Where do you/will you live in WA

[ali]

I'm wondering what it was that made you chose the suburb you live (or will live in). Was is proximity to work, the fact that it has lots of Brits ... or low numbers of brits, close to beach etc.,?

 

For me, I'd been offered a job in Armadale and didn't want a long commute so we looked at suburbs within 30 mins, but near to the city, we stumbled on Leeming by chance ... just managed to get a furnished rental for the first 12 weeks, we liked it and decided to stay in the area.

 

For us personally, (and it is personal to everyone), we didn't want to live in a suburb that was regarded as little britain and whilst there are certainly brits here in Leeming, there is quite an eclectic mix, my neigbours are primarily, Aussies.

[TheRocks]

We picked HIllarys as we wanted to be near the beach and within a decent commute to the cbd for dh. There is a mix of nationalities here but all our neightbours are aussie and most of the kids in ds class are aussie. We took a lot of drives around and saw were we definatly didn't want to live and kept coming back to Hillarys so luckly we got the house we applied for here.

[Arwen]

We had friends in North Beach who we stayed with and when we got our first rental wanted to be close to them. We ended up 10 mins further north when we bought though as couldn't afford the area we rented in. No regrets though.

[jackboots]

We have lived in the hills and south , we are now in Baldivis which we love .

Due to Family Affordability and schools , iv'e loved all three areas for different reasons .

Though i would move back to leeming as i liked how central it was .

[ali]

We have lived in the hills and south , we are now in Baldivis which we love .

Due to Family Affordability and schools , iv'e loved all three areas for different reasons .

Though i would move back to leeming as i liked how central it was .

 

And of course it was nearer to me lol

[Sal]

I met someone at a party in the UK who was an estate agent in Perth and asked him where the best place to live in Perth was. He drew a picture on a napkin that went from the city to Fremantle and as far north as Wembley Downs - i.e the Western Suburbs or the 'golden triangle". The theory for us was to go for the best location we could afford so that we would have the best schools. Having been following this site for some time I know the general demographic is mid 30's, two young children, nurse/tradesman and that the Western Suburbs is probably out of your reach. However there may be some one who could possibly afford it at a pinch and if the choice was between a two bed renovators delight in the Western suburbs and the kids go to a local Primary school and on to Shenton College - the top performing Govt school or a 4X2 up in Joondalup where the view is of roofs as far as you can see then I'd pick the one with the best investment. Location location location. It's not the house that is important in WA - it's the land - that's why they knock down houses so often. A nice house on cheap land is not going to do as well as a bad house on more expensive land. Choose a house with the highest land value per square metre you can afford.

[portlaunay]

For us it was just about lifestyle.

We came from London and the burbs were just too far from 'life' for us. We wanted to be within walking distance of everything - local, independent shops, school, beach, transport and close to the city but not in it. Mrs Portlaunay's work is not far away and we love the creative, hippie/grungy creative energy of Freo with some lovely characters, like the dude who drives around in an electric bath tub. We love that people here take pride in their community and get out there and get involved. There's always something going on here.

[SusieQ]

Ok we hit on Secret Harbour by chance, it was where a short term rental was available. We enjoy living in Secret Harbour, the kids are in a great school and they have lots of friends....but we have been here nearly 3 years now and it has become a "little Britain". my aussie friend here is in a minority here.....that is the only downside and would be my only reason for moving away.

[linda@no9]

We stayed with friends in Madeley. Had a fair few drives around. I like Madeley, it's established, along with Dartch, but we did look at a few new build areas which is what we really want to do. We drove out to Alchimos, which I loved. I know it's quite far out, but quite like the thought of being far enough out. Hubs (hopefully tomorrow) should hear about his job. If he gets it, will be based on the banks of the Swan in Perth center. Alchimos will be a heck of a trek then.

[Give me a break!]

I live in Lakelands which is in North Mandurah. I had friends in Secret Harbour so came there initially, when we decided to buy a house we found that if we moved a few K's further afield we could get much better value for our Dollars so we ended up building here in Lakelands, my OH cycled to work this morning and it takes him 10 minutes, hoping my son will start at the Private school at the bottom of the road next February.

[ROB T]

We stayed with friends in Madeley. Had a fair few drives around. I like Madeley, it's established, along with Dartch, but we did look at a few new build areas which is what we really want to do. We drove out to Alchimos, which I loved. I know it's quite far out, but quite like the thought of being far enough out. Hubs (hopefully tomorrow) should hear about his job. If he gets it, will be based on the banks of the Swan in Perth center. Alchimos will be a heck of a trek then.

 

Congats Linda on your forthcoming wedding (tomorrow) I hope the day goes well for you both!!

 

Lol......Excuse my sense of humour but it helps cheer me up on a very wet and cold Sunday morning back in the UK....

[kips]

I met someone at a party in the UK who was an estate agent in Perth and asked him where the best place to live in Perth was. He drew a picture on a napkin that went from the city to Fremantle and as far north as Wembley Downs - i.e the Western Suburbs or the 'golden triangle". The theory for us was to go for the best location we could afford so that we would have the best schools. Having been following this site for some time I know the general demographic is mid 30's, two young children, nurse/tradesman and that the Western Suburbs is probably out of your reach. However there may be some one who could possibly afford it at a pinch and if the choice was between a two bed renovators delight in the Western suburbs and the kids go to a local Primary school and on to Shenton College - the top performing Govt school or a 4X2 up in Joondalup where the view is of roofs as far as you can see then I'd pick the one with the best investment. Location location location. It's not the house that is important in WA - it's the land - that's why they knock down houses so often. A nice house on cheap land is not going to do as well as a bad house on more expensive land. Choose a house with the highest land value per square metre you can afford.

 

If you believe everything a real estate agent tells you then more the fool you. Terms like "golden triangle' are coined by real estate agents to keep the price of properties and land artificially high and con the gullible into paying way over the odds.

 

It is no wonder Perth has become one of the most expensive cities in the world to live in.

 

A 2-bedroom renovator's delight - a stupid term used by real estate agents which translates as a complete shoe-box sized dump - is not much use if you have 3-4 kids and want space to breathe and there are plenty of families moving to Australia who fall into this category. Hence they end up living in Joondalup and guess what? They send their kids to good schools.

 

Shenton College is not the only good school in Perth. The private Tranby College in Baldivis has a excellent reputation and nowhere near your beloved Western suburbs. You are nothing but an ill-informed snob.

 

Sure, I'd love to live somewhere like Fremantle, Cottesloe Beach or Shenton Park but, like most people on this forum, I don't have a couple of million dollars to spend which is what you need if you want a decent-sized property that doesn't need some work or is so small you can hear your neighbour having a shower.

[portlaunay]

Shenton College is not the only good school in Perth. The private Tranby College in Baldivis has a excellent reputation and nowhere near your beloved Western suburbs. You are nothing but an ill-informed snob.

 

Jeez, that's a bit harsh.

 

I didn't agree with any of Sal's post but I'm not sure it warranted this kind of accusation. Give the guy/girl a break, they're entitled to their opinion and if you disagree, you're within your rights to say so but a personal attack like this is, I think, completely unjustified.

[ali]

Jeez, that's a bit harsh.

 

I didn't agree with any of Sal's post but I'm not sure it warranted this kind of accusation. Give the guy/girl a break, they're entitled to their opinion and if you disagree, you're within your rights to say so but a personal attack like this is, I think, completely unjustified.

 

I couldn't have put it better myself ... Kips, you may find that you disagree with some of the posts on PP, as some might disagree with yours, personal attacks aren't warrented.

[ROB T]

I couldn't have put it better myself ... Kips, you may find that you disagree with some of the posts on PP, as some might disagree with yours, personal attacks aren't warrented.

 

Me's agree also... Sometimes you know it's good to hear other folks opinions no matter how different from your own they might be. It may be hard to understand others points of view but we should all appreciate that we are not all the same and do have different slants on varying topics. That is wot makes a site like PP meaningful & fun. Enjoy and be critical at the same time but without being offensive is the key here I thinks.

[Sal]

Perth is the centre of the oil and gas business, and mining in Australia. It therefore attracts lots of professional people, engineers, on large salaries. Companies may pay their rentals. Those people may actually look at this site for advice on somewhere to live. I am just trying to give alternatives.

 

Shenton College - was 15th in the school league table, Tranby didn't make the top 50.

21% of their Year 12 students scored 75% or above on Stage 3 courses (the hardest) Tranby - 7% did.

[ali]

I would say be cautious of league tables for schools, my daughter (year 12) was telling me that some schools 'invite' their pupils to sit exams, ensuring a good success rate (and high ranking). My daughters school is quite diverse in that they have an academic extension programme and Science Acadamy, but also an Educational learning centre - all pupils are encouraged to do the best they can, and if that means having a go at an exam that's what they do. They might not be one of the highest on the school table, but the I love their ethos.

 

Personally, I think that given the right environment a child will do well.

[Arwen]

I would say be cautious of league tables for schools, my daughter (year 12) was telling me that some schools 'invite' their pupils to sit exams, ensuring a good success rate (and high ranking). My daughters school is quite diverse in that they have an academic extension programme and Science Acadamy, but also an Educational learning centre - all pupils are encouraged to do the best they can, and if that means having a go at an exam that's what they do. They might not be one of the highest on the school table, but the I love their ethos.

 

Personally, I think that given the right environment a child will do well.

 

yes you are right some schools will not enter kids for exams if they don't think they will get the highest marks as it brings them down in the rankings. Usually it is the top tier schools such as Shenton College and Churchlands that do this.

[Arwen]

Perth is the centre of the oil and gas business, and mining in Australia. It therefore attracts lots of professional people, engineers, on large salaries. Companies may pay their rentals. Those people may actually look at this site for advice on somewhere to live. I am just trying to give alternatives.

 

Shenton College - was 15th in the school league table, Tranby didn't make the top 50.

21% of their Year 12 students scored 75% or above on Stage 3 courses (the hardest) Tranby - 7% did.

 

The majority of people on these boards are ordinary normal people not executives on massive 6 figure salaries. Whilst I don't agree with Kips insulting you I do feel you are a little out of touch with demographics of this forum.

[portlaunay]

I would say be cautious of league tables for schools, my daughter (year 12) was telling me that some schools 'invite' their pupils to sit exams, ensuring a good success rate (and high ranking). My daughters school is quite diverse in that they have an academic extension programme and Science Acadamy, but also an Educational learning centre - all pupils are encouraged to do the best they can, and if that means having a go at an exam that's what they do. They might not be one of the highest on the school table, but the I love their ethos.

 

Personally, I think that given the right environment a child will do well.

 

+1

 

Performance measures for schools are very difficult to analyse in a way that is meaningful for your child. We all learn in different ways and have very different natural skills and abilities. A 'Best performing' school may simply create and environment that, for child A is conducive to learning but for child B is massively detrimental to their development. When we view schools we ignore league tables, they give a very narrow perspective of the school and, in fact, it tells me precisely where the energy and priorities are directed in a particular institution and it aint necessarily at satisfying the developmental needs of my child.

 

Questions I ask when I view a school are;

Does the environment have an energy and enthusiasm for learning?

Do the children look happy?

Are they enjoying the work?

Is the work celebrated? (as opposed to the outcome)

Are the pupils actively engaged?

Is there variation in the curriculum?

Is the Principal visible?

Do I agree with and can I support the boundaries and routine imposed?

Are pupils encouraged to take responsibility for their own learning?

[Sal]

my original post indicated that I realised what the demographics were. I'll keep my head down in future to avoid the bullets.

[Scot01]

I'm in the Western suburbs and been too scared to admit it.

[Guest Hassan]

I'm in the Western suburbs and been too scared to admit it.

 

May I ask the reason for being too scare to admit.

 

Thanks.

[kips]

Perth is the centre of the oil and gas business, and mining in Australia. It therefore attracts lots of professional people, engineers, on large salaries. Companies may pay their rentals. Those people may actually look at this site for advice on somewhere to live. I am just trying to give alternatives.

 

Shenton College - was 15th in the school league table, Tranby didn't make the top 50.

21% of their Year 12 students scored 75% or above on Stage 3 courses (the hardest) Tranby - 7% did.

 

The percentage of people in WA working on gas/mining projects on huge salaries is small and do not represent the vast majority of people who emigrate here. Most are families in a wide range of jobs paying between $50,000-$100,000.

 

And companies will only pay rentals for a limited time. Then it's up to you to find a place to live.

 

As for league tables there is huge controversy about these among teachers and principals across Australia. Many hate the NAPLAN system because it doesn't give an accurate picture of their school.

 

I was shocked when one principal told me some schools - both private and public - discourage poorly-performing pupils to attend school on the days of the tests to ensure high scores. I thought he was exaggerating until a teacher told me the same thing.

 

My son did very well in his Year 3 NAPLAN tests at his small public school in NSW - even though the school overall didn't do well. I got his results after we moved to Perth last year and, like any parent, proud as punch.

 

I gave a copy to his class teacher and asked if I could have a meeting with her to discuss the results and ensure he was getting work according to his ability.

 

She told me very curtly a meeting was not necessary as the the NAPLAN papers hadn't been marked by them so they didn't give an accurate assessment of a child's ability and besides they liked to do their own assessments for each child. Talk about feeling deflated.

[linda@no9]

Ok, my hubs is an architect so will be receiving a good salary. I'm self employed and if I can earn as well there as I do here then that will push up the household income.

My views are. We are moving for a better quality of life, not to stretch ourselves financially just because we can. Size of houses etc are much more than here and if that means living in a great 'normal' area where the kids are happy at school then that'll do for me. My daughter (just sitting gcse's) hates the school she is in. Reputation was fabulous, but like anything, looked good on paper!