Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

I'm heading to Oz in a couple of weeks on a WHV and pretty much every time I tell someone, the conversation goes like this:

"Whereabouts are you going?"
"Central Coast NSW."
"Where's that?"
"About 50 miles north of Sydney."
"Oh, my daughter/sister/dad/plumber moved to Perth, is it anywhere near there?"

I've also noticed lots of people on this forum moving to Perth.

So my question is, what's the deal with bloody Perth?! :confused: Why do Brits love it so much?

Answers greatly appreciated. :D

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

You got me.

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

sheep mentality........flack jacket....check, helmet....check, medical kit....check.

i'm gone....:p

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

Easier to move to Perth than anywhere else if your daughter / sister / dad / plumber already lives there.

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

It gives them something to complain about.


Which makes them happier than a pig in clover. :lol:

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

I remember someone posting years ago that they chose Perth because it was nearer the UK than the Eastern side :blink:

It's good we're all different ;)

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

ho ho... I think I remember the same post.


Not sure if this is correct, but I'm sure I read somewhere that last year Brisbane became a more popular destination for Brits than Perth?


Going back to the original question, I reckon it's because lots of folks have family or friends, or know someone who knows someone that has moved to Perth.



edit - plus, I suspect that approx 10yrs ago, folks from the UK would have been able to move to Perth and buy up huge houses/plots of land, getting more for their $$$ than they might on the East coast. So tales of "Peter and his family just sold their 2bed terrace and bought a 5bed home 10mins walk from the beach" would have filtered back to family and friends, and the chinese whispers would have carried on to this day.

(ps - I just made that last bit up, it may or may not be true. It probably isn't.)

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

It's very true - I remember looking a the realesate web site back in 2001 from the UK and being amazed at how much house you could get for your money in Perth, coupled with an exchange rate of about 2.75 you could flog a modest house in the UK and move into a huge house on a quarter acre block by the sea and slap a new 4x4 on the driveway to boot. And that's exactly what tens of thousands of poms did.

Bit different now though...

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

And for the past few years there have been more jobs than toenail clippings in WA - and most people coming do need to have an income! Changed a bit now, though.

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

Can't answer for anyone else, but we've visited Sydney, Melbourne, Perth, Adelaide, Cairns, Canberra, Darwin, Alice (most several times) on holiday and liked Perth the best. (We live in Singapore so a bit nearer!).

Simple really.

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

Career opportunities (hubby works in oil refining), climate, slower pace of life, and isolation were the things that sold it for us. We love living south of Mandurah on the coast as it rarely gets too hot. We have lived here for almost 3 years with no aircon and greatly appreciate the lovely see breezes.

What struck me the first time I came to Perth on contract in the 80's was the friendliness and welcoming nature of the locals and I have to say I have not been disappointed this time round either. I don’t know about WA being more popular for Brits than Queensland I would imagine it is pretty close and probably not as attractive as it once was as it is still quite expensive here. It feels very Australian all our neighbours are Aussies where we are renting and also where we are building and I really feel part of a close community; it feels a bit like stepping back in time which obviously has it’s downside too but the good far out weighs the bad.

It clearly doesn’t suit a lot of people for the very reasons that we like it, for us it is absolutely a lifestyle choice and we love it.

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

That is pretty much the case.Bought in 2000 in the inner city with plenty of change to spare.
Perth seems to have been the prime destination for Brits for decades with a lure of cheap housing,sunny climes,beaches,and claimed easy going life style.
And yes Brisbane is closing in on Perth as the prime destination for Brits perhaps the immigration figures for 2008-09 will show QLD ahead?

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

We chose Perth because of the climate. Coming from wet, cold, dark South England we loved the idea of warm, dry, sunny Perth :). Been here now 1.5 years and not been disappointed - very happy here :).

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

I went to perth in the 80s and so did alot of my mates, it was all to do with price cheapest flights, before the tinternet dont think many of us looked into other citys, that might be why as a kid i did every holiday for 12yrs in alicante :D

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

No idea mate:blink:

You are chosing the better destination;) so don't worry about it.;)

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

What refinery do you work in, is it Bp?

We are trying to get out later this year my husband is an instrument technician, are there still plenty of jobs in the oil industry?

Carol

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

We have family in various parts of Oz including Perth. We've done Sydney, Melbourne, Cairns, Brisbane, Gold Coast etc but all roads send us back to Perth. Can't put my finger on it. We're not living there yet but that's where we're heading.

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

Perth is more British than Britain thesedays. True Blue Aussies are becoming a rarity here. All teachers, nurses, shop assistants, etc seem to be from UK. I personally don't feel like I'm living in Australia at all.

Perth feels like Milton Keynes 20 years ago, people from Birmingham, London and everywhere, new housing, new shopping centres, drive to get anywhere, bland and lacking soul (Northern Suburbs only, as I live there). Although for my family, Perth is a better option than UK right now.

As Renth said, the lure of cheap housing by the ocean when the exchange rate was favourable and houses here were cheap was the deciding factor for most. It numbed the homesickness when you were sitting by your pool in your massive mortgage free home, compared to sitting in a 2 up/2 down with the rain chucking down in Scunthorpe. They were economic migrants.

Not the case now and I wonder how many Poms would go back to UK if they could swap their 4X2 with pool for a big flash house in a nice part of UK? Could happen if exchange rates worsen and house prices continued to dump in UK.

People feel more comfortable migrating to an area whre they aleady have friends or family, so I guess there will be even more Poms in Perth in the coming years.

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

Been to Perth 3 times. Loved it. Each time we have been there, it was sad to say goodbye to Perth.
For myself, married, and 2 young kids, it is a great place to bring up a family.
Lovely open and green city.
Friendly people.
Great climate.
Outdoor lifestyle.
Very good choice of beer.
Regular BBQ's.
Looked at schools during last visit, very impressed!
I work in oil and gas industry. A lot of opportunities in Perth compared to UK.

When we looked at going to Oz at first, we decided on either Brisbane or Perth, based on climate, property prices and overall size of city, and a few other things. Eventually decided on Perth, mainly down to job opportunities.

Perth is a remote city if you take into account distance from other major cities, however, there is enough there for me. Also, you are a reasonable flying distance from East Coast / Bali / Singapore etc.

Perth is maybe not everyones cup of tea, but well worth a visit if you are considering emigrating down under.

Given the choice, Perth, or sunny Scotland, where I spend much of my time away from home due to lack of work in central Scotland, I know where I'd like to be.

All the best,

Ian

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

From what Mr Ace says still plenty of jobs around and ridiculous money being offered for fly in fly out oil and gas positions for people with experience. It is much harder to get into the refineries; guys with families tend to prefer the refineries because they get so much time off and they are not away from home but the money isn't quite as good as fly in fly out. What a lot of guys do is work FIFO for a few years make piles of cash, get local experience and them apply for refinery positions.

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

The key word here is experience. A couple of months local experience won't cut the mustard if you want FIFO gas/oil and loads of money. You've missed the boat by about 8 months.

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

I don't think so alot of new projects still to be set up!

Carol

Depends on the cv as well I suppose!

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

Poms move to Perth so they can whinge about the heat ,the flies and the isolation if they moved to NSW or Victoria they would have nothing to whinge about.:thumbup:

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

Is it?
Last year 2004 British moved to QLD, 4867 to WA.
So far for this year, only 800+ migrated to Perth.

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

Oh boy!

Have you ever done any business in NSW?

I used to think that Arkon was a bit OTT in his criticisms - I now realise he was very very lenient.

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

Yes i am afraid it is.
Australian Govt-Dept of Immigration-Population Flows 2007-08(Chapter 8)
QLD Total number Immigrants 39,710 for above mentioned period.
UK born ==7,232...(NZ=13,012 so top supply nation to QLD)South Africa a distant third at 2,195.
WA Total number of Immigrants 28,785 for same above mentioned period.
UK born==8,589....You can view for self to observe how Qld numbers have steadily increased over recent years to challenge WA as the prime destination of UK immigrants(% wise) in Australia.
Figures for 2008-09 should be released around Sept/Oct for the very latest figures.

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

Bigger nicer houses maybe? Better suburbs maybe?

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

Bigger perhaps,nicer think not entirely true,better suburbs no truth at all

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

Suppose it depends on what you are into. Europe, a good bit of it anyways, is overcrowded. If I were to live in Australia (just from where I've been), Margaret River would win hands down. Not too far from Perth. Plenty of space, not too hot in summer, not over populated, good surf, nice little music venue in Settlers Tavern. Happy days.
Problem would be finding an IT job there....

Would the isolation get to me? I don't really know....

I haven't been to lots of places in Australia so I'm sure there are pros and cons..

I hear Byron Bay is amazing...

Though if I was with the right person, I could live almost anywhere....:fingerscrossed:

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

I'm a Perth boy and I have never understood why so many Brits come out here. For me (I'm 24) growing up in City Beach was a great childhood but to be honest When I have kids I won't be in Perth...It's just not the same city anymore.

You hear about all the english that come here but you don't hear about the ones who leave or go home...and its a lot!!

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

Well here i am Weebie, a pom who came to Perth then went back home!!! lol. 3 years in Perth was far too long:zzz: and every single pom i met in Perth has returned to UK too except one. And they are on their way back in August:D

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

Why did they return? Just, were thinking of going to Perth as I have family and extended family there.

G x

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

I've been here over 6 years, love it. No plans to go to the UK - Are you insane?

Kids have got in to a great high school. I'd have to be mad to leave.

I don't know any poms who have gone back, but have heard anecdotally that lots do.

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

Where will you be?

Will you be another ping ponger

Carol

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

People think far too much, too deep for me.

I have been fortunate as some others, to live in the East , ping to the Uk and then back to Aus to live in Perth.

Have to say there is plenty of poms where I am, purely due to the suburbs expanding and the economics of it, migrants have to go somewhere cant all live in Nedlands if you have the cash.

Perth and WA has been great to me, but deep down I prefer the East.

It wasnt my choice I went were the work was, as like others need to earn more these days due to the high cost of living.

I can see people fustration however when they see the British/irish/scottish/welsh image of thuggery and chav mentality coming through, it sure is a sad sight which no one can do anything about.

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

Victoria and NSW are the two best states to live in in my opinion,:thumbup: thats why the majority of the population of OZ lives there. Queenslands nice for a holiday but l would'nt want to live there and Perth is just a small city in the middle of nowhere surrounded by thousands of miles of nothingness:thumbdown:

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

Funny, that's what we say about NSW and Vic :)

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

What's this about??

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

If you read further back in British Expats you will find quite a few who gave up on Perth for various reasons and retuned to UK.
Usually the young so it is boring here and leave but some return to breed so seem contary to that.
In what way in your opinion is Perth not the same anymore?

Re: Why is Perth so popular with Brits?
 

Inclined to agree as that is a hard one to figure out.