Living In And Around Wollongong?

[No Crust Racing]

Hey guys, in the next year or two the missus and I will be looking to get out of here (Albury/Wodonga) and we like much of the NSW coast. We've spent some time up around Coffs/Sawtell/Kempsey etc and the climate is quite nice and the lack of hay fever suits as both quite well.

The downside to going that far north is SFA in the way of racetrack access unless I wanna drive over 4hrs each way, whereas here winton is an hour down the road.

This led me to look at race tracks first then locations second lol This then led me to the Wollongong area of coast as there's Wakefield, Oran Park, and Eastern Creek all within about 1-2hours. This of course made me flip my shit and get excited about being within range of 3 different tracks.

More important than that though is what it's like living along that area of coast and/or in Wollongong. We had a bit of a look last night and it seems real estate is quite expensive and that average temperatures are a bit more what we're looking for rather than the plus 40's we get here some days through summer. What's the hayfever season like up that way? I know it sounds a bit off but the missus suffers badley and I do a bit also but to a lesser extent.

I'd like to hear from some people living in or around Wollongong and tell me what you think, what's good what sucks and if you'd go there again etc etc.

Give me an impression of the place. We're keen to come take a look around over a short holiday or something but I'd like to hear from people who are living there now.

Cheers

Dan

[tbag]

Rent in Wollongong is expensive but if you head 5-10mins out of Wollongong towards shellharbour or warrawong, you'll get a 3 bedroom house with garage for the same price if not less

[No Crust Racing]

Yeah we looked around at some of the palces out of town so to speak and the rents were much more reasonable.

that's onep art of the puzzle but what's the area like?

[JAS-25T]

What do you want to know about it specifically.

Annecdotes are just that. They are biased, and based on opinions.

if you ask a barber if you need a hair cut, guess what he's going to tell you?

But if you asked, whats the surf like, how's unemployment/job opportunities and alike, we could probably answer better

[No Crust Racing]

Good point.

Specifically things that interest me.

Employment Oppurtunities and pay rates, I'm guessing being a larger centre the pay rates are a bit higher but there is more competition. FYI I work in IT as a consultant and am looking to move into project management roles/team leadership etc. Missus hasbeen a property manager for 10yrs but is looking to move out of this field, perhaps HR or something.

Cost of living interest me

Events/nightlife interests me

Access to good quality food REALLY interests me, and when I say that I mean being able to go out for a meal and eat some awesome stuff.

Public transport is important also

And again if anyone has some insight into what the hay fever season is like that's also very important.

[JAS-25T]

Good point.

Specifically things that interest me.

Employment Oppurtunities and pay rates, I'm guessing being a larger centre the pay rates are a bit higher but there is more competition. FYI I work in IT as a consultant and am looking to move into project management roles/team leadership etc. Missus hasbeen a property manager for 10yrs but is looking to move out of this field, perhaps HR or something.

Cost of living interest me

Events/nightlife interests me

Access to good quality food REALLY interests me, and when I say that I mean being able to go out for a meal and eat some awesome stuff.

Public transport is important also

And again if anyone has some insight into what the hay fever season is like that's also very important.

In order,

Employment - You will find that rates of pay are probably in the vincinity of 20k (roughly) less than Sydney. That is reflective of the percieved* reduced cost of living here.

The unemployment rate is high, but that tends to come from the amount of lazy people more so than lack of jobs. Therefore, if you are motivated and highly skilled, this should not be a problem. The BlueScope Steel, Port Kembla Steelworks is a large employer locally, both directly and indirectly, and due to this a lot of the Illawarra economy is often based on how they are doing. The University of Wollongong is also a large business/employer in the region.

*Cost of living - Housing cost is high. Infact, based on a survey of major cities in the world, it is ranked 10th least affordable...... You can find cheaper areas, though you will find those lazy people who don't care too much for anything about there. You do have a large range of area's to choose from though in a relatively small strip along the coast. So finding a place that suits your lifestyle should be easy.

Events/Nightlife - There aren't alot of big events here, most things are based around the local sporting teams in the NBL and NRL. They are both followed passionately.

There are plenty of cafe type places to go of an evening that are really good value. This is something that you would be able to work out yourself in time to see what suits your tastes. As for more upperclass places, there are both seafood and fancy restuarants around a plenty, and with the varied ethnicities around there are many types to choose from. There are pubs everywhere, and in the city of Wollongong there are many nightspots to go, from Uni hangouts, to well known night clubs and pubs. In saying that, Sydney is only 1hr drive away and there are more events there than you can poke a stick at.

The array of local beaches is great, there is one within 5mins of anywhere and everywhere.

Good quality food - depend on what you like but there are some nice seafood restuarants and fine dining places to go.

Public transport - There is a heap of bus routes that service almost every area. Trains run up the coast line, but can be hard to get to in some places such as south of Port Kembla when you are nearer to the coast. But in saying that, everything is only within 10-20mins driving distance.

Hay fever - I can't comment much on this, but there are some areas that may get more issues. Again I can't say specifically because you can go from the coast, to the farms within 10mins drive, so it can vary much.

I've tried to be un-biased in my comments but you will still find peoples experiences vary somewhat.

Hope this helps.

[No Crust Racing]

Awesome thanks for your insight.

A few extra queries.

Where abouts in the area do you live and how long have you been there?

Are there any areas to avoid specifically, every city has suburbs and regions that are less desirable for sure but usually people know that specfic areas have higher crime rates and are home to people of lower socia-economic status. I'm just in the middle and I don't want to live in a sh1t hole lol

What's it like getting around when you're driving your own car (traffic) and how is the parking situation, is it paid almost everywhere?

[JAS-25T]

I've lived in quite a few different areas recently here from in the city to an area that is touted, but not really, a lower socio-economic area and to now an area that is somewhere in between. I don't want to be specific on an open forum.

Like anywhere else, you can break it down geographically

The northern suburbs are generally the well-to-do's

The city is typical of any city.

The southern burb's are classed as lower socio-economic areas

And then there's shellharbour, which is a small city of it's own, but still part of the illawarra. That area is mixed but they like to think they are the cooler, untouched part.

Then you can break it down in a east west thing as well

eastern suburbs close to water, well-to-do

burbs - lower

western hills and farms - more mixed see north south divisions.

Some of the lower class areas have nice streets, just as some of the high end areas have houso streets. It's specific to each area, so fi you liked an area, tell me and I could tell you what it's like, if I know.

Driving is easy.

Again, it's not a big area. You could go from north to south in around 30-40mins max. Then east to west in 10-15mins.

Worst traffic is in commuting periods in and around the city. There is paid parking or free if you're willing to walk around 5-10mins. Still during peak hour you could traverse the city in 10mins.

[No Crust Racing]

No specific areas in mind just yet, I think that will be more dictated by the cost of accomodation.

Appreciate the informative responses, and the effort to be unbiased.

Am I right in being excited about being between 3 different motorsport venues?

does anyone else want to contribute, agree disagree etc?

Edited June 8, 2010 by ActionDan

[Cassbo]

Am I right in being excited about being between 3 different motorsport venues?

Unfortunatly no, Oran Park closed in Jan or Feb this year

2 different motorsport venues on the other hand

[JAS-25T]

Wakefield (around 1hr 10mins) is closer than Eastern Creek (1hr 20mins) by a poofteenth.

Oran Park Raceway no longer exists.

[No Crust Racing]

Well 2 venues at about 70-90mins away is better than just one at the same approx distance which is what I have here.

[MBS206]

Unfortunatly no, Oran Park closed in Jan or Feb this year

2 different motorsport venues on the other hand

There is also Marulan Driver Training.

The Nirima tafe events SAU hold.

And WSID at eastern creek.

[oweban]

The southern burb's are classed as lower socio-economic areas

And then there's shellharbour, which is a small city of it's own, but still part of the illawarra. That area is mixed but they like to think they are the cooler, untouched part.

*shakes fist*

also, i'm here so it's awesome.

Jase's write-up is pretty spot-on; I don't spend a whole lot of time doing stuff around here, but there's plenty on.

[No Crust Racing]

Well you guys have done a good job selling the place.

What are the downsides that bother you the most.

[oweban]

Bogans. Prepare for anti-intellectualism. But it's not that hard to ignore.

What else? Takes a fair while to meet up with the SAU boys and girls and closest KK's is an hour away.

Honestly, I love where I live (Albion park rail, along the lake, very quiet street up my end). Not looking forward to moving into the city for work, but hey, more incentive now I've got a missus from Sydney. Otherwise I'd keep on catching the train.

[MBS206]

Well you guys have done a good job selling the place.

What are the downsides that bother you the most.

Getting to places in Sydney.

The price of rent (i'm about to go on the hunt in 3 months) vs income.

The night life is shit (nightclubbing etc)

[henry R]

hey mate, i grew up in the gong now 22 and the lifestyle here is pretty good, traffic isn't that bad during peak hour only around the main cities where even that is fine. Almost all suburbs have a ghetto spot but there not as bad as you would think, crime rates not too bad(your cars pretty safe at the supermarket) and theres always a punchup in town on a saturday night. police do blitz all around the area and speed traps. there are jobs around but yeah we are lazy people down here, not so much warehouse n distribution jobs but more retail and customer service orientated. Hayfever wise my mrs gets hayfever here but she can cope if not have a zirtec. Beaches are good too.

Downsides - gets boring after you have seen the sites, not many performance stores but with sydney between 1-2 hours away depending on area theres heaps to choose. Nightlife is the same like most clubs play the same songs but dont go fever or formally known as bluenote its dirrrttyy

but over the years here i have met alot of people who moved from sydney and other major cities and they find it so much more relaxing and they do enjoy the beaches and that "lazy" wollongong style. i didnt want to go into heaps of detail or i would be writing a book on this town but all in all wollongong its not a bad choice down here

[No Crust Racing]

Thanks mate appreciate the response

[jayr]

i live here in GONG and yes it is more quieter than sydney and alot safer too....mmmnn about rent yes and no...