Sunshine, Melbourne - Suitable for family with Kid?

[MamaPan]

yep i suggest you look into more areas... maybe rent for a bit first to get a feel for the areas...
have you been to melb before?
what typeof things do you want? childcare, schools etc are in many areas...
what 'culture' do you like in your area? do you want leafy or built up? how close to the city do you want to be? what type of budget? what do you like to do recreationally?
this will help suggest areas...

[Netix]

I personally wouldn't move to Sunshine. I have lived in Footscray and prefer it to Sunshine. But that said, there are better areas of Footscray than others, and I never went to the shopping strip there. I should mention that Footscray is very close to Sunshine.

I used to go to TAFE in Sunshine, and would not walk from TAFE to the train station. Unfortunately it can be very rough, and gets not a few mentions in the media.

I live in Sunbury, which is out of Melb. It has a good train service to the city and good schools and playgroups, etc. I would say keep looking.

[Tinks]

I grew up in St Albans which is right next door to Sunshine. While I loved living there as a kid, after moving away I couldn't go back there. I agree with the others, there are much nicer places to live.

[feeb]

There are much nicer places to live!

If you want western suburbs some more are:

Newport
Williamstown
Spotswood
Yarraville
Seddon
Kingsville
Point cook
Whyndam Vale
Manor lakes
Tarneit

[blessed_mom]

Hi mummies, thanks for the feedback. The conclusion is 'NO' for Sunshine I guess, haha.
The decision now is to rent a place for ~6mths (maybe in the city or Boxhill), look ard and have a feel of each subhurb before deciding on which to buy and also apartment vs house (though my preference for now is a house as we have a dog and wd live a bigger place for the little one to run ard). We really should not rush into it.

The factors you listed are all impt to me, top on the list will be childcare and proximity to train station (just got to know that there are free parking at the train station). As my girl turns 2 by the time we are there in May 2010, maybe a good public school could be a deciding factor too (not too sure abt the school zone system in Mel).

Just spoke to a Mel real estate agent and they are promoting this place in Point Cook, seems like a really great place to live in... but the general feedback of the west side is it can be a bit rough and not as 'nice and safe' as the east. What's your view?

Once again, thanks for your advice

[feeb]

Both east and west have rough areas its just being selective at what areas you live in and avoid the rough areas.

Point cook is a fast growing area that's all new with lots of young familes and schools and child care avaiable. There is bus service and trains out there but often a 10 min drive to train station.

Good luck deciding

[blessed_mom]

Both east and west have rough areas its just being selective at what areas you live in and avoid the rough areas.

Point cook is a fast growing area that's all new with lots of young familes and schools and child care avaiable. There is bus service and trains out there but often a 10 min drive to train station.

Good luck deciding

Hi Feeb,

Point Cook is pretty near the bay, is it prone to flooding?!?!?!? (sorry to sound ignorant and silly...) Is the area ard Williams Landing also suitable for families? We are asking more on the West side as it is more affordable.

In general, for parking at train stations, is it easy to get a lot? Is it often that we have to find alternative parking away fr the train station due to insuff. lots?

(P.S: you have been breastfeeding for the past 26 mths!?!?!)

[blessed_mom]

yep i suggest you look into more areas... maybe rent for a bit first to get a feel for the areas...
have you been to melb before?
what typeof things do you want? childcare, schools etc are in many areas...
what 'culture' do you like in your area? do you want leafy or built up? how close to the city do you want to be? what type of budget? what do you like to do recreationally?
this will help suggest areas...

Hi preagainpan mummy, I hv never been to Mel while hubby has been there for holiday. We prefer leafy area, train ride ard 30mins, ard A$400K, 2bedrms+1bathrm+1lockup garage, will be getting a car at the start.

The last question is tough, after I gave birth, I have no time for recreation! Haha. We would like to bring our girl to the national parks, picnics, mostly outdoor activities.