Living in Wollongong - what's it like?

kkelly77

I'm looking for people's experiences that have lived/are living in Wollongong. In particular, I'm looking for information about living in Bulli.

I have a potential sponsorship role offered to me and I'd like to know what these places are like to live in. So far I've checked rental accommodation and it's pretty expensive IMO.

Rubadubchub

kkelly77 wrote: »

I'm looking for people's experiences that have lived/are living in Wollongong. In particular, I'm looking for information about living in Bulli.

I have a potential sponsorship role offered to me and I'd like to know what these places are like to live in. So far I've checked rental accommodation and it's pretty expensive IMO.

Wollongong is a nice place. I lived there for 6 weeks. Some lovely beaches around that area like Woonona. Also lived in Bulli with family and the area they lived in was very nice. There is a hospital in Bulli which is always empty (always comes in handy) and the place basically consists of a main street of shops and an RSL. Bulli is a smallish place with Woonona a dander up the road.

Wollongong itself is decent sized town compared to places in Ireland. Has a shopping centre, couple of Cinemas and a few bars. The entire area is built around the steel works that you will no doubt see if you visit.

Bulli train station runs direct trains to Sydney and they take roughly an hour hour and 40 mins. If your work is in Wollongong then happy days but if you or your partner or whatever are working in Sydney the commute is a killer.

All in all i liked the place and still go down to Wollongong every few weeks to see family and get out of the city.

Rubadubchub

P.S How much is pretty expensive?

kkelly77

Rubadubchub wrote: »

P.S How much is pretty expensive?

A quick search on Gumtree shows prices starting from $300 a week.

Rubadubchub

kkelly77 wrote: »

A quick search on Gumtree shows prices starting from $300 a week.

$300 a week is not expensive. If that is for a decent sized place that isnt shared accomodation then your on to a winner. Move into sydney and you will pay closer to $500 / $600.

Unfortunately the rental prices here are a lot more expensive than at home.

mishymc

I have lived in Wollongong for a year and a half now and love it!

Bulli would be one of the more upscale suburbs and so renting there for a nice place would be more expensive than other surburbs in the area! I'm living in Fairy Meadow so about a 10 min drive to Bulli!

Where will you be working?
If you need any more info or have any questions just let me know!

kkelly77

mishymc wrote: »

I have lived in Wollongong for a year and a half now and love it!

Bulli would be one of the more upscale suburbs and so renting there for a nice place would be more expensive than other surburbs in the area! I'm living in Fairy Meadow so about a 10 min drive to Bulli!

Where will you be working?
If you need any more info or have any questions just let me know!

Job offer is in Bulli and decent places to rent start about $300 per week.

What's the rental like in Fairy Meadow?

mishymc

what type of place are you looking for? how many bedrooms? house/apt/townhouse?

Fairy Meadow would be cheaper than Bulli. We're in a 3 bed house with a back garden and deck area and pay $440 p/w. Compared to Sydney that's cheap! Friends of mine rented a 2 bed apt in bondi junction and paid $800 p/w!

Have you looked at the real estate websites?

kkelly77

mishymc wrote: »

what type of place are you looking for? how many bedrooms? house/apt/townhouse?

Fairy Meadow would be cheaper than Bulli. We're in a 3 bed house with a back garden and deck area and pay $440 p/w. Compared to Sydney that's cheap! Friends of mine rented a 2 bed apt in bondi junction and paid $800 p/w!

Have you looked at the real estate websites?

Probably 2 bed apt/townhouse/unit. Found a couple of places quite near the beach which is a bonus.

Coileach dearg

Looks like I'll be moving to Wollongong next year. We (Aussie wife) and I have had enough of living in Sydney and have a little one on the way in February so have to start thinking about moving to a permanent home to start our family Looking forward to it!

We've decided Wollongong for a number of reasons but mostly because it ticks all the boxes in terms of lifestyle, outdoors, schools etc. The commute to the city will be a killer for me but have done a few trial runs in the past few weeks and I can do some work on the train so that won't be too bad.

We're going to give it a 6 month trial and if all goes well and I am not in a mental asylum due to the 3 hour round trip commute, then we'll be calling Wollongong home.

Are there any people here still in Wollongong? How do/did you find Wollongong? Also looking forward to moving to a nice neighborhood where you can actually speak to your neighbours as this is something Sydney definitely falls short in. I'm from rural Ireland and have been in Sydney for 8 years and am a bit fed up with the traffic, rat race and chaotic lifestyle we have become accustomed to in Sydney. Have lived in Maroubra, Little Bay, Newtown, Lidcombe and Strathfield and couldn't see myself settling down in any of those places. We reckon Wollongong will be a bit more relaxing and exactly what we're looking for.

pete4130

My wife is from Wollongong. Even she admits that it exists in it's own little weird bubble and she said she couldn't live there again. It's a nice place to live with picturesque, beaches, picket fences, slow way of life etc. just not very open minded in some respects.

It's got its own social problems that are common with small town syndrome. If I'm to be a bit blunt it wouldn't be the most open minded place. It can be a bit secular but again that would be in the less well off neighbourhoods. It's got a totally different feel to it than Sydney as far as attitudes go.

It is a desirable place to live to raise a family with quiet streets, large homes, big gardens, nice beaches nearby so prices for rent and to buy are quite expensive for being out of Sydney.

Some of the beaches like Austinmer get really busy during summer. It is relatively close to the western suburbs of Sydney like Campbeltown etc. and is a popular to go to. Last time I was there, I reverse parked, got out of my car and has some scrawny scumbag in my face telling me to "watch out for his car" that I didn't even touch.

Fairy Meadow used to be known as "Fairly Ghetto".

The train journey is long too, especially for how short an actual journey it is. It'd be too much for me. It's an extra 15 hours a week minimum on top of your working hours. Thats a lot of your day to spend commuting. I'd weigh up the cost of your quality of life compared to the cost of renting/buying. Driving isn't much better either. It's a relatively clear run until you get to Rock Dale/Brighton Le Sands (depending on route). Easily the same time in bad traffic to cover 70km.

Now, I'll admit I seem negative and I am biased. I couldn't live in Wollongong. I hate when its mentioned we have to make a trip down and will do ANYTHING to get out of it. It's just my opinion. If you do have any questions about any area fire away. My wife will be bluntly honest about any areas your thinking of. She grew up all over Wollongong, went to school there etc.

mishymc

I'm still here in Wollongong and love it! I live in Fairy Meadow (which is in no way a ghetto!). Its quite laid back, beautiful beaches and would be a great place to raise a family.

Not sure why Pete4130 has such a negative view on Wollongong! I suppose some people are not as open minded as others but I wouldn't generalise the whole town with that view! There are some rough areas but you get that everywhere!

I do agree with the commute to Sydney! I couldn't do it although I do know lots of people who do and they just get on with it! It depends on what industry you are in and what job you have. If you can get a job down here in Wollongong I would recommend that over going to Sydney everyday! If you are commuting to Sydney I would recommend living in one of the northern suburbs such as Austinmer, Thirroul, Woonona or Bulli so the commute wouldn't be as long! All really nice areas.
The only thing I don't like is lack of shopping! Wollongong itself isn't great so you have to go to Figtree/Shellharbour or even Miranda for some good shopping!
If you need any more info just let me know!

Coileach dearg

Thanks very much for the advice Pete and mishymc.
That is consistent with what people have been telling me so far, people either love Wollongong and some didn’t like it at all. We’re prepared to give it a go for 6 months and decide then. Fairy Meadow is actually the suburb we are looking to move to My wife is from the Illawarra area and is familiar with the area and did mention that it had a bit of a reputation a few years ago but it has come along leaps and bounds since.
I will be looking for work down there eventually, probably in a few years but am very happy with my job at the moment and they are good with flexible work arrangements and I could possibly work from home 1 day per week.

I work in IT and check seek every now and again there does seem to be some IT jobs around the place and Wollongong Uni specialises in IT so that might attract even more IT companies there in the future.
I’m not too fussed about the social aspect as we’ll be moving down to raise a family and am also excited to meet new people. It will be like emigrating all over again I reckon as everything will be relatively new.

pete4130 wrote: »

just not very open minded in some respects.

It's got its own social problems that are common with small town syndrome. If I'm to be a bit blunt it wouldn't be the most open minded place. It can be a bit secular but again that would be in the less well off neighbourhoods. It's got a totally different feel to it than Sydney as far as attitudes go.

I kind of know what you mean here and have heard it mentioned before but to be honest I’d rather put up with that rather than some of the pretentious ‘greater than art thou’ attitudes you come across in Sydney.

mishymc wrote: »

The only thing I don't like is lack of shopping! Wollongong itself isn't great so you have to go to Figtree/Shellharbour or even Miranda for some good shopping

Haha this could actually work out in my favour if you know what I mean herself loves shopping though.

I’m looking to join a new soccer team down there too so if any of you have any recommendations please let me know, even if there is a 6 a side kickabout or anything. Looking to move next June and understand that’s halfway through the season out here so might have to sit this season out  Anyway, that really isn’t a priority at this point.

Thanks again for the feedback, really appreciate it.