Kurri Kurri

[HarvestMoon]

Does anyone live there? Would you live there?
I've really wanted to move Newcastle way for quite some time. If i had a choice i probably settle more out Lake Macquarie way.... but with the way the rental market is and how competitive it is i'm starting to look at other options.
I have been there and my first opinion of the place was pretty poor tbh. It wasn't somewhere i could ever see myself living. Now after experiencing homelessness and then paying excessive amounts of rent i'm starting to feel more open about the idea.
You can rent quite cheaply there which is a major upside anywhere these days... but i'm wondering what else is there? It sort of seems too isolated... so quiet.
What are schools like there?
You would typically have to travel a fair distance for work, wouldn't you?

Any other info you may think would be useful?

[TripleTime]

There isnt a whole lot in kurri, personally i wouldnt live there cause of the isolation & lack of medical facilities.

But in saying that, there is a knew express way being built so the isolation feeling will end.

DH works in Kurri, it takes him 20min to drive each way from the edge of newcastle city.

No idea's about schools, been a while since was at school. Last i heard mt view high wasnt the greatest.
You would have to travel for work.

[HarvestMoon]

A 20 minute drive wouldn't be too bad i spose. I have travelled there from Wallsend... i'm guessing it probably took about that long??

I could actually apply for a transfer to Kurri but i don't know what the chances of it going through would be. I'm guessing unemployment in the area would be quite high and consequently not many jobs?

I'm only interested in primary schools at this stage. NSW is pretty strict on the catchment area thing, isn't it?

[Omgshoes]

Yep its isolated not sure about the schools prob haven't changed since i went to school hmm feeling old

[HarvestMoon]

It's sounding a bit sucky still i guess.

Whats the chances of a young single mum getting into a rental property elsewhere in the Newcastle area? Non-existent?

[HarvestMoon]

Omgshoes did you go to school in Kurri?

[Omgshoes]

For a little while then a catholic school in maitland was highschool sorry not much help

[angelbubswithwings]

I lived in Kurri Kurri and my Dad worked for the council. Mum says it is awfully isolated and drab - not sure if it's changed. I went to primary school there for a bit

[TripleTime]

It's sounding a bit sucky still i guess.

Whats the chances of a young single mum getting into a rental property elsewhere in the Newcastle area? Non-existent?

VERY sucky!!

If you were to rent of us, id have no problems with granting your application providing your could afford the rent.

[HarvestMoon]

I was thinking of offering 6 months rent upfront on properties i've applied for but from what i've been told its generally frowned upon by property managers.
Rent start starts quite cheap there. It's just that it's so competitive. It's easy to be pushed out of the market completely.

[zombiekitty]

I live in Kurri and I love it but I wouldn't say rent is cheap and the rental market is just as competitive here as anywhere else at the moment.
It's not isolated at all!!
Not sure about schools, sorry.

[Roopee]

I wouldn't live there, I'm a city girl. It is isolated if you're looking for 'busy/bustling'...as far as facilities go, I'm sure it has all you need, though not a lot of choice.

Schools no idea sorry.

What about maitland? Less isolated, more facilities and closer to Newcastle?

The rental market is CR@P here...its so competitive!

[HarvestMoon]

I live in Kurri and I love it but I wouldn't say rent is cheap and the rental market is just as competitive here as anywhere else at the moment.
It's not isolated at all!!
Not sure about schools, sorry.


Rent is insanely cheap there. I was just having a quick look and was a 2 bed unit for $170pw and 3 2 bed units for $180. Then a few more places in surrounding areas for under $200. You don't get prices like that in most places these days.



I wouldn't live there, I'm a city girl. It is isolated if you're looking for 'busy/bustling'...as far as facilities go, I'm sure it has all you need, though not a lot of choice.

Schools no idea sorry.

What about maitland? Less isolated, more facilities and closer to Newcastle?

The rental market is CR@P here...its so competitive!

I'm a city girl too so it would be a massive change. Certainly seems isolated to me. Although i guess thats not always a bad thing.

I was looking into Maitland a while ago. I'm not sure about the place. It really didn't seem that cheap apart from a few areas i've been told are dodgy so i don't know..

I'm trying to make this decision asap as i want to move within the next few months.

It's just so hard and so depressing what has become of the rental market.

[zombiekitty]

Oh, units might be cheaper, houses really aren't. I'm a city girl and don't feel isolated. Stockland Greenhills is only 15 minutes away and it takes me 25 minutes to get to Newcastle.

[HarvestMoon]

There's a few house going for between $260-$270. Thats dirt cheap for a house these days.
Do you find there is anything in kurri itself though? Or do you have to travel to get everywhere?

[zombiekitty]

Yeah but they would be tiny or dumps....or both lol.
Everything we need is here or greenhills (east maitland)

[TripleTime]

Kurri has a chemist, bi-lo, newsagents, post office, bakery & GP.

[HarvestMoon]

http://www.domain.com.au/Property/For-Rent/House/NSW/Kurri-Kurri/?adid=6485138

That looks decent for $260.
In Brisbane you would probably be paying at least $350 for something like that.

[Nef]

My brother lives in Kurri has done for many years. His kids started off in school there but are all going to private schools in Newcastle now as apparently the schools are not very good.

He has just built a house as an investment property, 3 bedroom very very nice not sure what he's chasing for rent but as yet no one has lived in it as it's just been finished. I know also that he wouldn't discriminate against single mothers as ling as you could prove you could pay the rent.

As for shops they seem to have quite a few most of what you would need and are currently building an Aldi not sure if it's finished yet. Maitland isn't far away if you need other shops though.

Goodluck with your decision :)

[nirok]

I personally wouldn't live in Kurri. We drive through there to get to the inlaws.

What about Wallsend/Cameron Park/Edgeworth/Minmi/Fletcher? These are all suburbs that are on the edge of Newcastle so you aren't pay as great a premium to live there because its still 10-20 minutes away from the "major" shopping centres and business districts. But still closer to amenities like schools, smaller shopping centres, hospital etc than you would be in Kurri. There are decent houses and flats for under $350 in those areas.

[HarvestMoon]

I personally wouldn't live in Kurri. We drive through there to get to the inlaws.

What about Wallsend/Cameron Park/Edgeworth/Minmi/Fletcher? These are all suburbs that are on the edge of Newcastle so you aren't pay as great a premium to live there because its still 10-20 minutes away from the "major" shopping centres and business districts. But still closer to amenities like schools, smaller shopping centres, hospital etc than you would be in Kurri. There are decent houses and flats for under $350 in those areas.


Affordability isn't really the issue... it's actually getting approved for a property. There are still a fair share of 2 bed units and townhouses going for a decent price in decent areas. I just know demands great and my application would probably be the last to be considered.
Personally i wouldn't want to live in a house... i don't want to be responsible for yard maintance and the cost of it.

[HarvestMoon]

What about maitland? Less isolated, more facilities and closer to Newcastle?


What are the decent/dodgy areas of matiland?

From memory metford and East Maitland are no go zones, aren't they?

[TripleTime]

What are the decent/dodgy areas of matiland?

From memory metford and East Maitland are no go zones, aren't they?

Metford is the only place I wouldn't live. To me it's on par with Windale.


It's my phone & I'll cry if I want to.

[zombiekitty]

Hi HM. I typed a long reply to you last night and lost it!!!!
Anyway, there is an Aldi and Coles nearly completed, IGA, bakeries, take outs, cafe, vet, newsstand, hardware, op shops, pet supplies, library, community centre, chemists (1 priceline), clubs, pubs, sporting clubs, dentist, physio and drs.
We got to east maitland for greenhills which has pretty much everything but won't need to as often once the 2 big supermarkets open. Greenhills has heaps of shops though.
Takes me 25 minutes to get to Newcastle, less once the freeway goes in.

[Hootenanny]

What are the decent/dodgy areas of matiland?

From memory metford and East Maitland are no go zones, aren't they?

Metford has a bad rep but I know someone who lives there and has no problems, probably depends where.
East maitland is mostly ok, best parts are towards tenambit/morpeth/raworth/Hinton. Thornton seems to be ok. East maitland public school seems nice enough. I'm not a fan of rutherford but again I know people who live there and no issues. Ashtonfield is good but might be pricey. Don't know much about Kurri except it is fairly easy to get there from Greenhills.

[Omgshoes]

Do u drive or use public transport

[HarvestMoon]

Hi HM. I typed a long reply to you last night and lost it!!!!
Anyway, there is an Aldi and Coles nearly completed, IGA, bakeries, take outs, cafe, vet, newsstand, hardware, op shops, pet supplies, library, community centre, chemists (1 priceline), clubs, pubs, sporting clubs, dentist, physio and drs.
We got to east maitland for greenhills which has pretty much everything but won't need to as often once the 2 big supermarkets open. Greenhills has heaps of shops though.
Takes me 25 minutes to get to Newcastle, less once the freeway goes in.


You make it sound a bit more appealing.


Do u drive or use public transport

I drive.

[zombiekitty]

You make it sound a bit more appealing.


We really like it here and the people are really friendly :)
There is a fairly large area that if you lived in it would still be close enough for you to walk if you needed to go to the supermarket or Dr.
We will eventually buy here.

[zombiekitty]

Further ot my previous post here are also hairdressers, beautician, gift shop, butchers ummmm.....there is more just can't think!
It's really coming along.