To all who have settled here!

[shahram]

Wev'e been in Aus almost 3 yrs, we migrated to a place called Wagga Wagga NSW (hubby took a wrong turn on a reccie) and loved it, after 2 n half yrs we decided to give South Aus a go, we arrived in Nov 09, spent all our savings getting here! I have now been workin for 2 mths and hubby has an interview tomoz. The kids settled really quickly and are doin well, but the best news is my eldest son is movin over in August from Orange also NSW. We really like it here as we are near the beach but also the hills, wineries etc. I have been back to the uk once and couldn't wait to get back "home". Although we loved Wagga and made some really good friends we have also made the right decision to relocate here.

Can you advise me about your experience to live in Adelaide?we will to move there with my family and i don;t know very much about work, collage, school, accommodation and so on.meanwhile my English language isn't very well.I have two daughter 18 and 14.

[misschatter]

Again great idea for a thread!

Although I am still probably along way off living in Adelaide this has given me some great insight to life in oz and has re confirmed every reason I am going through this long process, and makes it all seem worth while. I know I am at the very beginning of my journey compared to all of you who have been out there for years, but thank you for sharing your stories, they have been very inspiring and had given me the boast to keep going, as Im sure all of you know, sometimes you wonder if the UK is that bad after all!
But after spending a year working and visiting oz (08-09) and returning to the UK I feel that I have left part of me behind and know if I don't try ill never know and always regret it.
I just can't wait for the day we arrive so that we can start to live life how we wish, my partner (who i met whilst backpacking in oz) and I are still currently living at home with the parents to save for our new life.
We seem to eat and breathe oz here what with all the researching, paper work and forums, so we feel like we are ready and know what to expect. although have become a little concerned about the economy over there at the moment after reading some news articles about rising interest rates on mortgages.

But anyway we are really looking forwards to our future together in Oz and just want to say thanks again for all the information, this site is so helpful, I hope that when I finally reach oz (and when SA's website finally re-opens) I can give information to people like myself!
Well done to all who have reached there goal out there and good luck to anyone who is in my shoes and hopefully see all you poms out there, hehe!
Leanne x

[Burke Clan]

Hi

Been meaning to do an update for a while but never seem to get round to it, so here goes.

Now been here 18 months. Knew no-one, never been here, two job interviews lined up and that was about it. Got job with someone else although got offered both jobs and long term rental within days of each other.

The kids settled really easily, so much so that the eldest (8) has said that when he grows up he wants to be an architect and build us a big house. Niki asked him where UK or Australia and he said Australia of course - did make us smile. He also gets confused now about things that happened in UK and here when he talks about UK stuff.

Work was plentiful last year but not so much this year but no use moping about it, things will pick up. Put buying a house back a bit but no harm in waiting. Had a few hiccups with purchases of big things but have learnt our lesson

Made some very good friends here and one that went a bit pearshaped.

Better standard of life here. We basically didn't have one in UK as never saw each other. Some things are expensive but you just don't buy them and some things are cheap, swings and roundabouts.

Niki would not go back to UK if you paid her. I get a bit homesick every now and then and think was I wise to leave UK but only when things are not going the way that I really want them to.

All in all though I would say it is the best thing we ever did for all of us.

Hi Jason,

I was just wondering if you could share your experience of living in Christies Beach. Is it a good area for young families? What are the primary schools like? Any area we should avoid?

Thx
Riana

[HEAPS GOOD !!!]

Saw something on the news tonight about, Chritsties Beach being the next big thing property wise...

HG

[niknjas]

Hi Riana

We had a book on Adeladie and areas before we got here and Christies was actually on our short list although we had had mixed reviews from people. Apparently this was a housing trust area originally and lots of immigrants came to first or so we have been told. It is a nice quiet place to live. Shops on Beach Road not of abundance as some closing but Noarlunga Centre only half an hour walk and there is talk of a tram line being set up down Beach Road linked to the shopping Centre to bring more people here. You can easily recognise the "dodgy" streets as such but would not say any of them are are particularly terrible. You get the odd hooner but apart from t bit like living in a seaside village. We have been in this area since we got here 18 months ago and only a street away from our short term rental and a street away from the beach. Phoebe goes to Christies North kindie which was recommended and loved it. Charlie goes to Christies Primary and again loves it. Good mix of kids and buddy system so no bullying goes on and if there is anything it is rectified immediately. Only thing I would say is if you wanted your kids to go to that school, don't ring the principal as always busy and never gets back to you but go in and they will show you round. They study Indonesian, lot of performing arts and are just starting a veggie garden. We did look at O'Sullivans Primary and while the principal talked the talk and was a nice little school, he had been brought in because the school was not performing as well as it should. My concern was how long would it be until it was up to par.

We would definately like to stay in this area, just dependant on how much house prices go up and availability. Apparently it is now also on the want list for places to live.

Hope this helps and if you want to know anything else or fancy a meet up when you get here, give us a shout.

Jason & Niki

Hi Jason,

I was just wondering if you could share your experience of living in Christies Beach. Is it a good area for young families? What are the primary schools like? Any area we should avoid?

Thx
Riana

[Burke Clan]

Hi Riana

We had a book on Adeladie and areas before we got here and Christies was actually on our short list although we had had mixed reviews from people. Apparently this was a housing trust area originally and lots of immigrants came to first or so we have been told. It is a nice quiet place to live. Shops on Beach Road not of abundance as some closing but Noarlunga Centre only half an hour walk and there is talk of a tram line being set up down Beach Road linked to the shopping Centre to bring more people here. You can easily recognise the "dodgy" streets as such but would not say any of them are are particularly terrible. You get the odd hooner but apart from t bit like living in a seaside village. We have been in this area since we got here 18 months ago and only a street away from our short term rental and a street away from the beach. Phoebe goes to Christies North kindie which was recommended and loved it. Charlie goes to Christies Primary and again loves it. Good mix of kids and buddy system so no bullying goes on and if there is anything it is rectified immediately. Only thing I would say is if you wanted your kids to go to that school, don't ring the principal as always busy and never gets back to you but go in and they will show you round. They study Indonesian, lot of performing arts and are just starting a veggie garden. We did look at O'Sullivans Primary and while the principal talked the talk and was a nice little school, he had been brought in because the school was not performing as well as it should. My concern was how long would it be until it was up to par.

We would definately like to stay in this area, just dependant on how much house prices go up and availability. Apparently it is now also on the want list for places to live.

Hope this helps and if you want to know anything else or fancy a meet up when you get here, give us a shout.

Jason & Niki

Hi Jason & Niki,

Thanks for that, really appreciate it. Will hopefully keep in touch

Riana

[Misplaced]

I went to Christies Beach Primary back in the 70's and it fine. DO they still have the outside swimming pool? my mum (god rest her soul) was one of the main fund raisers to get it buit! Good to hear that it's an up and coming area. I used to walk to school everyday from Port Noarlunga!!

[ajford]

Wow, I would love to add my story on here too however i will add mine when we start it; I have finally got through all these really good posts,and it has been a pleasure reading everyone of those-So nice one Tyke again its been a good idea,

should be able to put a hows it going post in August,just waiting for the contract dates to be agreed-and then we will be there,

thanks

[Tyke]

Wow, I would love to add my story on here too however i will add mine when we start it; I have finally got through all these really good posts,and it has been a pleasure reading everyone of those-So nice one Tyke again its been a good idea,

should be able to put a hows it going post in August,just waiting for the contract dates to be agreed-and then we will be there,

thanks

Glad to read you have enjoyed the the thread Andy. I hope it gives people inspiration and advice.

I am trying encorage as many people as possible to post in here.
Kind of like "Pay it Forward".
Lots of people are on the site for about 2 years and once settled don't need us so much once happily settled - c'mon guys!! Pop back in and give a report!!!!

[niknjas]

I went to Christies Beach Primary back in the 70's and it fine. DO they still have the outside swimming pool? my mum (god rest her soul) was one of the main fund raisers to get it buit! Good to hear that it's an up and coming area. I used to walk to school everyday from Port Noarlunga!!

Hi

No afraid to say that they no longer have it - it was got rid of before we arrived. It is now a nice new trendy sports hall that the kids have to take their shoes off in as it spoils the floor. The old prefab huts have now gone which my son started out in and new brick built rooms have been built with solar power. They have just put up new metal fencing to surround the school. Put up a sports canteen on the field for Saturday football. Where the old prefab's were is going tobe the veggie plot and they are putting an aboriginal drop in centre at the school carpark which has raised some eyebrows and tempers with some.

Niki