Whats in Adelaide?

[Guest Andyzx6r]

Hello peeps.

 

I am currently looking in the process of applying for a job in Adelaide.

In your opinions what is the best place to live and what is the social life like?

 

​Thanks All.

[zebedee]

It's a very general couple of questions but after 9 months here's my thoughts:

 

Best place to live - we rent in between the city and the sea in the suburbs and it's "nice" rather than "happening" - ideal for us and our three children. We will probably move elsewhere though because the houses are expensive....there is a lot of choice and variety, quiet places in the hills, fancy places on the sea front and a whole host of different places in the suburbs. I think you need to let us know what you think makes a nice place so the PIA peeps can point you in the right direction.

 

Social life - again, depends on what you want, I am 39 with 3 kiddies and I've made friends through the scouts and via work - well, not real real friends yet, but getting to know people. We sometimes have people over for barbies and there are plenty of community events. If your looking for city social life then all I can say is it's quite buzzy during the working week with workers chilling out in cafes (especially on a Friday lunchtime) but what the night life is like....not sure although as Adelaide is fairly laid back I suspect its not mega crazy. Adelaide is described as a big country town which I think it's starting to grow out of, but it's no Sydney (which is a good thing for me). Family friendly is it's main vibe I think.

 

​Good luck!

[Guest Sarah Bradley]

I've been here 6 years, we like the area south of the city near Marion but still reasonably near the beach only 20-30 minutes to get into town. Public transport into town has been excellent and I was amazed just to be able to drive into town and find a parking space on the road. Social life recommendations join a club or a group. There are lots, depending on what you like doing or where you like to be sports, surf lifesaving, brass band, singing etc. Lots of places to go and see live music, shows, comedy, jazz especially at the weekends check out The Gov on Portrush Road if you want to get a good variety, its a great venue. Hope that helps good luck with the job hunting.

​

[Diane]

.. check out The Gov on Portrush Road ...​

 

It's on Port Road

[Diane]

Hello peeps.

 

I am currently looking in the process of applying for a job in Adelaide.

In your opinions what is the best place to live and what is the social life like?

 

​Thanks All.

 

Great if you're within easy and sensible reach of the City. Check out somewhere like Norwood for the best of both worlds.

[Guest Sarah Bradley]

oops thanks!

​

[Adaobijoy]

Hi Andy! welcome to PIA,Its difficult to really give a definitive or comprehensive account of whats in Adelaide vis a vis jobs and social life.

I understand jobs are drying up at the mo at adelaide/ SA.but people still get jobs depending on the qualifications and fields of trade, there are still jobs for health workers,techies,sparkies.As regards where to live? I know lot of people live around Marion,aberfoyle park,flagstaffs hill about 20 minutes to CBD.

[jim and adel]

It's on Port Road

 

I was trying to think what pub that could be on Portrush Rd!

​

[Guest Andyzx6r]

what do you mean by CBD??

[Diane]

what do you mean by CBD??

 

Central Business District - city centre in other words

[Guest Andyzx6r]

Taa muchly. Looks like i will be working around the Mile End South area. Does anyone know if the places near by are a nice place to live??? I see its near the beach and airport. How far from the CBD is it?

[Guest WhatNow?]

Pretty close Andy (5 mins from the city) but consequently property can also be pretty expensive or cheaper, old and a bit tatty. One of the factors you have to consider in Adelaide is that areas were settled in the past by different ethnic groups and that persists in the nature of the shops and restaurants in the local 'high street'. Mile End is traditionally a Greek area and many of the properties are still owned by the people who built them just after the war or their families, consequently a little old and shabby - not been 'gentrified' much. Not saying this to put you off at all, just something you may not be aware of. What I'm saying is that the houses there are older and often surrounded by industrial units which thrive on main drags of most of what UK people would call 'inner city' areas. Other areas such as Croydon may be home to old expat Croatian and Serbian Communities or predominantly Italian (like where I live). The down side of these areas is that these communities (just like other expat communities) tend to be of an older age group and a bit excluding of people who are new/different. I know someone who bought a house when they arrived in what is a predominantly Italian area and said she had no friends cos her elderly Italian neighbours never acknowledged her. This was because they had come over after the war and had suffered a lot of trauma, didn't speak good English and distrusted anyone from a different background. If she had asked us when we were helping people to migrate we would have suggested that it maybe wasn't a suitable area to move to. She put up with it for 5 years then moved to Glenelg and is now much happier.

 

What I'm trying to say is that there is a lot more to what is a good area than what it looks like on Google Street view, though this will show you if the area has lots of industrial units in it which means noise and dirt and traffic. It also depends on whether you want to live in an area where there is a large UK Expat community.

 

I suggest that you look on www.domain.com.au where there is a lot of demographic information - for example age distribution of the local population and median house prices. That way, if you have young children you can choose an area where they will have neighbours kids to play with.

 

There are lots of nice areas to live and, as many people have said many times on this forum, lots of nice streets/houses in areas that people would say are not so nice. You need to be here for a while and have a good look around before you can get a feel for that. This is why we always recommend renting for your first year which will enable you to get your bearings and work out what suits your lifestyle. Stay reasonably close to Adelaide if you can afford it so you can get out and about easily to see other areas and spend a lot of weekends at house 'opens' before you are ready to make the decision about what to buy. That way you will eliminate lots of places and get a feel for what type of property you want to end up with and how far it will be to travel to work.

 

Oh and just a point about being 'near the airport' - the planes come in VERY LOW over the Mile End, Thebarton area - and also take off over Glenelg North, which is reflected in property prices being different from the rest of Glenelg lol!

 

 

Good Luck

Edited May 3, 2013 by WhatNow?

[Diane]

I was trying to think what pub that could be on Portrush Rd!

​

 

Actually there is a really nice one, does live music too - down Norwood direction - it's called the Robin Hood http://www.robinhoodhotel.net.au/index.html

[Anne B]

Other areas such as Croydon may be home to old expat Croatian and Serbian Communities or predominantly Italian (like where I live). The down side of these areas is that these communities (just like other expat communities) tend to be of an older age group and a bit excluding of people who are new/different. I know someone who bought a house when they arrived in what is a predominantly Italian area and said she had no friends cos her elderly Italian neighbours never acknowledged her. This was because they had come over after the war and had suffered a lot of trauma, didn't speak good English and distrusted anyone from a different background. If she had asked us when we were helping people to migrate we would have suggested that it maybe wasn't a suitable area to move to. She put up with it for 5 years then moved to Glenelg and is now much happier.

 

 

I get what you are saying but areas with a high number of Italian/Greek/Croatians aren't all bad. The street we live in at the moment is like that, with lots of elderly residents, and some seem to live with the shutters down all day. However, the day we moved in the Italian guy across the road who is in his 80s, came over with a plate of home made biscuits for us 'for the children'. He has given us lots of fruit from his garden, likewise the elderly Greek couple next door, whose English is not good, have also dropped bags of fruit/veg from their garden over the fence for us and helped us harvest our olive tree. (We have reciprocated with grapes, figs and olives from our back yard!). So they are not all unfriendly, just take the time to say hello, and being retired and keen on gardening means there are lots of watchful eyes in the street during the day, like a neighborhood watch!

[Guest Andyzx6r]

Thanks for your help guys, always much appreciated. I am liking the look of Henley Beach area. Houses look nice. Has anyone had any experience of that area???

[zebedee]

We live next door in Lockleys and Henley is lovely - great seaside vibe, the square is good for chilling out and the linear park is close by for some nice cycle ways too. You don't feel too in the city either yet have easy access to lots of city stuff. House prices are extremely expensive though so we are looking at moving on before the kiddies get too settled at school.

 

Edit - when I say expensive, I mean in the context of needing a house to accommodate a family of five, obviously smaller places are more affordable.

[jim and adel]

Actually there is a really nice one, does live music too - down Norwood direction - it's called the Robin Hood http://www.robinhoodhotel.net.au/index.html

 

Yeah I know that one, I was wondering where the Gov was.

[Guest time4fusion]

it really depends if you have family or are moving over alone or as a young couple? Also re socialising, do you want pubs/clubs or concerts/festivals/nice eateries? Adelaide definately has something for everyone as long as you know where to look! Sorry if you have answered these questions in previous threads - i didnt see anything.

 

I am married with 4 kids and we live in Seaview Downs, a suburb in South Adelaide, 10 mins from the beach but convenient for commutes. Large houses, still reasonable value with large gardens, some parts a bit tatty but lots of development. Not particularly happening but it offers what we want and we do venture into town every now and again for a concert/festival/night out clubbing. Most of the time we socialise as a family at ours or other peoples homes or at one of the local pubs on the beach front.

 

Good Luck with your research!

[jimmyskinner]

Yeah I know that one, I was wondering where the Gov was.

Opposite the Entertainment centre

[carryon]

Simple, everything is here!!!!!

[jim and adel]

Opposite the Entertainment centre

 

Yeah I know that one, too. It was the mention of one called the Gov on Portrush Rd that I was having trouble with!