Thread: considering move to Port Hedland... WA advice/opinions??

Hi 45tr0,
You have now probably worked out that Port Hedland, in particular South Hedland is as they say, is a nice place to vist but you would not want to live there (South Hedland).

I have several mates with their wives living in Port Hedland at the moment working on the FMG Rail/Iron ore project. They live on the Port Hedland side. That side of the area is OK. Everyone including the doctors and staff from the hospital, business people and a lot of really good working people live there. The part I liked is that no one looks down their nose at you as they are all in it together so to speak.

For 6 weeks my wife and myself managed the Norwest Communications and Computers shop up there. I was manager and the field service engineer for ICT. I visited many places throughout Hedland including the sobering up shelter and lots of organisations for work in the 6 weeks fixing problems. It was a very interesting experience.

The supplied town house we had was on the Port Hedland side but across the road from the BHP iron ore crushing plant. "Not fun". Best part was that you could walk to the boat club and walk home as it was only around the corner opposite the hospital. A fantastic place for a beer and a meal. Definitely join up if you do go there.

I spent 16 years in the Northern Territory, so knew what to expect when I went to Hedland. You will not like South Hedland, even the people who live there do not like it. Lots and Lots of crime, drugs, alochol and the really bad anti social problems that go with it.

However I know how hard it is to break into some careers in Brisbane and the wages they pay for it. I now pay more in tax than at my peak earnings in Brisbane. My advice is to give it a go if you get the job and see if you both like it. You can always move to other locations in the Pilbara for work.

Sounding.. from what you do you will probably enjoy the challange for a while.

" Nothing ventured...Nothing gained"

Go for it while you are young

If you do get there, come down to Karratha and look us up.

Regards,
BradM

I got the job!!
Long story short:
The Salary negotiated up to the $65k mark, the mine withdrew the house but are throwing in $15K a year in Rental subsidy, and Council are providing me with a choice of two houses at a rate well below rental market. Rent wise - I'll be paying less than I pay here in Brissy!

Talk about moving quickly - I'll be in the west within two weeks - although getting my household effects, not to mention the landy may take the next month or so. Relocation costs are covered

Now - Anyone got any suggestions on transporting the old girl west?
As appealing as driving 4,800km across QLD, NT & WA in a reliability-unknown Ex-army Series III with only vents and a dash-mounted fan sounds...

I was thinking of hiring a shipping container for the dual purpose of moving my household effects AND the landy (i don't own that much stuff these days anyway).
Load the truck full, reverse in, load the rest in over and around it, get it trucked/railed/whatevered to Port Hedland and unpack the lot when it gets there.

Anyone got any brighter ideas??

Good luck with it all - just hope you have another car that has air cond for the summer up there !!!!!!

brighter ideas?

marry the girlfriend before you go!!


the container idea is good and bad---
the bad side is you may be waiting a while for the household goods and car to arrive,,,,

good luck!!

Originally Posted by 45tr0

I got the job!!
Long story short:
The Salary negotiated up to the $65k mark, the mine withdrew the house but are throwing in $15K a year in Rental subsidy, and Council are providing me with a choice of two houses at a rate well below rental market. Rent wise - I'll be paying less than I pay here in Brissy!

Talk about moving quickly - I'll be in the west within two weeks - although getting my household effects, not to mention the landy may take the next month or so. Relocation costs are covered

Now - Anyone got any suggestions on transporting the old girl west?
As appealing as driving 4,800km across QLD, NT & WA in a reliability-unknown Ex-army Series III with only vents and a dash-mounted fan sounds...

I was thinking of hiring a shipping container for the dual purpose of moving my household effects AND the landy (i don't own that much stuff these days anyway).
Load the truck full, reverse in, load the rest in over and around it, get it trucked/railed/whatevered to Port Hedland and unpack the lot when it gets there.

Anyone got any brighter ideas??

I think the cost would be too great to truck a shipping container to WA,I ,ll estimate the cost to be around $10,000 to $12 ,000,that for a 20 foot container,if I was driving a road train over there,that what I,d charge

Originally Posted by 45tr0

I got the job!!
Long story short:
The Salary negotiated up to the $65k mark, the mine withdrew the house but are throwing in $15K a year in Rental subsidy, and Council are providing me with a choice of two houses at a rate well below rental market. Rent wise - I'll be paying less than I pay here in Brissy!

Talk about moving quickly - I'll be in the west within two weeks - although getting my household effects, not to mention the landy may take the next month or so. Relocation costs are covered

Now - Anyone got any suggestions on transporting the old girl west?
As appealing as driving 4,800km across QLD, NT & WA in a reliability-unknown Ex-army Series III with only vents and a dash-mounted fan sounds...

I was thinking of hiring a shipping container for the dual purpose of moving my household effects AND the landy (i don't own that much stuff these days anyway).
Load the truck full, reverse in, load the rest in over and around it, get it trucked/railed/whatevered to Port Hedland and unpack the lot when it gets there.

Anyone got any brighter ideas??

A mate moved to WA and thats what he did, but sent it on a ship rather than Truck/Train, Cost was about 4k from memory. He used 2 40ft containers though (and worked on the docks).

Congrats on the job, and I agree, marry the girl before you go.