Moving to Darwin

[mummymo]

Hi Everyone,

My partner has been in the army for 6 years he is currently on course waiting for him to finish which is when we will get posted.

He is pretty sure that they have decided Darwin for us we are just waiting for confirmation. We currently live in Melbourne, I've never lived away from Melbourne.

Is anyone posted in Darwin that can tell me what it's like? I've never been there before..
Thank god for Google I have looked at pictures but thats about it!

Cheers

[trouble]

I have lived in darwin, and I love it, I want to live there again.

It is a different lifestyle altogether, the heat is fine, once you get use to it, everywhere else seems cold. well thats what happened to me.

It is a beautiful place. you should love it.:yes::yes:

[KJEmum]

Was there for 2yrs and left in December. Great place to live. Lifestyle is cruisy, easy to get around. Prices don't really vary much. Petrol umm prob $1.40-1.50. Loved living on the RAAF Base married quarters but alot favour Palmerston area. There is a new estate near the hospital umm Lyons Estate it's called so they could be finished by now .. the houses that is. The RAAF Base has elevated houses .. ie Queenslanders and not in the best shape although our split level was great. Alot of defence families live in Durack and Gunn which are near Palmerston.

I prefered being centrail to Casuarina where the shopping centre although Palmerston has it's own shopping centre.

If you are defintely going up there make sure you get a copy of the TopEnder which is the Defence COmmunity Newsletter. I'm just about to give up my Pets Page as we have since moved. It's an awesome newsletter. You'll get a copy on your Welcome Pack which you can phone DCO to get in advance like I did prior to giong up there.

You'll be fine up there once you get used to the humidity.

Electricity bills are like $700 per quarter if you use aircon lots but if you live on RAAF Base or DEB (Defence Establishment Berrimah) it comes under a defence contractor or something like that and you can pay off the bill via your DH's pay. So much will come out each fortnight for 6wks. Helps alot !

I still have friends up there and can tell you where to find them online :)

[EandN]

I lived in Darwin for over 18 years. I grew up there. But I also lived there as an army wife.

There are some great things about being in Darwin. It has such a great relaxed lifestyle I miss so much.
The humidity can be hard though, even after 18 years. Thank god for all army houses having air con in each room. No matter where you live I still think you get money in your DHs pay to cover some of the cost of running the air con for half of the year.

The new defence housing in Casuarina should be up and going now, and the houses lookd really nice. The Raaf base can be nice, but it also has some very old and falling apart houses.

There are some great perks though being in Darwin. You get more money in your pay for being in a remote locality, you get better Tax refunds for being in a remote place too. And you and hubby and kids get 2 flights south each year. Which you can use to go visit family, or have family come visit you.

Goodluck with your move. I hope you enjoy being in Darwin.

[ConcernedParent]

We moved from Vic to Darwin and spent 3 wonderful years there. We have just moved to Townsville and are still settling in.

We liked Darwin so much we are considering returning to "The Territory" when we get out. It was THE posting of our 14 years together and we would happily go back.

While I was in Darwin, I joined the local Apex Club. This is a community service club. The members and their families are a big part of why we loved Darwin. They supported us with friendship and help, (eg around the house/garden), when hubby was away. They also included my young kids in all club activities so it was never a hassle to be involved.

Darwin and the people there are awesome. You're gonna love it!!

[Bree3]

I am abit bias as Darwin has been my home for the last 20 years, really it's the only home i have ever known.

Darwin is great, the weather is abit much for people at times but you can get through it. There is a aircon nearly everywhere and after a little while you will get use to it. My only advice for you is to try not to accept any of the houses DHA offer you on the RAAF base. They are pretty run down and need alot of work. We unfortunatly are in one and have had nothing but problems with it, most people around here hate it and want to move. Try and get something in Palmerston as it's alot nicer and alot closer to the base. The new lions estate near Casuarina is also really nice, the houses there all brand new.

Well good luck with the move and i hope you and your family settle in well.

[KJEmum]

That's a shame cos we loved our house and location. We were up near the top field in Hipnilta Close. Loved tropical living and so did my immediate neighbours.
I know further down in the RAAF Base the houses are older and yes .. little more wrong with them. We were lucky to have a tiled house rather than lino.

My friend still lives in Dimala and DHA won't install a split system but I think it's cos in a few years they'll get rid of the land/housing. There's already a suburb allocated to it so I heard. My friends who moved to Darwin lived on the RAAF Base for a number of years and want to go back. It was such a cruisy lifestyle. They LOATHE Perth, where as I'm a bit more south in Rockingham now and LOVE it.

[samsgirls]

Hi Mummymo,

we lived in Darwin on the RAAF Base. It was lovely. I liked it a lot. The wet season had wild electrical storms, that i could never get used to but the lifestyle is so cruisy. So laid back. There is a great big shopping centre in Casurina, which is about 15-20 mins drive from Darwin or Palmerston.
Funny now, cos we live in Cairns now where the weather is very similar to Darwin without the wild electrical storms. LOL
The kids (if they are little) will pretty much just need a nappy and singlet. lol. Though, it is a little cooler in the dry season, which is roughly April to October.

[mummymo]

Thanks so much everyone for your replies! Darwin was confirmed on Friday although they have messed up DP's start date. So waiting on leave to be finalised for him so he has time to march out down here and so we can pack and do all that fun stuff. :) We should be there towards the end of April.

It is good to get a bit of insight as to what Darwin is like, we are waiting on the posting dates to be changed so that DHA will give us access to the homes site so we can find somewhere to live. I think once we have sorted that out I will feel a tiny bit more organised!

I will definately not pick something without air con I am used to Melbourne summer... which is nothing compared to Townsville or Cairns. So I think I may be a hermit for a little while until I get used to the heat. It's good to read that no one has really had any really bad experiences.

Seeing as I know no one up there at the moment it's good to know somewhere to come for some inside info, I really appreciate everyones suggestions and help!

[KJEmum]

My good friend and her family still are up there on the RAAF Base .. and also a few civvies I know.. plus other defence spouses. You can check the defence spouse forums or facebook and be in touch with some. All very welcoming ladies too so you'll never feel lost or alone. The support system up there is great.

[Nettwins]

Hey there

I am currently in Darwin with hubby's posting. We like it here well enough. Have only been here for 12months so far. When you get up and settled would love to meet and greet at anytime your ready. I know well enough what it is like moving, this was our 4th move together.
What unit is he being posted to and what does he do?

[mummymo]

Hi Nettwins

Thank you for the offer, I will let you know when we are all settled in will be good to get to know some people.

We got a house and move in on the 9th of May and I really didn't realise how much stuff we have it's amazing! I'm getting excited looking forward to something new and different.

Thanks again everyone for the replies and the help :)