l don't know why so many Poms move to Perth, whats the attraction ?the houses are not cheaper, it has nice beaches but so does the rest of the country.

To join all their relatives and friends. A lot of brits have been in Perth since the 1960's when it was a popular destination for those on the 10 pound passage. Most people tend go where they know someone, even if it was their grannies, next door neighbours nephew who no-one's seen since 1965.

is that how it all ended........

I am dutch, living near Amsterdam. I think Perth looks attractive because of the beautiful beaches, it looks clean and has a nice climate. It seems to be a love or loathe place which kind of makes it difficult for me to decide. I would like suggestions of other places which will fit my lifestyle and age (no hussle and bustle, nor just families and retirees)

If you don't want hustle and bustle, and you want good beaches, Perth is a good choice. You will find heaps of single people. It's not just families and retirees. My husband and I both worked and lived for years in Perth City (late 20's/early 30's) before we had kids. We were always out and about, we actually moved to acreage 50km out of the city to escape all our friends at one stage.

Kim, what would be nice neighbourhoods in or just outside of Perth?

Same anywhere on a Wednesday even in Scotland most people drink in the house now!

Carol

South Perth, Como, Kensington, pockets of Victoria Park/East Victoria Park, Applecross, Booragoon, Fremantle (and it's close suburbs), West Perth, Leederville, Mount Hawthorne, Subiaco, Claremont, Nedlands, Cottelsoe. These suburbs are probably some of the more expensive Perth suburbs, but are older established suburbs, they tend to have a more interesting and diverse style of housing, and more things to do. When we were in Perth last year we lived in Como/South Perth. South Perth has a lovely feel to it and there are loads of one and two bedroom apartments for rent mixed in with older style family homes. A lot of people walk their dogs, kids walk and ride to school, lots of tree lined streets and parks, the Perth Zoo and it's on the river. Just a very pleasant relaxing place to live.

I live in Adelaide (although currently in the UK for 3 months). Yes I did find friends without children but it took a lot of time and happened more by chance than anything.
I am not against having friends with children, far from it and indeed do have friends with kids. But I just find it easier to find things in common with people who don't because that is my situation and what I can relate to.
I have also found that if you live in the more outer suburbs of Australian cities, then these are the places that tend to cater more for families, and the inner suburbs are more for singles and couples without kids.

We lived in Amsterdam for 5 years and had a great time there. As much as we loved the buzz of the cafe culture right on our doorstep we knew that it wasn't going to satisfy us in the future.
We found that Perth has a great balance of lifestyle without the hustle and bustle that you mention.

And while Perth is always considered a great destination for families, it certainly isn't a place full of old retirees. It actually has quite a young population ratio.

doei

If it is the quieter life you want well Perth could be for you. A number of Dutch and other Northern Europeans that come here do so in search of obtaining what is unobtainable in their homelands,namely wide open space,larger houses perhaps in a more semi rural location,expansive beaches with the weather allowing frequent use,and a big one The Nature ..bush walking then there is the driving on near deserted country roads,none of the European traffic congestion.
Nature gives Perth some brilliant sunsets,the sky..such a blue..the parrots and their colours and the noise they make...some wonderful trees..could go on as there is a shed load of natural attractions to be found in WA.......Dutch that i know here are often going bush in their camper vans..one went back about five years ago to see family and couldn't wait to return finding Netherlands too small,too cramped and too many foreigners.
Only place that i prefer the natural attractions i guess would be South Africa,which would be hard pressed to be beaten by any place as far as nature goes at least.
To be serious Australia ranks fairly high up the list in most measurements in spite of lackluster governments(local,state levels,especially) But traditionally Perth people have a bit of a tendency to perhaps spend a little too much time naval gazing and telling all what a wonderful place it is to live.....fine ofcourse as it goes but it doesn't go far towards improvement and taking on new ideas....although there are signs of change,a lot of planing is undertaken at considerable expense never to be carried out or deferred.
A lot of suburbs have been mentioned all are well regarded here and tend to be nice and fairly safe but i'm glad you clarified it is not so much a vibe or buzz that you seek Perth may just work for you.(Lived and worked in Central Amsterdam so was more thinking along those lines.)
Which ever may it goes good luck....and bye.

Very true.In fact the elderly here are so considerate as to remain out of sight for a great deal of the time and allow the teenies and young adults to get on with it.
Also lived in Amsterdam and loved it at the time....have an older foreign friend still living there and complains about the high costs and changes but still he would not live else where as the buzz assists to keep him young,i think.

South Africa has some great natural scenery but l guess going bush there in a campervan you could end up robbed and murdered , exploring W.A in a campervan the only danger is road accidents or getting lost in the outback.

Unless you met that Wolf Creek bloke.

Yes his still out there roaming the W.A outback, they never caught him.