melbourne & other frequently asked questions
Discussion
hi guys,
i'm currently living/working in dubai, been here 4 yrs now and looking for the exit route. our APAC office has just moved wholesale from singapore to melbourne. given it loos unlikely i'll get a US gig, this is my preferred option for an 'out' if i stay with my current employer.
i've never stepped foot in oz but know a few people in melbourne and they only say positive things. just wondered if there are any PHers there who would care to share their views. anything and everything really from cost of living through to local motorsport/car scene.
i could also use some general pointers regarding visas [which one to go for], tax, and what constitutes a decent salary.
i know a lot of this is 'how long is a piece of string' but it'd be interesting to see what people's situations and views are.
if i do the melbourne move it'll be hopefully long term, buying a house the whole shebang. i'd quite like something inner urban but also would need garaging/workshop space.
also what are the rules regarding lhd>rhd conversions? i have an lhd elise i'd probably bring with me, easy swap to rhd and i believe lotus will issue a certificate of conformity if all oem parts are used.
cheers.
i'm currently living/working in dubai, been here 4 yrs now and looking for the exit route. our APAC office has just moved wholesale from singapore to melbourne. given it loos unlikely i'll get a US gig, this is my preferred option for an 'out' if i stay with my current employer.
i've never stepped foot in oz but know a few people in melbourne and they only say positive things. just wondered if there are any PHers there who would care to share their views. anything and everything really from cost of living through to local motorsport/car scene.
i could also use some general pointers regarding visas [which one to go for], tax, and what constitutes a decent salary.
i know a lot of this is 'how long is a piece of string' but it'd be interesting to see what people's situations and views are.
if i do the melbourne move it'll be hopefully long term, buying a house the whole shebang. i'd quite like something inner urban but also would need garaging/workshop space.
also what are the rules regarding lhd>rhd conversions? i have an lhd elise i'd probably bring with me, easy swap to rhd and i believe lotus will issue a certificate of conformity if all oem parts are used.
cheers.
There are some good tracks around Melbourne : Sandown, Philip Island, Winton, Haunted Hills (hillclimb), Broadford (bikes), Calder & Heathcote (drags) to name a few.
The track days I have been to have all been organised through car / bike clubs.
If you are into old school rallying (navigation + high speed dirt roads : my sport of choice), the Historic Rally Association is worth joining.
V8's are cheap and common, the downside is that no matter what you have, there is always something faster out there.
Modified cars are common, but much tighter laws than the UK.
If you like, I can look into the RHD conversion issue.
HTH
ETA If you speed on public roads / highways, you will lose your license, but almost all rural roads are 100 kph (60 mph) here and there are some lovely drivers' roads where it is a challenge to maintain that speed through the twisties.
The track days I have been to have all been organised through car / bike clubs.
If you are into old school rallying (navigation + high speed dirt roads : my sport of choice), the Historic Rally Association is worth joining.
V8's are cheap and common, the downside is that no matter what you have, there is always something faster out there.
Modified cars are common, but much tighter laws than the UK.
If you like, I can look into the RHD conversion issue.
HTH
ETA If you speed on public roads / highways, you will lose your license, but almost all rural roads are 100 kph (60 mph) here and there are some lovely drivers' roads where it is a challenge to maintain that speed through the twisties.
Edited by AW111 on Sunday 5th July 10:58
cheers, some of those tracks look decent!
i hear the trafpol are pretty draconian, and thats with me being used to £100 speeding fines. i have a locost 7 for track use, looks to be a pretty healthy scene out there for what they term clubman racing. just seems to me that the elise would fetch more out there than it would here.
salary expectations? what is 'comfortable', what's the tax rate and pension/healthcare situation?
i hear the trafpol are pretty draconian, and thats with me being used to £100 speeding fines. i have a locost 7 for track use, looks to be a pretty healthy scene out there for what they term clubman racing. just seems to me that the elise would fetch more out there than it would here.
salary expectations? what is 'comfortable', what's the tax rate and pension/healthcare situation?
Basic healthcare is free (paid from tax), but most people have private insurance, which gives dental cover (not free), shorter waiting for non-urgent surgery, private rooms, etc.
I have survived over 50 years without private cover, but did pay to get my hands operated on privately, to avoid the wait.
Tax : too hard to give details. Basically sliding scale based on income, https://www.ato.gov.au/Rates/Tax-tables/.
Less benefits than the UK seems to have, but higher minimum wage.
Salaries : very varied. Mining jobs pay well, but are hell on family life, from what I have seen.
I found this link for engineering salaries http://www.engineeringjobs.com.au/engineering-indu... which doesn't seem too wide of the mark.
The speeding thing : I am not going to defend it, but it's a fact of life. Race on track or in the forest instead.
Of my friends, many compete in rallying, two race v8 sedans (improved production), one runs a drag bike - you get the picture.
Some states will also give double demerit points during eg public holiday long weekends, when the road toll typically spikes.
Melbourne house prices are in what appears to be a bubble, but there's lots of rental properties.
For example, you can rent a 3 bedroom brick house, with large garage, about 45 mins drive from the CBD for around $1800 / month.
If the Elise doesn't empty your wallet fast enough, buy a boat and take up fishing. There is something magical about catching 20lb snapper while watching the sun come up over the skyscrapers
What else? An English friend of mine misses the UK pub scene : there are some nice pubs here, but a lot of beer barns as well.
I have survived over 50 years without private cover, but did pay to get my hands operated on privately, to avoid the wait.
Tax : too hard to give details. Basically sliding scale based on income, https://www.ato.gov.au/Rates/Tax-tables/.
Less benefits than the UK seems to have, but higher minimum wage.
Salaries : very varied. Mining jobs pay well, but are hell on family life, from what I have seen.
I found this link for engineering salaries http://www.engineeringjobs.com.au/engineering-indu... which doesn't seem too wide of the mark.
The speeding thing : I am not going to defend it, but it's a fact of life. Race on track or in the forest instead.
Of my friends, many compete in rallying, two race v8 sedans (improved production), one runs a drag bike - you get the picture.
Some states will also give double demerit points during eg public holiday long weekends, when the road toll typically spikes.
Melbourne house prices are in what appears to be a bubble, but there's lots of rental properties.
For example, you can rent a 3 bedroom brick house, with large garage, about 45 mins drive from the CBD for around $1800 / month.
If the Elise doesn't empty your wallet fast enough, buy a boat and take up fishing. There is something magical about catching 20lb snapper while watching the sun come up over the skyscrapers
What else? An English friend of mine misses the UK pub scene : there are some nice pubs here, but a lot of beer barns as well.
here you go, 4 car spots on the drive, 2 in the garage
http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-hu...
700 per week or 3300 per month, 36400 per year.
about 20 minuets train ride from the city or 45 minutes drive
train ticket $9 per day $2340 per year
lunch in city can be done between $6Au - $15Au so $3900 per year
car rego $1000
car insurance, your probably going to be around $1600 for an elise
power $2500 per year (guessing)
phone and internet and pay tv = 1800 per year
so far that's $49450
you still need to add in beer, breakfast, dinner, health insurance, petrol based on km you do, maybe gas for heating & cooking
http://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-vic-hu...
700 per week or 3300 per month, 36400 per year.
about 20 minuets train ride from the city or 45 minutes drive
train ticket $9 per day $2340 per year
lunch in city can be done between $6Au - $15Au so $3900 per year
car rego $1000
car insurance, your probably going to be around $1600 for an elise
power $2500 per year (guessing)
phone and internet and pay tv = 1800 per year
so far that's $49450
you still need to add in beer, breakfast, dinner, health insurance, petrol based on km you do, maybe gas for heating & cooking
You don't need to pay 3300 / month in rent : it depends how far from the CBD you want to live.
If you want a garage, the best bang/buck is middle/outer suburbs, where there are a fair number of 70's 3-4 br family homes on the rental market. Closer in, houses with decent garages get rarer and pricier.
If you want a garage, the best bang/buck is middle/outer suburbs, where there are a fair number of 70's 3-4 br family homes on the rental market. Closer in, houses with decent garages get rarer and pricier.
True, but its good to have both sides of the story. the OP just needs to be aware that they will be living further out and taking longer to get to-from work if they are required to get into the city every day. The last thing i wanted to do was help perpetuate the "winging pom" stereotype.
i went and visited a mate up at Ballarat the other day, massive house, huge shed with 4m high roof clearance and 4 bays, hoist......quick drive down to the ballarat train station and onto one of the V Line regional services and its into the city in a little over an hour.
If I was going to move out, I would be looking at doing this, moving out passed the urban growth boundary so that I could make use of this. very tempting.
he owns his though, not sure how you would go about renting out there.
i went and visited a mate up at Ballarat the other day, massive house, huge shed with 4m high roof clearance and 4 bays, hoist......quick drive down to the ballarat train station and onto one of the V Line regional services and its into the city in a little over an hour.
If I was going to move out, I would be looking at doing this, moving out passed the urban growth boundary so that I could make use of this. very tempting.
he owns his though, not sure how you would go about renting out there.
our office is in braeside, so out in the 'burbs by the look of things. my friend who's just made the move is renting in mount martha and seems like you can get a huge place for 5-600 a week there including a sizeable garage.
however i'm only 34 with no wife or kids and i'm a city boy at heart. i live overlooking the beach already yet its been over a year since i used it! having a boat appeals though....
the ideal for me would be a semi industrial unit/loft type deal. open workshop with a mezzanine for a living room / sleeping area.
thanks for the link to salaries. i'm a project engineer for an energy company although if i made the move it'd be as a project manager. i was hoping $150k ish is achievable and would enable a decent lifestyle. seems i am not overly optimistic in that respect.
however i'm only 34 with no wife or kids and i'm a city boy at heart. i live overlooking the beach already yet its been over a year since i used it! having a boat appeals though....
the ideal for me would be a semi industrial unit/loft type deal. open workshop with a mezzanine for a living room / sleeping area.
thanks for the link to salaries. i'm a project engineer for an energy company although if i made the move it'd be as a project manager. i was hoping $150k ish is achievable and would enable a decent lifestyle. seems i am not overly optimistic in that respect.
ezakimak said:
True, but its good to have both sides of the story. the OP just needs to be aware that they will be living further out and taking longer to get to-from work if they are required to get into the city every day. The last thing i wanted to do was help perpetuate the "winging pom" stereotype.
i went and visited a mate up at Ballarat the other day, massive house, huge shed with 4m high roof clearance and 4 bays, hoist......quick drive down to the ballarat train station and onto one of the V Line regional services and its into the city in a little over an hour.
If I was going to move out, I would be looking at doing this, moving out passed the urban growth boundary so that I could make use of this. very tempting.
he owns his though, not sure how you would go about renting out there.
Fair enough.i went and visited a mate up at Ballarat the other day, massive house, huge shed with 4m high roof clearance and 4 bays, hoist......quick drive down to the ballarat train station and onto one of the V Line regional services and its into the city in a little over an hour.
If I was going to move out, I would be looking at doing this, moving out passed the urban growth boundary so that I could make use of this. very tempting.
he owns his though, not sure how you would go about renting out there.
Rural Vic is generally dirt cheap housing. I just did a search for Ballarat rentals http://www.realestate.com.au/rent/property-house-w...
194 properties with 2+ parking spaces, starting at $200 / week.
Fancy a mcmansion?
[
Yours for $650/week
I made the move from Dubai about two and a half years ago. I've generally enjoyed the experience but we're now preparing to leave and head back to the UK. Reasons include employment limiting bureaucracy, house prices and missing blighty.
As a rough rule of thumb I'd say that you want to earn three times as much in dollars as would make you comfortable in the pounds in the UK. 2.5 times as a minimum. The old adage was two times but Oz is expensive now so you need an additional buffer.
You won't enjoy paying tax again!
As a rough rule of thumb I'd say that you want to earn three times as much in dollars as would make you comfortable in the pounds in the UK. 2.5 times as a minimum. The old adage was two times but Oz is expensive now so you need an additional buffer.
You won't enjoy paying tax again!
I have lived here for 16 years now and this article sums up this country a lot better than i could.
http://www.traveller.com.au/australia-the-land-of-...
http://www.traveller.com.au/australia-the-land-of-...
lol, no i definitely won't enjoy paying tax, although it's inevitable at some point. my mate who just moved there managed to get the company to pay his tax for him for 3 years. if that deal is on the cards then it makes it a non brainer.
hitch, how did your uae salary translate to oz? same or lower? by how much?
hitch, how did your uae salary translate to oz? same or lower? by how much?
One thing to note is that the exchange rate has got a lot worse over the last couple of months. When I first got here in May 2014 it was around $1.80 to the pound and as of today it is $2.09 to the pound. I actually think it is going to get a lot worse so this is something to bear in mind if you need to send money back to the UK.
Secondly Melbourne is in a massive housing boom at the moment and it is getting crazy now. It is not too bad if you are prepared to live an hour or more out of the CBD, but it you want to live within 30 minutes commute the prices are getting stupid now.
Secondly Melbourne is in a massive housing boom at the moment and it is getting crazy now. It is not too bad if you are prepared to live an hour or more out of the CBD, but it you want to live within 30 minutes commute the prices are getting stupid now.
Joey Deacon said:
the prices are getting stupid now.
they were stupid 5 years ago!!!the prices now are insane. local councils and government are not helping. Bloody monash council has just re-zoned a heap of stuff making it impossible to redevelop land for higher occupancy living. so where last year you could subdivide a 600 square meter block and put some new town houses on, will be impractical now.
all this is going to do is put more of the town planing applications through VCAT and force up house and land prices further.
this is in difference to the Victorian planing direction for new housing estates requiring 80 odd % of blocks to be around the 350 square meter mark. Feel free to come and join the madness !!!
shirt said:
lol, no i definitely won't enjoy paying tax, although it's inevitable at some point. my mate who just moved there managed to get the company to pay his tax for him for 3 years. if that deal is on the cards then it makes it a non brainer.
hitch, how did your uae salary translate to oz? same or lower? by how much?
Aus salary was a little more than combined expat package in UAE. Obviously this was then decimated by tax!hitch, how did your uae salary translate to oz? same or lower? by how much?
A lot depends upon your circumstances. I'm supporting a wife and two kids so have piss all money at the end of the month. If I was alone things would be very different. Wouldn't change it for the world of course...
To add to the discussion on house prices: Sydney has risen 40% since we agreed to come in Q3 2012. I've got a pretty good job but that has pushed a decent house in a decent area from being 'a stretch' to being 'a pipe dream' and whilst I know it will eventually slow down it will still be three to five years before I can 'afford' a similar place again.
I can't stomach the idea of another $250k in rent to get me to that point so we're off to settle elsewhere.
I can't stomach the idea of another $250k in rent to get me to that point so we're off to settle elsewhere.
from an old retired bloke living in country Victoria
Housing is extremely expensive to buy in/near Melbourne at the moment. Single on $150K gets a nice rental place and lifestyle in Melb. As someone who lived right in city for 10 years, I'd say go for the inner city living.
Oh and...don't speed in a car, this is the country with the world's fastest utes and toughest traffic cops- pity.
Housing is extremely expensive to buy in/near Melbourne at the moment. Single on $150K gets a nice rental place and lifestyle in Melb. As someone who lived right in city for 10 years, I'd say go for the inner city living.
Oh and...don't speed in a car, this is the country with the world's fastest utes and toughest traffic cops- pity.
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