Woodend for toddler and teenager?

[fionas]

Hopefully our latest plan will be our last plan.

We need more space and we'd like a big garden for DD to run around in.

So we're thinking of a tree change from inner-Melbourne to Woodend. One of the other reasons it appeals is that I don't currently drive in the city even though I have my licence. The idea of driving in Woodend, however, does not faze me in the slightest. Country traffic compared to city traffic is a whole different ball game. I think I will actually have more freedom and do more stuff there than I do here. DD would watch less DVDs too - we have a very child unfriendly garden here. I guess when I say we want a big garden - what I mean is that we want a big block where we can go on walks, where there's established trees, where there is a view from every room, where it just has that serene feel.

Have spoken to our 16-year-old DSD about this plan, expecting her to be very opposed. But she said "I need a new challenge". She makes friends very easily so I have no concerns about her settling in somewhere new, just how bored she might be going from the city to a very small country town.

So, give me the good and the bad.

Oh, and it would mean being mortgage free though I'd probably still like to keep a toehold in the Melbourne market by buying a small unit and renting it out.

[Bathsheba]

Is it flat land-wise? I know that is a priority as well... but it's so far.... but it is a nice spot... still, you haven't been to my place yet... except for being a bit hilly where i live it ticks all the boxes LOL You better disregard my opinion... it's too biased toward getting you to stay locally hehe

[fionas]

Well, the town centre is pretty flat. And y'know what it's not THAT far away. About an hour on the train but you always get a seat and I could actually get a head start on my day by doing some work on the laptop. TBH, I probably wouldn't be that keen if I was commuting every day but I only work 5 days a fortnight and I think the commute would be a novelty. You know I'm a kid at heart so I know I would be sitting there thinking, "hey, look at me sitting on a train with my laptop - I'm a GROWN UP!!!"

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE your area but to get the sort of house we want we'd need to double our mortgage and I just don't want to do that while working p/t and TTC.

Anyhow, you could come up and if you felt like it, do some practice driving on deserted country roads. Or not. It has some cute shops/coffee/lunch places but also has a Coles and a Target.

[Mother Goose]

Fiona, one of my friends lived out there when her twins were 1-3 years. She LOVED it. It was brilliant for them. They rented a place that was on 1/4 acre and the twins loved roaming the property. I never heard her say a bed thing about it... And I lived in Eltham at the time - and it took me an hour door to door to drive to her house.

[lilima]

Great area. I live in Gisbourne, so we would be neighbours!!!!!

Yes - the train is great, and you do get a chair most mornings. For big shops, watergardens is really not that far, and there is also Sunbury, and the other direction is Castlemaine or Bendigo.

They have also just opened an awesome childrens playground there.

If you want that little closer to melbourne, but still with the rural feel, you could go gisbourne where we are. It's not bad, but not that cute little town look like Woodend.

Also woodend is not a defendable town, so in a bushfire, you basically have to get out, as there is no real safe evacuation point. (read that in my local paper)

Oh - and don't forget the hanging rock races. They are great!

[fionas]

thanks guys.

Lilima - we considered Gisbourne but according to DP the train station is not close to the residential area. Ideally (and this is VERY ideally) we want somewhere that's walking distance to train and shops. We're moving from a place where we are a 30 second walk from the tramline and a 3 minute walk from the train station and as DP is a train driver with unsociable hours the less time he has to travel to the train station the better.

Having said all that, we've only been looking for a few weeks so our criteria may change. Walking distance has gone down the list a little and it's more important to me to have kind of an enchanting block. There's no point us moving there for just your run-of-the-mill suburban block. I want something with character that DD can explore, with established trees and nooks and crannies (but no dams). We went to a house in the hills near Healesville over Christmas and it was fanbloodytastic. DD insisted that she was going to find Peter Rabbit and Pooh every time we went for a walk around the property.

I'm not TOOOOO concerned about the fire stuff. To a city chick like me, it would be a no-brainer. Just get out of town and go stay in a motel. I know that's easier said than done if there's a run of bad days or one per week over summer which would be damn inconvenient but defending when we have DD to consider wouldn't even be an option.

[lilima]

I live 400 m from the rail station, so there is access. I am in New gisbourne. yes it is slightly larger than a suburban block, but really nice. There are other larger blocks around here that are fairly close to the station. Try looking at Hamilton street, or the few roads around there. I am also walking distance to 3 primary schools (catholic, public and Montessori) Also there is a bus that runs from the station in to town, so always an option to take the bus.

I still say go woodend as it is beautiful. we have to stay here as DH must be 8kms from the branch as he is an ambo, so we had limited options in where we could go.

Oh - and Macedon is STUNNING - try looking there.

[fionas]

Thanks for that info - we definitely have to do more exploring but it's hard with DP's shifts (he often works weekends).

Yep, I've heard that Mt Macedon is beautiful but not many shops (but good pubs).

I guess the thing I like about the idea of moving up there somewhere is that there's lots of little places to explore. Much easier to drive between the little towns up there than drive around the inner city here (for a nervous driver like me). And really, as it is, I only go to the end of my street to High Street, Northcote (well Westgarth), Clifton Hill or the city so it's not like being in the city means that the world is my oyster.

What d'you reckon the situation is with childcare/kinder up there? Easy/hard to get spots?

[Boo Boo]

Hi Fiona

We used to live in Urquhart Street, Northcote....then had a sea-change to Mt Eliza on the Mornington Peninsula which we love. Sorry that is absolutely no help to you in regards to your question about Woodend, but everytime I see your username and location I think of our place in Urquhart Street....

Good luck with your decision and yes Woodend is a lovely spot.

Laurin

[Nai]

I used to live in Northcote and moved to Sunbury - I hated it but I hate commuting and I worked in the city. Plus we were also child-free then and used to go out in the city a lot and it was a pain. However while we were there we did go to Woodend a bit as the Holgate brewery pub is there and it is just great - so that's a plus!

DP grew up in that area and said Woodend is a pretty quiet town - still very classic country town feel. He went to Braemar College and liked it but that was 20 years ago.

[Amity]

Personally, I'd say GO FOR IT.

I did the "treechange" in my early 20s, sure it was only to Shepparton, but it was awesome. I still have many good friends up there and would still be there, circumstances permitting.

It's not as far as Shepparton, I used to do Melbourne and back in a day. Driving becomes part of your lifestyle, so whilst you will be spending less on other things, you will be spending more on petrol. But you have LOCAL shops, where you know the LOCAL people, and you will be part of a LOCAL community. Melbourne doesn't have that AFAIK.

Financially it appears to make sense. And DSD won't be able to "stay out" whenever she likes as the country isn't as "fun". As long as she falls in with a good crowd, she'll be fine.

Good luck making your choice!

[Ginger]

Woodend is a beautiful spot- lovely little cafes and a gorgeous feel to it. go for it! your kids would love it

[madamerogers]

i live in woodend, own a cafe in kyneton, grew up in macedon and went to high schol in gisborne!
so ask away!!!!!

[Netix]

Oh, Woodend is fantastic! I often wish we had moved there, but we came to Sunbury instead. Now I'm here, I'd still love to move there, or Macedon, or Kyneton, or Lancefield (or anywhere like that), but I've got a group of friends finally, so I'm reluctant to go anywhere now!

Nai, I didn't know you lived in Sunbury? Do you still live there? I asked for anybody who lived in Sunbury or surrounds in the 'local' thread, but got no replies...

I think as for DSD getting into trouble, it would be more if she fell in with a bad crowd. But from what I've noticed, all the young people around (Sunbury and when we go to places like Gisb, Woodend, etc) are actually really nice, not obnoxious typical teens. Its funny, they'll swear and cuss but as soon as you come close with a pram, they'll tell eachother to shut-it cos there's a lady with a baby comin'! lol. And if Woodend's anything like here (Sunbury), the locals look after themselves and keep most things under control.

[Nai]

Nai, I didn't know you lived in Sunbury? Do you still live there? I asked for anybody who lived in Sunbury or surrounds in the 'local' thread, but got no replies...

Sorry Netix, we moved closer to the city about 7 years ago as I couldn't handle the commute but DP's mum and sister still live there so we visit fairly regularly.

[Netix]

Nai, I moved in as you moved out! I think we moved here about seven or eight years ago from Melb. lol.

[fionas]

OK, fingers crossed.

Saw a place on the weekend.

Have put an offer in. Now in bidding game with another bidder but they are taking ages to make their next bid which hopefully means they are approaching their limit. And we have a fair bit of room to manoeuvre.

On tenterhooks waiting for phone call from agent!!!

[Bathsheba]

Oooh how exciting! I guess, afterall, it wouldn't be so bad to have a friend up that way to visit Hope you hear some good news soon!