OT: Just come back from Canberra

Mr. Lane · Posted: Fri Oct 15, 2004 10:08 pm

I am from Melbourne, and today I traveled out of the state for the first time. My sister had to be moved at the supreme court so we had to go into Canberra for the occasion.

I have to say i liked it, tho I am not sure I could live there due to its small size. Nevertheless it had many stong points. The following list is not just about transport and is certanly not about rail (i hardly saw any, just a single track from the air).

Good points:

1) Big roads, not much traffic. The road system is impressive, indeed the whole city layout is. Even in the peak there was practically no congestion. During the middle of the day it was almost comical how few cars there were. This city has no need to light rail at all.

2) Big open paved public spaces, like malls. Much better than what we have in melbourne. Its like the planners in Canberra actually thought about the city as a whole then smartly put the parts together.

3) Plenty of busses, especially given the cities small size. I found them to be completely adequate. We used the bus from the museum (what a bore) to the city centre and it was new, clean and well patronized without being crowded.

4) The city is CLEAN. Although i dont think Melbourne is a dirty city, Canberra is sterile. Its like some perfect self cleaning city that is always in pristine condition. I hardly saw any vandalisim or graffetti at all.

5) Not many derros. Melbourne is full of them, especially on the train system, commuting from suburbs such as St. Albans, Dandenong and Scumshine, 2 of which I have the misfortune to pass through.

6) Very polite people. I dont think most Melb people are *too* rude and unpolite on average, but, I am guessing that Canberra is not a stressful city to work in (which leads to impolite people), which is another advantage in itself. Its nowhere near as rushed as Melb (and therefore Sydney). I think some locals found us rude on occasion for being too abrupt.

7) As i mentioned, a slower lifestyle. And we all want that. I also get the impression for some reason that people in Canberra would be more accepting of differnt people. I saw punks, goths and other such types and they just seemsed to be accepted and interacted like normal people. If you are different in Melbourne people will often look and even laugh, or show a face of disapproval.

Cool

People are much thinner than in Melbourne. I was stunned by how much slimer people are in Canberra.

9) Chicks are MUCH MUCH hotter. TBH Melb has alot of very ugly chicks from too many different mixed up backgrounds, especially in the western suburbs, and there are alot of short, fat girls with big noses. Come on the Sydenham line, and witness the pain i endure every day. Canberra has good Aussie chicks, and plenty of readheads. Twisted Evil

10) Melbourne parks and gardens win hands down, but that big lake is cool for cycling, and although i dont cycle, i would if i lived in Canberra! (and run John Howard over on one of his walks).

11) Cab drivers know where things are!!!!!!!!!!

Disadvantages:

1) It is small and I reckon it could get boring on occasions. It would be a great place to have a girlfriend tho. Its small enough that you would not have to drive from one side of the city to the other just to pick her up.

2) Although i dont think it needs it, there is no local rail system too look at. I am an EMU person.

3) Distinct lack of restraunts. Melb wins out completely here as well (probably why we are fatter).

I would definitely work there for say a 1 year long post, just as something different. It certanly was a lovely place, and i get the impression alot of taxpayers hard earned cash goes into keeping that city the way it is.

And as i said: The chicks...much better than Melbournes rail system. Twisted Evil

I have no Signature

monday · Posted: Mon Oct 18, 2004 10:18 am

Im moving there in about four weeks from Adelaide.

Its not really a place of choice, if it wasnt for the work you wouldnt move their for something to do (my reason for going).

There are no real derro's or bums because it is to frikken cold in the middle of winter and there are no 'real' poor areas to live in, akin to St Albans or Sydenham. Even really far out (about 25/30km) from the CBD is still quite pricy to rent in (forget about home ownership, 500k for a dump). If you dont work, you basically cant afford to live in the ACT.

Yeah, I agree about the restaurants, but eh? theres not much you can do.

As for the chicks, well, yep, quite good! In the ACT you need to doing something, so most people do some sport of some description! so it makes for nice girls that are aesthetically pleasing!

The people in the ACT tend to be more leftist, because most of them work for the govt and they can see first hand how bad things really are! Not the sanitised news we generally get from Rupert or Packer...

The bus network really is quite smeg, ACTION is not that good and I wouldnt rely on it anytime outside of about 7am-6pm on a Mon-Fri!!! Forget it on the weekend... Rolling Eyes

anyway, my two cents. Cool

M

"I know. Let's have everyone who enjoys having obstacles in their life, which they can overcome, go this way, and everyone whose insecurities sabotage their potential to overcome those obstacles go that way. "

Mr. Lane · Posted: Tue Oct 19, 2004 9:39 pm

Yeah i was not there that long i guess and not at the coldest part of the year, thats something i forgot about. I HATE the cold, so thats a big downer. I did notice that while the sun is warm the wind can be nasty.

Also the museum is oversized and wastful of space...didnt like that one at all.

The land prices I have to say is quite surprizing, but its still cheaper then Melbourne or Sydney....

I have no Signature

RevenueClerk · Posted: Wed Oct 27, 2004 9:59 pm

Some interesting comments here.

As a longterm Melbourne resident who moved to Canberra nearly three years ago for work I feel suitably qualified to comment.

Rent is horrendous in Canberra. Go to Queanbeyan NSW which is about 15 minutes away from the City centre. I do the drive daily and only go through one set of traffic lights. Don't believe all the stories about it being struggletown. Like every where there are good and bad areas.

Much cheaper and no Canberra winters. Cool

Still very cold though.

There are poor areas in Canberra but they are well hidden and can be quite disconcerting to new residents, especially if you move in next to one of them. There is a large problem with homelessness and several hundred people live in their cars in certain areas.

There are derros and bums here but because there is no real city centre as such they are harder to spot there. More often than not around the big shopping centres in the suburbs.

Can't find the restaurants? Lots of things are well hidden in suburbs and unless you know where you're going you'll never find them. EG apart from the city area there are very few petrol stations on main roads.

Monday, feel free to PM me if you want some more tips about Canberra, especially one who did move here from Melbourne for work. Start planning your new residence now. It seems that half of Canberra moves house in Dec/Jan and of course thousands of people move here to work.

Canberrans can't drive in traffic. The number of times I've seen them cut across 2-3 lanes without giving way is amazing, or even stopping in the middle lane waiting to get in the right hand lane.

Cheesiness · Beginner Joined: Jan 21, 2005 Last Visited: Jul 12, 2008

One small insignificant thing I seem to notice, the lawns are kept neater in Melbourne than in Canberra. Very Happy

DavidB · Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2005 2:32 pm

There are plenty of restaurants. You just have to know where to find them. The major areas are Civic, Dickson and Manuka.

Rent is horrendous due to the very low vacancy rate. It's been hovering around 0.5% for about 5 years.

Maybe we need to have an RP Canberra meet? Can't let those in Melbourne and Adelaide have all the fun.....

Cheers
David

Australind · Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2005 3:33 pm

I went to Canberra for a week in April and it was so cold every morning. I wouldnt move there. I Love where I live.

Fireman Dave · Posted: Sat Jan 22, 2005 6:19 pm

monday · Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2005 6:44 pm

Fireman Dave,

Feel free to walk over and have a chat next time on saturday, you wont have to travel very far as you can find me on RMS2360 which I think is a lengthy walk of no more than thirty metres from 1210 ... I think Karl may also be a contributor to this board, so thats at least three of us in one spot on a saturday!

All we need is DavidB and Revenueclerk to come over to the yard on Saturday Lunchtimes for the ritual BBQ and weve got all the ACT local RP Users just about covered!

Confused

Cheers,

M

standard_gauge · Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2005 6:55 pm

Fireman Dave · Posted: Sun Jan 23, 2005 7:13 pm

DavidB · Posted: Mon Jan 24, 2005 2:43 pm

There are at least 6 that I can think of off hand, and one more in a few weeks. Smile

Cheers
David

anightonearth · Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 9:37 am

monday · Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 2:54 pm

Sorry, I now stand corrected after much deliberation and discussions from reviewing the distance situation.

1210 is now at least 120m from the RMS and will require a packed lunch to walk the distance between the two. To save time, maybe we could agree to meet half way between the two, say at D25? Cool

Yes, Its a busy life working in the ACT but im not spinning my wheels completely (yet).

WTF???

"I know. Let's have everyone who enjoys having obstacles in their life, which they can overcome, go this way, and everyone whose insecurities sabotage their potential to overcome those obstacles go that way. "

VRT327 · Posted: Thu Jan 27, 2005 5:07 pm

He could always use the tractor to drive from loco to the platform.

Neil,
ARHS (ACT Div) Member
and yet another ex Victorian