Sunshine, Melbourne - Suitable for family with Kid?

Hi,

My hubby, 15mths daughter and I will be moving from Singapore to Melbourne in Apr/May 2010. We are looking for a suitable neighbourhood. Does anyone know if Sunshine is a good place?

My initial research: It is pretty near the city, walking distance to train station and supermarket readily available. 20% of the population there is family with children and there are a number of public primary school (not that impt at this stage). Not sure about childcare and playgroup. Any feedback is valuable as I am clueless to where we should settle for and buy a place.

It depends on what YOU are looking for. I personally don't like the place, but it's because I drive through it to get another place and I don't like the feel of it. BUT that's just me. There are plenty of suburbs with those details - you will have to give us a bit more detail!

Or rent first and get to know different areas. I live on the other side of the city, at the bottom of the dandenong ranges, it's very family friendly here. Google more!

my thoughts are pretty much the same as lulu's....but yes, we need more info! apart from childcare etc, what else is important to you? public transport? easy access to the city? ability to get out of the city for day trips easily? will you have a car? or two?

i live bayside & love it!

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...

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.

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.

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

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 :p

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

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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...

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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.

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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

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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!?!?!)

I've never known Point Cook to flood. It used to be the site of an Air Force Base so i doubt whether it would.

I've heard recently that the part of Altona on the bay is becoming very popular and less rough. That might be worth a look as well.

I have never known it to flood and as Tinkerbell said there is an old occasionally used airforce base (used for training and museum etc) Its not super close to bay but close enough that its not far away

Williams landing along with other new estates are mostly aimed at families. We have actually been looking out there but DH and I cant agree on anything as where we are now is walking distance to train station etc but just not big enough house! Houses out there are on good sized blocks and can be nice and big!!

Nope been BF for 14 months!!! ? how did you get 26 months?

Good luck

If you are looking at national parks/leafy suburbs etc come over East way. Grabbing a rental in Box Hill is a good idea to start with. I'm at the foot of the Dandenong Ranges, close to national parks, the lovely hills, childrens farms, arboretums.
It's all very established out here and you should be able to find something lovely with a big backyard within that price range.

Look at Heathmont, Boronia, Ferntree Gully, The Basin, Wantirna - they are about 10-15 mins from Box Hill.

Tinkerbell, we are actually looking at Altona just last night! So Point Cook is not bad too... will keep on searching.

Feeb, i must be losing my sleep and actually added another 12mths to the calculation. You are going strong huh, targeting 18mths/2yrs FB? Keep it up... lucky child!

Btw, what does 'D' stands for in all your acronyms? D-hubby, D-son, D-daughter...=)

Just wanted to also say stick to the Eastern Suburbs if you can afford it. Box Hill is a great spot.

I wouldn't walk around Sunshine with my baby, I just wouldn't feel safe. :redface:

Renting first and getting a feel for areas you like is a great idea. Good luck!

I have friends who live in Sunshine and like it but personally I don't like it. I live in Hoppers Crossing and we have never had any trouble out here. Point Cook is growing and I love heading over there to look around and hopefully will try out some of their restaurants.

hi, jumping in join this thread a little late but hopefully not too late ;)

My question is what is Hoppers Crossing and Werribee like for families? Places are good price out there, but is that because its a rubbish area??

To the original poster, I think the east areas where Lulu mentioned sound more suited to what your after and you will find something nice in that nice area for under 400K.