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Post by painter on Oct 25, 2008 21:35:56 GMT 8
We are planning to move away from Perth (down south) next year and have started looking just to see what is available. We do not want to live in a town, but in a rural area, minimum of five acres preferably alot more for horses, a few sheep etc but not farming as such.
I've noticed a few people on this list live in the south west and was hoping to get some suggestions for areas/districts to look at.
We need to have a hospital within 20-30min drive, as well as primary and high school (to year 12). Manjimup is one district we are considering, but can anyone suggest what other towns might also have the hospital and schools that are our main requirements.
Michelle
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Post by Duck Diva on Oct 25, 2008 21:57:11 GMT 8
Hi Michelle, Im a bit biased but Busselton is a fantastic placefor raising kids. We have everything here, great schools both private and public. I have my kids in 3 different schools at the moment (4 if you count daycare!!) My youngest son who is 4 goes to the primary school closest to us, next son who will be in year 8 next year goes to a private school because he needs some extra attention and eldest daugter goes to one of the high schools. There are great rural blocks close to town, say 10 -15mins some only 5 mins from town. The beach is very close no matter where you live in busselton/Dunsborough area. We will aslo be getting a new hospital in the near future when they stop squabbling over whre it is to be built! We also have a good arts community here. Lots of tourist trade etc. We have a great array of sporting venues as well. A leisure centre with 3 pools (1 is kiddy, 1 indoor 1 outdoor) Lots for teens to do, movies, beach, festivals and bands. We just had a Crank It Up concert last night that my daughter went to. 4 or 5 bands.13-17yrs and no drugs alcohol etc. Organised by local youth committee. Lots of work for school aged kids all year round. We have lots of big supermarkets and big stores that employ school kids, which is fantastic. Capel is a really good spot to right between Busselton and Bunbury about 15mins from each. Lots of big blocks and horsey people etc. Cheaper than Busso and Bunbury too. beach still really close they have a primary school and kids go to high school in either Bunbury or Busselton. Nannup is another lovely spot with small hospital and Primary school half an hour from Busselton. Well, I guess you could hop on the net and do a bit of a search to see whats available around here too. Well, hope you didnt find that too boring!! Cheers, Wendy.
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Post by fluffychook on Oct 26, 2008 7:54:36 GMT 8
Well Wendy, if I was looking to move, you sold me. But then I have been to that area too, and don't forget Margaret River is not far away either. It really depends on what you are after. Do you want to be close to the sea or prefer more inland, how big a town nearby. How cold do you like it to get. I have relatives in Collie, that place is freezing in winter. But it has lots of other charms, just like Pemberton and many others. I think you will have to be doing some tips south.
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Post by Duck Diva on Oct 26, 2008 9:00:39 GMT 8
Yeah, there are so many beautiful and charming places in the south west, each with their pros and cons, we are lucky. Id hate to have to choose!! I love being close to the coast because I have always been close and the beach is a major part of our lives during summer. We like to fish and swim , take the dog walking etc. I have only lived in Denmark, where I was raised,Bunbury and Busselton, so I dont have much experience with other areas. Well I guess, everyone comes on holidays here and we get to live it!! Unfortuantely I still have to go to work bummer, much prefer to be home with the family and soon to be the chicks & ducklings
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Oct 26, 2008 11:20:02 GMT 8
Well I'll put my vote in for Denmark, but then again Im biased I was born and grew up in Denmark. Its an absolutely beautiful town, lots of great beaches and wineries. Its got a good climate, ie ample rain so great for growing beaut gardens. Its got a hospital and primary and high schools. It's also got a TAFE. I loved growing up in Denmark and think its a great place to bring up a family. Mind you Im sure its changed and grown alot since I moved in 2003! Unfortunately I havent had a chance to go back down there yet but hopefully next year I'll be down for my school reunion (aarggh!).
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Post by mandav on Oct 26, 2008 13:34:36 GMT 8
lol yeah theres lots of small little towns round here , depends on whether u r lookin at renting or buying e.t.c , manji and pemby are both good towns ever been to collie so couldnt tell ya, the only other thing how far to do u want to be from cities like bunbury albany e.t.c
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Post by Duck Diva on Oct 26, 2008 14:28:35 GMT 8
Wow Steph, Denmarks my home town too! I love it and my family are still there. The only thing was I found alot of work to be seasonal when I was a teen and I had jobs when it was holidays/summer but not much when it was winter etc. I left when I was 21 (about 14 yrs ago)and moved to Bunbury to get something more permanent that wasnt in hospitality and ended up in Busselton. I recently went down on the last school hols for a week to stay with Mum & Dad, the kids love it and it has changed, but its certainly not spoilt....yet. Nice to meet another fellow Denmarkian Wendy
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Post by painter on Oct 26, 2008 16:56:11 GMT 8
Thanks for the great responses, thats the sort of info I want to hear about:) We don't want to go too far inland, and don't need to be right near the beach so we are looking at places either side of south west highway rather than Albany highway and basically from about Waroona down to just before Albany, which is an awfully big area to choose from.
We spent a week in Denmark last year at Easter time and absolutely loved it, but I think the properties that we like are going to be out of our price range, same for Margaret River.
We don't mind the colder weather, and in fact the heat in Perth in summer is one reason we want to move south.
Doesn't really matter how far we are from the cities as long as there is a high school and hospital. One other consideration is internet access - as both of our businesses rely on that, internet connection is essential, so that might have some limitations on areas.
We have started to get our house ready to put on the market - hope to have it ready by Christmas so we can start going down there and seriously looking while the kids are on holidays.
Michelle
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Post by Cluck N Waddle on Oct 26, 2008 16:57:17 GMT 8
Lol small world hey wendy Glad to hear that Denny isnt 'spoilt' yet. Was looking at your profile details, I would've been in kindy when you were in year 10 lol
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Post by mandav on Oct 26, 2008 19:03:38 GMT 8
hope your property hunting goe's well , most place down south have high schools and hospitals , pemby & bridgetown have high school but i'm pretty sure it only goe's to yr10 , not sure about others
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Post by fizzle on Oct 26, 2008 20:57:00 GMT 8
Hi Michelle. I live in Mt Barker 50kms from Albany. Another 15 or so kms north towards the stirling is Kendenup. 15 kms south of Mt Barker is Narrikup. 20 kms East is the Porongurups. All of these places have small farmlets. Kendenup probably has the most. Kendenup has a lovely primary school as does Mt Barker . In Barker we are having a new college built for Kindy to year 3. years 4-7 were built new last year. The high school is agricultural based & Dnmark ag is no far away. Mt Barker has a hospital with 7+ fantastic doctors. They do everything from births to minor surgery to pallitive care etc. There is a swimming pool, a rec center, lots of sport, lots of horse based activities etc etc. All this & the city of Albany only half an hour away with most of the major shops you'd ind in Perth. I'd write more but I have to pick hubby up. It is a beautiful area & maybe not so pricey as the south west.
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Post by painter on Oct 27, 2008 9:09:57 GMT 8
Oo fizzle thanks for your reply I have just started looking at those areas and we can get a lot bigger property for our money than the south west.
Do you know if there is a bus service to the high school in Denmark or Albany? And what is the internet connections like down there?
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Post by fizzle on Oct 27, 2008 11:46:46 GMT 8
Albany has broadband. Mt barker town has broadband. We also have wirelessbroadband & I use sattelite broadband which was government funded. There is a school bus service from about a 30-50km radius to Mt Barker schools. There is also a school bus service from Mt barker to Albany for TAFE St Josephs & Gt Southern Grammer. There is no bus service from Barker to Denmark but there is from Albany to Denmark. Denmark Ag & Gt Southern grammer offer boarding. BTW Mt Barker high goes to year 12 & has been in the top 10 schools in WA for TEE for the last few years. This website is a fantastic source of info for the whole area - www.albanygateway.com.au/default.aspThis is Mt Barkers website www.plantagenet.wa.gov.au/Most importantly Albany has a poultry auction once a month LOL Any more questions let me know
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Post by painter on Oct 27, 2008 14:06:30 GMT 8
Thanks for that info! Has the area been affected much by the drought and does it get very hot and dry in summer (compared to Manji, Northcliff Pemberton ?).
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Post by fizzle on Oct 27, 2008 14:28:08 GMT 8
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