Starting A Melbourne Life - what area?
 

Hello

I am emailing from London and am about to relocate to Melbourne.
Am wanting to get a little help on areas in Melbourne to live that might be OK for my wife and 6 year old to settle into. So am looking for advice please.
I just want to get my girl into a school in a great area from the start and not change to another area's school months later down the line....so expat brits would be the way to go I feel.
ABOUT US; We live in Nottinghill area of London and like this style of area, suppose you could we are middle class and wish to look for a nice affordable area (not millionaire property prices like some of the property mansions near me) - but I like the closeness to the a city, but not pacifically to be in the suburbs. Like Shopping Malls, school, swimming pool nearby and easy transport links.

Can anybody recommend an area - as I can check these out on my business trip shortly.

Many, many thanks in advance to anyone's advice: Daryl Lee

Re: Starting A Melbourne Life - what area?
 

Guess you would be looking for areas close to the CBD. Pricey and just like London the closer you get to the action the more expensive the property.

Camberwell, Hawthorn, Hawthorn East, East St Kilda, Kew, Ivanoe, Balwyn, Brighton and Brighton East, Glenhuntly, Elsternwick, Elwood, bit further out on south side, Ormond, Bentleigh, McKinnon, other side of the city Essendon and Moonee Ponds.

Bit further out and down the beach, Sandringham, Hampton, Mentone, Black Rock, Beaumaris on the beach side of each suburb.

Have a look at realestate.com.au and you will get an idea of the type of property available for sale and rent.

Re: Starting A Melbourne Life - what area?
 

Notting Hill = Carlton or Fitzroy, or even Clifton Hill... hope you've got 500,000 quid up your sleeve ;)

Re: Starting A Melbourne Life - what area?
 

Yes you really need $1 million Aussie dollars for a good family sized house in a really good suburb of Melbounre. Brighton, Kew, East Malvern are a few you might like.

Re: Starting A Melbourne Life - what area?
 

Inner Melbourne suburbs are overrated and overpriced.
Mount Eliza or Frankston South are great value.
Toorak Ladies College is one of Melbourne's best schools.

Re: Starting A Melbourne Life - what area?
 

Albert Park, Middle Park, Port Melbourne or South Melbourne. I really like living this side of the city; close in with regular trams and don't even need a car, got the markets, parks & beaches nearby. Quiet, with good neighbours and good schools apparently.

Re: Starting A Melbourne Life - what area?
 

I have a 6 yo too and she is in Year 1:)

I'd go with Hawthorn, Hawthorn East, Kew, Malvern and Camberwell. I liked all these suburbs and although we are renting at the moment, we will most probably end up buying a house in one of these suburbs. There are a mix of houses, townhouses and apartments here. I didn't quite like Albert Park much (found the houses really small and too close together, felt a bit claustrophobic).

Re: Starting A Melbourne Life - what area?
 

$ 1 million? It's more like $2 million++ for a decent house (on a plot of 700 sqm) and from all reports, prices appear to be going in only one direction....climbing up and up :curse:

Re: Starting A Melbourne Life - what area?
 

Toorak ladies college is behind University High school on the rankings, and Uni High is a Government State School.....One would get into if they lived in Carlton or Parkville. Parkville is a very pricey suburb though, which is why I never mentioned it before.... Certainly ok for someone comparing Notting Hill, with two swimming pools close by.



http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Univers...ool,_Melbourne

Re: Starting A Melbourne Life - what area?
 

According to the ranking you posted for all public and private schools Toorak School is ranked 42 and University High School 61!! (Taking into account both median and 40+ scores) However I would agree that both are excellent schools.

Re: Starting A Melbourne Life - what area?
 

Didn't realise I had posted a list :confused:

Although when I had a look I could see on the page figures from 2005, which have totally different figures.

There are quite a few government schools listed above a lot of the "reputable" private schools.

So choose your location carefully is probably the best advice.

Re: Starting A Melbourne Life - what area?
 

I would never leave a place light Notting Hill if I could help it.

I would love to live there and I cant help but think you would be disapointed going to Melbourne as nothing will come close to this.

Only my opinion and I do love Melbourne, however its not Nottinghill!

Re: Starting A Melbourne Life - what area?
 

Where and how long have you lived in inner city Melbourne - as your view of suburbs might be useful.

Re: Starting A Melbourne Life - what area?
 

I think there are plenty of suburbs that could match Notting Hill if not Better!

Re: Starting A Melbourne Life - what area?
 

I was originally a Sydney boy, then moved to London a long time ago. I've never really liked aussie suburbs in Sydney and always liked the city for shopping/beach for relaxing - but I really don't know Melbourne one's at all. Just trying to get a feel for an area where there is really good schools nearby/ supermarket and Mall and close to the city - my child and wife would love being near a beach. Just won't have a car and don't want an hour commute to work.
But will look at all the places that people advise when I visit in a few weeks.

MANY THANKS: DARYL