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Original poster

It's decided ... moving to Sydney April/May 2008... which areas are good with kids?

181 replies

MrsBigD · 22/08/2006 11:42

o.k. it's still a bit away but thought I better get started re what to consider.

Visa stuff I have info and paperwork to be done.

I've been to Sydney yonks ago and obviously didn't look at it with the eys of a parent trying to work out which area to move to for good schools etc. but more to find good night clubs etc

So who knows Sidney from the parental perspective and is willing to share all the gritty details ?

OP posts:
tribeoffive · 01/09/2006 13:49

Astrophe where ru?

tribeoffive · 01/09/2006 13:53

oops just realised he can get a ferry across to the CBD (thanks SYDSNOW for clarifying)

SydSnow · 01/09/2006 13:59

Crossing the bridge can be painful. If you're looking for somewhere not too expensive then the Inner West might be a great option. Go to Domain.com.au and check out Balmain, Roselle, Leichhardt and surrounding suburbs.
I agree with Apostrophe that it is not quite as up-market as the North shore (old established wealthy areas) but it is a nice place to live and MUCH more affordable. Plus there is a light-rail service that would drop your hubby off in Pyrmont. Also, the cross city tunnel has opened since I left Sydney, so I don't know how that has effected commuting times (driving). It may have improved the commute from the eastern Suburbs.
Don't know much about the public school system I'm afraid - it seems to produce some excellent results though.

Astrophe · 01/09/2006 14:03

I'm in Derby! But I'm an Aussie, I grew up in Neutral Bay on the North Shore.

Crossing the bridge during peak hour can be very slow. train are the best option, and busses are ok as they have bus lanes. Theres also a bike lane if DH is that way inclined, and the ferry is just wonderful if you live near a wharf. Just don't drive!

tribeoffive · 01/09/2006 14:09

thanks for info

SydSnow · 01/09/2006 14:15

I'm in Chelsea, but from Sydney.
Lived on the North Shore, the Inner West (Balmain and Lilyfield), Bondi, Point Piper, Paddington and Darlinghurst, so I've pretty much covered the spectrum! [smiley]
Happy to provide advice - I still get emails from friends in Aus asking which restauarants/bars etc they should go to for differnt occassions etc, and I've been away a couple of years!

Astrophe · 01/09/2006 14:24

ah, you are far more balance than me sydsnow - i am a north shore snob

how long are you in the uk for? enjoying it?

SydSnow · 01/09/2006 14:36

Don't be too sure - I was an Eastern Suburbs Princess for the last 5 years I was there!
I was actually bon in London and moved to Aus when I was 5 and have been back here for just over a year. Having a great time, but rather concerned about the hospital system here - seems rather grim!

SydSnow · 01/09/2006 14:36

Concerened, that is, because I'm due in April. Sorry to assume you know all about me!

Astrophe · 01/09/2006 14:47

ah, yes, the nhs. I had my dd at RNSH and it was just lovely. Had DS here in March and it was - as you say - grim. The staff were ok but paid me no attention (which was ok as I was fine) but the actual hospital was dark and dingy and full of people. I only stayed overnight! Is this your first baby?

SydSnow · 01/09/2006 14:51

Yeah, first one. Rather hard knowing that in Aus I would be fully covered for a private hospital, private Obstetrician etc etc in a nice clean hospital. The whole Midwife concept came as a bit of a surprise!
Am thinking I may fork out the extra for private here, but that's a whole other thread!

Astrophe · 01/09/2006 15:05

i had a midwife at RHSH (delivered i the birth centre there) and here. i was really happy with that - the midwives were very supportive and enouraged me to have a ntural birth, which is what i wanted. i think the actual care here was fine, and if i'd had any problems or if my baby had, i think we would have been well looked after, it was just the hospital, food etc was grim, and understaffing meant i was ignored. I'd say be prepared to be very vocal about getting the help you need, especially with bfing or if you have had a caesr - but apart from that you should be fine.

Sorry everyone else...now back to sydney...

sunnydelight · 02/09/2006 13:34

What about a homebirth Sydsnow? That way you not only get to be in your own nice, clean, comfy home but you don't have to make that awful "should I go to hospital now" decision (they'll come to you and if you're not in established labour they will come back later), and also you are guaranteed a midwife just for you (which won't happen in hospital). Your DH won't get sent home if it's the middle of the night when you are transferred on the ward, you won't have to clean the bath before you have one (YUK emotion) and you know you can keep the champagne cold Seriously, it's the way to go in this country.

sunnydelight · 02/09/2006 13:36

Now, back to the little matter of moving to Sydney I have just found out that my friend's friend has been living in Forrestville. She says it's really nice there and the schools are good. Has anyone got an opinion? I'm still slightly freaked re. the spider thing so when she says it's basically built in the bush is this going to be a problem?

Astrophe · 02/09/2006 16:01

sunnyd - i just typed you a lovely long message and somehow deleted it and am now too grumpy with myself to write it all out nicely again...Basically

1-spiders are everywhere, not just forrestville
2-forrestville is lovely, very bushy and green
3-spray your shed/ window sills etc
4-always check bikes before riding
5-all hospitals have anti venine, so people dying of bites is extremely rare
6-forrestville is about 15 mins from beach on a good day, 40 on a saturday in the middle of summer
7-north shore schools are generally good, so sure to be a good one there
8-its not close to the city and its not on the train line, so your dh will have to bus or drive. I think it would take about 1 hour to get to the city (just a guess) in morning traffic
9-i'd be happy to live there myself, the only thing that would put me off would be the travel time for my dh.

hth

SydSnow · 02/09/2006 16:55

I agree. Forrestville is lovely if you don't have to get into town on a regular basis. It would be nightmare of a of a commute, but then lovely place to come home to.
Re spiders, you are simply going to have to get used to them! And cockroaches, and flies, and blue bottles etc.

SydSnow · 02/09/2006 18:03

Sorry to keep going off the topic!
Sunny, I'm really not a home birth kind of girl I'm afraid. More of an elective cesarian type if it weren't for the prohibitivly high costs in the UK.

Original poster
MrsBigD · 02/09/2006 18:32

oh my... not looked at the thread for a day and now I've got heaps of reading to do

OP posts:
sunnydelight · 03/09/2006 20:06

Ok, I think everyone's comments on the commute have knocked that one on the head. The whole point of the move is a better family life and part of that is that DH has no longer than an hour's commute each way. The person who recommended Forestville said it was only 30 minutes to the CBD on the express bus, which sounded like a goer, but it looks like it's more. SydSnow: Ask at your hospital if they have "amenity rooms". There are usually a few private rooms available in the public section that are allocated firstly for reasons of clinical necessity, but if nobody needs them you can pay £20-30 a night for them (at least that's what they cost in Brighton) and that way you get a private room without the massive costs of going truly private. You can't book them though, but as soon as you get to the hospital you should ask if there is one available.

Astrophe · 03/09/2006 20:44

sunny, if someone who lives in forrestville says its 30 mins then maybe theyre right? I was only guessing...look into it further. I'll do some bus research for you...

ps message for you on the other thread...should we just stick to this one though, to make it easier?

Astrophe · 03/09/2006 20:50

you know sunny, your friend may be right. here is a bus timetable from forrestville to the city - it says 35 mins. personally i'd be wary of sydney bus timetables and would expect delays, but maybe 45 is realistic?

by the way, when are you going for your holiday?

Original poster
MrsBigD · 04/09/2006 13:06

Reading all this about forrestville me think I'll have to send dh over to Sydney for an 'area finding' mission...

Also question for those who've already gone 'out there' how long in advance did you start looking for a job there from here?

And does anybody know whether there are any restrictions for foreigners (a Kiwi and a Kraut) buying property in Australia?

OP posts:
Sandcastles · 04/09/2006 13:13

When we enquired at the bank they said that dh would need to be in a job for 6 months (but that's just the banks requirement) and a permanent residential visa.

Original poster
MrsBigD · 04/09/2006 13:21

hmmm so we'd be in a bit of a bind then wanting to buy unless we've got all the money up front... dh will be on a 444 visa because he's a kiwi don't think that's a permanent residency visa and my visa for sure is a temporary one...

now to find out how long dh has to live in Australia to apply for permanent residency visa LOL

OP posts:
tribeoffive · 04/09/2006 14:13

Don't know about you MRSBIGD but my head is spinning with it all. Just spent the last hour or so finding out what I need to take the cat with us Ahh!!!! nightmare!!! paperwork galore trips to not any old vet, timescales, etc etc
Maybe persuaded to find cat loving neighbour for the cats sake
still tryin to decide what area to live in may just hire a camper van to start with might be easier you think??????

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