What Part of Australia?
 

I am looking at the idea of moving to Australia with my children once I have got more experience working as a children's nurse. Not into quiet living in the countryside, but neither city living, so maybe a nice suburb of a town/city somewhere that isnt over priced.

Weather wise, I dont really mind (afterall we will be coming from the UK so it's unlikely to be worse!) but the place with the least bugs and critters would be the winner for me.

Does anyone have any suggestions please as to where I could start looking location wise?

Thanks

Re: What Part of Australia?
 

If you haven't already, you probably should make yourself familiar with the visa process before you go too far with the where to live question.

Re: What Part of Australia?
 

So basically scratch anything other than the cities, and maybe the major towns.

So forget Perth.

scratch Hobart, Canberra

It is Australia, remember?
scratch Brisbane and points north, and probably even Sydney

Well, you've kind of narrowed it down to Melbourne, Adelaide, and Sydney at a push. Just like the original English settlers.

Indeed, got to actually get in first, and get a job - which probably will determine your location to a greater degree.

Re: What Part of Australia?
 

Go where you can get a job. Nowhere really ticks ALL your boxes so find a job and work from there.

Re: What Part of Australia?
 

It's not so stupid a question as it sounds.
But look at job prospects, size of cities - you can live in nice country burbs in many cities...house prices and climate.

eg S - colder winters. Melboure and Hobart - greyer in winter too.

W/E/N sunnier (warmer) in winter, certainly.

Re: What Part of Australia?
 

Depends on your definition of "worse" really .......... cyclones, tornadoes, devastating floods, bushfires, heatwaves.....and there was frost on the ground in Brisbane when I left work this morning!

Re: What Part of Australia?
 

Dont be too sure. In some parts of the country, it is very humid which can be unbearable if you're not accustomed to it. Last year, the 2nd wettest year in the UK for quite some time saw a total rainfall of 1330mm which wasnt that far ahead of Sydney at 1213mm, and recently my cousin, who lives 90 minutes outside of Wollongong posted photos of snow.............. There are a lot of reasons to move to Australia, and there are a lot of reasons to NOT move to Australia, the weather is not either of these...... Do your research and use the visa wizard.

Re: What Part of Australia?
 

Bear in mind that Australia is not "structured" the same way as UK. Most people live in suburbs surrounding the major cities. Towns (not all) can become quite remote and parochial and could be a culture shock.

I think you should give more thought to the weather, Australia's climate is far more punishing than the UK weather and many people would not be able to tolerate the humidity of Queensland or NT for example.

You are going to get critters, this is Australia.

The primary factor has to be availability of work for both of you.

Re: What Part of Australia?
 

In answer to the OP question, Melbourne weather is more Mediterranean, I have been here a year and seen a few but not many critters!! Nothing to send me running to the airport!!
There is a great infrastructure in the suburbs and some feel more country than others.

Re: What Part of Australia?
 

Australia is very homegenised, in my humble opinion. There is a city culture, a suburban culture, and a country culture.

There are points where these cultures intersect - either on the suburban interface literally! (with commutes or visits to the city) or because some people can move amongst those cultures quite happily.

Re: What Part of Australia?
 

Ok I will bite. What on earth does that mean? Because I am definitely an intelligent person but I have read that four times now and I have not the faintest idea what message you are trying to communicate. Campaign for real English lives on.

Re: What Part of Australia?
 

Mate, I'll spell it out tomorrow.
I even targetted at you thinking you would get it.

Great minds think alike etc.

Cheers

Re: What Part of Australia?
 

I had to go to a firecall so I am up.

Homogenised = same. So it might be that people living in country/city/suburbia share a similar culture. (People often criticise it).
I thought you would get this point as you mentioned the 'structure' of Australian society and I thought it was you who contributed to my update thread where I last brought this up.

There are people in the country who have no idea or indeed, interest in how city people live, likewise the suburbs. Life can be very different. Matter of personal taste.

Moving on: we live in the 'country' on the edge of Melbourne. It's often called semi-rural. In some circles, people talk about the suburban/rural interface (or similar). (It's a bit of a headache for town planners, eg do we upgrade rural fire stations as the areas turn to more urban areas....) So it looks country, but adjoins the suburbs, yet we can visit and commute to the city.
Got that?

In other words, in this instance, we can have access to all cultures, despite the fact Australia is so structured and geared for city/country/suburbia....

..There are also people who live in the city, but also enjoy and own property in the country - they share the two cultures.

Got that?

Re: What Part of Australia?
 

Australia currently has a population of 23 million. Of these, 62% live in the five major mainland capitals with a further 9% in the next five cities (Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Canberra, Newcastle, Wollongong) and 5% in the next 10. The remaining 24% are scattered across the vast area of the country in towns of between 20 and 20,000+ in size, with long distances between towns.

Most immigrants head for one of the five majors initially, and which one you go for will depend on what sort of work you do and the current job market. People will try to sell you their favourite one (usually the one they live in!) but it doesn't really make much difference. Anywhere outside the top 20 (and even the top 10) will definitely be a culture shock to anyone used to the compactness of the UK.