Tell Me About Perth Please

[MrsPee]

Hello Everyone,

Well I hope that you lovely ladies can help me.
We are looking at a possible move to Perth next year and I have never been there and no very little about it.

So I was wondering if someone would be so kind as to offer some advice on Nice Areas to live. DH is in the Navy so we would like something that is 1/2 hour to an hour away from the Base which is near Rockingham.

I guess any info on schools
public transport
Shopping Centre

would be fantastic

Thankyou

[MrsPee]

Wow NO one....

Here I was thinking that BH was a helpful place!!

Some times I wonder why I bother!

[Luv2BaMummy]

Hi!
Just read your message then..
Perth is a great place to live. If you need to be near Rockingham, maybe you could look at Mandurah. My parents live there, a few streets from the beach. It's about 40 minutes from the city, but I guess only about 15 mins from Rockingham. It has grown rapidly over the last 10 years... great range of shops, near to the beach and a new train line to the city.

I am actually from the country and when I was in the city I was nowhere near Rocko, so I can't really comment on any other areas.

My message should bump your post up, so hopefully some more ppl will see it and reply.

Best of luck! ;)

[Mrs Dolphin]

Hi There :wave:
Sorry did see this thread before now!

As PP said Perth is a great place to live and bring up children.

Another suburb you could consider if you want to be near Rockingham is Byford. It is a little more inland but it is only probably about 20mins away from Rockingham and it is an older suburb that is being re-invented with new housing estates and plans for a new town centre with shops, cafes etc. There is a great Pub/Tavern that is family friendly and there is 2 public primary schools (with plans for more) and a private primary and high school close by. There are 2 daycare centres too. Then there are all the shops at Armadale which is a 7min drive away with Big W, Kmart, Target, Woolworths, Coles, Cinemas and everything in between!!

While there are lots of suburbs right close to the Navy base if you want something a little more peaceful but still close without being right on top of Rockingham - check Byford out!

Anyway you should love Perth the weather is great most of the time too! Good luck with your move! :)

[onkybear]

Hi

Safety Bay is a great suburb, very close to the navy base. Would reccommend the beach side of safety bay. Saftey Bay primary is great public school. Just been rebuilt this year so looks fantastic. Not sure on private primary. I like Colby College as a private high school (not sure on public). Maranatha is also a great private school. Its in waikiki (also a nice suburb near rockingham) and goes from pre kindy to year 12. HTH. If you need any other info let us know.

[sunnyflower]

I live in Perth too.

I like it ,i like the fact that it is smaller than Melbourne or Sydney and the fact that you CAN get a car park nearly every where you go.

I think Mandurah is a nice spot.I haven't lived there myself but have gone their many times for holidays.

It's a nice place to bring up kids too.I hope you enjoy your move !!:)

[crazyaboutbubs]

Where abouts are you living right now? Might be helpful if you want to compare things to where you are.

I'm from Melbourne, but lived in Perth for a year when I was 17. It was beautiful, laid back and friendly compared to melbourne where everyone is busy and pre-occupied with their own agenda. (Very broad generalisation here, hope I don't affend anyone :p)

We lived in South Perth, so quite close to the city and the public transport there was 1000x better then in Melbourne. Lots of buses, a simple train system.. and everything was on time and seemed a lot nicer/safer.

The only things I missed about Melbourne was there were more things available more hours of the day. It was weird that Coles and Woolworths (Safeway) closed at 6pm on a weeknight over there.. and nothing is open on a Sunday!! I'm not sure if that's changed or not.

I am only a suburbs girl in Victoria.. but it feels much larger and more 'awake' in suburbia in Victoria then in the the city in WA.

I didn't get a chance to travel too far from the city.. but imagine it would have been beautiful.

I would go back and live there in a instant if it wasn't for family/friends back here.

Good luck with it all. :thumbsup:

[mythreelittlemonkeys]

Rockingham itself now has a very recently updated shopping centre with Pumpkin Patch, several nice shoe and clothes shops for kids and adults, Esprit and a brand new cinema complex and restaurant area...so is a bit more vibrant than was but still like a country town to me (I am from UK). The Rockingham foreshore is great to have on your doorstep and there are a few okay restaurants there too...
I wouldnt wander too far from that area in that you are so close to the beach and on the train line and close to freeway (only about 30 mins to Perth on a clear day)...you could go down to Mandurah but then that puts you much farther away from the city...
Suburbs around Rocky that are very family orientated and newer...are Secret Harbour (right on the beach between Rocky and Mandurah) and Baldivis (good private and primary schools, small but good shopping centre with Coles)and Bertram and Wellard (still being developed but both within walking distance of 2 stations and Bertram Primary meant to be excellent and there are several private schools with one being primary and secondary; Peter Carnley). Going back up towards Perth you have Aubin Grove (not too many facilities yet as very new)but very close to Cockburn Gateway shopping centre...
If you are looking for a community focused area with heaps of family activities and opportunities to meet up with other parents I would stay around Rockingham/Kwinana area as there are some great playgroups and programmes for 0-5 year olds in the area, we have several Navy mums at our playgroup and I know there is a Defense playgroup in Rocky itself.

[pegasus]

I don't live in the Rockingham area, but wanted to add to your thread.

My inlaws live in Safety Bay and my parents are about to move to Shoalwater Bay (where we had a holiday house for 25 years - so I spent all my holidays in the area), so I know the area well.

There are so many areas in Rockingham itself that are great family friendly areas and close enough to Naval base.

Rockingham is deemed a tourist area so they are able to open the shops on a Sunday and public holidays (not every Sunday but particularly during school holidays). All amenties are available in the Rockingham area.

Maybe give some more specifics and we can help you better.

The main thing to realise about Perth is that it is a very sprawling area, so asking about Rockingham specifically is not going to necessarily going to get the most replies.

Hope that helps - and when you get to Perth - there are plenty of bh members organising meets so that you can meet others.

Cheers.

[hunya]

I have only been in Perth for 2 years but have found the areas of Success, Aubin Grove, Hammond Park and Atwell all great family suburbs. So many young famililes as it's all quite new. Lots of playgroups, playgrounds, shops. close to train (only 15 min to City). And only 15 min drive to Rockingham. You could get a brand new house as a rental as so many new houses being built.