Moving to Townsville

[littlefrog]

:wave:Hi, my husband and I are planning on moving to Townsville at the end of the year, we have 2 boys, who by then will be 5 - and just about to start school and 2. Any advice that can be offered on childcare, schools, nice areas to live in would be great, and any other info that could be helpful.

Thanks

[elleandsam]

No advice as my two are almost 2 and 6 months but :wave: we live in Kirwan and have grown to love it.

[littlefrog]

Thanks, we have been considering Kirwan and Douglas?

:)

[Aka]

i just moved from townsville and i miss it a lot! We were there for three years. we lived in bushland beach and loved it! Guess it depends on if you have transport also?

[littlefrog]

Bushland beach does look lovely, but we want to try and keep only one car, and may be difficult there.

[thomasfamily]

I have a 21month old and moving to Bushland Beach next week. I don't know anyone there so would love to meet some people in the same boat if your up for a coffee once you are there.

[tashaplus2]

Funny I came across this quote as I am looking to move to Townsville at the start of 2013. I came on here to ask info on schools (primary) that are recommended (as that dictates where I would buy etc).... I will have no friends or family there so will be totally NEW! I am a kiwi still living in NZ but planning to move once my study is complete...... dont know any suburbs or schools hahaha so would love the advice! To me primary schooling being great is really important and will dictate where I move to :yes:

[Miky]

hi if u have no luck finding childcare. Iv worked as a nanny for a few yrs and currently work P/T but have alot of free days.I change by the day not hour
(usually works to be around $13 an hr or so) please feel free to contact me on dbyass_1992@hotmail.com thanks!

[littlefrog]

Well we fly in less than 3 weeks now. Moving to annandale, thanks Miky have decided to investigate childcare once we are there so may send you a message. Tasha are you studying midwifery? I have just finished my post graduate diploma in mid? will let you know how we go up there with schools.

[tashaplus2]

Hi there - yeah I have one more year to go and then I'm done! We do a four year Bach in midwifery here in nz now so it's mega intense! Can't wait for it to be done lol. I would love if u cld keep me updated on yr school and house hunt etc!!!! I'm moving in Jan 2013!

[anewme]

There is ABC daycare in annadale next to the state school and about five house up from Annadale christian college. As for schools there are quite few. Annadale state, Annadale christian college (where my lot go), grammer jnr, and a catholic one I can't think of the name of right now.

feel free to ask me any questions you have.

[NancyBlackett]

The Catholic one is Southern Cross. I think - you mean the one next to William Ross?

[anewme]

Yep thats the one. Thank you LucyB

[NancyBlackett]

Annandale really is chock full of schools. It's a great suburb.

[tashaplus2]

I'm hunting kirwan and Annandale for houses :)

[littlefrog]

Thanks everyone, flying up a week on wednesday!!! So much still to do, but cant wait till I get on the plane as then can just sit down for a couple of hours :)

[tashaplus2]

How did it go and how have u settled in? :)

[littlefrog]

Hi there tashaplus2 :)

Sorry for late reply, move was stressfull, we have rented a house in douglas for now and will look to possibly buy at the end of the year either in douglas or annandale, but finding rental property initially was not easy.

Have worked on the maternity ward for the past 3 months and have just moved up to the birth suite now. Have to say everyone has been very friendly and supportive, takes time to adjut to a new work area but they are a great bunch.

Same goes for Townsville, everyone friendly. Picked annandale state school for our little boy, big school about 900 kids, but he loves it, and we have so far been very happy. If I can help you at all when you prepare to come over let me know, hope the mid is going well :wave:

[tashaplus2]

Hi - soery about the delay Oh wow u work in maternity - I'm in my final year of a midwifery degree in Nz :) hoping to wk at tth when I come in January. Is that where u wk?

[littlefrog]

Yes am at the tth, am in my grad year there. think you will find a bit of a change to midwifery in australia to nz, but they are all very friendly. Sure you are having a busy year if you are finishing up this year.

We have been very happy living in Douglas, and now looking to buy here or Annnandale. How are your plans going for coming over here? If I can do anything to help let me know.

[tashaplus2]

Wow I would love to talk to you. I'm going to apply for the tth midwifery new grad programme for next year. Do apps start about September?

[littlefrog]

Not sure on an actual application date. In Melbourne last year all applications started in July, so thats when I got mine in for, but not organised so early up here, I did not hear back until nov/dec.

[Bridger]

hi all! we're also hoping to head up north to townsville in the next few months. we have never been there, but my husband has been offered a job he can't refuse so it looks like we just might be off.... we're from a rather small 'city' on the mid north coast of n.s.w. so we are seriously daunted by the whole 87 suburbs of townsville to choose from! haha, we have a 6 year old and a 3 year old, who are really our main priority. we're looking for any information we can get on family friendly suburbs that aren't too close to the city, with smaller schools and fewer 'areas to avoid' while renting..... it's soooooo mind boggling. after going through every forum i could find we have a rough list of 'good' suburbs - aitkenvale, annandale, burdell, bushland beach, douglas, riverside gardens....? and have been told to try and avoid condon, garbutt, kelso, mount louisa, north ward, the strand, oonoonba, rasmussen, sth townsville, west end........????

please please if anyone can help us to clarify??? we have absolutely no idea at this stage, they are all still names on a map. we have been hunting around on realestate.com.au, but it's still difficult to tell. in a perfect world we would be able to dash up there for a week or two to get a feel for the place, but we just don't have the funds to do it twice. ho hum. any advice would be hugely appreciated!

:wave: thanks!

[daggy3000]

Hi!!

I have to echo Bridger's above thread. We are also relocating to Townsville in the next couple of months. Very excited and looking forward to the hot weather:smiliedance:
We are thinking of living in North Ward so that we are close to the beach and hubbies work. Is this a baby friendly area? I have a 5 month old girl. Would also like a take on the suburbs listed above and good childcare options. Is it hard to get into childcare? Do i need to start putting my baby on lists now? Thanks