I spent most of my childhood with my neighbours going from pool to pool, house to house, making treehouses, playing board games, exploring/searching for fish and turtles at local creek, bike-riding, etc. I feel for my kids not having any friends in the street. Is it the norm these days or are there some child friendly suburbs or streets?
Best Perth Suburbs for Primary/High school Kids
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Sounds like you had a similar suburban, country-feel childhood to me. I spent most of it in medium sized mining towns like Mt Isa and Kalgoorlie.
I tend to find that the inner southern suburbs probably have a closer feel to that sort of thing. Bonus points for being in the Rossmoyne/Applecross/Willetton high school zones.
Of course, I have a southern suburb bias (you probably know of the classic north vs south debate).
I tend to find that the inner southern suburbs probably have a closer feel to that sort of thing. Bonus points for being in the Rossmoyne/Applecross/Willetton high school zones.
Of course, I have a southern suburb bias (you probably know of the classic north vs south debate).
It's just luck, I think. I had a childhood in Sydney like that with lots of kids my age in houses near us, but my kids don't - there aren't kids their age near us. I know of other people in our part of Sydney whose kids do have lots of nearby friends and spend plenty of time going from house to house.
I grew up in Brisbane southside, 10k's from city. We had a horse paddock at the end of the street so we used to feed them and visit them regularly. It's about 20-30 houses now. Handball, skateboarding, roller skating and various blackouts with torches was fun too.
Thatbum we have some friends just moved from Kalgoorlie move to that area. I was quite surprised how reasonable their rent is for a good school catchment. I'm not sure if I could convince my Northern Suburbs partner but will keep it in mind. He said he's ready for a change but I'm not sure how far that extends!
Thatbum we have some friends just moved from Kalgoorlie move to that area. I was quite surprised how reasonable their rent is for a good school catchment. I'm not sure if I could convince my Northern Suburbs partner but will keep it in mind. He said he's ready for a change but I'm not sure how far that extends!
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What thatbum said for the southern suburbs. On the northern side you would have a few options eg Woodlands, Carine, Duncraig, Hamersley, Warwick, and further north. Basically, the older suburbs with still reasonable sized houses (not McMansions) and at least circa 700sqm blocks and therefore a decent amount of outside play space for kids. Hard to see how such a social ecosystem can develop with big houses on postage stamp blocks a la all the new suburbs lately.
But I also agree with Depreciator - a lot of it is luck and staying in the one spot long enough to form established links into that community. One problem in Australian communities is that it can take a long time to establish a social network for kids and families in each community. If people are new to a community where everyone already has a trusted social network that is already working for them it can be very hard to break in. Takes a long time... of staying in the one spot to find the right friends. Letting kids ride their bikes to friends places etc requires finding the right group of friends within a reasonably small radius.
With young kids / toddlers we have found playgroup and similar resources useful for getting to know people. For older kids, there are sports clubs and other activities to link into. I think it's really important to get out there and meet people at these kinds of activities in order to establish social opportunities for kids.
But I also agree with Depreciator - a lot of it is luck and staying in the one spot long enough to form established links into that community. One problem in Australian communities is that it can take a long time to establish a social network for kids and families in each community. If people are new to a community where everyone already has a trusted social network that is already working for them it can be very hard to break in. Takes a long time... of staying in the one spot to find the right friends. Letting kids ride their bikes to friends places etc requires finding the right group of friends within a reasonably small radius.
With young kids / toddlers we have found playgroup and similar resources useful for getting to know people. For older kids, there are sports clubs and other activities to link into. I think it's really important to get out there and meet people at these kinds of activities in order to establish social opportunities for kids.
I found some houses around Duncraig/padbury (Hepburn Heights) that look OK. My friends child went to Duncraig High last year before heading back to NSW so I'm going to find out some more info about the school although they did seem happy.
I'm finding at the moment my kids and myself aren't clickIng in our school and street environment, time to move on! - and need to get kids in more sports too.
Its really good when similar types of people move into an area. The street in Gwelup I'm building on is full of kids around the same age and they are all out playing whenever I go by.
I have bemoaned constantly about not having neighbours as there was no one for the kids to play with. It improved somewhat 2 years ago when a new estate opened up a few hundred metres from us and I got to meet everyone in there and they 'adopted' us and we meet at the local park etc and see each other.
So - tick for Gwelup for primary school. Highschool is Carine which has a good rep. Carine/Duncraig are good solid family areas.
I have bemoaned constantly about not having neighbours as there was no one for the kids to play with. It improved somewhat 2 years ago when a new estate opened up a few hundred metres from us and I got to meet everyone in there and they 'adopted' us and we meet at the local park etc and see each other.
So - tick for Gwelup for primary school. Highschool is Carine which has a good rep. Carine/Duncraig are good solid family areas.
Cool, thanks! I'm looking into Carine high school catchment also. With so few listings the more suburbs I consider the easier it will be!
Sounds like my childhood. I grew up in the Ferndale/Riverton area with quarter acre blocks and a pool in every third house. Lots of bush land, creeks, rivers. Cricket in summer, footy in the winter and golf all year round (used to work at Whaleback Golf course and had unlimited access). Only rule I remember was had to be home before the street lights where on.
Ah Rossmoyne my old stomping ground I grew up in. Its was fantastic.
Went to Rossmoyne Primary & Rossmoyne High School
Both very good schools.
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Maybe our working class roots have laid a good foundation for wealth creation or could have been something in the water?
What I've observed is children are much more likely to socialise if their friends attend their school AND live in their neighborhood.
Son is walking distance to his school as are many of his friends so has no shortage of friends to do those things with.
Other friends of his who live further out less so.
Like a 5 minute walk home from school always turns into 45min to an hour. This wouldn't happen if he lived some distance away.
Tonight after school a bunch of them are walking to a shopping center a few Ks away to pick up an item one of the children had ordered, and tomorrow after school {knock off 1pm due to end of term} a group of them are heading to the mall.
Weekends are spent at different sports courts kicking and throwing balls around.
Almost everywhere they go is by foot, dropping into houses and picking up their friends as they go.
They're like a walking bus
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Son is walking distance to his school as are many of his friends so has no shortage of friends to do those things with.
Other friends of his who live further out less so.
Like a 5 minute walk home from school always turns into 45min to an hour. This wouldn't happen if he lived some distance away.
Tonight after school a bunch of them are walking to a shopping center a few Ks away to pick up an item one of the children had ordered, and tomorrow after school {knock off 1pm due to end of term} a group of them are heading to the mall.
Weekends are spent at different sports courts kicking and throwing balls around.
Almost everywhere they go is by foot, dropping into houses and picking up their friends as they go.
They're like a walking bus
.I'm from Bullcreek - just over the border.
There used to be a great BMX track in Bullcreek called Southside that we would ride to reguarly. Used to take about 45 min bike ride to get there from Ferndale.
It may still be there?
Isn't Rossmoyne and Churchlands considered some of the best public schools in WA. But I think because of that, need to pay a premiumm to live there
I'm looking around Churchlands also, not much on the market and get less house and land for $$. Nice area and worth paying a bit more if something suitable comes up.
I must admit though, using the extra $$ for 4wd and maybe caravan instead is a bit too tempting. Decisions!
Interesting, will keep that in mind.
memories! remember Povey had an outlet there at the bullcreek shops? I heard something about him a little while back
http://www.managementtoday.co.uk/ne...s-boomers---down-not-out-1-5/?DCMP=ILC-SEARCH
