Hey Aussies, if you could live anywhere in Australia where would it be?

[glimmerling]

My Aussie husband and I are starting the process to move to Australia permanently. We’re very excited and hope to arrive sometime this fall.

Anyway, we can move just about anywhere we wish in Australia. Hubbie is leaving the decision mostly up to me because the welfare of our future horses is most important to us. We won’t be bringing any horses with us because we are not at all rich. I’m planning on buying an OTTB or young horse to start in dressage (retired dressage trainer here) sometime soon after we arrive.

My husband is a skilled big machine mechanic (not cars, think manufacturing plant machines) and will be looking for work when we arrive. I am planning on keeping my current US job as it’s work from home.

So, given the climate, job situation, cost of living, access to horsey people and activities where would you Australians live if you had the choice?

TIA!!!

[Polydor]

I would say it would come down to climate and what you are looking for in that area.

Queensland: tropics so if you want hot and humid. I think it’s more western up there but I know there are a few posters from Queensland on here.

South Aus. : would be my vote though not really sure how much dressage shows there are. We do have the 4 star eventing and Adelaide is beautiful. Gets cold but no snow. The Adelaide hills are gorgeous between the winery, orchards and stables.

Victoria /New South Wales: lots going on probably pricier

Perth : well its waaaaay over there on the west coast. lol

I really only ever heard about eventing and the “showy” aka hunters. All the cities had their " Royal horse Shows" which are big deal.

Did just remember this website which is popular and has a calendar.
http://www.myaushorse.com/calendar/calendar.php

Not sure if that was helpful at all . Will probably come back and edit this with useful info. lol

P.

[Coanteen]

Where does it rain spiders again?

[glimmerling]

It only rains spiders once a year right? RIGHT? lol.

Thanks for the answers so far! We hadn’t really considered SA/Adelaide, so thanks for the heads up. I’ll check that link, thanks!

[SuzieQNutter]

Victoria is famous for 4 seasons in a day. Even if it is sunny take your umbrella.

All the photos of horses in WA of ours are on sand. In Queensland they are on grass.

I have lived in WA, Victoria. NSW and Queensland.

Queensland wins hands down and yes I ride dressage.

It will take you 3 years to acclimatise to the weather no matter where you go. Brisbane in Queensland does not get frosts but is much cooler than Townsville. Townsville is too far, too hot and have huge wet seasons that cut them off. Stick more to the outer suburbs of Brisbane.

It depends on your husband. I am an hour from Brisbane and I do get frosts. There are farms out here that use machinery or he can look into mines. My nieces work for mines in WA and they fly in and fly out. It is big money and 12 hour shifts. I think there are mines in other States as well.

[glimmerling]

Hubbie is from Ipswich outside Brisbane. He survived the floods and would not mind moving back to the Brisbane area. He literally doesn’t care where we live as long as the horses have food/good vets and good friends.

My main issue besides him having a job is that I have lived through droughts here in the States with horses and I never want to do that again. It’s too hard and too heart breaking.

Husband said working on mining machines would be an idea and thanks for the reminder. He had considered working in the opal mines years ago.

thank you!

[SuzieQNutter]

Australia is a desert, so droughts are part of living here.

I am half an hour from Ipswich.

[glimmerling]

Thanks for the information Suzie. Having been through some pretty bad droughts I know how difficult it is to make it through with your livestock.

In your opinion should I just not attempt to own horses in Australia because the droughts are so bad?

How do you handle the droughts? Any advice is good and TIA.

[Foxtrot_s]

Remember those huge fires last year? Sydney area.

[glimmerling]

Sydney is already out, husband hates it there.

We’re down to Melbourne ish area or Brisbane ish area. Thanks for the help guys, thread closed.