sarisburysleuth

My wife and I are seriously considering moving to Australia. We have always been drawn to villages in the UK to get away from the highly built up areas around the major towns and cities. Where could we find something similar in Australia? It would also be a bonus if these areas weren't far away from town/cities where engineering and nursing jobs are available. Any suggestions would be gratefully received.

Turban Explorer

There are only a few places in Australia (ie, the major cities) that don't provide a 'village feel' . I'd look at the visa process first and let that decide as you might find you need state sponsorship and are confined to a regional area anyway.

chris955

You wont find anywhere here with a British village feel unfortunately. I sometimes hear people refer to small towns here as villages but they really aren't the same at all.

Max&Ozzy

If you haven't been before you're going to find one of the biggest differences is the shear size of the place. Distances can be huge! In UK you can measure distance by 'time' as in 'about half an hour'. It's less about the miles and more about the time in denser traffic. But here, outside the big urban areas you basically measure in distance, 'oh it's x 100km's away'.

There are plenty of villages, but you're going to find the smaller they are (less mini town like) the remoter they'll be.

Tassie will have plenty, but whole area considered quite removed from main land.

Mountain areas, but again quite far from what you are picturing in your mind.

One example in can think of from our old area - Willunga in SA.
Plenty up here in the table lands too, but further away from the city.

DeadVim

Logan Village ... The clue is in the name

No, of course it isn't like the UK but that's because it isn't the UK ... The community spirit is good though.

Anyone guessed where I live yet?

Mr Grumpy

You need to do some research on what rural life means in Australia. Most rural settlements are incredibly impoverished and have very low quality of life(yes there are some exceptions).

Australia is heavily urbanised and living in remote communities is kind of looked down upon.

Rambi

It depends on what type of village feel you want. For example the village near my parents' home has no shops or pub. It only has a chapel. Therefore it just feels like a commuter estate built in the countryside. Other villages like Cuckfield in Sussex feel more like a town than a village.

The densely packed village is a rare bird in Aus as they tend to spread out a little here. The only densely packed village I can think of is Dinner Plain in the Victorian Alps but that's not near anywhere big and is very quiet outside of ski season.

However I feel Balnarring on the Mornington Peninsula has a village feel. It is relatively compact. Mt Eliza and Mt Martha have a village feel but the former is now part of the urban sprawl of Melbourne and the latter is part of an urbanised strip along the edge of Port Philip Bay. Moorooduc is a very rural village but is about to be divided by a freeway.

Up in the Dandenongs there are a few places that have a village feel. Some are a little too touristy but I feel Emerald has a nice mix. If you want to live up there you should be aware of the bush fire danger.

moneypenny20

No, I need a precise address.

DeadVim

Who cares who looking down on who? The MochaFrappeLatte set? Bollocks to them.

DeadVim

Unlikely, I don't want this area contaminated by whinging 'kin Poms.

Siren & Brian

Tasmania

DeadVim

Now there is an option I am keen to explore later in life.

After I've finished the best selling novel.

moneypenny20

You calling me a whinging 'kin pom? You are in soooooo much trouble my friend!

DeadVim

Yeh, dancing cats are so intimidating. It's a wonder The Mafia didn't use them instead of horse's heads.

furkew

If you fancy Victoria, but still within about 1 hour from Melbourne CBD, plenty of towns in the yarra valley and pretty much any town in and around the yarra ranges have that kind of feel IMO.

They are definitely not impoverished & looked down upon

olinda, sassafras, yarra glen, emerald, cockatoo, menzies creek, macclesfield just to mention a few.