Likely move to Adelaide from Uk

[GenericName123]

Hi everyone,

My DH has been offered a job in Adelaide which is all very exciting but nerve-wracking too! We lived in Sydney from 2008-2014 so we do have experience of Aussie living but we’ve been back in the UK for a decade now, plus I’m conscious Adelaide is different to Sydney. And we’re different now too, especially because we have a 3 year old now!

I’d really appreciate any advice, both general and specific. In particular:-

DH will be earning ~$200k which is a lot more than his salary here but I know costs are different there. I’d be looking to work but it might take a good few months for me to find something so would $200k be a good salary for a family of three?

Which suburbs be good to live in? DH would be working in Bedford Park so we were thinking southern suburbs maybe somewhere like Brighton for easy transport links? We’d be hoping for somewhere family orientated and chilled

Any advice about nursery/schooling for little ones? Our DD would have just turned 4 when we move. She’s in a preschool nursery now which she likes and I’d like to get her settled somewhere nice, safe and friendly in Adelaide but I don’t know where to start.

I guess I’d also like some reassurance and advice from anyone who knows the city and thinks this is a good move!

Oh, I forgot to mention does anyone know any sites where I can start browsing accommodation/ jobs etc? We almost certainly won’t be moving until after Christmas and maybe even around easter time but I’m trying to get a sense of what might be out there. I always used domain and seek in Sydney but I’m not sure if they’re the best sites nowadays and in Adelaide

I suggest looking at realestate.com.au
Adelaide rental market is bonkers and Brighton is an expensive area anyway due to proximity to the beach, proximity to Glenelg/Marion Westfield and well regarded high school. You might need to look further inland.

Adelaide has become quite popular with Brits since they have been priced out of Perth. It's also a city with lots of international students. Used to be a '20 minute city' but that's changed as house building has stretched further and further out especially since the freeway was built to the south.

Thank you!

I do like the idea of beach living but might be getting a bit carried away and need to be more realistic. Do you have any tips for other suburbs to consider? We’re looking for family friendly with good primary schools and easy public transport to Bedford Park - DH doesn’t drive at the moment so that’s important at least initally

If you're on Instagram, give UK mum in Adelaide a follow. She's really helpful and sure she would be happy to answer any qs :) xx

Aw Adelaide is awesome! Presuming you are medical or medical adjacent so you will find some great people.

realestate.com and then some individual contact to agents is good but it’s really hard without a local rental reference- keep trying and you will
get a more chilled out landlord.

$200k will be fine to get going on although it also depends if you have PR or will be paying for
schools so bear that in mind.

Belair and Blackwood are way cheaper (although away from the sea and with a fire risk) or Seacliff will be a bit cheaper. Hallett Cove would be much cheaper but is very suburbia so depends how you feel about that! Otherwise places like Plympton are popular and if you can be along the train line to Bedford Park that would be good. Public transport out of hours in the late evening is tricky if that is needed- not sure if you drive or not or if DH will be soon. Adelaide metro website has good maps so it’s worth working that out as will likely be the biggest limiting factor.

Thanks, I’ll give her a follow :)

That’s so useful, thank you. I’ll definitely look at all those suburbs. I do drive and DH won’t need to do late finishes or out of hours but he’ll definitely be reliant on public transport for commuting at least to begin with so I’ll take a good look at the Adelaide metro site.

On the visa front we’re just discussing that with HR. We’d like them to sponsor us for PR to begin with but need to get confirmation. I need to start thinking about schools too, at least to start familiarise myself with the system/timings. There’s just so much to think about!

I'm sure you are aware that Adelaide has a very dry heat, quite different from Sydney and every summer has at least a few days over 40 degrees. Fabulous city but heat waves are quite rugged.

I’m in Adelaide OP - moved her January this year and loving it so far! We are renting in NE suburbs - feel free to ask any q’s!

We moved over to Adelaide from UK in 2023 with our little one and are living in Brighton. It’s a great area, close to everything and great public/ transport links.
The rental market has definitely gone a bit crazy since we’ve been here but we see rentals popping up all the time. We got ours as another UK family were moving and breaking their lease so that worked out well. Realestate is good to look at for both renting and buying.
There seems to be lots of primary schools with good reviews, ones we have been told about locally are Brighton Primary, Glenelg Primary, Paringa Park, Seacliff Primary to name a few. They are all public schools so there are many private ones too.
We’d never been to Adelaide before moving but it’s a fantastic place to live, especially with children :-)

Thanks for all the comments/ feedback. We’re a bit stuck in limbo at the moment as we’re waiting for HR to issue the formal offer. It’s all been confirmed verbally but the actual details - in particular the length of the contract, visa sponsorship etc - are still tbc. We’d only really want to move for a continuing contract with PR sponsorship. We were expecting to hear by now so it’s all quite stressful.

In the meantime I’ve started to get quite serious cold feet about the move. DH is still very enthusiastic but I’m worried about not working, finding the right childcare/school options for my DD, taking her away from grandparents etc and in particular the fact our parents are getting older. My Dad had cancer and died whilst we were living in Sydney which was difficult and that is playing on my mind.

I know no one can make the decision for us but I would appreciate any positive stories and advice to balance my worries. I feel like this opportunity is so huge for DH and he is quite unhappy in his current role so if we stay in the UK that’s a big choice too - I worry he will always regret it.

I am going through the exact same situation currently! I could have written this. (Except about your Dad, I’m sorry.) Hope everything works out for you X