Moving to Canberra

[dernancourt]

Hi,
I'm very new to this forum only discovering it a few minutes ago on a google search.

My husband and I are living in London, UK and have been here for the last six years. We have two children (3yrs and 16mths). Our first daughter was stillborn in 2002.

We are originally from Queensland but after living in London cannot even contemplate returning there as it's way too hot and our children are both extremely fair (white hair, blue eyes). I have too many relatives with melanomas - actually I know too many people with skin cancer full stop - to want to return so far north.

As we both grew up in smaller towns (pop 100K), we are thinking that Canberra is the right place for us to move.

Can anyone give any tips and hints on (a) Where to move (b) Good children's facilities / playgroups etc. etc.

We've been to Canberra quite a few times, but not often enough to know the "good / bad" areas.

Actually what I really need to know are the areas to avoid if possible.

Thanking you, k

[Mary_T]

Hi K,

There are very few "bad" areas in Canberra. I think one reason is that there are no suburbs of public housing. Public housing is spread throughout all suburbs in Canberra. There are more affluent areas in each suburb and the cheaper areas. The more central you are to the major town centres will generaly be a bit more expensive.

Depending on what you are looking for will determine what is right for you. I live on the northside of Canberra and am close to Belconnen, Civic (the city) and Dickson. I find it great as it is very central.

Canberra is great as there is such good infrastructure and public facilities. The areas I like are the inner north and south, parts of Belconnen which are closer in, Gungahlin is new and also quite central and they are working hard to complete the major road works to assits Gungahlin residents.

Hope that helps a bit. Feel free to PM me if I can give you more specific advise. Are you going to buy or rent? Good luck with the move.

[lexi'smum]

hello and welcome :)
good to see another (new to be) canberra family.
I dont really have much advice, ive only been here going on two years, personally I think were I live is the best part, but others probably dont. Anyway Mary_T was right, there arnt really many places to avoid, but if you give me a little more of an idea about what you need to be close to, if you would like inner city or further out, I may be able to offer a few suggestions, canberra is good though in the sense that anywhere is really only 20-30 minutes from everywhere, if you know what I mean.
Will you or your partner be working, if so do you know which suburb?
will your little one/s need a day care?? These things may help you find an area more suited to you, but like I said, nothings really too far away.
Sorry I wasnt really too much help.. But Good luck with it, and yes if you need any more help or anything, feel free to pm me also. :wave:

[whatwasithinking]

Hi. I have just moved to Canberra from Melbourne in Feb06. I live in Nicholls which is on the Northside. When I was looking for somewhere to live, the Gunghalin area was pretty much the area people kept talking good stuff about.

I work in Belconnen and it only takes me about 7minutes to get to and from work. So nice and close.

I have family that live on the southside in Gordon/Banks and that looks ok to live too.

I was told of some areas to stay away from but I can't remember them exactly.

Anyway PM if you want any more info.

[carissa]

Well welcome for when you get here! Canberra is a fantastic place & I should know as I have lived in so many parts of Australia! I also came from the Country and Canberra has just always felt like home.

Well I live Southside (Monash to be exact) and always have so I cant personally comment on the "other side" of Canberra! But I find that there isnt really any "bad" parts of Canberra like others have said.

For housing check out allhomes.com.au and for childcare I highly recomend communitiesatwork.com.au and for jobs try seek.com.au

Hope they help anyway but let us know how we can help and we will do our best :thumbsup:

Carissa

DD1 Aisha ~ 19/06/99
DS1 Elijah ~ 11/05/02
DD2 Jaslyn ~ 18/11/05
HTB my darling Robin

[dernancourt]

Wow! What lovely messages from everyone. Thank-you so much. It has helped confirm in my mind that we are doing the right thing.

I don't know whether any of you experienced the reaction that we're getting from many people, but they all go "What? You're moving to Canberra?"

My DH and I think it's going to be a great place to bring up our children (a little girl almost 3yrs and a boy 16mths) ... and maybe potentially another one .. although DH goes a bit white whenever I mention this topic...

However, wasn't it Costello that said "One to replace yourself. One to replace your partner and one for your country?"

Anyway, just wanted to say a very big thank-you to everyone who posted.

We are waiting to hear back from a nursery/kindergarten about my daughter's enrolment. It's based in Manuka/Red Hill area, which I think is central Canberra.

I've seen on the internet some pictures of houses to rent on realestate.com and everything looks extremely dry and not very green at all. I guess there is a drought or something.

Are playgroups easy to find? I will be looking for part-time work and my husband will be full-time working most likely in the city area. I want to work maybe 1-2 days a week... most likely from home as I've been doing some freelance work here in London already and it's worked out very well.

However, I don't want to be at home all the time with my son and not give him any social contact. So I'll be looking around for swimming lessons, ballet (daughter), playgroups, gym (for the off chance I get to do a step class).. have been saying this for over 2 years now... being pregnant kind of rules out step!

k

[lexi'smum]

Hi again,
Just a very short reply as I dont have much time, sorry.
Just wanted to say that Manuka/Kingston area is a very nice area, that would be one of my preferences if I was to move, although Im pretty sure its very pricey.
A great canberra real estate website is www.allhomes.com.au (http://www.allhomes.com.au) theres lots on there, and yes it is pretty dry here, and has been for years I believe (well for as long as Ive been here)

There are plenty of activities that you mention in almost every suburb, and also alot of gyms.

Anyway, just thought i would reply with that website and stuff, hope its of some help.
Good luck. :)

[clairbear]

Hi everyone, came on here to start a thread about moving to canberra and it's already here! My husband is a hotel licensee and we are sick of sydney.....need space for my three year old and new bub, looking at a fresh start and canberra seems to be an option (not TOO far from family),our dream would be to move to a country pub.... anyway, been reading with interest and would really appreciate advice/good points about canberra life for families with little 'uns!

[B-belle]

YUP canberra is the greatest..i lived there for nearly 10 yrs. the last couple of yrs ive been working in childcare there and definatly recommend communities@work as well! They have fantastic centres and wonderfull staff!
Ohhh i miss canberra I get to go back on wednesday cant wait!!!!:smiliedance:


Anyhow I cant really think of any areas that are bad even queanbeyan has its good parts..
Ive personally only lived in tuggeranong and outer belconnen though. Gungahlin is fantastic for young families...its really nice out that way..but ive heard a couple of childcare centres out there are really bad..
but thats only a couple im sure there are more

[MrsMiggins]

I'm a Canberra ex-pat now living in QLD. I grew up mainly in Canberra & it is where I consider "home" to be. I think this is because I associate so many wonderful memories growing up there. I have many friends & family who still live there.

The thing I miss most about Canberra is that it really is just a big country town. Big enough to live your own life without every man & his dog knowing your business, but small enough that there are only about 2 degrees of separation between everyone who lives there! I always found Canberra to have one of the best atmospheres of any place I've lived.

I grew up on the Northside, but later lived on the Southside. The newer areas on the Northside I know are great areas to raise a young family as the schools out there are great & plentiful.

Good luck with the move!!