Quinns Rocks, Merriwa or Clarkson

[nicnik]

Hi all,

This is my first post and wasn't sure what to title it as or if I have it in the right section. Hopefully it's ok... I'd just like some advice from people that live in the northern surburbs past Joondalup, we're looking at moving up to Quinns Rocks area in the next 3 months. Is it a nice place to live and bring up young kids? Also after checking out rentals on realestate.com.au and reiwa.com.au, just wondering, if we can't get into a rental at Quinns Rocks, what are the other surburbs like to live in? Like Merriwa, Clarkson, Ridgewood and Bulter. I have a 3 year old and 1 year old. So next year my 3 year old will be starting kindy, I assume all the public primary schools up that way will be similar.

Thanks

[lainyjade]

Hey
I'm in Ridgewood! Been here for 3 years and my husband was here a few years before that. I love it up here. There seems to be heaps of kids or young families around. There is always sports going on at the oval down the road too if that's any indication. My mother in law is in Clarkson. Clarkson, merriwa and Quinns are all slightly older areas than Ridgewood, and Butler is newer again, but same thing in Butler, lots of young families!!

[Frangigal]

I live in Merriwa and have for nearly 2 years. Love the area, the whole surrounding of mindarie, quinns rocks, clarkson, merriwa, ridgewood area. It feels like a real community. Lots of younger families around with lots of kids sport on the weekend. Not sure about the schools though.

[Lemonhead]

I'm in Merriwa. There's 2 parts of Merriwa though, the older (crap) area and the newer area, past the shops on Baltimore. Im just by Alkimos College which is a private school, and our DS just got accepted into another of the private schools around here. The public school- Merriwa Primary is a bit dodgy.

Ridgewood is nice, as is Butler and there is a new high school going up in Butler soon near the Catholic primary and high school.

I love Jindalee but its a bit more pricey than the other suburbs. Great though, close to everything you'd need on a daily basis and close to Ocean Keys Shopping Centre with Kmart, Coles, Woolworths etc...

[nicnik]

:wave:
Thanks for your reply girls. Friends have told me Merriwa is a surburb to avoid but am pleased to hear you girls that live there do like it. Just means we have more options when we start looking at houses to move into. At the moment we have a preferance for Quinns as it's so close to the beach, but if the perfect house is in one of the surrounding surburbs that's ok too! Just out of interest, since my oldest boy will be starting school next year in the public system, is the Merriwa school not good? What about the other surburbs, Quinns, Bulter, Ridgewood and Clarkson do those schools have better reputations?

Oh just thought of another question, are there many playgroups in the area?

[DanceInTheRain]

I'm in Butler. I think it's a pretty nice area. We built our house. DS is only one so I'm not sure about schools but the beach is close and there are lots of nice parks and shops. DS goes to quinns beach early learning centre (day care) once a week and it's really really good :)

[Frangigal]

Im in the older part of merriwa and do not think it is crap. The reason we bought there was because we could get a bigger block cheaper than the newer houses on smaller blocks (DH also needed a big shed for his toys). In regards to schools i havent had any personal experience with this so far but a friend has her boy in kindy at merriwa primary school and so far i havent heard of any problems. A while ago i did read in the paper merriwa primary school had bad attendance rating and a few other things.

I think for me i would be happy to send my child to merriwa primary school and then to mindarie college.

[mummyof9kids]

I live in clarkson like all suburbs you have the good and bad .My children used to go to clarkson primary which is a great school they just dont like children whom have special needs .But now my children go to merriwa primary and i like the school they went out of there way to get my children in there .

[isliesmariee]

I used to live in Ridgewood (Im now in Carramar) and I really liked it there. Loads of parks and young families. My parents live in Quinns and are right near the beach. But it only took a few minutes for me to drive to theirs so even if you decide on the surrounding suburbs you will still be pretty close to the ocean!

[nicnik]

Thanks again girls for all your replys, it's been ages since I originally posted but we're moving finally to Merriwa. We found a fantastic house. Now I need to start looking for a school for my oldest to start kindy next year. I assume we will be zoned to go to Merriwa primary, but while I was googling their contact details I found a review for that school and it freaked me out. Does anyone know anyone that actually attends that school? We are only 2kms for East Butler primary so maybe we can get him in there.....:fingerscrossed:

[narellemumof4]

Hi ya

I am in Butler. I don't know anything about Merriwa Primary. I doubt very much that you will get in to Butler or East Butler as they are both full and are very strict on boundaries due to the numbers at their schools. There is a catholic primary school in Butler which would be the cheapest non government school.

Good luck

[narellemumof4]

Hi ya again

I just read some of your other posts. There is a playgroup in Butler in the community centre there are a number of sessions. I have been a member for 5 years as I have 4 children. The details should be on Playgroup WA website. We are actually going to playgroup this morning (Tuesday) from 930 you are always welcome to come down and check it out

[nicnik]

Thanks narellemumof4, I think I'm over my freak out! I'll check the school out on thursday and take it from there. I've been speaking with a few other people today at my son's 3yr old program and they have relatives in Merriwa who say the school is fine so I'll just wait and see what I think.
I would be interested in attending the playgroup in Butler that you've mentioned. We don't actually move into our house until the end of the month, so it won't be until October that I'll be able to attend.

[Torrie77]

Im in Butler and agree with most on here that up here and surrounds are great for young families ( loads of parks etc). East Butler is a great school ( a few kids in our street go there as we are in the catchment area) My kids go to the Catholic school in Butler and we are happy with it...small close knit school where everyone knows each other.
I too have heard bad things about Merriwa primary but let's face it people usually will tell you bad things rather than good if they can. Good idea for you to go and check it out and see how you feel. "Nowhere" who is on here has her child attend in the special needs are..ahe might be able to give you insight into the school.

There is also a playgroup at Merriwa I think at the community building ( no idea what it is called) as my daughter attended the speech group there and there was another normal playgroup there as well. And a friend of min and her mum have taken over running the Butler playgroups....probably going to go back to the Butler one soon too due to end of speech.
So glad you founf yourself a house and welcome!!