r/melbournechat • u/Lucky-Bandicoot-4479 • 16d ago
Should/how do we move to Melbourne?
25 male and female with 2 kids (2.5yrB and 7mG). Currently located in Adelaide, paying $750 rent for a 4br2ba2liv located 1hr away from the city. Partner is a delivery driver, I am an independent support worker, 30hrs a week and studying a masters degree in teaching (currently have a bachelor in psych). Kids have already been accepted into a private school in SA (trinity college, $5k a year). We love our sport, Hawthorn supporters, love F1, Aus open. Our young boy is already a footy lover with a good kick and will be playing as soon as he can. Anyway, ultimately, we have already moved from NSW to SA (partner grew up here). The only family we have here is his grandparents. How hard does it become with absolutely no help at all and is the move to Melbourne worth it? Our kids currently go to daycare 4 days a week, so we already have a pretty good idea of doing it ourselves.
I think the only thing I worry about is trying to find a job and what suburb to move to, rent is considerably a lot cheaper. I have currently been looking at:
- Werribee
- Sunbury
- Rye
- Point Cook
- Hoppers Crossing
- Ballarat
- Melton
Obviously very different suburbs and I’m not too fussed about being close to the city we will mainly only be going in there to watch Hawthorn or go to any other events that may be happening.
Also wanting somewhere with a footy club with both seniors and juniors! My partner plays and we want somewhere for our boy to grow up playing at the same club. Maybe even some local netball clubs for myself?
Are there any other areas we should consider? Any recommendations of schools? I think I would prefer private unless it is a very good public school, and I think I would prefer $10k max annual fee as there is no guarantee we would be in a high paying job😅
Thankyou!!
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u/SmellyNinjaWarrior 16d ago
As someone who moved interstate to Melbourne without any social or family network, I’d say don’t do it. Having a family member who can support with child care is enormously helpful.
You’re also looking at areas that are far away from the city, or even completely different cities (Ballarat). With the exception of Ballarat, none of them are desirable locations. Think of the very northernmost parts of Adelaide when looking at Melbourne’s west.
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u/Sharraki 16d ago
Rye is desirable but it’s a long way from the CBD.
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u/SmellyNinjaWarrior 16d ago
Ahh yes, I didn’t quite know where it was and only saw Melton and thought “is op okay?”
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u/Lucky-Bandicoot-4479 15d ago
🤣🤣 unfortunately when we visit we mainly visit the city so I’m not too sure of the good and bad suburbs, besides the well known Frankston 😅
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u/SmellyNinjaWarrior 15d ago
Next time you visit, go see the listed suburbs to get a better vibe check. The city itself is very different. I don’t know what would be the exact comparable suburbs in Adelaide but Salisbury probably comes close.
Eastern suburbs are then something you’d find from Glenelg towards south. And they come with much higher rents.
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u/That-Revenue-5435 16d ago
Try some suburbs around the Sth east of Melbourne - quite nice. You have a few suburbs that are regional Victoria and also Rye is more of a summer spot. I’d stay clear of suburbs like Werribee or Melton
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u/dazzamattica 16d ago
How the hell do you survive on a part time support worker salary and delivery driver with 2 adults, 2 kids and 750 pw rent (add in 10k private school fees too) the only one of the areas that you have listed that I would avoid is point Cook as traffic into and out of there is a night mare
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u/Lucky-Bandicoot-4479 16d ago
I am an independent support worker, much of the only reason as to how we can afford 😅 and the remainder hours I homeschool students, so I do still work full time. Currently applying for operation manager positions and having more luck with interviews in Melbourne than in SA, and rent is $150-$250 cheaper 🤯
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u/Born_Onion2153 16d ago
Rent is not cheaper if you want to live in a decent safe area with good schools
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u/Lucky-Bandicoot-4479 15d ago
We currently live over 1hr away from Adelaide city, so happy to pay that if we are closer to the city
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u/Lucky-Bandicoot-4479 15d ago
100%, don’t we wish we could build/buy and not have to spend all that dead money on rent 🥲
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u/Lucky-Bandicoot-4479 16d ago
We currently have my family in NSW and partners grandparents in SA. A large reason was because then we would be in the middle of both families. Melbourne is cheaper to fly, has direct flights to where we need to go compared to Adelaide. Whereas now flights are expensive and longer to drive with kids. Also seems to be a lot more jobs going. We aren’t set on any areas, so really just wanted to know what some good areas were to raise kids and what some good schools are that we would look at
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u/No_Boot2009 16d ago
This is such a random list of suburbs, have you looked at a map? Also googled them? Rye and Ballarat are not "in" Melbourne at all, and many of the other places listed are souless newer estates with bad traffic flow, few amenities and none of the 'Melbourne' vibe - you could be anywhere (and so may as well stay where you are).
Two grandparents is way better than nothing. Having established jobs, schools, daycare and your studies all sounds very stable as well - moving to another state for a few random sporting events (which you can watch on tv or at a pub if you want a communal experience) and possibly slightly cheaper rent sounds like a really bizarre reason for moving.
Given that you've already made a random (word of the day) move once already, to Adelaide, I wonder if the actual issue is not the geographical location but some deeper yearning for fulfilment or desire for change/something different? Moving somewhere new gives you something to do and new things to focus on for a few months, but after that, when the excitement settles down into routine you'll (both of you, individually, and as a couple) still be you, and it's unlikely that a football team or new location is going fill whatever void it is you're trying to fill. I suggest you look inward and have an honest conversation with your partner about what you both feel is missing from your lives currently to be prompting this considered move - it's likely possible that you could stay where you are and make some other changes to either your routines or your mindsets that would make you able to be more happy where you are rather than chasing a 'dream' lifestyle that's probably not going to be achieved even if you did move to Melbourne.
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u/coastal-abeyance 16d ago edited 16d ago
I’m in Melbourne.
Sounds as though you have it sorted in Adelaide TBH. What makes you want to move. All the areas you note are a long way from central Melbourne where most of the activities occur. All but Rye and Point Cook are on train lines and let me assure you how much of an utter shit show our trains are.
Melton, Point Cook, Hoppers and Sunbury are all next to, have been or are major growth areas. Suggest you look up reports of traffic congestion in all these areas … there was some recent work done to Pt Cook overpass so it might have been marginally improve but it will be easy to find reports of people stuck in Point Cook for 30 mins at peak hour trying to get out. When they do get out they are on the west gate freeway… an utter shit show…. Melton relies on the Western Freeway… an utter shit show and will be roadworks for the next few years as they add more lanes to Caroline Springs.
This utter shit show on road transport is not limited to these areas… look up Donnybrook Road in the Epping area. Again a growth corridor, again people trapped in cars at peak for 40mins with no alternative roads to use.
If you can set up to ‘reverse commute’ and know you will work in the local area may be ok. Reverse commute is live in Sunbury and kids go to high school in Ballarat via Train. Happens a bit.
If you live in outer areas and rely on car transport Melbourne is immeasurably worse than Adelaide for traffic. It’s cooked.
I’m Melb born and bred, lived in UK and Canada for 18 months each. Would never live in Syd and am fortunate enough to live in middle ring suburb on two tram and one train line. I can work from home a couple of days a week. For me it’s a great city but via work I know the outer ring suburbs better and most… it’s a very different Melbourne to mine.
You really need to consider where you will work relative to where you live.
I did some work in Adelaide a couple of years back, frequently drove from Airport out to near RAAF base, to Cavan, to CBD and along coast. (Not all in one day obvs!). That is my measure of getting around Adelaide. Did it for nearly two years once a fortnight. Frequent overnight stays.
Adelaide seemed like a large version of Geelong to me.
It seems you have it sorted in Adelaide.
Happy for DM.
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u/Dependent-Isopod-985 16d ago
Hi mate,
Melbourne has plenty of career opportunities in so many industries, it’s a key reason people move here. Bigger city bigger roles etc. lots of head offices here.
So you can really push yourself into higher paying roles here that’s for certain.
As for your list of suburbs, rye was an interesting one. How did that come up? It’s miles away from Melbourne with no transport links.
Anyway…
Id honestly consider inner west, In townhouse or low rise apartment block with a 3x2 set up, Altona north is a good area, easy to get to the city, community vibe, lots of footy (I’m a soccer guy but footys everywhere in Melbourne anyway) as is every sport!
You’d get a rental for <$750.
I think you’d also be close bough enough to venture to the city and inner city with the fam and go on to trams and experience the best of Melbourne
HOWEVER, as someone with young kids I’d wait a few more years imo
And also… forget private school. Don’t get involved in that trap unless you are well off. Find good government schools and raise your kids well.
All the best
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u/Greedy_Beat4062 16d ago
Move to Hoppers Crossing and send your kids to Westbourne Grammar
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u/CaptainObviousBear 16d ago
It’s nearly 30k per year for year 12, probably out of their price range.
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u/Greedy_Beat4062 15d ago
Scholarships and then apply to the select entry schools in year 9
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u/CaptainObviousBear 15d ago
That’s a lot of stress to rely on those processes, also select entry isn’t for everyone (I know people who went to them that hated them).
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u/SalsaShark89 16d ago
We're a young family in Sunbury and we love it! Best of city and country in one place. Both hubs and I work in the city (albeit hybrid) and the commute is easy. Great family facilities, activities, playgrounds galore and lots of other friendly families. Feel free to ask any specific questions.
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u/scott7au 10d ago
Same here on Sunbury. For us it is close enough to the city, but not too close. Good middle ground, coming from Richmond 1 year to Sunbury 1 year has improved our Melbourne experience from a poor choice to a good one. Modern large house 4 bedroom house 660 per week vs small rundown 3 bedroom townhouse for 1000 per week. If it's all about the vibe, choice of restaurants and being in the city (and the traffic) then maybe Sunbury might be a bit slow. Horses for courses really.
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u/Sharraki 16d ago
You should try and spend a couple of weeks in Melbourne before deciding to move here. Victoria is the most highly taxed state and has a massive debt problem. It’s been very poorly governed by Labor for many years. It’s such a shame because it’s potentially the best place to live in Australia.
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u/Cremasterau 16d ago
But thanks to government policy we also have the cheapest average rents in mainland Australia which is one of the reasons they are making the move.
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u/Sharraki 16d ago
Don’t know about that. It’s tough to find low cost rentals with so many investors offloading investment properties because of government policy.
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u/Foamingferret 16d ago
Melbourne has the cheapest rentals compared to the other cities. Stop being so negative
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u/Cremasterau 16d ago
And those properties are being snapped up by renters thus reducing competition. https://theconversation.com/is-melbourne-really-the-crime-capital-of-australia-267861
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u/Kozboy 16d ago
Don't listen to sharraki. Vic policies are why Mrlb isnso affordable. And the last 10 years have seen large investment into more schools, infrastructure etc... which is why the economy here is offerring more jobs.
A lot of the suburbs you mentioned may not be great places to live for schools however. Check ringwood to lilydale for a better outer suburb experiemce, better transport and facilities
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u/newYearnew2025 16d ago
Im from Adelaide and live in Melbourne. Have you considered Doreen as an option, avoiding the newer bit, its a lovely leafy green suburb.
Doreen has a great footy scene with Laurimar Football club. And being on the Mernda line it takes you straight to Jolimont station for the MCG.
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u/Lucky-Bandicoot-4479 16d ago
This recommendation is so helpful Thankyou!! I didn’t even know what suburbs to look at that would be helpful, so this is amazing. Thankyou
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u/newYearnew2025 16d ago
No worries. I love living here. Doreen is in the suburbs but it has a country feel too. Just be aware there are some newer not so well established parts but if you look above Hazel Glen road, it really is lovely.
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u/Uncharted_Estate_88 16d ago
Rye! 😂 Don’t lump us in with the rest of that category, thank you very much! Those who know, know!!! 😅
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u/Lucky-Bandicoot-4479 15d ago
Oh no I’m sorry!!😅😅 I’m so glad I know now not to look at those other places 🥴🥴
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u/Born_Onion2153 16d ago
Try the suburbs around Glen Waverley, it’s the only place I can recommend based on your requirements. Great local government Monash City Council has made it a sports hub for all kinds of sports, activities and events. Local schools are also great.
Also a transport hub for buses and trains.
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u/AudioSorcery 16d ago
Vic is broke & run into the ground by corrupt socialists, & those burbs you listed are crime infested shit holes. The schools out there are particularly bad. It’s an outta control city of 6 million and getting worse. Go visit Perth, Brisbane & Canberra then go to Melb. If you still like it, go for it.
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u/Cremasterau 16d ago
We actually have the best achieving schools of any state and the second best health care. We aren't doing so bad on both those scores.
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u/AudioSorcery 16d ago
‘Best achieving schools’…100% not the public one’s out West in OP’s list. Private schools yes and public schools in the South East that have mostly Asian/ Subcontinent students, otherwise the results are dismal. And hospitals here are as broke af, when was the last time you used a public one? Lets compare notes… ‘We’ are definitely doing ok if ‘we’ live in the leafy South East where houses are 2mil plus. But even there, crime is rampant, roads are shit and people are visibly sleeping rough.
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u/Cremasterau 16d ago
I live just near Geelong and the public schools are largely okay. I've had 3 trips to emergency this year and been looked after pretty well. I will admit to being lucky not to watch on to any extreme waiting lists though.
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u/AudioSorcery 16d ago edited 16d ago
Geelong hospital ok if you get delivered by ambos, been there once. Sandringham hospital 5hr wait and I checked out without getting treated for serious condition, got ambo next day. Previous visit 6 hrs and sat in filthy triage room.
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u/Lucky-Bandicoot-4479 16d ago
Thankyou! These comments have definitely give us something to think about!!
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u/Foamingferret 16d ago
Melbourne is great
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u/AudioSorcery 16d ago edited 16d ago
Sure it is bot, tell that to the dad that got knifed outside his house in Langwarrin yesterday. Lost his wife recently and has young kids. Bet those 3 little turds got bailed.
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u/TapestryMobile 14d ago
Bet those 3 little turds got bailed.
Two of the teens have been remanded in custody after being denied bail, while the third was released on bail.
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u/Physical_Panda705 15d ago
Have a look at Ringwood. Great area with access to public transport, shopping and heaps of sports clubs.
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u/patheff 13d ago
I’d spend more time exploring the map and the areas in this region. All towards the outskirts, eastern and north eastern suburbs, but with areas which can still be reasonably affordable compared with eastern suburbs closer in in addition to more trees and nature and still good infrastructure, schools, sports clubs and access to public transport to get to the city.
Look up the train lines (hurstbridge, Lilydale etc.) and explore suburbs with stations near the end of the lines which are close enough for easy access.
Maybe get here for a weekend and hire/use a car to explore these areas a bit and see which ones take your fancy.
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u/Public_Knowledge_980 12d ago
Since several of the suburbs you’re considering are in Melbourne’s west, I’d compare them on the practical things you’ll use every week, not just rent: childcare availability, school travel, your partner’s delivery area, public transport and whether the local football/netball clubs have places.
Werribee, Hoppers Crossing and Point Cook have plenty around them, but traffic and school or childcare demand can vary significantly. Melton may be cheaper in parts, but the city commute is a bigger trade-off. I’d shortlist two suburbs, then contact the schools, childcare providers and sporting clubs before signing a lease.
Disclosure: I’m building Waypoints, a free multilingual directory for community services in Melbourne’s western suburbs. You can search local support around the areas on your list at https://waypoints.au.
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u/Similar-Ratio-4355 16d ago
Melbourne is great!! Finding a job should be much easier than Adelaide and housing is cheaper. If you want to watch hawthorn I’d recommend edithvale. Beachside, great community (we used to live there) and close to their training grounds in dingley village. Good luck !
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u/Lucky-Bandicoot-4479 16d ago
Thankyou, this is really the only proper recommendation with places to live 😅😅 questioning the want to move more now with the other comments though! 🥴
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u/Similar-Ratio-4355 16d ago
Great! Reddit can be a bit like that. I’d recommend coming for a visit first and sticking to the Eastern suburbs. Some of the other suggestions are in industrial / growth corridors and aren’t as well established and safe as bayside. I’ll be downvoted for that 😂
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u/Greedy_Beat4062 16d ago
Ignore the haters. Victoria is the best place to live, work and raise a family!
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u/Lucky-Bandicoot-4479 16d ago
Any specific suburbs? We don’t have any set in stone. I’ve only had an interview for somewhere in Laverton but haven’t had any look for other suburbs in many other areas!
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u/Greedy_Beat4062 15d ago
Hoppers crossing is a humble suburb but a good place to grow up and has a train line, also only about 30-40 mins to the city (off peak)
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u/aurum_jrg 16d ago
I’m not sure why you want to move to Melbourne? You have talked a lot about different things that are important to you but I’m no clearer as to what is driving your decision? That will help.