That was the news headline that hit me first this morning when I fired up my Internet browser. Apparently the new figures which were released yesterday reveal that 427,000 people emigrated from the UK in 2008. That’s the highest number ever recorded.
The figures are extraordinarily high because half of those who left were non-British citizens who I suppose had decided that life in England isn’t all they had hoped for. 20,000 of those were Australians.
Where are they all going?
Many were returning to Poland, Germany, Spain and France but top of the list, again, was Australia who welcomed 56,000 of all those who quit, which I suspect is made up of those 20,000 returning Australians and a further 36,000 Brits who decided to head down under for a new life.
It strikes me that quite a few of those people will be looking for somewhere to live in this great big country. By chance I received a new map of Australia in my inbox, twice, which appears to be ideal to help a newbie Aussie decide on where to settle in this wonderful land.
Where to live in Australia
I hope you find the above map helpful, if you need any further information regarding any of the local attractions detailed on the map, please check out my category on Australia’s Bad Things.
That map was also accompanied by several questions which were “allegedly” genuinely asked on an Australian tourist website, along with the witty answers from the Australian officials. But I haven’t reprinted those questions because you can read them over at snopes, one of my favourite websites.
Apparently, the exact same questions have been asked of the Canadians in regard to the 2010 Olympics. Incredibly the answers were exactly the same too.
What are the odds on that?
So with everybody quitting Britain, the queues at the Post Office will get shorter, yes?
No!
427,000 out and 590,000 in. So Britain continues to expand.
14,000 of those heading towards Britain were Australians seeking a new life “up over”. Well, I can understand that and I explained why in my post about there must be more to life than Australia.
But there is one statistic I cannot understand. 9,000 British people who had moved to Australia decided to return back home. All I can say about that is……
Gosh!
Hi Marcel
Congratulations on landing that job, I hope the move goes smoothly for you. Collingwood Park and Goodna are both about 10 minutes from where I live, but only for the birds. For the rest of us, who have to get across the river, it’s a much longer drive. So I don’t know that much about them.
But I do know that they are both close enough for good access to the city, yet far enough away to have is plenty of open spaces around them. It’ll be great for your kids. Let me know how it all goes and thanks for recommending me to your friends. I appreciate it.
Cheers
Bob
Hi Bob,
It’s really nice to read your blogs. I am hoping to move to Brisbane ( well, near Brisbane really) next year. I’m going to Goodna or Collingwood park as I just got a job there. I am currently in Liverpool UK and have 3 young kids. We can’t wait till we get there. I have recommended your site to a few good friends who are thinking of moving there as well. Keep it up!
Marcel