Best places to live in Melbourne & primary schools

[Leah4]

Hi, my DH has recently been offered a promotion in Melbourne, which will mean that we would have to move there by next March. All happening too quickly!

He will be working in the Brighton area, and he doesn't mind a 30-45 minute commute. I am wondering where the best places to live. We would like a house with a decent size garden, near good primary schools, shops and transport. Would prefer an area with more families, parks and activities. Are there any areas I should avoid?

My dd is in Year 1 at school here, and I'm keen to move to a suburb with good state schools, which is a short commute from Brighton. DH will be going in February as that is when his contract starts, and I will join him by the Easter, with DD and DS(who will be 14 months by then).

Should we stay in a hotel until we find somewhere, or DH could choose the area and schools when he goes before me?
Due to the different terms dates, would it be better for DD to start at the beginning of the next term, or does it not matter?
Would consider a private school if costs are lower than UK and if she was not able to get into a decent school.

Hope some of my questions can be answered! Thanks

Hi Leah, I moved to Melbourne in June but live on the other side of the city. I can't really help you with many of your questions as my DD is only 3yo and I haven't had to sort out school etc yet.
I will keep this bumped for you as I know a couple of MNetters who live near Brighton who may be able to give you some advice.
Do let us know when you are here tho', we had our first Melb meet up last Friday night and it was great.
Sorry I am not very helpful!!

Leah, why don't you go to Britvics, which is all about Brits moving to Melbourne.
It was the site that helped us most about choosing suburbs, finding schools etc when we first moved here.

Britvics

Hi Leah....you couln't be relocating to a more beautiful city....but I am very biased!!
Brighton is a lovely place to live and bring up a family(if you can afford it!. It has some very good private schools: Firbank Brighton Grammar and St Leonards. The State Schools should all be very good too.
Nearby but more affordable are suburbs like Elsternwick St Kilda and South Yarra. Rents have really surged recently so "affordable" might not really be true. They certainly are lovely places to live. South Yarra is on the Yarra river and the Melbourne Botanical Gardens...magnificent.

Your husband could also commute from Middle Park which is fab and on the sea.
My pick would be St Kilda ...also by the sea(best adventure playground in the world and one of the best state schools in Melbourne..also very mixed community).

I wouldn't worry about slotting into school a bit late. Really doesn't matter. School normally starts end of jan. It's the 29th for my children next year. You don't usually start here until you have turned 5 or are very nearly 5. Most boys start about 6. Woops...just realised your daughter is in year 1....I am sure she would be way ahead of Victorian kids .....just reading posts on here re literacy etc I think England starts everything much sooner than we do. I think from the sounds of things school is a lot more relaxed here...and you won't get in trouble for missing days!!!
Tilba x

Thanks so much for all the speedy responses. Gives me good start on what I need to find out. Superloopy, will be great to come to a meet up once I am there. Where do you live in Melbourne? I will post a messgae on Britvics.

I have looked at rents in Brighton, which looks like a lovely area, as it would be so convenient for DH's work, but it is very expensive for what you can get, and ideally we would like to have 4 bedrooms as we will have family to stay for some time.

St Kilda appeals as well. How far is it from the city? Can you recommend any schools there? Would we have to pay international fees if DD went to a private school there? Glad to here that the school entry system is a little more relaxed than the UK.

Hi Leah,
I live in Point Cook which is pretty much the other side of Pt Phillip Bay to Brighton. If your DH wanted to do his commute by speed boat here would be a fab location.
We found the eastern suburbs to be pretty pricey too. We chose to live on the western side as my family all live in Sth Aust and it is easier/closer/quicker to drive there from this side of town.
Our house is new, we are the first people to live here. It has 4 bedrooms with ensuite master, double garage and generally loads of space. Exactly what I had on my wish list after living in 1 bedroom flat in East London for 4 yrs with DH then DD.
When we first arrived we stayed in a serviced apartment while we found our house. Renting furnished houses is unheard of here, you will have to either camp out until your stuff arrives or have a huge shopping spree. Ikea is here thank goodness!
I can't think of anything else to tell you at the moment but I am sure I will later... My brains are mashed potato as I'm pregnant...

We considered moving to Melbourne a few years ago...decided Brighton was too expensive but a little further down the coast (Black Rock, Sandringham, Beaumaris, down to about Mordialloc) would be a good compromise. Then we visited Melbourne and looked further out too, around Mount Martha, although that would have been a long commute into the CBD. Then we decided not to move there at all! But that was where we looked anyway, state schools seemed good and also several private schools which looked great.

Leah I don't think you would have to pay international school fees as you will be resident here. Email one of the schools I suggested..they will soon tell you!

If you lived in St Kilda the pick of the co-ed private schools would be St Michaels or Wesley (St Kilda Rd campus) or Christchurch is very special and that is in South Yarra...only minutes from St Kilda.

Suggest you email some of the agents around Brighton and see what they have coming up for rent. Brighton has a lot of overseas families and a lot of rentals. Doubt you would find a 4br house under AUD$1000 but I am guessing.

Tilbax

Check out this website to get an idea of rental prices

www.realestate.com.au

We found our house on there.

Thanks again for the comments and the website links. I have just read on a website about most properties being unfurnished. Didn't realise. I think DH wants only a short commute to work, less than 45 mins.

Slaker, just out of interest, why did you decide not to move there after visiting?

My DH will probably be there from early Feb, or maybe a bit earlier. I don't know whether to rent cheap apartment (would need 3 bedrooms, or 2 bedrooms and a sofa bed), before we all arrive and then choose a place. DH wants to rent short term once he is there as he will be paying for hotel costs, and therefore staying in one or a serviced apartment for more than 3 weeks will be too expensive. I would really like to go there and look around at areas before choosing where to live, as I don't want to move many times. What have others done? Or should I get DH to look around whilst there and then choose?

I really like Mount Eliza, although it is far from the CBD, and Sandringham. The more affordable parts of Brighton appeals, and being by the sea, but will it be very busy in peak season? Also like and have read positive comments about ,
Hawthorn, Camberwell, Balwyn and Williamstown. Any ideas on what these areas are like?

Tilbatilba, good to know that I would not have to pay international fees if DD does go to a private school. I have heard such great things about the state schools, that I am hoping to find one she likes.

The reasons we decided not to move there were that my family who were living there relocated to NZ, it seemed that DH would be better able to find suitable work in Sydney, and then we decided to stay in the UK for a few more years as his work picked up here! So nothing to do with Melbourne itself at all really, it seems a lovely place and I'm sure you'll be very happy there!

Thank you for all the comments - very helpful. Will definately look at suburbs before deciding where to rent. My DH may be there in December, so I will get him to visit the places I like. He knows the places I would be happy living. So will hopefully trust his judgement!

Is Williamstown in an industrial or very built up area? I really like Mount Eliza, but my DH said it is too far to commute to. nearly and hour. Seen rentals for Point Cook and can get lots of space for one's money, in terms of renting. Anyone know how long the commute is to the city? Are there shops or malls nearby?

Likely suburbs we will probably rent in, largely due to their proximity to the CBD Sandringham (if we can find something affordable), Camberwell, Canterbury. What is Beaumaris and Balwyn like?

Thanks

Kaz

Hi Leah
I would def go for Beaumaris and Sandringham first. Williamstown is fabulous, semi industrial and a lovely community but really not that ideal for commuting. Wouldn't fancy commuting from Pt Cook either though many people do.
I personally find Balwyn depressing and all very suburban.
In my opinion I would really try and diminish commuting time and find something affordable near Brighton.
Mt Eliza is fab..I went to school there..but I agree too far to commute.
Tilbax