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  1. #1
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    Default Should I Make The Change

    I post here because I am faced with a decision about what direction I take my life. For the last 6 years I have lived in Melbourne in a rather quiet but multicultural part. I have always lived in big cities the smallest place I lived is Launceston which is not that small. I have lived in Sydney, Melbourne, Launceston and Canberra. I also lived in rural Tasmania for a few months. I also followed the hippie trail around northern NSW in my youth.

    The house here in Melbourne’s inner north that I rent is being sold in the next few months and I find myself looking for a new home.

    I have two options:

    One stay in Melbourne, a place to which I have no family attachments, significant others or regular employment to tie me down (all except a fur baby called Snowflake). I have made a few friends which for me is a major achievement. However you can always make more. The negative with Melbourne or any major city is the cost of living. While I can move further out into suburbia. I am of the inclination that if you give up the benefits of cities you might as well go all the way out. Also the cost is not significantly reduced in outer suburbia. I would rather move into a more rural or remote location. A place of open vistas.

    Space is a factor in my deliberations. As a woodworker I find myself seeking the space to store wood and house tools / machinery. Space I think is going to be a difficult constraint going forward and will only get worse with time in Suburbia.

    Two I can find a home in a small country town with a big shed. If I need something I can always make a trip.

    To put things into context, I am single, I work sometimes as a casual secondary woodworking teacher but the work is not regular and no prospect of securing a contract ever seems possible.

    At this stage I am considering locations. With my choices falling into two types. A location just outside Melbourne going out into the Yarra ranges (this could be a way to get my toes wet) or going further out to the Alpine region or further north towards Beechworth or Myrtleford areas or up into the Snowy region.

    I would prefer a thriving place, a place with diversity. Last year I took a trip to a small town north of Shepparton. I had time to look around town it was a dying town. A dozen shops boarded up or just empty. The remaining were dying slowly. Most folks were welcoming and would engage in conversation. But the one thing I noticed was a lack of children well anyone under 60 was a rare sight.

    I would not be in the market to buy but only renting. While work as a teacher would be nice I accept that it would unlikely. My only concern is access to medical services my health is not great and have rather high support needs. Once in Launceston I had health complication and unable to secure a
    Doctor (would not take on new patients) I ended up in the emergency room.

    Well that’s a start - what do you think?

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  3. #2
    FenceFurniture's Avatar
    FenceFurniture is offline The prize lies beneath - hidden in full view
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    Kyneton.
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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  4. #3
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    Wangaratta.

    My wife has family up there so we have been there quite a few times over the years.

    It is expanding with all the services and has a hospital. Close to the snow and wine trails if that is your thing. Still very countrish but with conveniences and several schools.

  5. #4
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    Two hours out of Melbourne or even three there are heaps of choices.

    And Melbourne being only a short trip away if it’s only needed say once a month.

    How did the car license go.
    Thumpsucker hit me a pm of you want to chat.

    Cheers Matt


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  6. #5
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    We moved from Croydon North to Alexandra 3 years ago and are quite happy with the move, but we did so as a retirement move funded from selling a half acre property to developers. It's a nice friendly community with a good mix of age groups, and at about 1.5hrs from suburbia, it has a fair compliment of local tradies and their families, plus a fair compliment of commuting tradies and other workers as well. There is a very active local shed/woodworkers group (with access to milling gear and logs). Rents are generally well below metro rents for properties of similar standard, as are property prices for those in that market. Hospital was built about 7 years ago, and the old one was made available to community groups but that is up in the air at the moment. Community built nursing home, the church tried to steal it off the community but we may have won that one and got it back, small town but 4 pubs doing meals for lunch and dinner, 2 servo's, 4 take aways, 4 bakery/cafes, Rotary, Lions etc. State primary and secondary schools, and a catholic primary, plus a number of school camp areas in the surrounding area, 20 mins to Lake Eildon if you are inclined to dangle a line.
    I used to be an engineer, I'm not an engineer any more, but on the really good days I can remember when I was.

  7. #6
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    You're a woodworker.
    You want to be able to showcase and sell what you make.
    If not Melbourne or another big city -- Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, Perth -- that means somewhere within weekend commuting distance of the big city. A place where people with money go for the weekend, winter and summer. In Victoria that means a place within 2 hours drive (3 max) of Melbourne.

    I don't know Victoria well enough to nominate any particular towns, but in your position I'd be thinking of locating near where other woodworkers are located to be part of an artist community.
    regards from Alberta, Canada

    ian

  8. #7
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    Following on from what Ian has said, a town that has a thriving tourist trade with craft outlets, antique type shops might be a place you could make some money. Berry in NSW would be a good example of that if you are familiar with it.
    CHRIS

  9. #8
    FenceFurniture's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by ian View Post
    You want to be able to showcase and sell what you make.
    Somewhere within weekend commuting distance of the big city.
    A place where people with money go for the weekend, winter and summer. In Victoria that means a place within 2 hours drive (3 max) of Melbourne.
    I'd be thinking of locating near where other woodworkers are located to be part of an artist community.
    Quote Originally Posted by Chris Parks View Post
    Following on from what Ian has said, a town that has a thriving tourist trade with craft outlets, antique type shops might be a place you could make some money.
    Quote Originally Posted by FenceFurniture View Post
    Kyneton.
    Yup. For a town to have a resident French Polisher (Steven Wilson), AND a yearly Lost Trades Fair, it has to say something.
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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  10. #9
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    Some nice thought provoking ideas there, particularly if you eventually wanted to be self employed artist/teacher.
    Kryn
    To grow old is mandatory, growing up is optional.

  11. #10
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    A second vote for Kyneton, a thriving woodwork and craft culture ....... and good coffee!
    a rock is an obsolete tool ......... until you don’t have a hammer!

  12. #11
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    Quote Originally Posted by malb View Post
    Community built nursing home, the church tried to steal it off the community
    Which church?

  13. #12
    FenceFurniture's Avatar
    FenceFurniture is offline The prize lies beneath - hidden in full view
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    Quote Originally Posted by fletty View Post
    A second vote for Kyneton, a thriving woodwork and craft culture ....... and good coffee!
    I CANNOT believe it.

    YOU, of all people, have forgotten the vast range of beers on offer........







    It was only 3 we had wasn't it? (plus spillage )
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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  14. #13
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    Default

    I am not sure about the beers or coffee but Kyneton does have an award winning bakery - prizes for pies and vanilla slices.
    Train is about 2 hours into the city.
    Tom

    "It's good enough" is low aim

  15. #14
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    Thanks for prompt responses.

    Simplicity - Regarding the license I have finished my 15 driving lessons and now need to purchase a car. I have a few car sales apps and I have put out some feelers. This is because I need to get experience and log driving hours before I go for my P plates. So if anyone has a cheap Ute/wagon for sale I would be interested.

    Simplicity I will pm you to have a chat.

    2 or so hours out of Melbourne would be ideal.

    My friend who frequently holidays by driving around VIC says that the Macedon ranges is one of his favourite regions.

    Kyneton sounds like the kind of place that would suit me. It’s were Rundell & Rundell Chairmakers are located in Kyneton my friend has been there many times.

    Kyneton Is also a regional education centre which may present the opportunity to pick up some casual teaching work.

    The other place is the NSW highlands because it’s close to Canberra and the Stuart School and the tourists trail. However I would prefer to stay in Victoria.

    As Ian and Chris Park stated a town with a thriving art & tourism trade would be ideal for me. It would give me an opportunity to possibly sell my wares. I can dream - I am allowed to dream.

    James Kernov wrote that as a woodworker we need to make choices. We can go into production work and comprise on our values and continue to live in big cities or we move somewhere we’re our overheads are reduced and we can do our best work with less compromises.

    I also listen to fine woodworking shop talk live and they were talking about when the go on a photoshoot they inevitably end up in such remote locations because the nature of woodworking demands that woodworkers live in remote locations.

    Alexandra looks like a growing town but I think it’s not ideal. More a farm / logging town.

    Every time I hear Wangaratta I am reminded of Nick Cave the musician who grew up their. He referred to Wangaratta as a cultural hole.

    If I move I will have to sell a bunch of stuff. I want to only take the essentials. I have a ton of potted plants, furniture and stuff that I will offload.

  16. #15
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    For me in general cities are not very hospitable places and the cost of living is high and reality is clouded by busy city life, often busy achieving little in the process.
    I would look closely at what city life is offering ( and costing) you compared to alternate more rural places and decide which way is best for you
    Home is where you feel the most settled

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