Melbourne Questions

cannon.co.tn · Post by **cannon.co.tn** » Tue Jan 22, 2008 8:33 pm

Howdy all,

My wife's company is getting acquired by an Australian company and there is a chance that we might be over there for an extended (3-6 month) stay. We live in San Francisco right now. How is the weather in Melbourne compared to here? What about housing costs etc.

We'll probably be there in late fall or winter. (March - June or so)

Post by **blanikdog** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 1:21 am

I now live about 110 miles north of Melbourne (Smellbourne) but lived there for many years. Housing to buy is extraordinarily high. Say AU$400,000 minimum for a place in the outer suburbs would be right I think. Don't know about rental but I imagine it would also be high.

Melbourne has funny weather. Hot as hell one day, cold and raining the next although this could also occur several times a day, but global warming has altered that a bit. Lately it seems to be fucking hot and no water. Water restrictions are in force most of the year now I believe but this isn't a problem for us bushwhackers who live on a lake bank.

A couple of people in this group would be able to give you more current information, but I'll leave it to them to identify themselves.

blanik

An aussie company acquiring a US company is a novel twist. It's nearly always the very opposite.

duds2u · Post by **duds2u** » Wed Jan 23, 2008 3:26 pm

I lived in Melbourne for a few years. It's a great city, actually one of my favourites in the world, and if you don't like the weather just wait a couple of hours.

cannon.co.tn · Post by **cannon.co.tn** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 12:14 pm

Thanks guys. well, $400K AUS doesn't sound that bad! Can't buy a 2000 sq/ft home for much less than $1,000,000 USD around here. My neighbor is sell their house, built in 1959 and 1500 square ft for $850K right now.

A little surprised a bit about the weather, hoping it was going to be a bit more Mediterranean than it sounds.

Post by **HookLine** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 12:34 pm

Melbourne's weather is, umm, interesting. Ain't Mediterranean. Go to Perth, on the other side of the continent, if you want that kinda weather. In Melbourne dress in summer wear, but always take an umbrella and a heavy coat.

But Melbourne has fantastic sidewalk cafés, al fresco, in the inner city, the food and entertainment is wonderful. And lots of cultural life. Melbourne is the most European city in Australia.

The winters are shitty, though no worse than London.

CoopsOz · Post by **CoopsOz** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 1:06 pm

The biggest problem here is the massive change in temps from one day to the next. It can be 42 Deg C one day and then 18 Deg C the next, it makes it really hard to acclimatise. I haven't responded to thread because although I live in Melbourne I'm actually from Brisbane and as such I'm a little biased in my opinions. Secondly, I have a young family so I don't get out much....I go to work and come home again, that is it.

Post by **blanikdog** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 4:13 pm

HookLine wrote:Melbourne's weather is, umm, interesting. Ain't Mediterranean. Go to Perth, on the other side of the continent, if you want that kinda weather. In Melbourne dress in summer wear, but always take an umbrella and a heavy coat.

But Melbourne has fantastic sidewalk cafés, al fresco, in the inner city, the food and entertainment is wonderful. And lots of cultural life. Melbourne is the most European city in Australia.

The winters are shitty, though no worse than London.

Pretty well sums it up, and coops' post is spot on. Living in Smellbourne certainly builds ones character.

blanik

cannon.co.tn · Post by **cannon.co.tn** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 9:28 pm

HookLine wrote:The winters are shitty, though no worse than London.

I think that should be the Chamber of Commerce's new motto.....

Well, I have a 7 mo. old and a 6 year old in a wheelchair, I don't get out much either but nice al fresco lunches sound better than fast food.

Melbourne sure looks deceivingly nice for the tennis tournament right now.

It would be fun if this really happens.

Post by **HookLine** » Thu Jan 24, 2008 11:22 pm

cannon.co.tn wrote:
HookLine wrote:The winters are shitty, though no worse than London.
I think that should be the Chamber of Commerce's new motto.....

Forgot to mention that Melbourne has great trams. And if you like surfing and can put up with COLD water, go south to Bells Beach.

cannon.co.tn · Post by **cannon.co.tn** » Mon Jan 28, 2008 4:12 pm

When I was a kid I used to skimboard at Huntington and Laguna Beaches. I think I'll leave the cold water to others! Lots happening on that front right now so hopefully I'll know something in 60 days or so.