We are nearly there.

[Guest Froglets]

Hi, I am just writing to introduce my little family - The Froggatts - that are moving to Adelaide within the next 2-3 months. We have sooooo many questions that we would like to ask and hope that we get a reply.

 

We have never been to Adelaide before as my husband went for his interview for a job in Brisbane, but luckily, he didn't get that one. A few months later the same company contacted him again to ask whether he would be interested in Adelaide - which was our first choice to move to anyway. This was just great. He will be working in Norwood, but being as he is a long distance runner, we have been looking at the Torrens Park area to live and wondered if anyone could give us some info on the place. I have a daughter who is 9 and into Cinema and a little boy who will just be 2 when we get there. He is heavily into soccer and generally running around.

 

So info on Torrens Park and the surrounding area would be great. We especially have to arrange a school and a playgroup. We are looking for a nice area, with plenty to do, that is middle of the road and not millionaires paradise. Any ideas? We had also wondered about Campbelltown, but thought is was a bit too far out. We basically need to live somewhere on the eastern side of CBD.

 

My daughter is soooo excited. We only told her yesterday and she was juming around the room for about 30 minutes. Really funny.

Hope to hear from someone soon.

 

The Froggatts

[Guest barb]

Good luck with everything would be interested to know where you end up living and what its like as we hope to be over as soon as we sell our house...Oh, and get our visas,lol.

[Guest kangomik]

Looks like things are on the move, Campbelltown is not ot far out, only 10 mins from the city. There is a lot of places to look at in that area, I would take some time out when you arrive and have a good look around the area, Rostrevor, Athlestone, Highbury, in fact there's loads.

 

The next few months will fly by, make the most of everyday.

[Diane]

Hi - not sure if you mean the actual suburb of Torrens Park (which is in the south) and near Mitcham, or the park that runs along the Torrens: if the former - ignore me, if the latter, here goes...

We live on the park (you will often see it referred to as Linear Park too, or the Torrens Linear Park) in Highbury. Takes about 20 minutes to drive to Norwood from here, or probably about the same to cycle through the park, although the park doesn't actually go to Norwood (nearest is Portrush Road) - not sure about running it, but perfectly doable I'm sure! Have a look at suburbs along the park such as Dernancourt, Athelstone, Paradise, even Klemzig. House prices tend to go up a little the nearer to the actual park you are, but you could live just one road away and get better prices, but still easy access. The park is a great place for kids - plenty of kiddie play parks around, and cycling/walking tracks all through it. Lots of primary schools and playgroups around too.

There is a big cinema in Norwood for your daughter, and also one at Tea Tree Plaza in the North East which isn't far from any of the places mentioned above.

Don't know if that helps at all, but shout out if you have any questions about the area.

Diane

[Toni]

Now if it is Torrens Park you mean (not the one that Diane has describe). That is close to the suburb of Mitcham and there is a lovely new Cinema Complex that has opened up there in the Mitcham Village (Shopping Centre). It's not far from the city and probably a 15 minute drive to Norwood. It's quite a green area, lots of trees and some lovely older homes but also some new ones. The Belair National Park is not too far from there. About a 10 minute drive up the hill on Old Belair Road. It's lovely spot to picnic and able to hire tennis courts and it has BBQs for use and of course lots of walks.

[Guest Froglets]

Now if it is Torrens Park you mean (not the one that Diane has describe). That is close to the suburb of Mitcham and there is a lovely new Cinema Complex that has opened up there in the Mitcham Village (Shopping Centre). It's not far from the city and probably a 15 minute drive to Norwood. It's quite a green area, lots of trees and some lovely older homes but also some new ones. The Belair National Park is not too far from there. About a 10 minute drive up the hill on Old Belair Road. It's lovely spot to picnic and able to hire tennis courts and it has BBQs for use and of course lots of walks.

Hi Kris. It was that Torrens that we meant. Have you any idea if it is a really expensive place to live or is there a mix of houses there? Thanks so much for getting back to me. It sounds just what we are looking for.

Amanda x

[Toni]

Hi Kris. It was that Torrens that we meant. Have you any idea if it is a really expensive place to live or is there a mix of houses there? Thanks so much for getting back to me. It sounds just what we are looking for.

Amanda x

 

It looks like that most of the homes currently for rent in Torrens Park and Mitcham are either small 2 bedrooms or older homes and the rent varies from $270 to $500. Here's a link to the search I did on one of our main real estate sites, we also have local newspapers and The Advertiser (newspaper) which lists private rentals from owners. The first one on this list looks excellent and the price seems very reasonable but it is on a main road and it would be lots of traffic......did I mention lots of traffic...... Real Estate & Property For Rent*in Torrens Park, SA 5062 and Mitcham, SA 5062 (Page 1) - realestate.com.au

 

Cheers

 

Kris

[Guest Froglets]

:DHi Kris, Thanks so much for that info. Have been lookin at the furnished place and it looks great and they have availability for around the time we want to go. Just need to get our flights booked and then we will definately be looking at that one. The other link that you sent us was absolutely great as we were beginning to think that Torrens Park was a very exclusive place and that we would not be able to afford it, but it looks as though we can, so thanks to you, I can have a good night sleep tonight!!! Your info has been so useful. Hopefully speak to you again.

[Guest Froglets]

:chatterbox:Hi Diane,

Thanks for your message from just over a week ago. We have now finally got the full visa through and will hopefully be arriving around June 15th. When I sent the message out, it was the Mitcham Torrens Park that we were looking at, but after reading that the area is a lot wetter due to the foothills (?), we have had a re-think and are now looking at the eastern side of the area, ie from Norwood across to Rosslyn Park and up as far as Athelstone (I love the look of the school at Athelstone but think it may be a bit far out for my husband to run to work!) We are currently looking for a furnished house to rent for a few months while we wait for our furniture to arrive around this area. All the ones that I have looked at have either been on the coast or too far down. Do you know if there are any adverts in the local paper for companies that specialise in renting furnished houses to new arrivals (like Roo Rentals or Margaritas Place). We have looked indepentently, but the information that we got from google seems to be mainly for students.

Hope to hear from you soon.

 

Amanda x:daydreaming:

[Sallyh]

Just saying hello really!!!!

 

We just moved out of Kensington Park (good for Norwood) and that was really nice. If you look at www.realestate.com.au (I assume you've found that site) you will find occasionally there are furnished rentals on there for shorter term leases. REally you're not going to be able to secure that kind of rental till you get here, so maybe check out for some holiday accommodation that you are able to book long distance (unless you are able to get some accommodation specifically for migrants beforehand).

 

Actually we've found living near the hills really great, and when its stinking hot it's slightly milder and fresher than in the more central areas, so I wouldn't worry about what you've heard about the rain too much.

 

Have a friend who lives in Torrens Park and I just thought it was the most amazing place when I went to visit, I'd not discount that until you are here and have looked around and found your feet a bit.

 

All the best!

[Diane]

:chatterbox:Hi Diane,

Thanks for your message from just over a week ago. We have now finally got the full visa through and will hopefully be arriving around June 15th. When I sent the message out, it was the Mitcham Torrens Park that we were looking at, but after reading that the area is a lot wetter due to the foothills (?), we have had a re-think and are now looking at the eastern side of the area, ie from Norwood across to Rosslyn Park and up as far as Athelstone (I love the look of the school at Athelstone but think it may be a bit far out for my husband to run to work!) We are currently looking for a furnished house to rent for a few months while we wait for our furniture to arrive around this area. All the ones that I have looked at have either been on the coast or too far down. Do you know if there are any adverts in the local paper for companies that specialise in renting furnished houses to new arrivals (like Roo Rentals or Margaritas Place). We have looked indepentently, but the information that we got from google seems to be mainly for students.

Hope to hear from you soon.

 

Amanda x:daydreaming:

 

One of the things your husband might like to consider is running to the OBahn Interchange at Paradise (or Klemzig) - he can run though the park, then hop on the bus from there for the final bit of his trip (the OBahn is the quickest way into the city - it is a bus that runs on rails for most of the route, then on roads).

 

For furnished rentals, although it's not kept updated quite as often as realestate.com.au, I find the keyword search feature on www.domain.com.au is very useful. You can put in "furnished" as a key word and take it from there.

 

It does occasionally trip itself up by including anything with "Unfurnished" in there (d'oh) but there are a few listed that are furnished: http://www.domain.com.au/Search/rent/State/SA/Area/Eastern-Suburbs/?keywords=furnished

 

Although most on there are longer term rentals, it is worth contacting a few real estate agents and asking if they have anything for a couple of months. Donna, who posts on here as Jarnasa, also handles short term furnished rentals and has a few properties that are more central. You may need to rent short-term away from your eventual choice of suburb, and use the time to secure a longer term unfurnished rental for when your furniture arrives. If you haven't already looked there, there is a section on here that has ads for various furnished rentals: http://www.pomsinadelaide.com/forum/jobs-business-adverts/10453-short-term-furnished-rentals.html and I also know of someone that has furnished short term apartments around Frewville and Glenunga which are on the eastern side http://www.accommodationadelaide.com.au/

 

 

HTH

[Guest Froglets]

:cute:Hi Diane,

 

Thanks for such fantastic info. Have been having a look at all the links that you sent me and I'm sure that we can find something from that. Will keep you posted. Re-looking at Torrens Park and areas again now as well. Sounds like we will be spoiled for choice. Am going to get e-mailing the schools that are not on the 'zoned list'and see if we can put Hannah's name down on the waiting lists. Once again thanks so much. I think I need to stop getting too far ahead of myself - just can't wait.

Amanda x:daydreaming: