When moving abroad to Australia, many Brits are drawn to Perth and the expat population has grown to around a third of the total population, which stands at just over two million people.
Perth city is located on the Swan River and overlooks the vast expanse of the Indian Ocean, so water is the heart and soul of this city.
It is isolated from the popular destinations of Sydney and Melbourne in the country’s east, but this makes it more attractive to many. Its isolation means that the arts and culture scene is minimal, but the wide open spaces, sunshine all year round, outside way of life and great living standards mean that it’s an ideal place to bring up a family and get away from the grey skies of the UK.
If you’re planning a house move abroad to Perth, you can request international removal estimates and find overseas removal companies with reallymoving.com.
Employment in Perth
The high expat population is mainly due to government initiatives, which aim to draw talent and skills in from overseas in order to work in various industries. Some of the main employers are healthcare, construction, science, manufacturing, education and mining.
The economy in Perth is booming, so it is attracting a lot of industry and, of course, employment opportunities are high. This is mainly due to the natural energy resources located in the area including gas, iron, gold and other metals.
Where to Live in Perth
Fremantle is the beach side suburb to head to if you love the beach lifestyle, cafes, art and a little bit of culture.
North of the city of Perth, Mount Lawley is popular with families and expats, while Joondalup, Dalkeith and Nedlands also make great spots to head for. New communities are also popping up all over the outskirts of the town as the population continues to grow, one of the latest is Ellenbrook.
Many families start off living in the inner city suburbs, but once they’ve had the chance to live in Perth for a while and explore the surrounding suburbs they decide to move out to areas such as the Eastern Hills. The space, scenery and clean air are a draw that few can resist.
Life in Perth
King’s Park in the city centre is a highlight for any visitor or local with wide-ranging views of the Swan River and Perth city skyline.
Perth also has a myriad of things to do for singles, couples or families, including the Aquarian of Western Australia, Perth Zoo, Adventure World, the Art Gallery of Western Australia and Perth Concert Hall. But getting out of the city and visiting one of the many national parks in the area is a must do, for nothing but a glimpse of the shy koala.
Public transport in Perth is managed by the amusingly named, Transperth agency, and runs an extensive network of buses, trains and ferries. A light rail network is also being planned for Perth.
The Indian Pacific passenger rail service links Perth to Sydney.
Cost of Living
In terms of cost of living, because of Perth’s location imported goods can be more expensive than on the east coast. But locally manufactured goods such as clothing can be very cheap, and deals on local foods are common.
Crime rates in Perth are low, but like any city crime exists and common sense should be adhered to.
Perth Property Prices
The median property price for buying a home in Perth is $560,000. If you are planning to rent a home when you have moved abroad to Perth, you’ll find a 3 bedroom property in the city centre to cost around $3,000 a month, and outside Perth city centre at $2,000 a month.
Moving to Perth with Children
Standards of schools in Perth live up to the overall Australian standards and any education will meet or exceed your expectations. You can search local government websites to find out which schools are scoring highly, and where they are located. This may dictate your search for which suburb you decide to live in.
For more advice on selecting a school for your children when moving to Perth, take a look at our article, Choosing schools when moving abroad.
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