Thread: Anyone got a map like this???

Jesus, Xtreme, Emu Plains is 40 MILES from the CBD. If I had to return to Sydney and work in the CBD, I would only consider living in the Eastern Suburbs or inner West as far as Petersham.

...as far west as Petersham? Is that because of the commute time? Would you drive from there to CBD or get a train?

Realistic commute time please from Petersham?

Ive been looking on the 131500 travel website at train times - is this the best place to get an idea? It says 18-20mins for Petersham - Wynyard stn.

thanks
jon

Originally Posted by Brian Hjelm

Jesus, Xtreme, Emu Plains is 40 MILES from the CBD. If I had to return to Sydney and work in the CBD, I would only consider living in the Eastern Suburbs or inner West as far as Petersham.

Not everyone can afford to buy a house in the Eastern Suburbs.

Jon's wife rides horses. If she wants to own one, the Eastern Suburbs or anywhere west "as far as Petersham" might be a problem.

Commuting from Emu Plains isn't a problem. It's 50 mins on a train. I did that for years when I worked in the city (Martin Place and then near Town Hall). When my office moved to Paddington, I drove, again for many years. I adjusted my work hours accordingly.

I went into town recently (something I avoid like the plague - I go in about once a year). I don't know how anyone can stand living anywhere east of Parramatta. The traffic is appalling and there are far too many people.

Ron

If you wear a burkha you don't have to see other people.

You know for years (until I moved here) I thought the Western Suburbs started at ANZAC Parade the Southern Suburbs: Maroubra and South. Ashfield was the Outer West.

How far is it from your place to Subiaco again? Can't be that far!

Hornsby is a good bet. Unlike has been suggested, the Northern Line (via Strathfield) is actually quicker (~45mins) to Central if you catch an intercity train (Epping - Strathfield - Central) whereas the North Shore Line (via Chatswood) generally only runs suburban (all/most stops) trains which take a little over an hour. Don't bother driving unless you depart before 7am.

The good thing about Hornsby is that if the trains on one line stuff up, you can just take the other line. If that fails there is busses. If that fails you can drive down the Pacific Hwy. If that fails you can take Pennant Hills Rd and M2 (best avoided though).

Hornsby is also a great suburb and has good shops and amentities, as well as plenty of bush and parks.

The Parramatta area isn't bad either, but the main drag of Parramatta itself is always crawling with greasy, loud, spitting, obnoxious habibs. The surrounding suburbs and parts of Parra itself though are quite nice. One of Australia's most exclusive schools (Kings) is there and best of all, they host the annual Sydney All British Day. Trains from Parramatta to the city are regular and take about 30mins.

If you don't mind commuting, the Hills District (Castle Hill, Baulkham Hills et al) to the North West of Parramatta is a beautiful area - like a more modern Hornsby with (much) crappier transport. There are NO trains, but the bus network is tolerable if you a geographically fortunate. Some parts have buses, some have nothing. The main hubs (mainly Castle Hill) have regular services, but they are always packed. The M2 motorway cuts a straight line to the city, but between 6:45am and 10:00am it is a parking lot. It has a bus lane each direction so it's a good run on the bus. I live at Baulkham Hills and am blessed by the transport gods - depending on which bus I catch it takes either an hour, or an hour and a half each way to the far edge of the City.

Down South around "the Shire" (Sutherland and surrounds) is nice too, but I have never lived there so I can't comment fully. As far as I know they have good transport and the area is green as, well, Yorkshire... Most people I know of from the shire are a tad "special", but this might just be coincidence.

The lower North Shore (Chatswood, Mosman et al) is expensive and full of yuppies, but beautiful. A lot of the houses are old and majestic and the streets are leafy and the house-blocks are generous. Transport to the City is a cinch - just across the harbour.

The Central Coast is miles away. Lots of people live there and work in the city. This is because there are no jobs up there and they are desperate. Nice enough place, but do you really want to spend between 4 hours (minimum) and 6 hours(by no means maximum) daily on a train? oh, and there is one motorway and one trainline, which are next to each other. These run through an active bushfire corridor which means that they are both closed when under threat. Think of it this way: You may as well live on an island and not own a boat.

Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by Yorkshire_Jon

...as far west as Petersham? Is that because of the commute time? Would you drive from there to CBD or get a train?

Realistic commute time please from Petersham?

Ive been looking on the 131500 travel website at train times - is this the best place to get an idea? It says 18-20mins for Petersham - Wynyard stn.

thanks
jon

I live in Leichhardt, which is next to Petersham. That commute is correct, Petersham is about 6Km from the CBD, on the train line, or near to buses down Parramatta road. My ex lives in Petersham and drives into the city every day, but she has a shop and a cello to transport. I'd guess, that unless you've got lots to carry, or a carspace with your job, that parking in the CBD is not worth the cost.

Cheers
Simon

Talk about a funny post,
i reckon with all the road changes and traffic volumes in sydney( the CBD ) you would have to be off the planet to drive to work.

This from someone who grew up at maroubra, less than 1km from the beach , went to the 3 Bay schools, infants primary and high school. And no original maroubraites are not the 'bra boys'
I used to think the only decent beach in sydney for a good surf was maroubra, and any where south was better.

While people live in the sydney basin they become more used to the traffic congestion and ways around it.
For over half my service working life I was based in Sydney , when your working alone and have to do a whistle run with a street directory balancing on your knee yu get to know your way around very quickly.
Having been gone for a bit over 4 years now, each time I go down to visit my parents who now live at matraville, I find the traffic has gotten worst, nothing has improved and the volumes of cars have increased.

But have caught trains and buses on a few occasions and found them quicker and easier to get around. ( even though i know the driving times)

john

Originally Posted by Yorkshire_Jon

...as far west as Petersham? Is that because of the commute time? Would you drive from there to CBD or get a train?

Realistic commute time please from Petersham?

Ive been looking on the 131500 travel website at train times - is this the best place to get an idea? It says 18-20mins for Petersham - Wynyard stn.

thanks
jon

Jon

It's good that you use the 135000 info line, it will give you more accurate info on times. What you will notice is that many stations only get local trains (trains that stop at every station) which are fewer and take longer to arrive at their destination where interchange stations have a mix of both express and local trains.

Petersham is a local station where as Strathfield, Burwood, Sydenham, Wolli Creek, Bankstown, Hornsby and Redfern (and quite a few more) are interchange.

When you ground truth the localities, the housing around the interchange stations is higher density and more expensive although the offset is that they have larger shopping centres and frequently lots of bus routes as well.

When you come over, will your partner be coming and will she be working as well?

What does she do? e.g. it is very easy for a nurse to get a work visa and there is plenty of full and part time work for them.