spouse of scouse

Yep.

Chortlepuss

Brisbane is still a city albeit without many of the attractions that Melbourne has to offer culturally. I do like Melbourne and its European feel. Many people (myself included) don't appreciate how urbanised Australia is until they get here and the reality for most that want to work is that they'll be stuck in the city centre or suburbia. I think if people miss the UK and are free to return then they should go for it. I lived in the country in the UK but with great proximity to Brighton and London for when I wanted to get somewhere busy. Now in a lovely part of Brisbane but it's still posh suburbia.

Almo

I lived in the CBD for just over a year and then West Melbourne for just over a year . Loved it both times, absolutely loved it. Though come to think of it, when we broke our lease on the West Melbourne place, the new tenants were Asian students

Not much advice OP, I'm afraid except that if you move again (whether within Melbourne, within Australia or to another country), move TO somewhere, not AWAY from somewhere else. What is it you're looking for?

BadgeIsBack

The thing for younger people in Australia is the inner city burb, I reckon.

+1



( I never thought I would see the day when Jad would speak positively of an life in QLD!)

BadgeIsBack

Isn't Brisbane going to end up being overrated too? All this talk of things being overrated - isn't everything overrated! I learnt years ago that most things seem to work better when you take and sort yourself out first.

Living in the inner city and commuting by tram can be a very comfortable and not an altogether strictly poor experience if you time it right.

Jon77

I visited Melbourne for the first time last December and I was very disapointed.

The problem with Melbourne is they hype of the last few years. Melbourne has been branded 'the' place to be in Australia and as a cultural hub of the country and constantly listed above Sydney in just about every department you can think of.

My first impression was of a very small airport for a major international city with no transport link to the CBD other than a bus or taxi, why no tram or train line?

When we got closer to Melbourne first impressions weren't all that great. Very average looking docks area and a great big **** off dirty fly over with a back drop that look more like Manchester on a winters day than anything else.

I admit there are some VERY nice euro feeling bits to the city, but then I think Sydney has a few little pockets like that. I like the trams also and I think Sydney will be better when the tram network is extended over the next 5 years or so.

I expected much more from Melbourne due to all that hype and being branded the perfect city and so much better than Sydney.

BadgeIsBack

But you see you are right - and you have made exactly the same trap that every tourist, myself included, have made.

Ok the airport link is a known. Dirty flyovers are a known. I would suggest there is more to life in a city than an airport link and a flyover. In fact, if we based world cities on their flyovers and ramps then just about every city would resonate with a fat fail...London being near the top for it's Hammersmith/ Hanger lane Gyratory/ thingy....!

You need to LIVE in Melbourne to appreciate it. I visited it 10 years and was not impressed, like you until I returned on a more permanent basis:
...Jon, that dirty flyover, in full sun, becomes a very handy express route with amazing views to a modern cleanish city - I make a point of looking every time I use it - and even in overcast skies I still see the city I live in - ie warts and all.

Whilst we are on the subject of sun, I see that my advice to Dave coincides with Daylight Saving this very week. It's around now that the inner city life will start to take off.

I agree that Sydney has nice little feels to it but it also has a massive transport issue and is inconveniently divided by a harbour. Melbourne has miles and miles of inner suburbs not just a few nice ones that tourists get to see. Personally I find Sydney CBD and edges a bit disjointed and chaotic - hard to put a finger on it. It is of course a matter of taste - I am not a fan of any of the beach suburbs, for example.

Kim67

Me too - well born in Perth and brought up in Perth and Northern WA.

RedDragon2008

Remember when you first had sex?

Is that it? After listening to the hype

Then you realise you have to put in the effort to get the best out of it.

You need to get the timing right, go down, the right lanes.

ozzieeagle

Country girl eh....? not being facetious but can you do bush things like tie really good rope knots like pully knots and put up tents in difficult environments, like 100 pct sand etc, throw hay bales etc. My missus can and it gets a tad embarrassing for me at times

ozzieeagle

Having said all of that, I dont think generally there is that much to choose between Sydney and Melbourne at the end of the day. Quite surprised how similar they are. Especially the demographics of Western Sydney and Melbournes Northern Suburbs. I was quite amazed about the similarity actually.

Kim67

No, there's not too much hay on mine sites My dad was in mining so I alternated between Perth and the North West depending on schooling requirements - I was number 5 child and mum didn't want to send me off to boarding school. I did get to throw hay when we visited my grandparents dairy farm out of Denmark though. Had family with cattle stations (still do) but I hardly visit them and I spend more time socialising at the homestead and let the kids go do the cow thing these days.

BadgeIsBack

I thought that Syd W is more like Melb SE - well in terms of sprawl, perhaps.

There is an aspect to the N of Melb which is more coveted than both Melb SE and Syd W...

I love Australian bush girls. Intersection between practicality and femininity.
Nice combo. Often well educated too, in city schools.

Beoz

I'm in Melb now, on business. I do like the place and is one of 2 places in Oz where I would live. The othet being my current residence ..... Sydney. That said, if I was punished and made to live in Brisbane, I'd have to get myself one of those number plates. 'Queensland - The smart state'. I mean WTF.

Kapri

Dave you are being very quiet, where are you?

It might help to know what kind of lifestyle you are looking for.

You're not into beaches or camping but also don't like city life.

What would be your dream?