melbourne - primary schools?

[Lozzer]

We are moving to Melbourne in a few months. On past visits have stayed in the Albert Park area and really liked it. Do any of you have any advice/experience on primary schools around there? Could go private if needed, but would prefer a good state school if at all posible. DS1 is 5 (currently in a British curriculum school in Kuala Lumpur) and DS2 is 3.
Many thanks, Lozzer

DH got faxed copies of a Melway map yesterday so we have a street plan to look at ...

Emmylou, would you move there then if you DHs company open an office there?

ooops, don't know how that extra double post snuck in there

2 things Ghosty - Google Maps now has street maps and aerial and hybrid as well, so you will be able to get a very exact picture of anywhere in Melbourne now.

Also, there is no Australian website anything close to the wit and intelligence of Mumsnet but for information you will do well at www.essentialbaby.com.au - they will be able to give you the detailed info you need on the forums.

I'm useless - only been to Melbourne twice. Next year my sister will be living there, though!

Not sure ghosty - i loved Melbourne and said recently that it is the only city/region of Australia i've visited that I would ever consider moving to with kids. (I have a fantasy with a modern beach house at Point Lonsdale near a lovely cafe there and opposite the park and beach...) Dh's business would have to be outside the main city as they need big workshops etc but thats no bad thing when it comes to family life. I would definitely consider short term move (1 or 2 years) but its just the fact that dh's and my parents are all in their 70's and pretty doting too. The climate is great (sort of UK with knobs on i thought - similar to NZ?) and its just what I need after 10 years of being a part time worker or stay at home mum while dh travels all over the world with his job. DD1 is about to start secondary school but part of me thinks what the hell - what a great life experience and her best friend and another close friend of hers look set on emigrating to NZ. DD2 is 7 and DD3 is 2 and a half - these younger ages are good for meeting new people and their routines can help a family feel settled I think.....do i sound like i'm trying to talk myself into it or out of it?

Emmylou ... you definitely sound like you are trying to talk yourself into it!

Well, we are definitly flying over there on Friday for 4 days to have a look - so will report back on what I think!

In the meantime DH and I have been going cross eyed on the computer looking at house prices and cost of rentals ... and looking at school websites. Unfortunately the one that has been recommended doesn't seem to have a website so we will have to have a look when we get there.

Looking at the map it seems so HUGE compared to Auckland ... a population almost the same as the WHOLE of NZ ...
Part of me is quite excited about it all but then part of me is very worried about moving DS - he is doing so well at school and is really happy there ... also I absolutely LOVE my house and I am worried that even with the promotion and pay rise that DH will get, we won't be able to afford a similar type place there ...
But I won't know until we get there next weekend whether that is the case or not.
Also, I have become very very fond of NZ and the kiwis ... I will miss them ... not to mention my particular friends ...
I am trying to get DH to understand this - he doesn't have any ties here ... he goes to work and gets on with his work colleagues and his social life outside work is with people that I have met and made friends with so really it is no skin off his nose where he lives. But I have worked hard these 4 years to make friends and make a life ... so now I will have to start again - which is hard.
But really there is not much choice involved and if I find Melbourne as lovely as people say it is then I suppose we will accept the offer.
Life is an adventure after all!

Ghosty - could you do me a favour and every time you eat somewhere see if there is Gluten Free food available? I'm trying to avoid taking a suitcase of food and then finding out I didn't need to.

Right, will do threebob ...
Are you looking for restaurants/cafes or just what you can find in the supermarket? IIRC Australia is much better at the 'special diet' thing in supermarkets than NZ ...

\link{http://members.ozemail.com.au/~coeliac/dine.html\Have you seen this website threebob?} Victoria and Melbourne are towards the bottom of the page.

Thanks Ghosty - I'd seen that. I think supermarkets will be fine, but we will be right in the centre so I was interested in how GF cafes are. Most of my food now is Australian - so it should be okay.

Wow, so much info! I am so sorry I didn't get back to look at all the responses sooner. We are actually off to Melbourne on Saturday for a bit of a look around. I have arranged to see five schools -- Albert Park Primary, Middle Park Primary, Wesley, Melbourne Grammar and Preshil. They kind of looked the best options. DO any of you Melbournians have any experience of them?

Ghosty, great to hear that you are also heading to Melbourne!

And gluten-fre restaurants, yes I am sure there are places. One of the few people I know in Melbourne is highly gluten intolerant and seems to have a fine time. I will see if I can find any listings when I am down there. Best wishes, Lozzer