26 replies to this topic

[jasey]

So as it turns out, WA also has some qualifications for me to choose from - pity NSW doesn't. But it's still such a blessing that they DO have the opportunity available - so it looks like I'll need to start Oz life off in Perth for two years and then look to move to Sydney later.

So now some questions about Perth

- I was looking at salaries of around $120k in Sydney. What would this equate to in Perth terms? In other words, how does cost of living compare in terms of rent / salaries / groceries?

- How abundant is the wildlife? Are there nature reserves within driving distance; and do the parrots/cockatoos/other birds fly around just as much as in other cities?

- Which suburbs are affordable but near the water, preferably near bird life? Even if not near the beach, near a lake or similar?

- How affordable is it to fly to other cities from Perth? Perth to Sydney, for example - and how long would this flight take?

- What are the top attractions you'd suggest? Are there vineyards, fishing villages, restaurants on the beach, that kind of thing?

Thanks

[Emille]

jasey, on 28 January 2012 - 11:31 PM, said:

So as it turns out, WA also has some qualifications for me to choose from - pity NSW doesn't. But it's still such a blessing that they DO have the opportunity available - so it looks like I'll need to start Oz life off in Perth for two years and then look to move to Sydney later.

So now some questions about Perth

- I was looking at salaries of around $120k in Sydney. What would this equate to in Perth terms? In other words, how does cost of living compare in terms of rent / salaries / groceries?

- How abundant is the wildlife? Are there nature reserves within driving distance; and do the parrots/cockatoos/other birds fly around just as much as in other cities?

- Which suburbs are affordable but near the water, preferably near bird life? Even if not near the beach, near a lake or similar?

- How affordable is it to fly to other cities from Perth? Perth to Sydney, for example - and how long would this flight take?

- What are the top attractions you'd suggest? Are there vineyards, fishing villages, restaurants on the beach, that kind of thing?

Thanks

So Perth's the place to focus on then

- It depends on your profession. Perhaps some IT people here in Perth can respond. For my profession, the salaries in Sydney and Perth are similar. In terms of cost of living, Perth should be cheaper. Groceries I think is more expensive than Sydney, but rents should be cheaper.

- There is wildlife. Black swans on the Swan, different types of cockatoos (beautiful black ones depending on where you are in Perth) - but I dont think birdlife is so significant than in say Sydney. THebsbre are kangaroos.

- Suburbs - depend on your budget and your preference. The Swan river is a huge river (more like the sea) and there are suburbs all around it - the closer to the river, the more expensive. I would look at Bayswater and Maylands to be close to the river. Otherwise if you have the money, you could consider Applecross or Bicton - and my personal favourite East Fremantle. To be close to the beach, I would consider Fremantle (nice character but relatively expensive) and Double View (more affordable, one part overlooks sea and the other overlooks city skyline). THen there are numerous suburbs along the ocean and more affordable the further away from the CBD.

- I am talking under correction, but I think the flight from Perth to Sydney is 5 hours, and 4 hours back (I may be wrong). Tickets on Virgin (best cheap airline) is about $200 single ($400 return)

- There are people that are more informed about this than me:
Fremantle is a lovely area - the oldest part of the city - a bit like a mix between Fishhoek and the V&A Waterfront (well sort off). Restaurants (google Little Creatures) on the harbour
There are vineyards just outside Perth in the Swan valley. The best vineyards though is 4 hours south in Margaret River, a lovely region of villages that reminds me of the Garden Route (with vineyards)
There is a wildlife park outside of Perth in the Swan valley,
No 'fishing villages' that I know of

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[jasey]

All excellent bits of very useful info as always Emille, thanks man

Will be researching the Perth suburbs you suggested after watching a couple of Wanted Down Under episodes about Perth on YouTube! And my Living Down Under DVDs arrive on Monday. The Sydney one arrived on Friday, but I ordered the Melbourne, Perth and Australia discs just to learn more about the various cities. So the Perth one will be first up on Monday night

[Emille]

pleasure

i would recommend reading again the latest posts on my 'perth- one year and these are my toughts'

[jasey]

Will do ... absorbing like a sponge

[jasey]

So Emille, after watching four episodes of Wanted Down Under (I chose all the Perth ones), and reading your 'year in Perth' post, I *totally* agree with your description of the place. It appears quite flat, and a little uneventful. Lots of building going on and new areas, but the new areas are quite bland - like Parklands. And quite dated in some ways (as you described) when looking at the overall design of shopping centres and suburbs. Obviously I'm only saying this from seeing limited glimpses of the city, but when watching the Sydney episodes, you see trees and greenery and sea and promenade and people and cafes in the background just about all the time. Perth seems like loads of beach, lots of houses and the CBD. Again, this is just my early opinion from seeing quite a few videos of the different cities.

Sydney is calling!

Edited by jasey, 29 January 2012 - 05:55 AM.

[candivw]

I love Sydney its my favorite place on earth for a holiday but i would never live there. Too busy, too much traffic, too many tolls. Im a relaxed laid back sort of person. I dont like crowds, queues or waiting so for me WA is perfect.

Flights are about $400 pp to the east coast from Perth, 5 hours to Sydney and 6 hrs back i think.

Rentals you are looking at $400 per week + thats the cheapest you will get for a house. If you want to live close to the beach you pay around $800 a week unless you live far north or south liike Quinns Rocks ( North) or South like Safety bay etc.

Groceries here coat us around $400 per fortnight for the 2 of us but thats everything including toiletries. I could do it cheaper if i bought bulk meat etc and split it but dont have the time.

[Donovan83]

candivw, on 29 January 2012 - 08:54 AM, said:

I love Sydney its my favorite place on earth for a holiday but i would never live there. Too busy, too much traffic, too many tolls. Im a relaxed laid back sort of person. I dont like crowds, queues or waiting so for me WA is perfect.

+1

I'd like to live in Sydney if I could stay in the CBD. I might still one day but I agree, I can live happily without crowds and queues.

[candivw]

dono, on 29 January 2012 - 09:28 AM, said:

+1

I'd like to live in Sydney if I could stay in the CBD. I might still one day but I agree, I can live happily without crowds and queues.

Yes living in the CBD would be the way to go in Sydney

[Emille]

jasey, on 29 January 2012 - 05:00 AM, said:

So Emille, after watching four episodes of Wanted Down Under (I chose all the Perth ones), and reading your 'year in Perth' post, I *totally* agree with your description of the place. It appears quite flat, and a little uneventful. Lots of building going on and new areas, but the new areas are quite bland - like Parklands. And quite dated in some ways (as you described) when looking at the overall design of shopping centres and suburbs. Obviously I'm only saying this from seeing limited glimpses of the city, but when watching the Sydney episodes, you see trees and greenery and sea and promenade and people and cafes in the background just about all the time. Perth seems like loads of beach, lots of houses and the CBD. Again, this is just my early opinion from seeing quite a few videos of the different cities.

Sydney is calling!

I agree with your initial impressions. In terms of 'nature' (apart from beaches and the Swan river), Perth is insignificant. This may sound weird to people but effectively if you are from Cape Town you are more likely to agree with me. Having said all that, there is nothing wrong with Perth and its a great city (just not the greatest Australian city according to me). But ones choice on where to settle is more than just 'beauty' - its about visa requirements and where you can get the right job. Many of the outer suburbs are very much like Parklands, you are quite right about that - and it goes on forever. Look at my recommendation about suburbs though - reason why i live where i live is its close to the CBD, close to the river, close to cafes etc and has varied styles/ages of houses - this is the closest I could afford. If money was no object, my suburb definately wouldve been Mount Lawley - I am 2 suburbs from there now, which is about 3 km - but with $500k-$1 million cheaper! Check out Mount Lawley, Bayswater, Inglewood, Maylands - (also Victoria Park) all suburbs that compares to the Sydney/Melbourne/Brisbane suburbs closer to the CBD. Vic Park has quite wooden and other cottages and is close to the river, also just over the river from the CBD. Fremantle is also very cool but far from CBD but close to the beach - and East Fremantle is cool as well, close the river and ocean, but quite expensive. The other coastal suburbs are all very much 'Port Elizabeth/Humewood' - even the expensive ones like City Beach and Cottlesloe (think Sunset Beach in CT)

Anyway I think I have found you a property - so shall i arrange a viewing for you (?!): not far from CBD, adjoining 'lake' with birdlife and close to the river - nothing flash but quite stylish and new:

http://www.realestat...water-108354901

or something cheaper but close to the river:

http://www.realestat...water-108741246

or this which is more my style and down the road from me:

http://www.realestat...water-108513176

Victoria Park:

http://www.realestat... park-108628801

check out these properties (just to give you an idea of mount lawley):

mount lawley:
modern mount lawley: http://www.realestat...awley-107594943
old mount lawley (more my style): http://www.realestat...awley-108239446
http://www.realestat...awley-108685921
or if you have more money:
http://www.realestat...awley-107351272

Edited by Emille, 29 January 2012 - 02:32 PM.

[jasey]

Haha Emille how awesome of you to go finding me links ... very cool, thanks

The location of Bayswater near to the water looks amazing. But something I've noticed, which is true for all of these properties too, is that it's hard(er) to find a home with loads of back garden space, pool etc. I would need something with lots of trees, lots of garden space and privacy/space between us and the neighbours.

[jasey]

To give you some idea, this is one half of our back garden. Space, trees, birds, pool, privacy. That's what we're looking for

 Screen shot 2012-01-29 at 8.00.29 AM.png   1.09MB   10 downloads

Edited by jasey, 29 January 2012 - 03:58 PM.

[Emille]

there are places like that but obviously further from the CBD - obvious names are places like Applecross, Shelley, Williton etc but some are expensive and you may still be close to neighbours. they are near the river.

If you are looking for somethign unique but not the 'urban' lifestyle:

one suggestion perhaps is Guildford - its further from the CBD (probably 20km), but its surrounded by the river and has some nice cafes etc. - its an historical village and very easy access to CBD by train.

http://www.realestat...dford-109301341

there are also the perth hills, further out - this is if nature is more important to you than the city - on the outskirts of the city where you will get absolute space and absolute privacy with wildlife (i.e. kangaroos in your front yard)- but this is a different lifestyle. For example Mundaring (Perth's equivalent of Hout Bay - far from city, but very leafy, no ocean etc.)

http://www.realestat...aring-107428994

http://www.realestat...aring-106222098

Also in this class is Kalamunda (some houses have good views of skyline):

http://www.realestat...munda-108895526

http://www.realestat...munda-108332386

Edited by Emille, 29 January 2012 - 05:44 PM.

[jasey]

you're a star emille, thank you man!

p.s. ever thought of going into the real estate industry?

[jasey]

the first kalamunda house right on the creek with a gazillion trees is BRILLIANT. wow, absolutely amazing.

how much of a commute would kalamunda be to the CBD?

also, are fresh farmers market as abundant in Perth as Sydney?