melbourneboy

Hi guys, I'm australian and came accross this site while surfing the net.
I got a few questions. Just wondering why you brits immigrate here, when britain is a first world country. You might say the sun but surely it is something more than that to move half way way around the world?
It always baffles me when I read record amounts of brits immigrating here. What have we got that the uk hasn't? I'm not saying its a bad thing at all, just curious to know how come you would wanna live here.

gelato

I'm Australian too and this is something I've also wondered about. Not saying Australia is a bad place - in fact I'd kind of like to go back. But the UK doesn't seem that bad either. I've only been there as a tourist though.

Is it just the sunshine? Is weather really that important in life?

seanyg

Am I missing something? Australia is a 1st world country too...isn't it? I was always taught that it was...

Anyway, to answer your original question. I personally (if we were able to, which we're not) would choose Australia over the UK because of (1) the climate; (2) the diverse scenery / landscapes; (3) the flora and fauna (save the Northern Hairy-Nosed Wombat!!); (4) the clean beaches and unpolluted seas for swimming; (5) the relaxed, friendly attitude of the natives; (6) the sights and attractions (Uluru, Bungle Bungles, 12 Apostles (or however many are left now! ), Sydney harbour bridge opera house, etc. to name but a few...

That said, house prices are an awful lot higher and we could never afford the size of house we have over here, and chavs are equally predominant in Australia from what we saw when we were there (particularly in Brisvegas and Surfers'!).

Anyway, they're just my reasons. I'm sure someone else will be along shortly to either add to or contradict my list. I'll be reading everyone's individual reasons with interest

Anita

NELBHOY

Why Australia?

Have you ever seen a BBC programme called "The Scheme"?
It's like a Scottish version of Dynasty

Kapri

Hi MB

For me it's about adventure. Lots of Aussies come to the U.K for the same reason I guess. I'm looking forward to some warmer weather too.

Will it be forever? Who knows? I love the U.K and my family is here so I may be drawn back, but at least I'll have tried something else

steve`o

lots of aussies go for the history ( well the older ones do )

rahrah

1)From when I visited 2009 the lovely chilled atmosphere, and the contrast to the Atmosphere here up north!
I believe that standards in UK sliding fast -
Ready for the gloom (and the RANT!)............
- not having to wade through streets knee deep in litter and have people gobbing at your feet, blatant exposure to the ever prevalent Drug dealing, pimping scum who lord it in their BMW X5, making a living out of 'teenage white meat' like they have a right to act superior to you!
- Despite the fact they've never worked a day in their life, the multitudes who when you've paid for their 50inch plasma TV, and copious crates of Strongbow, mock you for working.....!
Quick, stop me before I really get going - I beginning to sound like a scratched record!
It sounds like I live in Scum City, but it is supposed to be a reasonable suburb - (no wonder my piggin house won't sell) Times they are a-changing!
I am not naive enough to believe that Australia is perfect, and that it doesn't have its share of the issues I have raged about but its the sheer magnitude of the apathy and complacency here, makes me feel Oz will be better!

seanyg

Don't forget the potholes! It's like a 3rd world country where we live - you have to swerve all over the road to save your suspension!

(Do they have a pothole problem Down Under...?).

steve`o

potholes
lots of roads dont even have tarmac

steve`o

who said au was only sydney and melbourne?
the east coast is amazing
http://maps.google.com.au/?ie=UTF8&l...331055&t=h&z=5

wilson01

When I used to watch Skippy as a kid, I always used to tell myself "im gonna live there" I don't know why as I was about 10 year's old at the time. But as someone else has already said, it's about the adventure, trying something new and where better than Australia? I don't think i have any pre-conceived ideas that it's going to be a long, long holiday. I will have to work, pay bills, buy shopping and everything else but to do it all in a better climate, hopefully have a better work-life balance and basically enjoy myself is all I'm asking for.
I have had emails from BE members asking me WHY??? when their 1st choice was UK but unable to get a visa and I tell them what Im telling you.
I will be leaving behind my 3 grown children plus my beautiful 2.5 year old grandaughter Niamh and another grandchild on the way and it will be so hard but, I have to do what I have always dreamed on doing. You only get one life and you have to make the most of it. Furthermore, as I tell my kids and everyone I know who is in a dilemma "Carpe Diem" if you have the chance, please don't let it pass you by http://www.answers.com/topic/carpe-diem

ozzieeagle

This is a damn good question actually, much deeper than it first appears.

There is no Country outside of the Home Nations that is as Similar to England as Aus. So similarity could be a factor. I guess it comes down to why people migrate. Are they moving away from something or towards something. Is it a preconceived idea based on thoughts or reality based on facts.

After 30 years here I considered taking advantage of the lower relative prices in housing in the UK. However my Aus born and raised Daughter now residing in London pointed out something that I'd almost forgotten and was very pleased to leave behind. The general negativity of the place. That reminder put those ideas out of my head. So if people are moving to get away from that... then it's a good start.

I think the Aus posters in the UK are pointing out, that the UK isnt that different from Aus and for them, the differences could be in the UK's favour.

Rainydaze

Australia was sort of incidental, it just happened to hold a brilliant job opportunity for my OH, so we moved here essentially for the job (he works in a very specialised field in a small industry) and moving to Australia was totally secondary to that.

In saying that, as he's Australian, he was keen to reconnect to Australia and for me to experience his culture after 8 years of living together in the UK. Mind you, as neither of us are Sydneysiders it's been a new experience for both of us!

Dreamy

Erm..

Yes.

Dreamy

In a previous relationship, we'd discussed emigrating. New Zealand and Canada were top of our list. Australia was mostly ruled out because I'm not a sun type person and I'm terrified of house spiders.

He ended up going to the States and I ended up in a relationship with a man who had skills in demand in Australia. He had an interview for a job he didn't get but that made us realise that if we wanted to, we could probably emigrate to Australia and it helped us look at the country in a whole different light.

I found this forum and discovered that the whole snake/spider/killer wildlife thing was a little overstated (although I can highly recommend not watching "Australia - destination death" or whatever it was called, that listed all the highly deadly creatures that live here, the week before you fly out) and, despite not liking the sun in any way, we moved to Brisbane. Where the sun wasn't even that bad