Melbourne

[CatsCantFlyFast]

Anybody here from Melbourne or who has in the past, or who worked there/relocated there?

DH potentially has a job offer over there so we're contemplating a move. We've two young children (not yet school age). We have (distant) family in Australia (WA and Melbourne) and old colleagues. Was just looking for any perspectives on it as a place to live/work/bring up children. Also any advice from somebody who has done a similar move. And especially anything about spiders/snakes/sharks which the thought of is scaring me witless

Totally understand. I would avoid the suburbs too far out, then. Try and stay as close to the city as you can. If he's willing to drive 30 mins, then that will give you more options, but have realistic expectations, I guess. Melbourne is a huge sprawling city, even though it doesn't have the population of London, it is geographically as big. I love Melbourne, but there are many suburbs that I think I would go mad living in. It's hard to tell that from real estate listings and easy to just focus on the space and the house. Having tram lines is another good way of judging the density and interest of an area. Once you get out past the tram lines, you are in deep suburbia. I may have been scarred by growing up in suburbia with shit public transport.

It would be worth doing a bit of research about your dog. There's info here www.agriculture.gov.au/cats-dogs. It would take a bit of planning, eg >180 days after rabies test.

Completely agree with Floris re Monash Clayton being surrounded by somewhat boring suburbs. (DH commuted there for 8 years from northwest).The freeway can be at a standstill at various points of the day. Second looking at inner north or inner east, like Richmond - lots of diversity and on the east to start his journey. Closer to the city accommodation is more likely to be small old cottages or expensive beautiful terrace houses. Further out you will get a bigger house and garden but more sprawling suburbs.