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Living overseas

Whether you're considering emigrating or an expat abroad, you'll find likeminds on this forum.

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Original poster

Sydney- where to live?

54 replies

ComradeJing · 10/10/2011 03:54

How do I work out which suburb we would want to live in without visiting?

DH is from WA, were based in china but DH may (all fingers and toes crossed) get sent to Sydney. I need to work out what we can ask the company from in terms of rents so need to figure out which area we would want to live. He would work in Mantraville and wants to live within 45 minutes of the office.

I need to think about distance to work, possible future schools for DD (only 8 months now but I assume you need to sign up early?), good family suburb etc. I definitely want a house not a flat. Anything else I'm missing? I'd love to be near the beach but would rather good local amenities.

Has anyone got any suggestions for me or a website to help me decide?

I think we would probably be able to ask for At least 5000aud a month in rent but maybe more.

OP posts:

Bubbaluv · 11/10/2011 06:33

Agree Ninedragons, when I said Haberfield was a little slice of Italy I was thinking more Umbria that Roma! It's nice though.

How is Balmain for lead problems? I would have thought it would be a prime candidate with all the ship building etc? Is it more of a problem when you buy a newer house on land that was once industrial (rather than an old house) or was the lead air/water borne?

On the pre-school front, my sister just moved to the inner-west and got her 3yo into a preschool (I think it's just opened or expanded or something?) in Lilyfield (I think) so let me know if you want the name of it as she says it's lovely.

ninedragons · 11/10/2011 06:49

I grew up in the inner west, and there is a development of chichi little townhouses in Rozelle. Every time I walk past them and see the mums pushing buggies, I shudder and think hmmm, bet no estate agent ever told you your house was built on the former Monsanto site. You couldn't pay me to move my family into one of those.

I think it's largely industrial pollution. I believe there used to be a paint factory in Erskineville, which is the source of the problem there. Then again, the people with the puppy were in a Victorian house and thought the problem had come from the paint that had been used on the house itself, washing off into the garden with every downpour.

Very kind of you WRT preschool. DH and I went to the local one today to check progress of our application and it sounds like we might be quite near the top of the waiting list, so we are keeping our fingers tightly crossed.

FiveBells · 11/10/2011 07:01

I'd suggest the East, for a 45 minute commute, especially if your DH plans on using public transport. Driving in Sydney is a nightmare, and getting from the shire, inner west or north to Matraville would take longer than 45 minutes at peak times. (Shire is very conservative, dull and parochial b.t.w., I speak from experience!) Some parts of the south eastern suburbs can be a bit rough, like Maroubra, though property prices are rising a people can't afford the eastern suburbs closer to the city. The closest thing you'd get to the "country" would be the Blue Mountains, and again, although people do commute, it means a large chuck of your day is on the train or in the car (4 am rising anyone?). You'll love Sydney's blue skies after China :)

dollydoodledo · 11/10/2011 07:12

Daycare in the eastern suburbs can be problematic too, 2 year wait lists, which I didn't really believe when I moved here until I was offered a place 2 years later! The area is lovely though and your housing budget is very healthy (we're in a 2 bed flat as this area is expensive compared to inner west) so you should be fine. Oh and public schools here are actually state schools!

Bubbaluv · 11/10/2011 07:22

Lots of place in the East do have huge waiting lists, but if you're willing to drive 15 mins or so you'll get a place. I was offered two spots within a couple of weeks of getting here (one in Edgecliff and one in Randwick) and another friend who arrived here 3 months ago had a choice of 3 places. You have to do some pavement pounding though as they don't take you seriously unless you physically turn up and then call them weekly.

Also, do you know if your comapny will provide a relocation agent to help you settle in? They did lots of the daycare groundwork for both me and my friend.

Bubbaluv · 11/10/2011 07:23

Another thing to remember is that you WILL need a car no matter where you live. Sydney is no place to rely on public transport.

redvelvetpoppy · 12/10/2011 01:23

Hi there, any news yet re: your potential move?

I'm in The Shire...15 mins walk to the beach, been here 3m. We are not sure where we will settle in Sydney yet. Myself & DS (3) quite enjoy pottering around here, plenty of playparks, cafes, yoga/pilates for me, art/move/music for him. Sports & swimming facilities all close to hand. DH commutes to the CBD, 50 mins on the train & he would prefer we lived closer to the city & somewhere more cosmopolitan. We're planning to stay here 6-12m, get some summertime near the beach. We've been managing without a car so far as so near the train, but we're now both getting withdrawal pangs....

Plenty of good schools around (public, independent, catholic, montessori) & LONG waitlists for the pre-schools/daycare. I'm not working yet so we haven't sorted anything out. People very friendly around here. Sydney has so many lovely places to choose from, it is really difficult to know where to base yourself!! With your rental budget, you'd get a lovely property round here...

Good Luck!

Original poster

ComradeJing · 12/10/2011 03:34

Won't hear anything until the end of the month when the big bosses fly to china. I'm gagging to go now.

Childcare won't be an issue as I'll stay as a SAHM but obviously pre school and school is something to keep in mind. Huge worry regarding pollution and thanks for the heads up. Though at this stage anything must be healthier than the Beijing air. Far too many days when we just don't go outside but stay near the many iq air purifiers at home.

Thumb no more talk of wine tours please. Or I'll be in the meeting DH has with the big bosses demanding he goes and we need to play it cool to get as much money as possible out of them :o

OP posts:

sunnydelight · 12/10/2011 07:49

I wouldn't worry too much about schools at the moment as 6 is compulsory school age here (though they can start in Jan as long as they will turn 5 by 31st July if you really want them to).

One of the best things about Sydney is that your catchment public (State) school has to give you a place if you live in the area so you haven't got the same school admissions stress as in the UK. I'm guessing that even if you are coming over on a 457 visa if you are still here by the time your child starts school you will have got PR by then, so again it's probably a non-issue, but you do pay fees for public schools here in NSW on a 457 visa.

Private schools are a different kettle of fish as a lot of them have attached pre-schools from 3 and the popular ones take names from birth. A lot of the privates go from 3-18 so you only ever have to choose once if you choose wisely! I couldn't believe when I arrived that my 4, 9 and 14yos could all be on the same site - makes like so much easier. Good luck with the move.

Bubbaluv · 12/10/2011 08:09

Sunny I think Comrade's DH is Aussie, so they won't have to pay school fees for public schools (other than the normal contributions).

It is important to worry about schools though otherwise you will have nothing to contribute to one of the 3 topics of conversation in Sydney...

What school you children will go to.
House prices, what your neighbour just sold for, renovations etc
The Slap (Comrade, if you have not yet read The Slap you must do before arrival as it is the latest addition to the limited topics of conversation available in Sydney).

I am of course joking. Kind of.

sunnydelight · 12/10/2011 08:26

Doh! Sorry OP, I missed that bit rendering most of my input totally useless!

Your second paragraph made me laugh Bubbaluv. Very true, but tbh when I was a thirtysomething with pre-schoolers in Brighton it was exactly the same (the only difference was the book club book); as the saying goes "same shit, different country"

Original poster

ComradeJing · 12/10/2011 16:20

I think I'm ready for those topics! At the moment it is:

How long have you been in Beijing and how long will you stay
How bad the pollution is
Your Ayi, good and bad things
How bad the traffic is
Whether the exchange rate is screwing you this month

OP posts:

Bubbaluv · 13/10/2011 01:31

Want to tease yourself even more?
Sign up to Aquabumps - either at Aquabumps.com or on facebook. They send you daily photos of from Bondi and the surrounding beaches.
It used to kill me in the UK!

tryingtoleave · 13/10/2011 03:49

OMG - the slap! If I see/hear another ad for it I think I'm going to have to boycott the ABC!

Original poster

ComradeJing · 13/10/2011 12:18

I'm NOT signing up for that. It will kill me if we don't get it. Bloody 7 years is too long in the bum end of the universe.

Meeting on Monday was positive. Now DH will have a meeting with the bosses in the last week of the month. I'm in WA at the moment with PIL and bored ridged and wish I could stay in the sunshine forever.

OP posts:

Thzumbiewitch · 13/10/2011 12:44

Will keep everything crossed for you, ComradeJ! Let us know when the next meeting happens [hsmile]

Bubbaluv · 14/10/2011 00:47

Fingers crossed!!

ninedragons · 14/10/2011 04:38

Fingers crossed. We were living in Shanghai when I had DD and overnight it went from being a fantastically exotic, exciting place to be to a polluted shithole with the worst driving in the world. China is VERY hard work for a trailing spouse with young DC, so I totally understand you.

Original poster

ComradeJing · 15/10/2011 04:18

Nine dragons I would bet the farm we have friends in common. Or at least friends of friends :)

Thanks for the crossed fingers. DH has been told the job is his for the asking. It will come down to money I imagine!

OP posts:

Thzumbazombiewitch · 15/10/2011 04:30

Sorry to hijack and keep banging the meet-up drum, but we're having an adults only meet up in Sydney, probably at the Opera Bar again, on Sunday 30th Oct (lunchtime) for anyone on here who isn't on this thread - details will be posted on there as we get closer. Ninedragons in particular, hope you can come along as I missed meeting you last time :( - it's open to everyone in Sydney or surrounds :)

Thzumbazombiewitch · 15/10/2011 04:31

ComradeJ - fingers crossed they can come up with the right amount of money for you then! :)

Original poster

ComradeJing · 17/10/2011 08:53

Thanks thumb!

Just to update we know now that they want him to shift but the move could take 6+ months as they're not yet ready to change the rolls. It will happen but not immediately is my guess. I'll come back when I hear something!

OP posts:

Original poster

ComradeJing · 17/10/2011 08:55

Roles not rolls!

OP posts:

Bubbaluv · 18/10/2011 21:41

Poo, you'll miss Summer!
Ah well, Winter only lasts 3 months and rents go down (near the beach).
I hope it all comes together for you!

Thzumbazombiewitch · 18/10/2011 23:57

PMSL at "winter only lasts 3 months" - seems to be going on and on at the moment, Bubba! Maybe not in your neck of the woods but we're still chilly out in the sticks! [hgrin]

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