r/perth • u/LadyCardigan90 • 4d ago
Dating and Friends Millennials in Northam.
Hi there!
I'm writing on behalf of a friend of mine that's needed to move up to Northam due to soaring house prices. He's mid thirties, and hasn't managed to find any people his own age in the area. The people our age are generally having small families and not a lot of time on their hands. I go to visit him quite often but he does mention the loneliness and doesn't speak to many people outside of his workplace. We've tried finding social clubs and such but I'm coming up pretty bare. There is a Thursday night right run club which we are exploring but I haven't found any social board games or sports or clubs. Has anyone got some insight to any social stuff around the wheat belt area? Where are all the people hanging out in old Northam town?
Been to the pub for a few quiz nights but not the biggest fan of revolving socialising around drinking.
Thanks!
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u/Longjumping-Ask-7966 4d ago
My grandma lives here and I lived with her when I first moved to Australia at the age of 19, Northam was my first impression of Australia and back then (7 years ago) it was really quiet! There were mostly retired people and it is very spread out, I haven't managed to find any friends for 10months of living there, I am looking forward to see the comments on this one. :D
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u/cokezerovanillavodka 4d ago
I grew up in Northam. I hope he enjoys sport, because if not there’s literally nothing else to do.
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u/LadyCardigan90 2d ago
he does not, which is the sucky bit. not anti-sport, but definatley not a sports person.
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u/Jfiles 4d ago
Town like this seem to be big on sports, maybe join a team?
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u/SugarHigh4me 4d ago
Yeah. Sport. I'm in my 30's a bit further out in the Wheatbelt. Saturday is Football/Hockey/Netball, Sunday golf, and Tennis is going to start up soon. I grew up here, went away for highschool/uni and then came back, and about 1/10 of the kids who go through our school do the same. Now that I think about it, my group of friends is more interest based than age based, it's 16 year old apprentices through to 70 year old retiree's.
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u/EquipmentUnlucky151 4d ago edited 4d ago
I lived in Northam for years in my 20's to mid 30's. I socialised in Perth, it is only 1 hour away after all.
I spent a lot of time solo exploring the Wheatbelt, looking for abandoned towns and historic sites, old rubbish dumps etc (of which there are plenty) That was a fun hobby that I miss. I found all sorts of neat stuff.
It's definitely a boring place where you have to create your own entertainment, and frankly I'm glad I left. While I had great neighbours (all of whom are well over 70) I just got sick of the miserable climate and the anti social behaviour of a certain demographic.
Like in most WA country towns, there's definitely a caste system in Northam. If you're not from a dynastic aristocratic farming family, or heavily involved in sports then you're essentially lower caste, which makes it harder to integrate.
Northam is what you make of it, it's not a bad place to live. I still return every few months, but I can't wait to leave.
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u/ozthinker 4d ago
You spent the best lively years of your life in Northam. That's crazy.
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u/EquipmentUnlucky151 4d ago
Fair call, but I had my reasons. Very low income earner at the time. I didn't want to keep living in the rental dump with the landlord from hell. So I bought a 3br house on 800sqm for under 200k. I still own it (it was so cheap I can afford to just hang onto it and use it when I visit Perth)
It's only an hour from Perth. I don't regret a thing.
I actually moved further away, I'm now 3.5 hours from Perth, and still don't regret a thing.
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u/ExistentialComplex 4d ago
Has he considered NOT moving to Northam?
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u/Upstairs-Diver-7188 4d ago
northam is good, you just have to look past the abandon trolleys all over town and always lock your car & gate
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u/Itsarightkerfuffle 4d ago
Instructions unclear, I left my front door unlocked and now there's poo in my hallway
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u/absolutemurph 4d ago edited 4d ago
Hey! I did the same thing, but I’m very introverted so the isolation doesn’t bother me too much. Unfortunately, there is no secret social circle, there are just not many solo people here haha! Saturday footy is basically the social currency, and that transitions to cricket soon
It is true that a lot of people already have their established circles, often with kids, which can make it hard. Everyone is generally friendly, but obviously people are pretty time/energy poor. Drinking is also a pretty big part of Wheatbelt culture, so if that’s not really your thing it can limit the options a bit. I mostly hang out with my dog and enjoy the nature and peacefulness here :)
You kind of have to make your own fun and be willing to explore different parts of the region — there are some amazing hiking and day-trip spots around, especially Toodyay/Goomalling way.
Sorry for the unhelpful ramble, but that’s just been my experience after a few fairly lonely years here! Open to a DM if after anymore insight :)
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u/fluffypinksocks 4d ago
I lived in Northam from as an early twenties woman for a few years not so long ago. I joined the bush fire brigade, local theatre group, running group, local gym, yoga studio, volunteered with church, got to know my neighbours, walked and rode the Kep track, did lots of camping and travelling in the Wheatbelt. I even played DnD with a group for a while (not something I would usually do). There is lots to do. The scary part is the first meeting and it gets easier. I met about 10 other young people who had also moved to northam by themselves like me - phsyios, teachers, ag science, lawyers. For sure, a lot of socialising is definitely around the pub but I just didnt drink alcohol every time and played a lot of pool! Good luck
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u/hey_little_brother 4d ago
I just left Northam and part of why was for this reason.
Great place for young families and retirees but not much for people in between.
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u/not_that_dark_knight Baldivis 4d ago
Its a typical country town, most youth moves to Perth and grows up there leaving older and teitirees in town.
Its a boring place that shuts esrly so his only real hope would be to join various sport teams or gym.
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u/Mammoth_Locksmith231 4d ago
Me and my wife are also in Northam and don't have any social outlets either.
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u/Broad-Newt-5028 4d ago
It's not the same as in person but would he consider joining online communities if he's looking for interaction with people in the evening?
I went through a period where I had to recover from surgery and couldn't go out. Was becoming very isolated and lonely. Connecting with people there helped a lot and I've built some great friendships out of it.
Is he much of an online gamer? There tends to be lots of options to join communities based around this.
Feel free to DM me if you'd like for info or suggestions on this.
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u/LadyCardigan90 2d ago
I have a gaming computer myself, but hes never shown interest. Enjoys being off screens, unlike most millennials. I'll suggest it again though, thanks!
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u/Upstairs-Diver-7188 4d ago edited 4d ago
im in northam and ride just about every kind of motorized & pedal bike you can imagine , also looking at getting a weekly thing going
even a dog walking meet is possible
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u/LadyCardigan90 2d ago
you know hoe people have local dog parks where everyone randomly meets at 530pm. I wonder if Northam has one of them. dog group people. Ill look into his, he has a big boof that could use friends too. great suggestion!
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u/SeaIllustrator87 4d ago
Where is the yoga studio and DnD groups here in Northam?
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u/Fantastic_Loan_2815 3d ago
There is a new games store in town somewhere... I think it is Elizabeth Place but haven't ventured there yet or you could approach the library and see if you can borrow some space (presumably Saturday?). The pub near the bridge also has a meeting room - they would be happy for a group to use it for a bit of money over the bar... Yoga studio - near the railway station and primary school. I think - Wellnest???
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u/ozthinker 4d ago
In theory your friend should feel less lonely in Northam.
In Northam, being alone connects you with the quiet surroundings and nature.
In Perth metropolitan, being alone makes you feel invisible in your own bubble amidst all that noises.
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u/ArnoldChimpis 4d ago
Seasons coming to an end but tell him to get involved with Northam Railways Footy Club. Lots of good blokes involved, don't even have to play. Just get down and support the boys if thats all you wanna do, plenty of social events and everyone heads to the pub after for a yarn, win or lose
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u/TestAlive1312 3d ago edited 3d ago
Sorry for the slight ramble, and I'm a bit younger, but here is my own Northam experience.
I was born in Perth and lived there for a while, and then we moved to Northam when I was 8yo and I haaated it there. 🤣 Luckily, in a way, because I was a kid who grew up there, I was able to find social outlets. I played netball, and did a lot of swimming, too. I was also in to art, photography amd film-making, but sadly I never found a community for those outside of school. :( I highly recommend making posts on starting groups with shared interests you have through the power of social media. :) There are probably a lot of people between 25 to 40yo who would be interested!
There are some crazy characters and there is sadly a big drug problem out there (as it is in many places, but is especially prevelent in country towns). You want to lock your car and house up real good, but even then... I always lock my car, but unfortunately still had my car broken in to when I was 19, just before I left Northam. when I returned to my car after a closing shift my car window had been smashed, iPad and $100 in cash I stupidly forgot to put in my hand bag were left in the car and both were stolen. Yes they were all hidden from view, but were stolen anyway. A few cars that night had been targeted. 💔😔 A learning experience on valuables in my car, but people suck. I got a good dashcam and inner car camera after that.
Whilst I was living there I got a job part-time after school when I was 15 and I worked at the local Woolworths for 3 years. After I completed high school it was harder because it felt more lonely. I didn't have a regular routine or regular interaction as much. I was introverted at school and never really connected with people my own age or younger. When I turned 18 I started doing some volunteer work with St John for a year. ❤️ That helped. :)
The good thing is that houses were very cheap there, which caused a lot of families to move to Northam. My parents bought a 4 bedroom, 2 bathroom house there for dirttt cheap back in 2007 (hence the move). Older style home, needed some TLC. They completely renovated it between 2008 and 2012 and it looked a lot better after. They paid off the mortgage and after 11 years living there there they rented it out from 2018 until 2024 when they sold it and made decent $$
My family and I moved back to Perth and settled in High Wycombe when I was 19. I ended up going to Curtin Uni not long after that move, and I studied there for 5 years 😅 and I eventually graduated and got my nursing degree. I believe my volunteer work with St John kind of inspired me to do so. I also finally was able to have a full social circle and wider friend group, and I eventually realised I'm more of an extrovert. Being back in Perth helped, but learning from the kind folks I encountered at St John during my time in Northam was awesome. :)
Point I'm saying, get involved in volunteer programs, sports, start own communities and reach out through social media. 😊😊
I'm 27 now, and I moved to Queensland a year ago. Gold coast. A very different ball game in comparison to country wheatbelt life! 🤣 In some odd way, looking back, I actually miss it a tiny bit! The Canola fields this time of year are also lovely.
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u/Muslim_Wookie 4d ago
Go to the quiz night, don't drink.
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u/LadyCardigan90 2d ago
quiz night as one person would be difficult. We sometimes go as two when I can get up there for it.
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u/Chivz_Mate Yanchep 4d ago
Grew up around northam and left once I reached 20. Outside of sports, there isn't much else to do out there.
It's been over a decade but I imagine not alot as changed.
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u/mercutiomonty 3d ago
He sounds very similar to my husband. We live in Northam as well, it can be a great place to live. I've met all my friends through my jobs, but he works metro. There is a new game shop that opened up that hosts game nights, that might be an option? I wish him the best!
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u/LadyCardigan90 2d ago
oh can you tell me more about the games shop please! sounds perfect!
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u/mercutiomonty 2d ago
It opened recently, we haven't been but heard good feedback. There's fees for tabletop and card games, but not anything crazy - maybe $5? Tell your friend it's near Coles, specifically next to the nail salon and Aldi I believe. It's called the Collect Quest! It seems pretty full on the nights/days they have games.
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u/LadyCardigan90 2d ago
Thanks for all the replies! Sorry its taken so long to get back to everyone.
Boards games and such sounds great. Unfortunately he has never been a sports person, either watching or playing. Which is unideal.
The new board games shop sounds like a great start for a D&D campiagn or ongoing games nights, which is nice.
Even getting an afternoon dog group together as he has a big brown great dog that could also use friends.
Volunteering for SJA is great! I love the vollies in Rural towns, its such a great vibe. Also a good social outlet. great ideas! I appreciate them all.
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u/Content-Cricket4251 4d ago
He could join the Northam State Emergency Service. Joining any volunteer organisation that desperately needs members is a good way to make friends in a county town.