Maybe moving to Tassie? - Page 2

broken_suave · 08-10-2008, 05:50 PM

Well until recently I was on a tad under 30k per year, combined with my girlfriends income we were just comfortable. If I could get something around that mark I'd be happy.

Not big on the idea of labouring jobs (being the rake thin skeletor that I am), I'm assuming there'd be the same amount (per capita) of regular jobs, as is available on the mainland?

As I posted before, I'm curious about getting an automotive apprenticeship, like a spraypainter, or a beater, or an upholsterer, or something. What sort of opportunities are there for these?

Jack91 · 08-10-2008, 05:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tex

ha ha, mate, that was 70rwkw ago. Embarrasment!!!!!!! With my GT parked next to that lolly pop coloured turdo car of yours, well, I know which one Id be happier to call mine.

:

Next time we're at the drags, you can have a run in the Scud - see what it can really do............................. with a good racer at the wheel :thebirds:

Back on topic. Don't let all this it's closed by 8.00pm talk put you off, it isn't quite that bad. Well, maybe Hooterville is, but not the rest of Tassie. Plus the talk of the big bucks being earned in other capital cities maybe true, but this is offset by the higher cost of living in the same high income cities.

50 or 60 grand a year down here will take you further than the same amount earnt elsewhere. And I just pull those numbers out my ***, but you get the picture.

But, groceries are dearer, and petrol, but the rates are cheaper, general housing associated costs also. And by a fair old whack.

I agree with some others suggestions, jump on a plane and shoot down for a week, hire a car and get lost! Even if you decide it's not for you, you'll have a great holiday, and wish you could come back with a proper car to belt around in. The roads are truely fantastic when you get off the main highways.......... better still, enter Targa Tas.

car scene is a little on the quiet side, but there is a few mad keen Ford men - ie GTPowner (check out his build thread). I know another bloke with a 9 second Laser - same guy that services my GT. So they are about, but not as many.

Anyway, hope it all works out, and I wish you the best of luck in making the right decision, whatever that may be.

Are you sure about that? I seem to remember them nearly doubling last time.

tex · 08-10-2008, 05:58 PM

Yeh they have gone up a lot in the last 4 years, but housing is still the cheapest in Aus.

Compare the price for say a 3 bedroom, 2 bath room, double garage house on 1000sq m 10 minutes from the CBD in Launceston / Hobart with any other same spec house, same distance from any other capital city.

GTP owner · 08-10-2008, 06:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suicidalchimes

Hi everyone!
I'm broken_suaves girlfriend.
Just wanted to say thanks for all the great info so far.
One thing I wanted to ask about from anyone who might know is quarantine issues, we have animals that it would be a no-go to leave behind. Cats and rodents to be specific. Broken_suave found quarantine info today on dogs, but nothing on our little fuzzies. Anyone know off-hand?

Yes it is ok to bring them in - you just need to declare them, and they may need a vet checkover before entering.
Our cat came in on the boat, then sat behind my head all the way down south - it kept the neck warm!

GTP owner · 08-10-2008, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tex

ha ha, mate, that was 70rwkw ago. Embarrasment!!!!!!! With my GT parked next to that lolly pop coloured turdo car of yours, well, I know which one Id be happier to call mine.

:

Next time we're at the drags, you can have a run in the Scud - see what it can really do............................. with a good racer at the wheel :thebirds:

mmm okay! You can drive the taxi of the missus!

suicidalchimes · 08-10-2008, 07:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GTP owner

Yes it is ok to bring them in - you just need to declare them, and they may need a vet checkover before entering.
Our cat came in on the boat, then sat behind my head all the way down south - it kept the neck warm!

Awwwww. Our little ratties would sit all over us and we'd keep each other warm.

**Polyal** · 08-10-2008, 07:45 PM

We brought our cats over on the ferry, poor buggers had to bunk with Dogs but there was no check or quarantine issues at all.

F6T · 08-10-2008, 09:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by broken_suave

As I posted before, I'm curious about getting an automotive apprenticeship, like a spraypainter, or a beater, or an upholsterer, or something. What sort of opportunities are there for these?

Mate - get on down here. I'm born and bred in Tassie and wouldn't live anywhere else. It is not that cold.....seriously.

The roads are great, there aren't that many cops/speed cameras around, the air is fresh, the produce is fresh, NO GRID LOCK, you can get anywhere from one end of the state to the other in 3 to 4 hours.

AND - you would walk into an apprenticeship down here...there is plenty of opportunity.

I have found a great mechanic for my purposes, have stuck with him for years...yes you do cop a bit extra in freight but so what.

And if worst comes to worst, you can jump of the Spirit - take your car for $50 or your only a 50 minute flight to Melb if you want to catch a big game or whatever.

great place to bring up kids too....as I'm apparently soon to find out.

TadKa · 08-10-2008, 10:28 PM

Tassie is great. The housing is not super cheap but definantly better than syd/melb etc.
We pay 390 pw for a 4bed 2 bath in Rosny. nice. 5 min to Hobart. no toll roads. I really like it here. But tomorrow after work I'm hoping on a $50 flight to go to Melb for the weekend. too easy. And really it's only a tad colder than Melbourne.

75van · 09-10-2008, 08:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by broken_suave

Well until recently I was on a tad under 30k per year, combined with my girlfriends income we were just comfortable. If I could get something around that mark I'd be happy.

Not big on the idea of labouring jobs (being the rake thin skeletor that I am), I'm assuming there'd be the same amount (per capita) of regular jobs, as is available on the mainland?

As I posted before, I'm curious about getting an automotive apprenticeship, like a spraypainter, or a beater, or an upholsterer, or something. What sort of opportunities are there for these?

If you have a good work attitude (not someone who just walks around waiting for someone to tell you what to do) and a bit of knowledge on cars you won't have an issue getting an auto mechanic apprentice job I reckon. The mechanic I go to has been through five people recently - four apprentices and one qualified mechanic - all of which were too lazy to do anything. I am not saying all just-out-of-school apprentices are like this, but it seems to be that a large majority of them in all trades have no up and go...

GTP owner · 09-10-2008, 08:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by monkeysxr6

If you have a good work attitude (not someone who just walks around waiting for someone to tell you what to do) and a bit of knowledge on cars you won't have an issue getting an auto mechanic apprentice job I reckon. The mechanic I go to has been through five people recently - four apprentices and one qualified mechanic - all of which were too lazy to do anything. I am not saying all just-out-of-school apprentices are like this, but it seems to be that a large majority of them in all trades have no up and go...

Same here in our town. If you have the right "go get em" attitude you will be fine. There is more than enough work for those willing to pull up their sleeves.

LTDterri · 09-10-2008, 12:29 PM

you will get used to the cold....Im in Melbourne and people from up north tell me all the time its to cold in Melbourne...I went to Tassie for the first time recently and honestly it's a great place, you will not regret the decision

FalconXR6 · 09-10-2008, 01:23 PM

Most of the good bits have been covered but among plenty of other things, one thing that I love the most when you come back home from a holiday to the mainland is the water.

Tassie water is cold, fresh and tastes alright - mainland water is warm and funky and makes you feel dirty...

It probably sounds like a weird thing to mention but that's just me...

Weather isn't anywhere near as bad as what some people who have never been here claim. Yes it rains for probably six months out of 12 but I challenge anyone to show me a better place to reside during summer - Tassie summers are by far the best.

broken_suave · 09-10-2008, 02:23 PM

Water is actually fairly important. Brisbane water is... not that great. Perhaps better than some places, but my partner wont drink it, and I'm not a fan either. So having fresh water available is actually more significant that you may think.

Im probably not like the average Australian, Im not a fan of the sun, I dont like warm weather, let alone hot weather. I really like the rain, I really like cold weather. I dont think I was meant for the climate up here in QLD.

I was born in NSW and spent a lot of time there in various places, so cold weather is not completely foreign to me. Our entire household is made up of cold weather people, including my partner and myself, who are both Scotts.

At this point our plan is to go down to Tassie for a week long holiday in January. We'll probably stay up here in Brisbane for the next 12 months, then head on down to Tassie for a few years.

We just need to figure out which of the 3 'major' centres we'd prefer. We're not sure about Devonport, but Launceston and Hobart are both attractive options in their own right. I like the idea of Launceston for its central location, but also Hobart for its facilities.

We've got time to think anyway.

falconboy · 09-10-2008, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by broken_suave

We just need to figure out which of the 3 'major' centres we'd prefer. We're not sure about Devonport, but Launceston and Hobart are both attractive options in their own right. I like the idea of Launceston for its central location, but also Hobart for its facilities.

Funny you mention that, I'm not sure what it is about Devonport, but my wife and I weren't fans. Maybe its more 'known' simply because its where the big ship comes in (forget its name!). Having said that, we were down there when the Devonport Agricultural Show was on and loved the show. I think I was born to be around animals.

broken_suave · 09-10-2008, 02:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by falconboy

... where the big ship comes in (forget its name!)...

Spirit of Tasmania

DayTE · 09-10-2008, 02:49 PM

It doesn't actually rain that much. Hobart is the second driest capital city after Adelaide as far as rain fall goes. I lived in Newcastle for nearly 8 years and I reckon it rained there more that it ever did here. Except for the West Coast, where it does rain. A lot.

As far as where to live. Depends on who you ask. If you ask someone from Hobart, they'll tell you Hobart, from Lonny they'll tell you Lonny etc...

I'm from Devonport. And personally this is where I'd sooner live. Why? Hobart isn't bad, it would probably be my second choice, but to me it's just starting to get the "big city" feel/attitude. People are getting angrier on the roads (and street), which are starting to fill up quite a bit more. And they get a bit of a superior complex because it's the capital city. e.g. "Hobart should have the footy/cricket/big events becase we are the capital city and the biggest" Whereas like was mentioned Launceston would be a better choice as it is more central.

I wouldn't live in Launceston because it's a hole. Literally. It's in a valley and during winter it regurarly "fills" up with smog, smoke from wood heaters and fog.

Both city's are reasonably hilly in places, whereas Devonport is a fair bit flatter. Much better for lowered cars. :-)

Devonport is a fair bit quieter that the other two, and we are hopefully about to get some decent develpoment happening here.

But these are my opinions and as bad as I've made Hobart and Launceston sound they are still far better than most of the cities I've visited on the mainland.

Donny · 09-10-2008, 03:53 PM

I come from Tassie too, and moved to QLD in 1980. Some day I wouldnt mind moving back, but compared to QLD, the cold is a bit of an issue for me during winter. I feel the cold early in the mornings here a bit in winter. Specially goin to work at 5am.

I went back for a holiday nearly 2 yrs ago, it was the first time I had been back in 20 years, and the one thing I really loved was I still remembered and recognised a lot of things and stuff, even after so long away.

The house we grew up in was built new for us back in 74. Its in Montrose, so 10 mins from the CBD of Hobart.
I went and saw it last time I was there, and it hadnt changed at all. After 30 plus years, a lot of the areas we and our families lived in have hardly changed (except Lauderdale maybe), and sometimes the place still feels like it has that 70's charm and feel to it.

Thats what draws me back to Tassie.

Pros....The 70's feel, the laid back lifestyle and people, affordable housing, bit cut off from the rest of Aussie, great roads for driving, not over populated like Bris and GC, awesome scenery etc etc etc.

Cons....The cold, dearer fuel, dearer groceries, Bit cut off from the rest of Aussie, the Cops in the city and outskirts are around in Speed Cameras in Unmarked vehicles with no sinage or warning, and I hear there is virtually no tolerance speeding wise.
I saw a speed camera at Bridgewater bridge atleast 6 times out of 10 that I drove past there in the 2 weeks I was holidaying there. The camera was in at least in 3 diffrent types of vehicles too. Very sneaky.

Honestly shops not being open as long isnt an issue to me, you just adjust the lifestyle to suit. Way too many people rely on shops being open all the time.

suicidalchimes · 09-10-2008, 05:52 PM

Just wanted to say another thanks to people replying with their input since the last time I thanked the last bunch of people!
We are looking at holidaying early Feb and wondering how easy it would be to get from Hobart to Launceston via some sort of public transport? And hey, lifts or a tour guide wouldn't be turned down :P Theres a beer in it for anyone who helps us out while we're on hols. Hahahah.

suicidalchimes · 09-10-2008, 06:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FalconXR6

Most of the good bits have been covered but among plenty of other things, one thing that I love the most when you come back home from a holiday to the mainland is the water.

Tassie water is cold, fresh and tastes alright - mainland water is warm and funky and makes you feel dirty...

It probably sounds like a weird thing to mention but that's just me...

This is by no means a weird thing to mention. Like broken_suave said, I dont think I've had a drink of tap water since I moved to Brisbane. Before I was living in a country town living off rainwater. So nice water is very, VERY important to me. Ha!

B-1B · 09-10-2008, 08:36 PM

I would move just for the Scallop pies alone!!!

kyro_02 · 09-10-2008, 09:00 PM

im off to tassie tomorrow, ill let you know what i think

just going for the fri. night, sat, sun, my gf went on the wednesday but i couldn't really take any time off from work without telling them a few weeks prior grr. visit her friends an family.

she grew up in tassie came to melbourne 3+ years ago, i guess its like everyone if you grew up in the same place/area it would probably do your head in, well thats what she said about tas. and how nearly everyone is actually your 'friend' or 'enemy' and not just your neighbor (lol).

suicidalchimes · 09-10-2008, 09:33 PM

We both moved around a fair bit, so we are fairly used to adjusting to new things. Hopefully that will swing in our favour!

Donny · 09-10-2008, 10:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by B-1B

I would move just for the Scallop pies alone!!!

do you mean potato cakes (pronounced patadda kaaaaks)??? i.e. potato scallops?

lol

B-1B · 09-10-2008, 11:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by xagt_coupe

do you mean potato cakes (pronounced patadda kaaaaks)??? i.e. potato scallops?

lol

Hehehe, I can tell that you haven't had one then!

vanman_75 · 10-10-2008, 01:00 AM

too far to the barrier reef for me but im sure its nice .

75van · 11-10-2008, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by suicidalchimes

We are looking at holidaying early Feb and wondering how easy it would be to get from Hobart to Launceston via some sort of public transport?

Transport should be easy - there's buses from one end of the state to the other, which both terminate in the centre of the cities, or you could hire a car, it's about a 2hr drive from Hobart to Launceston.

suicidalchimes · 11-10-2008, 06:13 PM

Hiring a car is unfortunately not really an option as broken_suave is a p plater. It's either impossible, or damn close to it. :(

broken_suave · 11-10-2008, 08:27 PM

Yeah unfortunately its all but impossible. My only resort would be to pay about $800 to hire a Yaris for a week.. er, no. No it will have to be buses, taxis or walking.

tpintas · 11-10-2008, 11:17 PM

Have you considered driving to Melbourne then taking the Spirit of Tasmania across to Devonport with your own car? (costs about $58 extra atm I think).

Just another option, then you can see what you want to see, when you want to see it.

http://www.spiritoftasmania.com.au/