofl:

I have to say that in the year we've lived here (out of 18 years in Melbourne in total) we have had no issues at all. Our neighbours are wonderful and the schools are great. Yes, you do hear about stuff, but it has no impact on my day to day life and I have no problems walking around our local town centre, shopping, etc.

Yes, it will likely be more lively than the village you are coming from, but certainly no worse (and a lot better than some) than other 1st world cities.

Good luck with the move. Melbourne is a lovely place to live.

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

It certainly isn't one of the prettiest around, Brisbane does give it a good run though :)

I would take Melbourne over Brisbane though. There's just a little bit more going on.

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

Never seen anything at all of this sort in 9 years in Melbourne - just seen it on the news.

I feel safer in suburban Melbourne than I did in suburban West London. No idea whether I am or not.

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

Do you an idea of what part of Melbourne you would be looking to move to?

Coming from the area you have mentioned, you may find it a shock some of the outer suburbs in terms of that English rose village feel.

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

Jad has it right :it's what you carve out. No one need stress about crime unless in the dodgy areas and I could barely name them.

Anyone moving from rural UK does have to remember they are moving to a suburban sprawl. Only a few outer burbs have any equivalence to rural UK locations and the swanky inner burbs cost a fortune and need a city slicker adjustment perhaps. Some UK rural people might find it exciting having the best of both worlds but do not make the mistake of moving to a Legoland house in burbia...unless you are 30mims away in the outer West

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

Hi,
We were looking at 3 completely different places - Altona (SW), Taylor's Lakes (NW) and Eltham (NE).

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

No idea about the first two places. It Eltham is lovely. Very green, good links to city, right on edge of Yarra Valley, great community feel to it. We live nearby in Yallambie and would definitely move to Eltham if we were settling in Victoria x

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

Eltham getting expensive, houses listed around 750, actual sale price more like high 800-900.green hilly about 22 stops from city on train. Lots of older people. Altona very developed, thousands of units is the main thing that struck me. Taylor's lakes is modern and new , suburban but about 10 stops to city , reasonable house prices , the station is water gardens.

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

I'd pick Eltham...I really like it up there. Train journey is about 45-50 minutes. You might have to stand half of the way home though.

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

Eltham, Taylors Lakes and Altona is a very varied choice.

Of course, what Altona has which the other 2 don't have is the beach. As Williamstown and Altona are basically the main/only beaches for most of the western suburbs then any prospective enquirer should know that means huge crowds of visitors in summer and from time to time the odd bit of trouble that may attract. Prices along the Esplanade are much higher than you'd find in either Eltham or Taylors Lakes but this goes down drastically as you move a few streets back. When I was young Altona used to have a very high percentage of British migrants and Altona North developed predominantly for southern European migrants (Greek, Italian, Yugoslavian etc) and was much cheaper. At that time Taylors Lakes didn't exist as the NW stopped at Sunshine/St Albans.

I must admit I think of McMansions when I visit or pass Taylors Lakes but you certainly get a lot of property for your money there (a notable feature for me is that as you go by on the Calder Fwy there are over 40 properties with floodlit tennis courts on the edge of the Fwy).

Eltham used to be a sleepy, quiet country town but it is now very much within the spread towards the hills of the city and has changed in nature too. As pointed out it is a long way out but if you don't need to go into the city a lot it certainly has many plus things going for it. I can remember visits to Montsalvat (artists colony) with my brothers and parents as a day out in the bush!

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

Thank you all for your replies, advice and information - all of which we are mulling over.

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

Maybe City living just isn't for you. I don't know why you want to move but be it Australia, UK etc. all cities attract scum and with millions of people you have millions of problems and the population is not declining. People who are willing to commute/can afford to live in nicer parts and aren't affected personally obviously won't see any issues.

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

Yeah, out of those three I'd pick Eltham too. One of our friends grew up there and it's lovely. Agree about the situation on the train, but it's the same for us in the outer east.

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

We flipped a property in Eltham. Loved the green hilly aspect. Most facilities available in a short drive or the village.

Downsides are the traffic trying to get anywhere , double the sat nav time usually at least.

Surprised that the main street gets its share of down and outs, and few junkies. Its middle class and no longer cheap house prices, so not what we expected on such a regular basis. Also lots of service station, fast food hold ups etc in entire area, greensborough, monty etc. So if OP is expecting crime free it would be more of a reality check. Neighbours house, talking very upmarket area, was broken into, burglary they claim 3 times. Not exactly 100% it was so often as they were semi retired whingeing type, but they were burgled.

Nice area, but look at SOLD prices, not the guide prices, way different!

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

Out of interest where is Chapel Street - in a suburb or the CBD?

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

Sometimes during the day too. It just has a rough vibe about it sometimes. And I work in Fitzroy twice a week and it has its share of characters, although with a twist I guess. A few months ago, I was waiting for the tram on Brunswick and two people were fighting in the street and one threw a one litre tetra pak of coconut water at the other, where it skidded along Brunswick St and burst open. I remember thinking, "Hmm, isn't that stuff like $4 a litre or something?"

I think if the OP is living somewhere rural and quiet, Melbourne is going to be a bit of an adjustment and part of the culture shock won't be so much due to the nature of Melbourne itself, but simply moving from somewhere sleepier to a large city. I just got back from a holiday back home and Edmonton has almost a million people now, but compared to Melbourne, it feels very small townish indeed.

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

It's a long street. It goes through South Yarra, Prahran, Windsor & into St Kilda.

I used to live directly on Chapel St, St Kilda...it wasn't bad. But it's a 'going out' strip in the other suburbs. Some of the clubs are open all night...stroll down Chapel St for Sunday brunch and you'll still see the drug addled stumbling out of Revolver! Like any other late night precinct there is plenty of alcohol induced stuff going down.

I'm down there all the time...there are plenty of great places to eat at the Windsor end...I'm never too concerned about my safety.

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

http://www.domain.com.au/news/hockin...161005-grvp4g/

Hurrah! While I know it happens everywhere, when I was in the market about 3 years ago I have to say that I thought Richmond was the absolute poster child for this practice with a couple of agencies in particular being the biggest offenders...this being one of them!

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

Ouch ........ slapped with a $330,000 fine after admitting to underquoting properties it advertised for sale.

Honesty prevails.

They should slap the vendor too for allowing their agents to do it.

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

Lets hope the other agencies step into line now too!

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

There was another big fine too, about a year ago.

But I cant see it stopping them. Spent 3 hours at 4 auctions a while back, just observing an area, advertised 650 to 700's, sold prices 880, to 930 so not much has changed.

The tactics are the same too, nobody bids, auctioneer bids ( at the highest guide point, ) if somebody does make a first bid below that, the auctioneer takes the piss and knocks it back, making his own bid. then he calls for shots, usually of 50 or even 100 in upmarket auctions , that goes on, till he might allow 20's, hes really calling the bids the whole time, knocking back small bids. When it finally gets to way over the reserve and some poor hopefuls think they have a glimmer of hope, the auction starts again with the big boys who appear at the back.

Its pretty insane, must be totally devastating for people who are doing this with their heart involved on a property. Plus the time and money spent to research a property they have no hope of getting.

Did you buy in Richmond? Nice spot, middle sons first GF in Melb was from South Korea, a sculptor, beautiful lovely girl, anyway she was sharing a house with student friends, one, his parents had bought him the house :eek: and I mean a real Richmond house :blink:

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

Surely people realise that what it is advertised for is not what it will definitely go for? Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending the tactics for one moment. If anyone reads any of your posts on property they will see the warning that it is the actual price not the quoted price which counts which I would have thought is common sense; it's an auction after all and not a fixed priced or offers over contract. A friend has a Barry Plant agency somewhere in the west and he deplores the under quoting tactic used by some of his colleagues. He also does over 90% of his business 'For Sale' and rarely uses auctioning. Agents in property hot spots nearly always use auction to get more commission and a better price for their vendor of course.

Similar tactics go on in all retail businesses. e.g. how about so called Sales which most businesses have? SALE - UP TO 50% off or was $999, then $899, now $799. There's always an asterisk and some fine print which will tell you that the sale price is compared to the price it was on one day in one of their stores. There used to be a well known store in Melbourne which had sales 365 days of the year - fire damage, water damage, moving location, Christmas, stock liquidation, Christmas, Mothers Day, Fathers Day ..... Nobody believed they were genuine sales.

In the UK the Daily Express is plastered with a huge 10p in red on the front - when you get closer it says underneath in very small writing - cheaper than the Daily Mail. If that's not deceptive advertising I don't know what is but it's legal (here). Last week the DM went up 5p and next day the DE had 15p etc plastered on the front!

Re: Problems in Melbourne?
 

If the stock wasn't so low for the amount of numbers requiring property then an auction wouldn't be viable in the first place.

The investors don't care. They can get a 90% loan, pay interest only, and cut their losses on negative gearing.

The stock is low as people can't buy and sell because they can no longer afford stamp duty which has not been adjusted for property inflation. State governments won't adjust stamp duty because its a huge revenue raiser.

Agents don't have the stock on their books as they once did so they concertrate on fluffing up the prices on the stock they have to make the money on the commission, rather than volume.

Builders are loving it. Those who don't want to throw $50,000 at stamp duty throw it at an extension instead and why not. Who wants to throw $50,000 at tax.

So quite simply put, we have a major social issue heading our way. Property ownership will only be for old blokes and investors.

Melbourne is far from unique here. Its a global issue.