Thinking of moving to Tassie

[Xavie]

Well, I have not enjoyed living where I have been for a while now and for many years have considered the move to Tas.

I would not do it until the end of the year but in the mean time I have begun scheduling some visits to see what areas I like etc... Currently I'm leaning toward Clarence Point and Beauty point areas as they are a comfortable drive to Launceston for uni and the area can provide for many of my hobbies. I also have friends in that area so it should suit well.

Does any one have any advice on the move? Areas I should look at?

I would be selling my house and I think I'd just buy straight up or stay with friends for a few weeks with the intention of buying. Renting is not ideal as I have 3 dogs and leases state the animals aren't allowed inside etc. and I can't be bothered dealing with that. And the areas I have been looking at you can get a nice enough shack pretty cheaply with a large block.

Anyway, I am just looking for any info which may help with thinking this all through. I.e. I don't know if to just sell all my furniture then buy down there etc... etc.. And If I was to move most of my stuff I susepct it would take a while to get it all organised.

Thanks in advance.

[87County]

Looks like you'll be adding to the number of LR enthusiasts on the South Island of Oz! :)


.....cheaper to go there by ferry than to Moreton or Kangaroo Is. :o

[Defender=1st]

DO IT..just grow a second head before you come, so you fit in:p
Those areas are really nice..anywhere on the Tamar is very nice..but i dont know if you hear about it much on the mainland but the big debate about the tassie pulp mill has made a lot of people move from the Tamar valley as they don't like the idea of it..but its a really lovely spot...legana is also a nice area just out of launceston..
if you interested of building dad has a block for sale on the water front between Launceston and beauty point..not trying to be a sales man just letting you know.
Make sure you give us a yell if your coming over..catch up for a beer.
Cheers Adrian

[abaddonxi]

Excellent cheap furniture around Hobart, thought of loading up a container and bringing it back to Sydney the prices were so good.

And now you tell me there's something wrong with the Blue Mountains.:D

Simon

[Xavie]

Do I grow extra extremities as soon as I cross the water or when does it happen?

:wasntme::D:D:D

[87County]

.........now you tell me there's something wrong with the Blue Mountains.:D



yeah Xavie, what's wrong with the Blue Mountains ?.... similar climate to Tassie surely :)

[abaddonxi]

Do I grow extra extremities as soon as I cross the water or when does it happen?

:wasntme::D:D:D

Soon as twelve months clicks over you're a local.

[87County]

Soon as twelve months clicks over you're a local.


guess government education initiatives are working then....

calendars can be read down there as well :angel:

[Xavie]

yeah Xavie, what's wrong with the Blue Mountains ?.... similar climate to Tassie surely :)

Oh, it seems to me to be a very different place then the mountains. The mountains are fine but they are changing quickly and not somewhere I want to be any more. House prices here will go up soon which is a shame I will have sold before but that's life you can't really base all decisions on the fiscal side of things.

I am concerned that the uni will be 2nd rate in tassie but this will be one of the next things I look into.

But I have a flight booked and a lend of a car in a couple of months time and will try get down before then too if possible.

[2_door]

Soon as twelve months clicks over you're a local.


I moved down to Hobart just over 12 months ago so that must mean I am a local now ;)

the only problem I have encountered is that I love the place and if everyone knew just how good it is down here, they would ALL come. So, move down by all means, but you have to tell everyone you hate it and dont come ;):angel:

cheers and good luck with the move, you will love it :D

[Xavie]

I moved down to Hobart just over 12 months ago so that must mean I am a local now ;)

the only problem I have encountered is that I love the place and if everyone knew just how good it is down here, they would ALL come. So, move down by all means, but you have to tell everyone you hate it and dont come ;):angel:

cheers and good luck with the move, you will love it :D

Can I ask if you moved furniture across the sea or did you buy everything there? I don't have any thing which I really wana take that I could not easily replace that wouldn't fit in the car on the ferry. So I would only really move things if it was cheaper and easier then I suspect it is.

[Chucaro]

I moved to Tassie twice and if I have to do it again i will sell or my gear here.
The furniture removal cost heaps.
Just take with you the very essentials and get the rest of the gear there.
The lkast time that I returned to the main land cost me $ 5000 bring the gear here :eek:
Good luck mate and keep out of the area where the mill will be.

Cheers

[numpty]

If that's what you want to do........just do it. Tassie is a fabulous place. Thought of moving there ourselves a number of years ago, but for our own reasons we didn't. I have family over there and try to visit every year, and a mate of mine is moving there in a couple of weeks.

Follow your dreams;)

[V8Ian]

Taswhere?:D:D:D

[paul-defender]

Hi,
came to tas 8 years ago left for two years and came back for an indefinite stint. love it and i think you have to be here ten years to be a local. its different but in a good way. lots of land rovers down here too.

[2_door]

Can I ask if you moved furniture across the sea or did you buy everything there? I don't have any thing which I really wana take that I could not easily replace that wouldn't fit in the car on the ferry. So I would only really move things if it was cheaper and easier then I suspect it is.

we actualy moved everything down here from Brisbane. Cost us about 7 grand but when you think what it would cost to replace everything you own, it was worth it. If you dont have much, then maybe its worth selling up and buying what you need. Just sit down and work out what stuff costs to replace. When you sell stuff, you get nothing for it so it can be expensive to replace stuff at new prices.

I dont know anything about the north of the state, but renting is a good way to sus a place out and then look at buying. 6 months rent is a good investment against buying and moving into a dodgy suburb that you cant wait to get out of.

good luck

[DeeJay]

Hi,
came to tas 8 years ago left for two years and came back for an indefinite stint. love it and i think you have to be here ten years to be a local. its different but in a good way. lots of land rovers down here too.

Sorry to rain on your parade but if you were'nt born in Tas you will never be considered local by those that were. Its just one of those things, however, there is enough " expats" down there now to not feel excluded.Also there are other "Imports" giving the locals a focus point. We looked at living in the Tamar valley for many many years, I got the local Launceston paper delivered here & even bought a cottage in West Launceston but sold it when we decided the time was'nt right as our two intellectually disabled (Autistic) boys would never have recieved the resources they can in Melb, that was a practical experience for us as we lived there for up to a month at a time. The food is dearer but that is more than made up with plenty of other factors like rates etc. I go down there regularly with work and the latest worry around Launceston is the pollution, and thats not counting the proposed Gunns mill near Georgetown. If that goes ahead then Tassy is off our radar, as we reckon the Launceston weather is very similar to Melb only a bit colder in winter. Hobart is quite different again.
Check out Google under "Tamar Valley Air Quality" most are PDF reports

And regarding the mill.
Tamar valley pulp mill - key issues | Tapvision.info (http://www.tapvision.info/node/199)

Overall it will turn out what you make it.

[aew849]

Concur with Dee Jay re: It will be what you make of it.

Having moved about 15 times in the past 20 years (serving in the forces does that to ya) in cluding the length of UK and between the coats of Australia, a town is a town is a town - but its the people that make the difference.

I wouldn't mind giving Tasweigianland a run...it's just that the winter's are soooo miserable (reminds me of my pommyland stint). Having grown up in Perth, summers are supposed to be over 40!

Even better, JC works down in Hobart, so all the Landy assistance is there!

aew849
04 130

[numpty]

To be fair, if you move somewhere from elsewhere, doesn't matter where, the local versus foreigner thing comes to play. We have lived in a number of different places and states, but I consider myself an Australian above any State or locality bias. Just accept that it is so.....who cares......be a part of the community wherever you are and you will find acceptance.

[953]

Rent 4 a while first ,to be sure to be sure, dont get me wrong Im sure you,ll buy in the end:D.
Cheers Dean.

[Xavie]

Thanks everyone.... A few things to think about.

Regarding furniture.... It doesn't seem worth the cost to me. I've never been one to have expensive things around the home apart from the pool table which I can fit in a ute anyway and get it down at some time.

I'm rather suprised about the pollution comments and links so I will look in to that.

Regarding the pulp mill.... How far away would one want to be from it?

I'm totally intrigued by tassie and if I could move sooner I would but it is just not practical. I may look in to the renting side as I agree it is a far better way to do it. However with the dogs it makes it difficult. So I'll think around that and try work something out. And if I was a good guest I'm sure I could stay on at friends houses for a while so I'm not to hard done by on these fronts.

[vnx205]

One thing to consider if your plan is to move for several years rather than permanently.

It could be hard financially to move back to the north island.

I think the following is an explanation of how it works.

You sell your current house and buy a similar one in Tas. Because house prices are so much lower in Tas, you have some money left over for furniture, maintenance on the LR and other such things.

If we make the the risky assumption that all housing across the nation increases by the same percentage, the actual dollar value added to your Tas house will be less than the increase in prices in the other states. So when you want to move back north, there is a shortfall.

I am not suggesting that will automatically happen. However it can. It happened to a cousin in the Police Force who was posted from Sydney to Young where the same sort of difference in house prices existed.

I realise that some people may be in a position where all of that is irrelevant. There are a lot of other factors that could make a difference.

[Xavie]

Hi VNX, that had crossed my mind and I was working it through. Your right though I don't think it will be a permanent move because I have heard dreadful things about how people are treated in the area of work I will be going into after uni. SO I don't think I will want ot stay. I may though!!!

[discopete]

When we moved from the mainland in 2002 we followed some advice, from a family member who'd lived there, and rented in Hobart before we bought. Rent first in a major city or town and maybe buy later. Regarding the proposed pulp mill, it is unlikely to be built for many years if it does get built at all. Safe to rent in the Tamar but I would not buy there until this proposed monster is dead and buried. I have heard the Tamar referred to as "the sacrafice zone". And if you think Tas is clean and green like the advertising tells you, you are in for a shock.

Pete

[Chucaro]

Hi VNX, the cost of real estate in Hobart is very high and stable. If i go back to Hobart I cannot replace the capital that I had before.
Outside Hobart can be diferent story.

Xavie, it is very important to study where you are going to invest your money regarding real estate. People in tasmania like to live very close to the city and there is where the investment is good.
A distance of 30 or 40 km from the CBD for them is out of question, There is diferent mentality than in the main land where people comute up to 100 km to work!

Places close to the Uni can be a good proposition.
Cheers

[Xavie]

Wow, I got to say it's very interesting seeing the layers of Tasmania sort of stack up and come together through many posts on here. I'm not getting cold feet by any stretch of the imagination but you sure got me thinking.

Houses in close to Launceston are to expensive for me (as far as I can tell on real estate sites) and the blocks seem to average about the 600 sqm which is to small. Try turning a 130 round i that! I need at least 3 acres J/K.....

I'll make sure I get a day put aside to get an idea about this pulp mill. I realise it's in the media constantly but I never really understood what any one was talking about to do with it or maybe I just did not care. I sure do now.

[Shonky]

What does your sister think of this plan?

:twisted:


Nah, seriously. If you are worried about the 'workplace' in Tas, take a look at the 'workplace' in NSW! (I am assuming you are still following the same career path since we last spoke about it?)

I would love to move to Taswegia as well, but the other half doesn't like the cold. This is a girl who had to wear a jumper to the beach on the Gold Coast in January... :eek: :lol2:

Good luck with whatever you decide. :)

[Xavie]

Thanks Shonky. I'm suprised to hear about it being better for work! it seemed very..... I'm not going to say it on here but undesirable down there.

[Cap]

Hi Xavie,

Mate theres always good and bad points to any place you live. The question is does the bad points outweight the good? (sounds like that is what is happening where you currently live).

Tassie is a majical place, especially if your the type that likes out doors. If your materialistic, dont bother as you wont get the income like you do in Melb or Syd.

Everything is a trade off, some things are more expensive than others, but you make up for it in other areas. The University has a good reputation so far, and there is a load of international students at both campus (Hbt and Ltn).

As for accommodation, maybe it would be an idea to rent for 12 months and see. We did this when we moved down here 11 years ago from Sydney. After the year or so, we decided to stat and bought propoerty.

Climate wise, well its south! Winter can get very cold (but not sub 0). However, driving through national parks on a snowy track is one of the best days you will remember. The air is incredibly fresh, theres something that is quite beautifull and peaceful about driving in these conditions.

Anyway, ill stop rambling. Best of luck with your decision, and if you do come down for visits give us a shout so we can take you around the traps ;)

[Phoenix]

I think most people have covered most bases, so there is little I can add.

The tamar valley is a great spot. Legana is a loveley area as well, and a little closer to town. If you are going to unit you may want to look at the other side of the river, as the batman bridge is the only bridge over the river between the mouth and launceston.

The pulp mill is a non issue (and I do have inside information on that side). If it does get built (financial end that is) it will be very carefully watched. IMHO people are making too much of it when you consider the port and aliminium smelter already in the area amongst other things.

[Xavie]

Hi Xavie,

Mate theres always good and bad points to any place you live. The question is does the bad points outweight the good? (sounds like that is what is happening where you currently live).

Tassie is a majical place, especially if your the type that likes out doors. If your materialistic, dont bother as you wont get the income like you do in Melb or Syd.

Everything is a trade off, some things are more expensive than others, but you make up for it in other areas. The University has a good reputation so far, and there is a load of international students at both campus (Hbt and Ltn).

As for accommodation, maybe it would be an idea to rent for 12 months and see. We did this when we moved down here 11 years ago from Sydney. After the year or so, we decided to stat and bought propoerty.

Climate wise, well its south! Winter can get very cold (but not sub 0). However, driving through national parks on a snowy track is one of the best days you will remember. The air is incredibly fresh, theres something that is quite beautifull and peaceful about driving in these conditions.

Anyway, ill stop rambling. Best of luck with your decision, and if you do come down for visits give us a shout so we can take you around the traps ;)

Sounds awesome stooge. And nothing like a good cold winter which I am use to anyway and have never disliked.

It is infact the outdoor pursuits which is a big attraction to me down there.

My friend who is a chef there says once you find the good places to eat it is not only cheaper then sydney but also the food is better and more variety!!! I can't wait!

[digger]

Concur with Dee Jay re: It will be what you make of it.

Having moved about 15 times in the past 20 years (serving in the forces does that to ya) in cluding the length of UK and between the coats of Australia, a town is a town is a town - but its the people that make the difference.

I wouldn't mind giving Tasweigianland a run...it's just that the winter's are soooo miserable (reminds me of my pommyland stint). Having grown up in Perth, summers are supposed to be over 40!

Even better, JC works down in Hobart, so all the Landy assistance is there!

aew849
04 130



does the vatican know???
I think theyve been waiting for him to come back for a while....:wasntme::angel:


digger:twisted:

(and appropriate that he is a landy man)

[LWB123]

I am concerned that the uni will be 2nd rate in tassie but this will be one of the next things I look into.

.

Suppose it is the former Taswegian in me rising to the bait, but I am curious to know why you think the unis in Tas would necessarily be second rate?

More than a few of the mainland efforts would give any uni a hard run for that award.

Suggest a bit of tact when you meet your new neighbours will go a long way to enjoying the many great things (including 1st rate education opportunities) that the Island State has to offer in spades. ................

[Xavie]

I don't think it is unreasonable to think it may be. It is like any uni I suspect they fail in some areas and are great in others. Until it is checked out you just never know what it will be like.

It seems my comment annoyed you. I apologise for that. Have you studied there?

[LWB123]

Have you studied there?

Yes.

Best of luck if you choose to do so too.

[Phoenix]

Actually I believe that the University of Tasmania ranks right up there,. I know when I did my BComp it was one of the more respected computing degrees for example.

[Utemad]

I'd love to live in Tassie. We tried but I couldn't get work down there.
No doubt it would be easier to get work if you moved there first but we weren't prepared to do that.
Fantastic place.

[Jock The Rock]

Have you thought about more inland?

My old man lives on a farm in an area called Glengarry. Its in the country, so good air quality, its quiet, everyone waves, good pub and a small town 10mins drive away.

I was brought up there so Im most likely going to be bias :D, but the area was pretty good. The weather is varied. Good rainfall, its snowed twice since I lived there. Its a 30 min drive to Launceston

Heres a picture of the valley he lives in

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/02/1346.jpg

All of this area is pretty much the same

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2009/02/1347.jpg

With a bit of searching you could find a semi-rural property within your price range

Defender=1st also knows the area as he has done a fair bit of shooting on numerous properties

Not sure if this will help, but hope it does :)

Good luck mate, and if you do come down for a look see give us a yell

[Shonky]

Thanks Shonky. I'm suprised to hear about it being better for work! it seemed very..... I'm not going to say it on here but undesirable down there.


Sorry - should have been more clear.

I don't mean to say they are better, just that NSW isn't particularly good (at the moment) either.

They are a secretive bunch down there in Tassie - they might be better, or somehow... worse! :o

[Xavie]

Have you thought about more inland?

My old man lives on a farm in an area called Glengarry. Its in the country, so good air quality, its quiet, everyone waves, good pub and a small town 10mins drive away.

I was brought up there so Im most likely going to be bias :D, but the area was pretty good. The weather is varied. Good rainfall, its snowed twice since I lived there. Its a 30 min drive to Launceston



With a bit of searching you could find a semi-rural property within your price range

Defender=1st also knows the area as he has done a fair bit of shooting on numerous properties

Not sure if this will help, but hope it does :)

Good luck mate, and if you do come down for a look see give us a yell


Thanks Jock, I did infact consider a place rural. it is $170,000. It has 25 acres and a liveable "shed". Draw back was it is powered by solar and the system which is installed just would not cope with much. And I don't want to then rock up and have to install another 30 grand worth of cells. I am a late night studier and somehow I could see the power not lasting! I guess as well for me the internet is integral to studying and although not 100% sure I doubt it would have anything but dial-up.... and I'm not going back to that. HAHA!

[Cap]

....I was brought up there

Well, that explains a bit Jock :p :p :D

[vnx205]

Something else to bear in mind about the south island.

I'm pretty sure when I was down there a couple of years ago, I saw a lot more Defenders than I saw on the way down through NSW and Vic.

That has got to be a factor in its favour. :D

[Phoenix]

Jock, what's your old man's surname? My missus and her family grew up in that area, and some of her friends are still out that way (loop road area nearer exeter)

[rfurzer]

I moved down here a couple of years ago and bought myself another landy (Izuzu 109 ute) that would already know the tracks!

As for the second head- only the tassie born have those scars.

Newbies can consider themselves real tasmanians when they
1. only drink boags
2. have a chainsaw that isnt a ****y 009
3. have a registered unroadworthy homemade 6x4 box trailer
4. either join the greens or hate the greens
5. buy the local paper (advocate or examiner- mercury for townies) instead of the Australian. (recognised transition period of buying both)

Permanent status after losing a finger- part of you becoming part of the state
(usual methods include circular saws, crushing in machinery linkages etc

[Jock The Rock]

Thanks Jock, I did infact consider a place rural. it is $170,000. It has 25 acres and a liveable "shed". Draw back was it is powered by solar and the system which is installed just would not cope with much. And I don't want to then rock up and have to install another 30 grand worth of cells. I am a late night studier and somehow I could see the power not lasting! I guess as well for me the internet is integral to studying and although not 100% sure I doubt it would have anything but dial-up.... and I'm not going back to that. HAHA!

Funny you should mention that :)

We have 6 solar panels on the roof, a mini water turbine and a petrol generator for when there was no water or sunshine :o

Thats a fair point though

With dads internet you open a web page then go have tea and continue to search that same website. I imagine it would be possible to get faster


Jock, what's your old man's surname? My missus and her family grew up in that area, and some of her friends are still out that way (loop road area nearer exeter)

Hamilton :)

We are on the Loop Road as well

[Panda]

I lived in Tassie for about a year, bloody beautiful place. You'd be hard pressed to find anywhere in Tassie that's not nice ... and the people are excellent! I'd say go for it. (Only reason I left was it was too damn cold for me!)

[Armadillo]

Great thread. We have ticked Tassie as a possible place to move to at end of the once the better half finishes studying (Xavie, don't mean to hijack this thread). The only issue we have is work. Here in Brissy, I have more work I can poke a stick at, but so far it appears to be a bit thin on the ground in Tassie.

[DirtyDawg]

Been there twice now and love it, bought 200 ha down in the Huon Valley area because it has 50ha of pine and a huge lake/dam plus 5ac of cherry trees, great spot, but too cold for me to live there yet..maybe when I retire I will build a "fishing shack";)

[350RRC]

Hi All,

Just need some advice. Would it be cheaper for a 'household' to use removalists to get all the 'stuff' from a house or 2 in Vic to a new house near Devonport, or just do a 20' container job?

I suspect the latter. I am familiar with container rates.

TIA, DL

[Phoenix]

The later most likely, removilists would be steep, although it is right off the boat there as well.

[Xavie]

I've been told the cheapest way is to call around and find a mover who is doing more then one load. My friend got 10ft out of a 20ft container across for $1400.

[agrojnr]

Cost my parents to move from Perth WA to Invermay around $14000 and that was 2 house holds worth of furniture and also the company they used loaded and unloaded all the stuff.

Xavie just do it I have wanted to move over there for age's now but the only thing stopping me in the miss's.

I looked at the legana area and also beaconsfield area but there are so many places to live.

My parents went there 4 times before deciding on the area they like (I prefere hobart way) and they ended up buying the house that I was looking at.

Adam

[Xavie]

I am heading down at the end of March to decide my area then as soon as I get back if it is what I want the house will go on the market and then it will be a waiting game!

I think it is going to happen but in this market it will be waiting for the house to sell. GAH!

[350RRC]

Hi,

Some friends of mine (professional couple) were renting a house in Legana and the weird thing was that the rent was way more expensive than what mortgage payments would have been. This was about 5 years ago.

AFAIK the long term population trend in Tas is still slightly downward.

cheers, DL

[Jukebox]

DO IT..just grow a second head before you come, so you fit in
Adrian loved the reply.
Went to Tassie in 1980 loverly place.
Went in a kombi surfing are the days
Hope to go again in a couple of years.

Jukebox :)

[Andy-M]

Hi Xavie

Jobs are ok down here depending what you do for a crust, my pay is one of the best for my field in Aus. Health work (I am guessing that may be your field) is alright, my daughter is doing her first year of nursing this year. Tas Uni's have a reputation of quality, you would not be disadvantaged by studying down here. The Ambo service is a bit strange but accepts mainland Ambo's readily (possibily to easy from some I have seen).

Great place allround, you can grow Bannanas and Pineapples in Devonport and also catch game fish 2km off the river mouth :angel:. (how did the B in Bannanas become bold?)


Cheers Andy

(You are a local if you don't winge and enjoy life) :)

[Xavie]

Thanks Andy. Great info.

I contacted the uni and had a long talk to several people today and must say I was extremely impressed.

So, yes! Full steam ahead from here.

[Cap]

South of the Island is still better than the North :p :p :p

(Just a North/South joke)