Moving to Melbourne
Located in the state of Victoria, Melbourne is situated on the southeast Australian coast. Regularly ranked as one of the world’s most liveable places, this is one of the most multicultural cities in Australia. If you’re thinking of moving to Melbourne you’ll be made to feel more than welcome.
The people of Melbourne are mad about Australian rules football – or ‘footy’ for short. You’ll also find that cricket, rugby, tennis and golf are equally as favourite sports with Melburnians.
Living in Melbourne
You’ll probably want to rent a property when you move to Melbourne, not only because you’ll need to find your feet and get a feel for the different areas, but also because there are several restrictions and requirements on non-permanent residents purchasing property in Victoria.
- Some of the areas in Melbourne which are more popular with expats include the Bayside suburbs of Brighton, Hampton and Sandringham. Situated 10 to 12 kms southeast of the central business district (CBD), these areas are very popular with families due to the availability of space and good schools.
- Camberwell, Hawthorn and Kew are also popular because of their gracious and stately renovated homes.
- Young professionals often consider inner areas such as Port Melbourne and Albert Park near Port Philip Bay or the trendy fashion areas around Chapel Street, Prahran and Bridge Street, Richmond.
- Further out of town, great family areas like Templestowe provide spacious housing and gardens.
To move into a rental home, you’ll need to pay at least one month's rent in advance before you can collect the keys. You will also be required to pay a security deposit (known as a ‘bond’) before you can move in. Usually equivalent to four weeks' rent for an unfurnished rental and six weeks' rent for a furnished rental, the bond is held by a government agency until the end of the tenancy.
Rents in Melbourne are quoted by the week, so if you see a house advertised for rent at $500, you should budget to have nine times this amount, or $4,500, available to cover one month's rent and one month as a bond payment (remembering there are more than four weeks in most months).
Getting around the city
Melbourne is a fairly easy city to get around as it is mainly flat and the major roads are set out on a grid. You’ll find that most households in the city will own at least one car, however the public transport system is very good and depending on where you work you could easily commute by train or bus. If you’re living in a suburb close to town you’ll see that trams are the most common form of public transport.
You’ll be pleased to know that driving in Melbourne is on the left-hand side of the road – giving you one less thing to think about. If you’re planning to live in Melbourne for a short time then you’re entitled to drive on an International Driving Permit (IDP) for the length of time it is valid (usually up to a year). However, if you’re moving to Melbourne on a permanent visa and become a resident of Victoria you must surrender your overseas licence and obtain a Victorian licence within three months of becoming a resident.