As with anything in life, it begins with an idea. It’s a simple idea, which, in this case, is “I think I’ll move to Australia”. Yes, it’s a simple idea but it’s also a very big one. It is a very big move. One that for some time was too big for us. We felt Australia was just too far removed from the rest of the world and we still loved visiting parts of Europe. There’s so much to see.
Let me start at the beginning. Late in 2000, my brother-in-law and his family moved to Brisbane, Australia. My wife was devastated. She was going to miss her nieces, aged four and six at the time, so very much. How could her brother take them so far away?
We decided (my wife told me) that we would holiday in Australia once every two years. So we did. Here’s a tip for any of you who are hoping to move to Australia and who have aunties, uncles, grannies or granddads trying to stop you. IGNORE THEM! Then what you need to do is get them to visit you as soon as they can. Because, when they do, they will have the “now I get it moment” and all their anger will disappear. I almost guarantee it. They will see straight away what a fantastic new life and future you have given your children.
So, we holidayed in Australia in March 2002, July 2004 and December 2005. The first two visits we pretty much stayed in Brisbane, and just did lots of “days out”. Yes, we had a great time. But we didn’t fall in love with the place. So we were sticking to our plan to move to France.
Then came our visit of December 2005. This time we didn’t just stay in Brisbane. We did stay in Brisbane for Christmas but when that was over, we got into our car’s and drove to Sydney, getting there in time to see the new year fireworks. After that, we drove over to the wine making region of the Hunter Valley and stayed there for a few days.
Then we went to a beach called Teewah, which is a couple of hours north of Brisbane and was just stunning. To get to Teewah, you need to drive along the beach for about 10 or 12 km.
To get to the nearest pub, or nearest anything for that matter, you’ll need to do a little off roading. But if you know the way, you can be at Rainbow Beach in about 40 minutes. It’s a bumpy ride.
We did find the pub, but watching my lot slurp beer and eat crisps isn’t an enjoyable experience, so I spared you it. Rainbow Beach was lovely, but Teewah is special. Visit if you can.
View Map
It was on this holiday that we fell in love with Australia. We had had a glimpse of what the country, rather than Brisbane, had to offer. It was obvious there was so much to see. All of a sudden, being so far from Europe and so many other places in the world didn’t seem such a bad idea.
But it wasn’t just us falling in love with the country. For some reason, although our daughter was just 21 months old, Australia seemed to suit her so much. The outdoor life, the sporty life, the sunshine, the sand and the beaches. She seemed so happy, happier than ever before. When we sat her down on the beach at Teewah, we had never seen her so content. She just sat there for hours playing.
Happy for hours
It was the holiday that changed our lives. It was the holiday when we decided we wanted to move to Australia.
Making that decision is as exciting as it is scary. Unlike France, where we could just “show up”, being allowed into Australia is somebody else’s call. Our job was to convince them.
Let the paperwork begin!
If you want to know more, read Moving to Australia Part 2 where I discuss 6 ways to move to Australia.
For a full chronological list and brief description of all the posts in this series about how I moved to Australia, please visit my page How to Move to Australia.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Hi Bob,
Excellent website, very informative – think I have just about read every page now! Well I was born in Colchester and now live in sunny Sheffield! I now think me and my partner have had ‘the idea’ to move to Oz – we *just* have to get the visas applied for. We are both on the skilled migrant list, so I think this will be the best way in – however my business that I have now been running full time since being made redundant in Aug 2010 is providing architectural design services to domestic clients, and it got me thinking if I could run a similar business in Oz? Is it common practice for people to extend and re-furbish their properties, or do they just move out when the house is too small? Your article that talks about tradesmen ‘who actually do turn up’ got me thinking about this – because I would turn up – to every job! Also is there much new build in terms of housing going on at the moment in the Brisbane areas?
Much appreciated if you have any information to help me in my decision making, keep up the A+ effort,
Regards,
Simon.
Hi Simon
A great idea to come to Australia, I’m sure you’ll love it here, I do.
Anyway, now that you mention it, no, people don’t really extend their houses here. Australian houses are now, and you can read my article about it here, officially the biggest houses in the world.
I don’t think I have ever been to any house that is having an extension added, whereas back in England people were doing that sort of thing all the time.
The building of new houses around here has slowed up a little over the last 12 months or so, the global recession has finally started to bite us a bit. But generally speaking there is always a housing shortage in Oz so houses will start getting built again soon. Maybe you can find some work on the new builds but I don’t think you’d make much on the extension side. That’s just my view, what do I know?
But Australia is a land of opportunity, you’ll find something, the important thing is to get here.
Cheers
Bob
Hi Bob,
Thank for your website. We are planning to move to Australia. But there is a lot of obstacles in front of us (Me and my Wife). At first I planned to have a student visa because it seems that it is the easiest way for me to go there and bring my family in Australia but I am having a problem regarding the show money that they are requiring me. … I have a sister there and her family moved in Melbourne couple of months ago, but their papers for permanent residency are still under process. so they can not help me as of now (for sponsorship). do you think there any other way for me and my family to move in Australia? I hope you can help about my problem.
Thanks a LOT.
Jim
Hi Jim
Australia is not an easy country to get into. All I can suggest to you is that you read my series how to move to Australia.
Along the way you will discover the six ways to move to Australia and also find a link to the government website with all the details and a very useful wizard to guide you through it all.
I’m sorry I can’t help you any more than that, but you have to understand that to get permanent residency here in Australia takes a lot of work and time. Took us nearly 2 years.
But good luck and I hope you find a way.
Cheers
Bob
Bob,
We can’t say thank you enough! My wife and I are making the move to Sydney from New Orleans, Louisiana USA this December and have shared your site with our families to calm their nerves.
This is the first honest look at what is means to move your family to Oz that we’ve seen anywhere.
Believe it or not, we’ve never been to Oz…… moving “site unseen” with my wife’s job and can’t wait.
Your honest account of living there with your family has truly inspired us and we feel like we should have you over for a beer when we arrive to say Thank You! We will keep reading, if you keep writing!
All Our Best,
Josh and Beth
Hi Josh and Beth
I’m very glad to have been some help to both you and your families. Congratulations on your forthcoming move here, I only hope you get to love this country as much as I do.
Please do let me know what you think of it when you get here. And don’t worry, I will keep writing!
Cheers
Bob