Absolutely correct misconception . If you care to venture, and not many do, about 2 hours west to Chinchilla, you'll arrive at the water melon and lard arse capital of Australia. Worked there for 6 months and seen more biffers per head of population than anywhere else in Christendom.

That I thought bogans were kinda-like the Down Under equivalent of chavs

On closer inspection, there are actually quite a few critical differences

That its hot all the time, its only hot during summer, in winter it can get very cold.
The other misconception is that the wildlife is something to
worry about, more people are killed by falling trees in OZ then the wildlife.

It's not a 'dangle' it's a moving gap between the legs. Believe me, I should know You leave my privates alone.

That the mozzies only bit the English

They don't seem to like Welsh blood

Biggest misconception? thinking that as Oz is a semi civillised country, that they would know how to drive....

I agree, it is hard to make friends, I don't think aussies are very welcoming, our only friends in melbourne are new zealanders and english !!! Good luck with the move.

That we have world class politicians and statesmen. I've seen childrens playgrounds with more dignity and order.

As ever it all depends on your personal experience but I've not had any issues with Aussies, in general, being more/less welcoming than other nationalities.

Unless you count the Irish, they can't be beat when it comes to that stuff <drifts off to Galway>.

I joined a cricket club when I arrived and this helped me bed in, I can recommend joining a club, any club, to anyone. It'll help socially and may even help with networking for jobs, etc.

And it differs from other countries because.....?

I reckon you need more money to live near the coast and the ability to earn money goes hand in hand with intellegence and intellegence is needed to know what is good for you etc etc

Jan (Queen of sweeping statements )

Unless you are Clive Palmer.

But yeh, generally, just look at the Fast Food industry and where they saturate the market ...

By this count the most stupid people in Oz are living on top of Uluru.

Matt (King Of Wishful Thinking -Go West 1990)

I got lots of things wrong and they've all been listed on here somewhere but I find the lack of friendliness comments very odd.

I have never been made to feel more welcome anywhere. Our locals are friendly and very supportive. Maybe it's just being in the country? But then I find Melbourne people pretty friendly as a rule.

Once I realised that comparing all and sundry to the UK was a Really Bad Move (and ultimately pointless) the lynchings stopped and I started to get invited to a few Barbies ...

Then England won The Ashes back so I'm back to drinking in Pommy Themed bars drinking crappy copies of 'ale' reminiscing about The Homeland and which crisps I miss.

C'est la vie ...