Perth, Australia
Discussion
A friend lived there for seven years. Lots of expats in the oil industry. Perth is quite a modern city, but friendly and easy to move around. He had a house in Fremantle and that was nice - quite an historic town for Aus 
I liked the people when we visited - both Australian and expats - it seemed relaxed and very friendly. i got the impression it's quite a small town though, iyswim, and its so far away from anywhere else it could get a bit claustrophobic.
If you like sailing or windsurfing then it's great - the sea is cold though! Good beaches, lots of good restaurants and bars, sailing clubs along the river etc. Lots talk about the sea breeze in the afternoon (the Fremantle doctor) but personally I hated it - just a hot wind bowing off the sea every afternoon - it was not what I'd call a cooling breeze.
I think for a shortish contract it would be nice - more than a couple of years though and I think I'd be angling to leave. My friend who lived there is in the oil industry - he's from NZ and has lived there, in Melbourne and Freo, Norway and England throughout his life. He liked it there but well before his seven years was up he'd had enough and wanted to come back to England, where he is now.
I liked the people when we visited - both Australian and expats - it seemed relaxed and very friendly. i got the impression it's quite a small town though, iyswim, and its so far away from anywhere else it could get a bit claustrophobic.
If you like sailing or windsurfing then it's great - the sea is cold though! Good beaches, lots of good restaurants and bars, sailing clubs along the river etc. Lots talk about the sea breeze in the afternoon (the Fremantle doctor) but personally I hated it - just a hot wind bowing off the sea every afternoon - it was not what I'd call a cooling breeze.
I think for a shortish contract it would be nice - more than a couple of years though and I think I'd be angling to leave. My friend who lived there is in the oil industry - he's from NZ and has lived there, in Melbourne and Freo, Norway and England throughout his life. He liked it there but well before his seven years was up he'd had enough and wanted to come back to England, where he is now.
Coming from the opposite viewpoint here. This is just my experience, though, and I don't remotely expect everyone to agree with me!
I lived there for six years of my life - three when I was a kid, and three as an adult in my early 20s.
I. Hated. The. Place.
I was there because of a fantastic study opportunity and a relationship, neither of which worked out well in the end (nothing to do with Perth) but having moved from the east coast of Australia I found Perth unfriendly, boring, and very backward-thinking.
I was told twice that I'd been turned down for jobs because I was from "over east" even though they admitted that I was the best candidate. I have heard some people say that it's similar for people coming in from overseas. Of course there are always exceptions, and I found one, but it was pretty frustrating.
Customer service is nonexistent. I complained once, and the person said to me, "Well, where else are you going to get it?"
It's also enormously expensive, the public transport is terrible, and the rental costs are stupidly high. I could only afford to live in slightly dodgy areas and I was on $42K!
Not to mention that as a lone woman walking around, I have never felt less safe anywhere. That might have no bearing on you, but it was a big issue for me.
I wouldn't recommend it. In fact if I never have to set foot in the place again it'll be too soon!
I lived there for six years of my life - three when I was a kid, and three as an adult in my early 20s.
I. Hated. The. Place.
I was there because of a fantastic study opportunity and a relationship, neither of which worked out well in the end (nothing to do with Perth) but having moved from the east coast of Australia I found Perth unfriendly, boring, and very backward-thinking.
I was told twice that I'd been turned down for jobs because I was from "over east" even though they admitted that I was the best candidate. I have heard some people say that it's similar for people coming in from overseas. Of course there are always exceptions, and I found one, but it was pretty frustrating.
Customer service is nonexistent. I complained once, and the person said to me, "Well, where else are you going to get it?"
It's also enormously expensive, the public transport is terrible, and the rental costs are stupidly high. I could only afford to live in slightly dodgy areas and I was on $42K!
Not to mention that as a lone woman walking around, I have never felt less safe anywhere. That might have no bearing on you, but it was a big issue for me.
I wouldn't recommend it. In fact if I never have to set foot in the place again it'll be too soon!
GTIR said:
Wow, you sound like a bundle of laughs.
Any reason to get personal?Op asked for opinions, she gave hers, it didn't accord with yours, so what?
There is no "right" opinion of a place, they are all personal perspectives.
I quite liked Perth on a visit, but the town centre is small, and everywhere within a day's drive is even smaller. So if surfing and country stuff ain't your thing, I can see how it would be a bit dull. Property is also v.v.expensive as a result of the mining boom so living standards aren't all that high for incomers, because any new entrant to the market is playing catch-up with property prices.
Bluebarge said:
GTIR said:
Wow, you sound like a bundle of laughs.
Any reason to get personal?Op asked for opinions, she gave hers, it didn't accord with yours, so what?
There is no "right" opinion of a place, they are all personal perspectives.
I quite liked Perth on a visit, but the town centre is small, and everywhere within a day's drive is even smaller. So if surfing and country stuff ain't your thing, I can see how it would be a bit dull. Property is also v.v.expensive as a result of the mining boom so living standards aren't all that high for incomers, because any new entrant to the market is playing catch-up with property prices.
Well, truth be told, I wasn't much of a bundle of laughs when I lived in Perth... I'm a heck of a lot happier now!
I just felt the need to provide my view, which was very different from others - because you never know what sort of experience you're going to have in a place, and being armed only with rosy, glowing stories is probably not going to help.
OP, if you do decide to go to Perth, I hope you have a wonderful time there.
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