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Living overseas

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Original poster

Moving from the uk to melbourne ..help i know nothing!

20 replies

louisababymumma · 16/09/2010 22:25

Hello,
I have just joined mumsnet so im not quite sure what i am doing lol but i need help!!!
Heres my story...
I am currently living in the uk, my hubby has been offered a job in Sprigvale ~(not hearing good things on this place)and we are hoping to get our visa in Novemeber to make the big move!
I have too small children one of 4 years and another of 8 months and have no clue on schooling or anything as i havent had the internet until now so if i dont reply straight away its because it only connects when it feels like it hee hee.
Anyway i really need help on places to live as we r going to rent at first but then we r hoping to buy if all goes well, i no the homesickness will get to me but ive got to try and get through that as i know moving to OZ will benefit my children.
My hubby doesnt mind the commute to and from work so any help on where the nice places to live and where to advoid would be great! I just really want a lovely place to bring my children up,so heres where u guys come in...i want to no everything , the good the bad and the ugly! best places to live,schools,shopping,houses,cars,prices on things is it more the uk or less...etc etc

Thank you if u reply to this thread and i will get back to you as soon as i can

Kind regards
Lou
xxxx

OP posts:
eaglewings · 17/09/2010 09:07

Have friends and family in Melbourne and have visited, its a great place to be but I couldn't recommend where to live, a friend there is a teacher if you need more info if MM's can't help

echt · 17/09/2010 21:08

I've replied to you piggy back on another thread, but will say more on this one, if you like.

savoycabbage · 18/09/2010 10:21

Hi Echt, how are you?

If you mean Springvale then that's not too far from me, and people do say it's a not too good area. I think that might be because it's not a very white area though. I go there for my kids hair products. And there are some lovely places to live so don't worry about that.

November woud be a great time to move here as it wouldn't be too hot but summer would be well on it's way. It's easier to settle down when it's not winter as you can easily see why you are here with all the sunshine. The end of the school year is December 17th so you might be able to look at schools when you get here and not start until the schools go back in january. Which would be a more settled start for your children. Oh, I just read that they are tiny so your oldest might not be starting school yet depending on birthdays. They might be at 'four year old kinder' instead. It's much easier to get into a school or kinder here than the UK so don't worry.

echt · 18/09/2010 21:58

Hello, savoy. Keeping well, especially now the holiday's here after an inexplicably knackering term. Hope all's well with you.

I take your point about what might be behind some judgements about Springvale, and agree the markets and eating places are excellent.

Original poster
louisababymumma · 20/09/2010 15:47

Hello everyone,

Firstly thank you for replying to me very handy knowing to school year end and secondly my internet has gone down so i am having to go to work to reply to you all lol drama a!

My husbands company are given him 2 weeks off to go to other places surrounding Springvale so any recommedation would be great ??

Hope ur all well??

XX

OP posts:
alig99 · 20/09/2010 20:50

Hi, my daughter moved to Australia when her son was 4yrs. She said the childcare was not nearly so readily available as in the UK (she moved directly to Sydney):) my grandson hurt himself at 'Kindy' (playschool/nursery) and cried for a plaster..the staff didn't understand what he wanted, finally they put a 'Band Aid' on his cut and the tears dried up.:D I digress on one of our trips over we went to Melbourne, we stayed in Springvale, which was quite far out of central Melbourne (30 minutes on the train) and there was lots of graffiti on the line on the properties we passed (the worse we had seen in our travels around Australia and Springvale seemed a little bit dull.

But having said all that for us Melbourne is our favourite Australian city. It has a very European feel, in fact it has an area in the city where you can find cuisine from all around the world. The cafe society along the river, great transport around city especially the trams which run out to St Kilda. I mention St Kilda as its an area of Melbourne which is by the sea, it has a pier and funfair; there are many houses that are built in the 1930's style and its shopping area is a little like a small Brighton. Both my daughter and I said we would like to live in the St Kilda's area. Also Melbourne has much to offer on the Sports side such as the Australian Grand Prix, International Tennis and of course Cricket. Also the city for me has the best cultural places that we have found.

Well I hope this info helps somewhat...perhaps I should apply for a job in the city Tourist office. :D

savoycabbage · 22/09/2010 03:57

I have heard on MN that there is a bit of a shortage of childcare in Sydney. That is not the case in Melbourne though I don't think.

I would love it if my dh's job was not in the city as this will give you much more flexability on where to live. My friend has just sold her three bedroomed ordinary house here and has moved to Mount Martha to a five bedroomed one with a pool and tennis court.....

Your dh will be able to see lots of areas in two weeks so that is great. This is how we did it. My dh came first and found us a place to live and looked at schools and things.

I agree with alig99 about the grafitti. When i first came here I couldn't believe how much there was. That is the thing I noticed coming from the airport. I suppose it's still the same but I don't notice it now at all.

Enjoy the holidays Echt!

Original poster
louisababymumma · 23/09/2010 17:26

Hi everyone, thanks again for helping me, this is really hard hence why id like to know which suburbs to steer clear off and which ones to go look at , i dont want to be wasting time as we only have 2 weeks to find another place to rent so ur help is very very much appricated.

I have been looking at Mt Martha and Mornington, they seem nice but im unsure on the communte to Springvale would anyone no this???

Alig99 i do think u should start your own Tourist office online lol :)

Lou
xxxx

OP posts:
echt · 24/09/2010 08:10

Very do-able in terms of distance, though you'd be going in with the commuter traffic on the freeway.

The East link can be picked up from Frankston which would get you there in no time - but it's a toll road.

Mount Martha and Mornington are very nice places, with well-developed shopping centres and social events.
Schools are reckoned to be good, too.

Aussiegrandma · 26/09/2010 00:40

We lived in Torquay (South East) of Melbourne. Got everything going for it if you wanted a beach lifestyle but complete with Schools, shops, sports facilities etc. Nearest City is Geelong (15/20 mins away by car) and a train from Geelong takes 1 hour into the CBD at Melbourne. The new ring road from Geelong is also open cutting down driving time into Melbourne.

There are come nice areas around Geelong itself if that would be more appealing, good Kinders, schools etc and still only short distance to the beach. I dont have any children here (I am a grandma with 2 dd and 2 dgs living in the UK still) but if I had my chance again I would have loved to have brought up my girls in this country.

Good luck with it all and enjoy this exciting time.

Aussiegrandma · 26/09/2010 02:02

Hi again.... just realised that I said Torquay is South East of Melbourne when it is actually South West!!!!! Navigational skills were never my best point haha.

Also thought I should add that Torquay, like most coastal places, gets pretty crazy through the summer months, especially over the school 6 weeks summer holiday (Dec-end Jan/startFeb)

If I can help any more please ask, I only come on MN occasionally because my daughter got me into it but I would be happy to help. As I said I dont have small children but I have friends with children and work in a creche so have lots of connections with childcare type issues.

NickOfTime · 26/09/2010 02:37

my friend has just moved to st kilda. but no idea where it is in relation to anything else... Blush

fizzytree · 23/10/2010 21:24

Hey, just a quick hijack to Echt. It is lulalullabye and we are planning on moving back. Will be going Bentleigh side and wondered what you knew about the catholic primary and secondary schools in Bentleigh ??? And p.s., how are you and how is bayside treating you ??

DCSsunhill · 23/10/2010 21:31

Ahem.

sungirltan · 23/10/2010 21:33

just want to echo on st kilda - its lovely and eclectic :-)

lulalullabye · 23/10/2010 21:49

Now dc you get everywhere!! Unlike you, we have a time limit as(40 next year). We have been trying to deny it and tonight we both admitted that we want to go back. The reasons fro staying here are not the right and sensible ones Sad.
Anyhow, it is Echt I wanted to hear from, not you!!!!

echt · 24/10/2010 08:01

Hello, Fizzy tree.

Just back from a long walk to Bushranger's Bay, to find the tide was in, so no rock pools. Had lunch and fell asleep on the beach. So that was nice.

We are fine, moved house last year, nearer the sea, and still in Bayside.

Will find out about Bentleigh stuff tomorrow, as quite a few teachers live in the area.

echt · 30/10/2010 08:01

Fizztree - I asked around about the Catholic schools, both primary and secondary, and all have decent reps - Star of the Sea, OLSH, and Sacred Heart (sec), but no real details, as no-one appears to send their children there.
Sorry I can't be more useful.

Original poster
louisababymumma · 03/11/2010 20:28

Thank you everyone ...visa's been accepted and we r on are way in January! Scary and exicting!

L
xx

OP posts:
echt · 06/11/2010 04:47

Enjoy, louisa. The summer has finally kicked in and we're thrilled.

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