indo on brisbane - eidsvold?

[myermay]

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Bumping this as the aussies are getting up now.

Hi myermay, am in Brisbane too - Eidsvold is always much more knowledgable than me but will start you off! Rain is not the norm at this time of year (especially at the moment we are in the middle of a horrible drought). Winter is dry and sunny, summer is humid, with fab thunderstorms. Check out www.ourbrisbane.com for loads of info on Brisbane. And www.bom.gov.au for weather info.

And schools - they have just introduced a new system whereby children who turn 5 before 30th of June start school that year in a year entitled 'Prep'. Then Year 1, etc... So my ds1, who will be 5 next April will start Prep in January at a Primary School as part of the school. This is the first year they have done it (from memory Eidsvold's dd1 is also starting next year). Some great schools here, but also some average ones. Don't know much about Helensvale, think it is quite a lovely spot.

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I'm Australian, grew up in Brisbane. DH is British, and DS1 was born there. Moved when ds1 was 17 months old. Absolutely no regrets for the boys. Fab place to bring up kids. DH gets homesick, I think (Ask him at 3am when he's watching football where he'd rather be). I miss London - Brisbane is very much an overgrown small town. But the London I miss is the 'me before kids' London, so no chance of going back there!

How many kids do you have? What are their ages? Have you looked at www.realestate.com.au? Great for getting an idea of house prices, and it also has some suburb info too.

Myermay helensvale is 1/2 way to the gold coast. south of brisbane, you could look north of brisbane and be 1/2 way to the sunshinecoast.

Most people don't think it a big deal to get into the car and drive to the coast for the day to go to the beach. But want to live closer to the city for work and commute reasons. I grew up on the southside and when im home im bayside. Helensvale would be too far out for me. I guess it depends on where your hubby is going to work.

Most houses around Helensvale are brick in purpose built new estates. You would need to look closer to the city to get a queenslander house (wood on stilts). I think the ed. system is great and overall so much better than the UK as bouj said there is going to be a prep year.

There are also particular suburbs that expats congregate.and as eidsvold has said are like little britain which may help with homesickness.

Brisbane is the fastest growning city and is becoming more urban. I hope that helps. Im oz living in the uK>

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rain (ha ha ha) not a lot around although we had some last week - on quite strict water restrictions.

Plenty to do no matter where you live.

no idea about helensvale - am a northside girl - lived all my Brisbane life.

we are in the Pine Shire - can get to the city in 45minutes driving - dh commutes by train and can get to inner city on fast train in 35 minutes.

we are 20 minutes to moreton bay - redcliffe, brighton, sandgate - that area. Under an hour to sunshine coast.

North lakes in Mango Hill - newish estate - looks fab and lots of expats with emphasis on family life.

Bouj is right - my dd1 turns 5 in August and so starts prep next year. Schooling is now based on birthdates on the aussie financial year - 1 July to 30 June.

this may help with schooling info

info on north lakes

pine shire where I live

As to Helensvale location - would find that too far out of the city and a horrendous commute at present - as lots of people choosing to move that way and towards the gold coast but infrastructure ie trains are still catching up.

anything you want to ask specifically??

so family orientated here, you will notice it straight away. and you don't seem to be spending money as soon as you leave the house, which I found in the UK (lived there for 11yrs, dd1 and dd2 were born there, we returned last Oct).
I agree with Bouj, 'But the London I miss is the 'me before kids' London, so no chance of going back there', spot on for us as well. We did loads of travelling and saw shows and ate out etc etc, but once dd2 arrived, it just wasn't possible anymore and what Brisbane has offer suits us so much more now. We live in a Southern Bayside suburb, 20km from the city centre and about 30min on a train to the city. I would agree with Eidsvold about avoiding commuting from the Gold Coast (Helensvale is closer to there than Brisbane) or north, any further than Mango Hill/Northlakes. The road and train systems are playing catchup to the population increase and avoiding the M1/Bruce Highway at the peak hour will keep you sane...... We have a friend who commutes from Coolum to Brisbane 3 days a week (1.5hrs each way) and he is very sick of it after 6mths....
Saying that though, if you put up with a bit of a commute, you can get a lot more for your money when buying a house. Could your dh get local work rather than going into the City each day?
Definitely doesn't rain much here, start getting used to 4min showers and not watering your garden

myermay:
Brisbane is very child centred - lots to do.scully is right the transportation is playing catch up to the boosting immigration both from o/seas and from southern states.

It could take you over 1 hour to commute by car from helensvale to the city. i would think about moving closer to the city. Brisbane has huge shopping malls with all the shops inside and then most suburbs have local shops with grocers, butchers, bakers, banks, chipie and offlicence.

Mt Gravatt is closer but still 20-30 mins from the city, with good transport links that might suit you better.
Oh and you don't have to do an admissions process to get into school you just go to your local - they have to take you. School is prep to year 7, high school is year 8 onwards.

I hope that helps.

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www.whereis.com is a useful map website. I found it good when also looking at www.realestate.com.au and I had a street address for a house for sale, in an area I liked. You can then see it on a map on the whereis website, and also what other facilities, like schools, and neighbouring suburbs, are nearby.
You shouldn't have a problem getting into the local State school - if you are in the catchment area for a school, then they have to take you. If you want to go private (next most popular option are catholic schools) then it is based on the usual criteria and you may not be guaranteed a place, all depends on demand. I know around my area, all of the Cath Ed schools are over subscribed for Prep places.www.bne.catholic.edu.au may be helpful if you want to try that route.
I can't help you with the reccie visit question, as I grew up here, and although I hadn't lived here for 14yrs, I did have a good idea of what I was returning to. It's all new for dh though, and he had had 3 visits in 8yrs to help him make up his mind. We have the choice of 3 countries to live in (South Africa, UK and Australia) and for us, we decided that Australia offered the best future for our children, and would also work financially and career-wise for us as well. Just plan on giving it at least 5yrs and to remember why you moved and make the most of the weather, living near good beaches etc and doing those things you've been dreaming about. It can take a while to settle into a new country, I remember that much from my 11yrs in the UK

i am brissy born and bred and have lived most of my life there or in Qld apart from 4 years in the UK so I knew what I was coming to including a house that I already had that was rented out.

I am also in Brisbane. Agree with all of what others have said.

I am not far from eidsvold and live in a newish community. My dh commutes to city by train every day. An express train takes around 45 mins. He leaves at 7:00am and arrives home around 5:30pm.

Our community is very family orientated and quite a few expats have settled here. All of them love it. I did make friends with a lovely couple who came for two years to try it out. He loved it and stayed here and she hated it and took their daughter back to UK after two years. He adored the lifestyle/weather as he suffered horrible allergies in UK and she hated the weather and missed her family terribly.

I guess it would depend how often you can go back to visit and how often family can visit you here.