Things you should know before moving down under...
Sep 25th 2009, 7:19 am
#31
no stressin no fussin....
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Re: Things you should know before moving down under...
Everyone moves to Aus for different reasons so it's daft to suggest any reason is daft
Be realistic, there are still bills, weather changes, crime, graffiti, traffic, blah, blah, blah...if you manage your own expectations and only listen to your own reasons for moving you'll be OK.
Do the research and don't run away from anything.
Be realistic, there are still bills, weather changes, crime, graffiti, traffic, blah, blah, blah...if you manage your own expectations and only listen to your own reasons for moving you'll be OK.
Do the research and don't run away from anything.
Sep 25th 2009, 7:25 am
#32
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Re: Things you should know before moving down under...
Dont move because by grabbing the atlas and calculator you have decided that each aussie has 28,000 acres of space each compared to one person per inch in the UK.
Especially not if your going to move to Northlakes/fields/meadows/forest
where you will be 1metre from your screaming neighbours who love to live outside ( your bedroom window ) 
Especially not if your going to move to Northlakes/fields/meadows/forest
where you will be 1metre from your screaming neighbours who love to live outside ( your bedroom window ) Surely if you want to move to somewhere with a low popultation density you could move to the Falkland Islands or Mongolia? If you want better weather and low density try Namibia.
Sep 25th 2009, 7:28 am
#33
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Re: Things you should know before moving down under...
The weather is not like the UK for example it does not rain alll the time here in Melbourne, in fact we have had drought for over ten years now. Fortunately we are now getting back to a more positive rainfall in late winter early spring and we need that to keep our trees alive through the summer.
We do get frosts but the days are bright and sunny after them and there are not a lot of them. The ground does not freeze here. Fog is not a problem.
Damp it is not, dry climate in Melbourne.
Australia is different that is why we emigrate is it not for difference, not Britain in the Sun if you want that I guess Spain may be the place.
We do get frosts but the days are bright and sunny after them and there are not a lot of them. The ground does not freeze here. Fog is not a problem.
Damp it is not, dry climate in Melbourne.
Australia is different that is why we emigrate is it not for difference, not Britain in the Sun if you want that I guess Spain may be the place.
Sep 25th 2009, 7:34 am
#34
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Re: Things you should know before moving down under...
Yes but they speak Spanish there!
Sep 25th 2009, 8:06 am
#35
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Re: Things you should know before moving down under...
From my experience this is exactly the reason why a lot of people emmigrate to Oz, it is Britain in the sun without having to speak Spanish, or that is their view of Australia before they've actually got here. Then they realise that even Australia has cold winters, rain storms, snow and hail. However in most of the country most of the time you can live the dream of 'Britain in the sun'.....
Sep 25th 2009, 8:20 am
#36
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Re: Things you should know before moving down under...
Makes me laugh when people use that as an excuse to move to Australia, then go and live in suburbia? Oh but we have a big house and a swimming pool?!.
Surely if you want to move to somewhere with a low popultation density you could move to the Falkland Islands or Mongolia? If you want better weather and low density try Namibia.
Surely if you want to move to somewhere with a low popultation density you could move to the Falkland Islands or Mongolia? If you want better weather and low density try Namibia.
Sep 25th 2009, 8:32 am
#38
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Re: Things you should know before moving down under...
These are a few things (cautionary tales) I think Brits should be aware of before embarking on life down under. Please add to them if you can think of more things and/or modifications:
* Moving country does not fix all issues in your life. This should be obvious but I get the impression from reading some stuff on here that a lot of people actually believe it will.
* Australia is NOT devoid of a large, large number of the UK's problems. If you believe that Australia is a crime-free zone, for example, you may be disappointed. Stuff happens here all the time (Quoll recently reported some fairly random shootings/stabbings near where she is in Canberra on another thread) and the idea that these things are unique to Manchester or London is silly. Where I am there was a mugging at knife-point not three minutes from where I live recently and there is a MAJOR vandalism and 'tagging' problem. It's supposed to be a nice area though, so would hate to be in a dodgy area like Broadmeadows, parts of Frankston, Dandenong or Footscray.
* The weather is different in Australia, but not NECESSARILY better. In Melbourne, the climate is surprisingly similar to the UK (unpredictable and often cold and windy) and whilst the summer is longer and warmer than in the UK, the really hot days (40 plus) are very uncomfortable and you cannot really enjoy them as being outside in that heat is unbearable. You have the risk of bush fires at one end of the country and serious flooding at the other. Tasmania can get both. If you are moving for the weather (this seems to be a major life priority for a lot of people, which is quite foreign to me personally) be careful where you go to.
* It is impossible to predict prior to leaving what and who you will miss - and how much. You may find yourself missing things more than you think. It is easy to be in Britain, amidst all the British moaning and complaining, and think that there is nothing you will miss. It is very easy to misjudge this and only see the light, so to speak, once you are 10,000 miles away.
* If you are in a mixed nationality relationship (which may well be the very reason for the move) you can find yourself feeling quite trapped/stifled by being surrounded by your partner's family/friends constantly, especially when you do not have any of your own around.
* Moving country does not fix all issues in your life. This should be obvious but I get the impression from reading some stuff on here that a lot of people actually believe it will.
* Australia is NOT devoid of a large, large number of the UK's problems. If you believe that Australia is a crime-free zone, for example, you may be disappointed. Stuff happens here all the time (Quoll recently reported some fairly random shootings/stabbings near where she is in Canberra on another thread) and the idea that these things are unique to Manchester or London is silly. Where I am there was a mugging at knife-point not three minutes from where I live recently and there is a MAJOR vandalism and 'tagging' problem. It's supposed to be a nice area though, so would hate to be in a dodgy area like Broadmeadows, parts of Frankston, Dandenong or Footscray.
* The weather is different in Australia, but not NECESSARILY better. In Melbourne, the climate is surprisingly similar to the UK (unpredictable and often cold and windy) and whilst the summer is longer and warmer than in the UK, the really hot days (40 plus) are very uncomfortable and you cannot really enjoy them as being outside in that heat is unbearable. You have the risk of bush fires at one end of the country and serious flooding at the other. Tasmania can get both. If you are moving for the weather (this seems to be a major life priority for a lot of people, which is quite foreign to me personally) be careful where you go to.
* It is impossible to predict prior to leaving what and who you will miss - and how much. You may find yourself missing things more than you think. It is easy to be in Britain, amidst all the British moaning and complaining, and think that there is nothing you will miss. It is very easy to misjudge this and only see the light, so to speak, once you are 10,000 miles away.
* If you are in a mixed nationality relationship (which may well be the very reason for the move) you can find yourself feeling quite trapped/stifled by being surrounded by your partner's family/friends constantly, especially when you do not have any of your own around.
Sep 25th 2009, 8:33 am
#39
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Sep 25th 2009, 8:34 am
#40
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Re: Things you should know before moving down under...
Things you should also know:
As a new arrival to Australia, you may seek advice from Aussies and other expats. Be aware though that your concerns and complaints can often be met with anything from laughter, eye-rolling and comments like "well, that never happened to me" and then to plain, out and out verbal abuse. Its a big no-no to be a whinging pom in Australia but yet virtually impossible to avoid so if the opportunity arises to point the finger elsewhere and scoff at other poms then you are encouraged to do so.
Contrary to what other Brits tell you ('well, that never happened to me'), your accent is music to the salesmens ears - if you look close enough, you will see dollar signs. Be aware that your real estate agent/salesmen/builder will fleece you for every cent so take all the 'bloody oath, mate' stuff with a pinch of salt. I hold this view so firmly that Im tempted to go back into the used car business.
As a new arrival to Australia, you may seek advice from Aussies and other expats. Be aware though that your concerns and complaints can often be met with anything from laughter, eye-rolling and comments like "well, that never happened to me" and then to plain, out and out verbal abuse. Its a big no-no to be a whinging pom in Australia but yet virtually impossible to avoid so if the opportunity arises to point the finger elsewhere and scoff at other poms then you are encouraged to do so.
Contrary to what other Brits tell you ('well, that never happened to me'), your accent is music to the salesmens ears - if you look close enough, you will see dollar signs. Be aware that your real estate agent/salesmen/builder will fleece you for every cent so take all the 'bloody oath, mate' stuff with a pinch of salt. I hold this view so firmly that Im tempted to go back into the used car business.
Sep 25th 2009, 8:54 am
#42
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Re: Things you should know before moving down under...
But that's Melbourne, the weather is renowned for being shite, the place is either really cold or on fire, everyone knows that before they move. Re: bushfires, yes they happen, but they don't affect 95% of Aussies as they don't live in the bush, most people live in cities
Melbourne has the Dandenongs and Adelaide has the Mount Lofty ranges, Canberra is also surrounded by bushland - again quite a few suburbs have sprung up in these areas. They are beautiful but also potentially dangerous places to live. So you really need to consider the bush fire risk if you want to have the best of both worlds - close to the city and the bush.
Sep 25th 2009, 9:06 am
#43
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Re: Things you should know before moving down under...
Living in the city is no guarantee of not being affected by bushfire. Sydney is almost surrounded by bush and national parks and the suburbs stretch out into these areas and were badly affected by fires in 1994.
Melbourne has the Dandenongs and Adelaide has the Mount Lofty ranges, Canberra is also surrounded by bushland - again quite a few suburbs have sprung up in these areas. They are beautiful but also potentially dangerous places to live. So you really need to consider the bush fire risk if you want to have the best of both worlds - close to the city and the bush.
Melbourne has the Dandenongs and Adelaide has the Mount Lofty ranges, Canberra is also surrounded by bushland - again quite a few suburbs have sprung up in these areas. They are beautiful but also potentially dangerous places to live. So you really need to consider the bush fire risk if you want to have the best of both worlds - close to the city and the bush.
Sep 25th 2009, 10:37 am
#44
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Re: Things you should know before moving down under...
This is a good thread. I think it's very important to realise that Australia is not going to be your old life with more sunshine. I think living here is a good test of how adaptable you are.
Sep 25th 2009, 11:54 am
#45
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Re: Things you should know before moving down under...
Yes but how about some spin the other way.
Like especially if living in the cities, life is not a daily challenge of survival against snakes and spiders hiding in every blade of grass or bush. Sharks and crocs will not swallow you hole if you dip your toe in any body of water.
Oh and Oz is beyond the control of the EU and it's daft laws.
Like especially if living in the cities, life is not a daily challenge of survival against snakes and spiders hiding in every blade of grass or bush. Sharks and crocs will not swallow you hole if you dip your toe in any body of water.
Oh and Oz is beyond the control of the EU and it's daft laws.