How to arrive and

The Olympic Games of the year 2000 provided a massive shot in the arm of the Sydney property market. Domestic demand was stimulated, tourism increased and foreign investment was attracted. However, property prices are somewhat uneven in Sydney, largely because of the natural harbour layout described earlier in this text. For example, houses in the suburbs of Mosman and Vaucluse fetch as much 10 times more than similar houses in the outer suburbs.

Sydney has about 200 distinct suburbs and in a city this large and diverse, you'll find somewhere to call home. What follows is a broad description of the major areas of Sydney with a few notable suburbs in each.
Inner West: The so-called Inner Western suburbs are Balmain, Newtown, Leichardt and Glebe. They are close to the city centre and have good bus and car routes. They are popular with people who commute in to the CBD. Inner West Sydney is home to some of Sydney's academic institutions such as the University of Sydney, the Australian Catholic University and the University of Technology. Some of the best private and state high schools are to be found in this area. Most properties are part of a row of terraced houses or are flats/apartments. The average house price in Inner West Sydney in late 2008 was around A$700,000. There aren't many immigrants to be found in this area, but those that are tend to be wealthy British and New Zealand immigrants. Drug-related petty crime and car theft are the most common crimes for this area, but crime is not a problem. A free weekly magazine lists available properties with their viewing times and has a website at: www.innerwesterncourier.com.au
Western Sydney: This is the cheapest part of Sydney – and for a reason. It is a distinctly blue-collar area that has the highest crime rate in Sydney. The area has an above-average percentage of immigrant residents who come largely from some of the poorest countries on the planet. The average house price in Western Sydney is A$355,000. The suburb of Parramatta has a particularly bad reputation.
Eastern Suburbs: This region's residential areas include Paddington, Surry Hills, Double Bay, Darlinghurst, Bondi Junction, Point Pier, Vaucluse and Rose Bay. Some of these suburbs are very trendy with prices to match. They are served by two major road arteries that allow for easy access to the CBD and nearby beaches. East Sydneysiders tend to be younger, yuppie types obsessed with superficial material things. Because of the high property prices in the area, many are forced to share rented accommodation. The highest concentration of rental property in Sydney is to be found in this area. The average property price in East Sydney hovers around the A$1 million mark. British and New Zealand immigrants are the biggest non-Australian-born groups. A free weekly magazine lists available properties with their viewing times and has a website at: www.wentworthcourier.com.au
Southern Beaches: The most famous of these suburbs in Bondi Beach. It is nowadays a somewhat jarring mix of styles and lifestyles. City-slickers park their luxury German cars next to wannabe-hippies' clapped out rust-buckets. The Bohemian vibe of the area is at its strongest in the evenings. Weekends can be somewhat busy as the bars and restaurants cater to all tastes and budgets. Further south from Bondi you'll find the beach suburbs of Bronte, Clovelly, Cronulla and Tamarama. A free weekly magazine lists available properties with their viewing times and has a website at: www.southerncourier.com.au
North Sydney: The area that spreads out from across the Sydney Harbour Bridge opposite the CBD has some of the quaintest waterside suburbs in Sydney. They have price tags to match. This area has the lowest crime rate in Sydney. The suburbs in question include: McMahon's Point, Kirribilli and Milson's Point. They still somehow retain village atmospheres and offer the picture-postcard panoramic views of Sydney. They are not for the budget-concious. They do have the advantage of being within walking distance of white-collar job opportunities to be found in the nearby mini-CBD. A free weekly magazine lists available properties with their viewing times and has a website at: www.sydneyweekly.com.au
Northern Beaches: This area includes the suburbs of Dee Why, Collaroy, Newport, Palm Beach and Manly. Manly is one of Sydney's more famous places to live. It is surrounded by water on three sides and thus offers watersport lovers many options. There is a regular ferry from Manly to the CBD which is popular with locals and people from the adjoining suburbs. Palm Beach is the home of the television series “Home and Away”. These suburbs are popular with British and New Zealand immigrants. Driving to the CBD in rush hour can sometimes be a challenge. This collection of suburbs is called “the insular peninsula” by locals because most people who live here commute to the city centre for work and spend all their leisure time in this area, rarely venturing to other parts of Sydney as they believe they have the best lifestyle on offer.
You can find a very detailed breakdown of EVERY suburb of Sydney that is derived from the 2006 census at the following website:
http://www.id.com.au/dosydney/Default.aspx?pg=100
It provides a detailed description of matters such as: birthplace, age, language, religion, qualifications, internet connection, income, occupation, housing type and tenure, etc.
Working in Sydney – what's in demand
Sydney has the highest cost of living in Australia – and is also one of the costliest cities to live in the world. You need to be earning well in Sydney, otherwise if you have to penny-pinch all day then life in Sydney can be somewhat disappointing to an immigrant.
Wages are higher than elsewhere in Australia. However, you owe it to yourself to know that you will be earning adequately to make ends meet. Please remember to refer to the chapter dealing with employment to visit the websites suggested there.
Sydney's (and NSW's) economy is diversified and encompasses a wide range of sectors. Most multinational companies tend to locate themselves in Sydney when choosing a presence in Australia. Employment opportunities in finance, I.T., legal, broadcasting/media and marketing are more abundant in Sydney than anywhere else in Australia.
Being the state capital, there are also numerous jobs in the government sector. However, immigrants are generally excluded from working in that sector. Do not forget that the Australian authorities retain the legal right to prevent non-Australians or foreign residents from applying for any advertised post and not just in the public sector.
At the time of writing there is a shortage in Sydney of medical staff, legal practitioners, teachers, engineers and highly skilled I.T. workers.
A great resource to learn more about current economic conditions in Sydney, please visit: www.business.nsw.gov.au
To see what industries are on the rise and which are on the wane in Sydney, go to the following website and find the “facts” link: www.myfuture.edu.au
The local newspaper, the Sydney Morning Herald, has a jobs supplement on Wednesdays called Radar. The weekend paper also has a large jobs section. There are also two free weekly jobs magazines distributed around the streets of Sydney.

Regional NSW
The coastal cities are Newcastle, Coffs Harbour and Wollongong. These three once-sleepy coastal towns have had an infusion of investment and have grown to be regarded as cities in their own right. They now offer sporting, entertainment and leisure facilities that used to be somewhat lacking. Two inland growth spots are Dubbo and Tamworth. The cost of living in all these areas is noticeably lower than in Sydney.
The many small towns in the rest of the state offer a relaxed quality of life. Communities tend to be friendly and close-knit, pretty much like country towns in most other countries. Festivals of all kinds, usually related to the local produce, are held annually across the state.
The Blue Mountains, so-called because of the haze given off by the juices from the eucalyptus trees as seen from a distance, is a popular area for daytrips from Sydney. The Hunter Valley is the symbolic heart of the Australian wine industry. It is about 2 hours drive from Sydney and hosts food and win festivals throughout the year.
The Central Coast region stretches north from Sydney for about 200 kilometres to Newcastle. It is a region of abundant unspoilt natural beauty. The towns of Richmond and Windsor are considered historic. Some people live in this region and commute by train in to Sydney for work. Gosford and Port MacQuarie are popular commuter towns.
On the jobs front there are employment opportunities in agriculture, viticulture, minerals extraction, manufacturing and food processing.
To learn more about this region please refer to: www.visitnsw.com.au

2. Melbourne and nearby Victoria state
Melbourne population: 3.3 million

Total Victoria population: 4.9 million

Timezone: GMT +9

State size: 227 500 square kilometres (approximately 3% of Australia)

Melbourne – what's it like?
Lively, liberal, cosmopilitan and sporty – that is Melbourne. Melbourne regularly ranks in the top ten on the world scale of liveable cities – even higher than Sydney in fact and has been rated number one once.
Melbourne is Australia's second largest city and the capital of the state of Victoria. It sprawls around the natural harbour that is Port Phillip Bay. It is the political, economic and cultural heart of the state of Victoria. It is a safe and clean city. It has a lower crime rate than most other Australian cities.
Melbourne is characterised by good architecture, cafe-lined streets and abundant parks. It is home to one of the hallowed grounds of cricket, the Melbourne Cricket Ground, which is oft referred to simply as the “MCG”. Flinders Park is the home of tennis in Australia whilst Albert Park Lake hosts the Formula One Grand Prix. Queen Victoria Market is regarded as the largest open-air market in the southern hemisphere. The Docklands have been recently redeveloped and like many of its peers around the world is home to great restaurants and things to do in your spare time.
Compared to its great rival Sydney, it has more to offer for lovers of music, art and sport. It is regarded as the sports capital of Australia. It hosts annual events such as the Australian Open for tennis and the Formula One Grand Prix. It also hosts the biggest horse race in Australia, the Melbourne Cup, which is such an event that most of Australia declares the day of the race to be a public holiday.
Melbourne used to be Australia's capital until Canberra assumed this role in 1927. Something else that Melbourne is famous – or notorious – for is that it is said to have all four seasons in one day when it comes to weather. The rest of Australia will be enjoying a blazingly hot day all day long, but Melbourne might have a rain shower thrown in.
About 35% of Melbourne's inhabitants were born outside Australia! This cosmopolitan city has people from almost every country on the planet calling it home. So don't be too surprised if someone you're talking to in Melbourne doesn't seem to understand you – it's probably a case of your English being better than theirs. Most immigrants come from Europe, Asia and the Middle East. Consequently this city has a very lively restaurant scene offering authentic cuisine from around the world.
The British, Chinese, Greek and Italian communities are the largest foreign-born Melbournites. Melbourne has the third-largest population of Greeks in the world.
Melbourne's Chinatown in the CBD is considered the oldest continuously inhabited Chinese area outside of Asia since the early 1800's. Unsurprisingly it the best place to go for Chinese food in the city.
Below is a table showing the place of birth of Melbournites by gender derived from 2006 census.
You can learn more about what Melbourne has to offer at: www.melbourneaustralia.com.au

Melbourne's transport infrastructure
Melbourne's public transport system is modern, extensive, user-friendly and affordable.
Melbourne has the most extensive tram system in Australia. The green and yellow trams are a quick and cheap way of getting about the city. One tram route runs in a circular fashion around the CBD past all the notable buildings and sights and is free, so it's very popular with tourists. Trams travel along the centre of the road of most of Melbourne’s major thoroughfares. They stop at every CBD intersection and then every few blocks once out in the suburbs.
The two main railway stations in the city, Flinders Street and Spencer Street, bring commuters in from the suburbs and nearby countryside. The latter station serves the long-distance commuter. There are 16 different train lines serving the outer suburbs. These 16 routes are linked to the bus and tram service's timetables. Train stations are located between one and two kilometres apart.
Melbourne city centre also has an underground train system known as the City Loop, but it only has 5 stations. All train fares are based on duration and distance, with metropolitan Melbourne divided into three zones.
When travelling on all public transport, make sure you have a valid ticket as roving ticket inspectors will fine passengers caught not carrying a valid ticket.
Buses provide an extensive network too that covers most of Melbourne.
You can find out more about Melbourne's public transport system at: www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au

The property market in Melbourne and its suburbs

Average House Price December 2007	A$464,000
Average Unit (flat/apartment) Price December 2007	A$355,000

Melbourne is the second most expensive city in Australia. The commonwealth Games of 2006 spurred tourism and its wake property prices rose. Nevertheless, Melbourne still offers a good selection of housing stock to suit all tastes and budgets. About two thirds of Melbourne's residential properties are detached houses with their own gardens.

Much of the city is laid out in an American-style grid fashion and sometimes it can be hard to tell which suburb you're actually in. Much of the city extends to the south-east and east of the CBD. The inner suburbs near the CBD contain some of Melbourne’s oldest housing. Real estate in these areas is expensive, although there are some affordable options if you look for long enough.
Broadly speaking, the western half of Melbourne is perceived as "blue collar", while the eastern half of the city is thought of as "white collar". Housing is more expensive in the southern and eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Inner-eastern Melbourne is particularly expensive. The inner western suburbs can be more affordable. Inner suburbs lie within half an hour's train ride of the city centre, but the eastern half of Melbourne has more railway stations.
Like any other city in the world, as you travel away from the CBD, property becomes less expensive. Houses are on larger parcels of land. The outer northern and western suburbs are generally Melbourne’s most affordable. There are new community developments in these areas that offer affordable housing.
Here's a great resource which maps and describes 31 of Melbourne's major suburbs

http://www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au/living-in-victoria/melbourne-and-regional-victoria/melbourne
The lively seaside suburb of St Kilda lies to the south-east of Melbourne's CBD and is a very popular place to live. It's proximity to the CBD offers the best of both worlds in that it has all the amenities for a good lifestyle, i.e. beach, restaurants and shops galore. It is well connected to the road and tram system, so getting to the CBD (or elsewhere) for work doesn't take long.
South Yarra and Prahran are to the east of the CBD and are very expensive, desirable suburbs, but are beyond the budget of most immigrants.
Richmond is popular with Melbourne's Vietnamese community. It was once the centre of the city's rag trade and this is still reflected in the number of factory shops in evidence. It lies to the east of the CBD and is good place to find a bargain.
To the north of the CBD is Fitzroy. It is the heart of the artistic community and has a bohemian atmosphere. It has a mixture of designer and retro clothes shops, bookshops, galleries, cafes and restaurants, as well as a vibrant nightlife.
Carlton is the centre of Melbourne's Italian community and is also alongside Fitzroy, north of the CBD.
Southbank is the setting for many of Melbourne's arts and culture venues such as the Australian Ballet, the Melbourne Symphony and Victorian Arts Centre amongst others.
A fantastic resource for more information about life in Melbourne and Victoria state is:

http://www.liveinvictoria.vic.gov.au/living-in-victoria

You can find a very detailed breakdown of Melbourne that is derived from the 2006 census at the following website:

http://www.id.com.au/home/Default.aspx?pg=4200&gid=24600
It provides a detailed description of matters such as: birthplace, age, language, religion, qualifications, internet connection, income, occupation, housing type and tenure, etc.

Working in Melbourne – what's in demand
Victoria's historical industries are manufacturing, agriculture, medical research, tourism, food, shipping and financial services. More than half of Australia's cars are produced in Victoria. This state produces a third of Australia's total manufacturing output. Almost half of Australia's financial services companies are headquartered in Melbourne. Victoria is also the heart of the dairy industry in Australia.
Melbourne is headquarters to many of Australia’s mining and minerals processing companies. It is a major centre for mining project management, research and development, although the fields being worked are some distance away from Melbourne.
It's new growth industries are I.T., advanced manufacturing, environmental services, biotechnology and design. Melbourne now has the largest biotechnology company presence in Australia.
The port of Melbourne handles 40% of Australia's container movements and is a very busy cargo port. Anyone seeking employment in the shipping industry will want to seek work here.
In the Melbourne CBD there is no discernible shortage of skilled workers. At the time of writing, there is an overall shortage across Melbourne and Victoria state of vehicle mechanics, civil engineers, medical professionals, chefs and child care specialists.

Regional Victoria state
The state of Victoria produces almost a quarter of Australia’s total rural output. Its produce includes wool, beef, grains, tobacco, fruit, vegetables and dairy products. It is Australia’s largest producer of mutton, lamb, and dairy products.
Geelong is Victoria's second largest city and is only an hour's drive south-west from Melbourne. It has a population of about 137,000 people. It has a pleasant waterfront and is popular with day-trippers from Melbourne. Spreading out along the cost in all directions from Geelong are seaside communities that are popular with water sport enthusiasts. Many people commute from these locales to work in Melbourne.
The Yarra Valley is home to over 100 wineries and produces some of the best Australian wines. You don't have to be a wine connoisseur to enjoy what is on offer here. Yarra Glen is the central town for the region and is an hour's drive north-east of Melbourne.
The famous Great Ocean Drive lies to the south-west of Melbourne and runs from Torquay to Warrambool, which is about 300 kilometres. It is one of the iconic images of Australian scenery with the great cliff scenery, rock formations and the sea below. The highlight is the so-called Twelve Apostles, 12 rock stacks that stand alone in the sea close to the shoreline.
You can learn more about Victoria state at: www.visitvictoria.com
You can get a detailed demographic breakdown of Victoria state excluding Melbourne at:

http://www.id.com.au/home/Default.aspx?pg=4200&gid=29399

3. Brisbane and nearby Queensland
Brisbane's population: 1.6 million

Total QLD population: 3.9 million

Timezone: GMT +10

State size: 1,727,000 square kilometres (about 22% of Australia's total area)

Brisbane – what's it like?
The laid-back lifestyle – that is what Brisbane is about. It has a year-round sunshine climate and offers the quintessential outdoor lifestyle. Summers are hot, Winters are mild and you can swim in the nearby sea all year round. There aren't too many places like Brisbane.
Brisbane is Australia's third largest city and its fastest growing. It is the capital city of the state of Queensland. It used to be a sleepy settlement passed en route to the Gold Coast. Now it is modern, lively and offers a lot of activities to anyone. Some people think of Brisbane as a massive entertainment venue.
Brisbane is set a little further inland than most people realise. It is sprawls around the Brisbane River and even has a man-made beach on the south bank. The Gold and Sunshine Coasts that may people mistake for being Brisbane are more than an hour's drive away.
Aside from the numerous public parks, Brisbane is home to “The Gabba”, a revered cricket ground. Brisbanites are generally very friendly, open, approachable people. More than 25% of Brisbane's residents were born outside Australia.
There are some downsides to life in Brisbane. For some people the heat and humidity of Summer (January and February) might be too much to deal with. Most people live, work and commute in air-conditioned surroundings – out of necessity. The local mosquitoes are vicious and even spread a regional virus called Ross River which can lead to flu-like symptoms for a year. Termites attack a third of Brisbane's housing stock. The severe flooding of early 2011 is a rarity fortunately.
The cost of daily living expenses, including transport and entertainment, is average by Australian price levels. The cost of living is noticeably higher in Sydney and Melbourne. Queensland also has the second lowest state tax regime in Australia.
To get a feel for what Brisbane and Queensland is like, you can see what's in the news at:

www.couriermail.news.com.au

brisbane's transport infrastructure
Brisbane operates a train, bus and ferry public transport system. The buses are yellow and green in colour and serve all the suburbs and the CBD. This is the popular transport choice for commuters.
The City Cat ferry runs along the river and stops at the key points along the river within the city. It is cheap, but only runs 4 times an hour. It's a great way of seeing the city if you're a tourist.
The suburbs are linked to the CBD by the Citytrain rail service. The air-conditioned trains are fast and run frequently.