We're moving to Sydney and I need your help please!

Hello :D

We're looking at possibly moving to Sydney in June/July as my husband has been offered a job down there. Can anyone help with the following please?

- What is a good, safe, quiet suburb within about 15km of the city (he will be working in Alexandria). We have been looking at Northbridge, Earlwood and Russell Lea. Are these good areas or do you know anything about them?
- What is a good pre-school around the city? My DS1 is due to start preschool in 2012 and we plan to be back here for him to start prep and my DS2 to start kindy in 2013.

Any other things I should know before heading down? Very nervous about the move as we will be moving away from family and friends and will know no one down there except for a few lovely ladies that I've met on BB.

Thanks for your time!

Can't help you with those areas sorry as I live the other side of the city but i am sure there wil be someone who can.
Its very dauting moving away from family but it can be a great experience. We lived in Darwin for 15 months and it was great.

I live in Sydney but dont really know that side of Sydney at all. In fact I had never even heard of some of those suburbs but Sydney is a big place. Hopefully someone will have a bit more info for you

Thanks so much for posting MrsMac and BB.

MM - Thank so much for confirming that it will be a great experience. Both DH and I are very close to our families and leaving them and taking their grandkids with us will be very hard BUT we dont want to be asking ourselves what if, what if for the rest of our lives.

Northbridge is near where I work and I think it's a pretty nice area. Can't help with preschools unfortunately, but I do know it can be very hard to get kindy places.... as with many things in Sydney. I hope you enjoy your time here, it's hard to be away from family and friends, but try to remember you're here for a good time not a long time and you will be back with them soon. I'm sure some BB girls will meet up with you and make you feel welcome if you like!

I worked for Willoughby Council for years and Northbridge is a gorgeous area, I'd LOVE to live there (but it's very exxy though). Anywhere in Willoughby Council would be lovely, there are some really nice and much cheaper areas nearby Northbridge, Willoughby, Artarmon, West Chatswood (lots of views of the harbour in Northbridge, that's why it's $$$).

Wishing you all the very best for the move. :goodluck: :hug:

I realise i do know where Northbridge is its nice but waaaaay out of our price range!!! If you want 15 mins to the city or Alexandria which is out of the city on the way to the airport you aren't going to get quiet and leafy unless you have a LOT of money to spend on rent.
Have you been onto one of the real estate websites??

im originally from sydney and went to school in alexandria. The southern suburbs out to brighton le sands and Kogarah are really nice areas and not far from alexandria.

if you really want to stay closer in to the city, then try glebe and surrounding areas. Its got a real old world charm to it and is not far from a maternity hospital. If you go slightly further west there is Petersham and Leichardt which are a bit more leafy in some areas.

with regard to 'safe' areas... not sure about that. I grew up in waterloo and its not considered a safe area but i never had any problems there...perhaps knowing the locals helps, but i think overall crime is prevalent in most places.

Wow, thank you all so much! I really appreciate your help!

We are very lucky that DH's work is paying for our rent up to a certain amount a week for 2 years so the $$ shouldnt be a problem. We have found a few very nice places which suits our needs in those areas for around that figure. They have stipulated that we must be within the 15km of work and we really need a 4+ bedroom for when family stays and a yard for our large dog so not exactly a recipe for cheap rent!!!

Thank you all so much for your help, I'm off to realestate . com to look at some places in those areas.