OT - Moving to the shire advice needed

[Quigs]

Yes I know Bottle Forrest Rd , not far from the park there. It’s changed a lot though. A lot of the older homes have been demolished, then subdivided. You know the sort of thing. But it’s still tree lined. I’m near Bega now on 8 acres it can be cold during winter though but I can visit family in Qld to thaw out.

I did 5 years at beautiful Narooma. Some of the best years of my life there. Probably would still be living there if the climate wasn't so cold in winter. 78 to 83

I suffered a serious neck injury in 83 and was told by the Docs to move to a warm climate. Moved north looking for a place to live - found The Park and the rest as they say is history.

I look back and think that I have had a charmed life. Growing up as a snotty nosed brat in the Shire (Gymea) in the late 50s and early 60s was a fantastic time. Two soccer fields over the back fence, just to the north of the Gymea Tech. Shit if parents allowed their kids today what we got up to then they'd be fharcan arrested. Back before the Capt Cook Bridge was built at Taren Point. There was no Gymea High down the end of the street, we watched that being built and bloody Kirrawee High was just some figmant of someones imagination.

We were forever getting flogged for not coming in before dark. It was non stop soccer, league (last try wins) cricket or fighting with the Hotham road grubs.

HEATWAVE STORIES - How is this one. My old man was a long time Garbo in the Shire, back in the days where they even had to shovel the crap out of the back of the garbo trucks. Bodgey boards on the sides to increase the loadsize even. I can remember back when we had stinking hot heatwaves and the old man would hose out the back to the truck if he had it at home, and a heap of the kids from Talara Rd north would pile in the bloody back and off we'd go off to the jungles of Grays Point Road (or was it North West Arm Rd) for a swim.

There wasn't many houses down there back then.

Can you just imagine that today. About 10 to 12 kids of all ages sitting / standing unrestrained in the back of a council truck going down Grays Point Road.

Arhhh the good old days.

 

[Frenzy.]

The old chic who works in Brownscombes would have been a cracker 30 years ago.

 

[carcharias]

The old chic who works in Brownscombes would have been a cracker 30 years ago.

That’s a dude man

Actually
6 degrees of separation.
I got a flano from there last year
Wore it to old boys day
Got my pic taken with the great David Hatch.
Haven’t worn it since.

 

[Frenzy.]

That’s a dude man

Actually
6 degrees of separation.
I got a flano from there last year
Wore it to old boys day
Got my pic taken with the great David Hatch.
Haven’t worn it since.

OK.

They got any Billabong sales on now?

 

[carcharias]

OK.

They got any Billabong sales on now?

Not sure.
I’ll pop in and check it out.
I heard the tavern is gonski.
Rumour of a massive new pub

 

[Feej]

I'm in Illawong now which is great, but if I have to catch a train I drive to Padstow station. It's so much quicker than driving to Sutho.

 

[taipan]

Don't know whether it's just me.When I drove for years back from work in the "hot now summer in the city",always felt as though I was in a different relaxed environment,the moment I crossed either Tom's Ugly Bridge, or Capt Cook.
Something about the Shire, even though it's more developed.Traffic still crapola.

Surrounded by water? Nato Park? Mangroves?Eucalypts? People?
It has some sort of mystique ,charisma, charm ,hard to explain.

 

[carcharias]

Don't know whether it's just me.When I drove for years back from work in the "hot now summer in the city",always felt as though I was in a different relaxed environment,the moment I crossed either Tom's Ugly Bridge, or Capt Cook.
Something about the Shire, even though it's more developed.Traffic still crapola.

Surrounded by water? Nato Park? Mangroves?Eucalypts? People?
It has some sort of mystique ,charisma, charm ,hard to explain.

My mum lives in St George area.
She reckons as soon as she crosses Alford’s point bridge to come over to see us that the landscape changes.
She says it’s cleaner and the road side gardens are all beautifully maintained.

 

[BatteredFlake]

Wow
That sounds awesome.
Did you have any experience in nut farming or farming at all?

I’d love to do something like that.
Full solar with aquaponics
I am addicted to gourmet farmer and river cottage etc.
I love where the wild men are ( Ben fogle show)

I come from Farming Family and engineering experience helpful also. Never had experience with trees though. However Macadamia community is pretty good with sharing information , advice (take it or leave it ),etc. Also the Australian Macadamia society has regular meetings/seminars with growers and publishes monthly magazine ,with lots of info. One thing that id point out to someone inexperienced going into it is all those selling say theres a six mo. off season where you can relax. Having been a farmer before I didnt beleive that and I was right. . There are however different times where you can get away ( like rainy periods ) etc.

Not all beer and skittles but suits me alot better than previous jobs . As long as I make enough to stay in business and have reasonable lifestyle Ill be Happy.

 

[Frank Discussion]

I just bought a "forever" house in North Caringbah.

The budget that we had was pretty decent- we ended up with a 4 bedroom older clad home that has been fully renovated on 600 squares with a brand new large granny flat in the yard. Move in on Monday.

It was with a lot of hemming and hawing that we made this decision and I am still unsure about it. We love the area but the NSW govt and Carmelo Pesce have combined to make significant changes to the shire and Sydney over the last 5 years which in my view have made it a categorically worse place to live and work.

Both myself and my wife have businesses that are based out of the shire and those skills don't really travel that well and that's really what kept us in the shire. Of real concern is the exodus of our friends and family from the area. It feels like everyone has left or has enacted a plan to leave, south or north.

Anyway, if you are in the budget neighbourhood, North Caringbah is great. Cheaper than Cronulla or Woolooware but with most of the amenity. Ride your bike to the beach. Walk to the sharks. It's enclosed in its own little enclave so little through traffic. Walk to the station and still get a seat in peak hour. Good block sizes and now the markets gone off a cliff you can get a fixer upper for a mill, which out of towners will laugh about but is relatively a bargain. I fantasise about tree changes but am kidding myself a bit. I like shit to do like pubs and nightlife and music so would get antsy in a small town. While Cronulla has grown and is almost unrecognisable in how busy it is it still retains a village vibe and if you frequent the same businesses all the time, cafes/bars/restaurants you will enjoy a community spirit. With a bit of local knowledge you can always find a nice uncrowded swimming hole or place to enjoy yourself outside on all but the busiest days.

All in all it is a great place to live but the traffic and crowds are far worse than even 5 years ago.

 

[Frank Discussion]

I have a lot of mates who live in Engadine and they seem happy. Problem for me is that Engadine is farrrrken massive. You can be in Engadine but like kms and kms from the station/pub.

 

[BatteredFlake]

Ganalda?

No, just south of Jones Hill

 

[carcharias]

I have a lot of mates who live in Engadine and they seem happy. Problem for me is that Engadine is farrrrken massive. You can be in Engadine but like kms and kms from the station/pub.

Ha
The day I came to sign the papers for my house at the real estate I got lost trying to leave.
I went for a spin past the house and then who knows what happened.
Completely lost.
Ended up in the car park of coles about 30 mins later.
It is humongous ... and it all looks the same .

That is before you even go out to Woronora.
The Truman show out there.

 

[Ads]

Not sure.
I’ll pop in and check it out.
I heard the tavern is gonski.
Rumour of a massive new pub

Yep. Been on the cards for years. Knock down the pub and extend out to the car park at the back. Units on top I believe was the plan. That pubs always been pretty average compared to the bowlo so might not be a bad thing to redo the lot.

 

[carcharias]

Yep. Been on the cards for years. Knock down the pub and extend out to the car park at the back. Units on top I believe was the plan. That pubs always been pretty average compared to the bowlo so might not be a bad thing to redo the lot.

It’s a shithole at the moment.
My band has played upstairs for presentation nights recently.
A walk around downstairs and it’s like an abandoned old pub.

 

[taipan]

I just bought a "forever" house in North Caringbah.

The budget that we had was pretty decent- we ended up with a 4 bedroom older clad home that has been fully renovated on 600 squares with a brand new large granny flat in the yard. Move in on Monday.

It was with a lot of hemming and hawing that we made this decision and I am still unsure about it. We love the area but the NSW govt and Carmelo Pesce have combined to make significant changes to the shire and Sydney over the last 5 years which in my view have made it a categorically worse place to live and work.

Both myself and my wife have businesses that are based out of the shire and those skills don't really travel that well and that's really what kept us in the shire. Of real concern is the exodus of our friends and family from the area. It feels like everyone has left or has enacted a plan to leave, south or north.

Anyway, if you are in the budget neighbourhood, North Caringbah is great. Cheaper than Cronulla or Woolooware but with most of the amenity. Ride your bike to the beach. Walk to the sharks. It's enclosed in its own little enclave so little through traffic. Walk to the station and still get a seat in peak hour. Good block sizes and now the markets gone off a cliff you can get a fixer upper for a mill, which out of towners will laugh about but is relatively a bargain. I fantasise about tree changes but am kidding myself a bit. I like shit to do like pubs and nightlife and music so would get antsy in a small town. While Cronulla has grown and is almost unrecognisable in how busy it is it still retains a village vibe and if you frequent the same businesses all the time, cafes/bars/restaurants you will enjoy a community spirit. With a bit of local knowledge you can always find a nice uncrowded swimming hole or place to enjoy yourself outside on all but the busiest days.

All in all it is a great place to live but the traffic and crowds are far worse than even 5 years ago.

A good choice IMO.
Nth Caringbah and Nth Woolooware were my recommendations ,if you want to be closer to Cronulla.Quieter,yet not far from the action.
Still see a number of friends and their grown up kids who have either stayed or made the Shire their home.Quite a few have gone to the Goldie and a couple to Byron Bay.
Some have downsized and bought units in Gallen Towers.
The next Grand final, they'll come from near and far to watch the Blue black and whites.It's in their blood.

 

[shaggs]

I just moved from grays point to south Caringbah.
Picked a quiet street that wasn’t PH road, BB road or Caringbah road and it’s awesome.

Much closer and easier access to the station and shops than grays point but still quiet.
Ride my bike to the station and the beach.
Walk to the sharks in about 20 mins

 

[Frank Discussion]

I did 5 years at beautiful Narooma. Some of the best years of my life there. Probably would still be living there if the climate wasn't so cold in winter. 78 to 83

I suffered a serious neck injury in 83 and was told by the Docs to move to a warm climate. Moved north looking for a place to live - found The Park and the rest as they say is history.

I look back and think that I have had a charmed life. Growing up as a snotty nosed brat in the Shire (Gymea) in the late 50s and early 60s was a fantastic time. Two soccer fields over the back fence, just to the north of the Gymea Tech. Shit if parents allowed their kids today what we got up to then they'd be fharcan arrested. Back before the Capt Cook Bridge was built at Taren Point. There was no Gymea High down the end of the street, we watched that being built and bloody Kirrawee High was just some figmant of someones imagination.

We were forever getting flogged for not coming in before dark. It was non stop soccer, league (last try wins) cricket or fighting with the Hotham road grubs.

HEATWAVE STORIES - How is this one. My old man was a long time Garbo in the Shire, back in the days where they even had to shovel the crap out of the back of the garbo trucks. Bodgey boards on the sides to increase the loadsize even. I can remember back when we had stinking hot heatwaves and the old man would hose out the back to the truck if he had it at home, and a heap of the kids from Talara Rd north would pile in the bloody back and off we'd go off to the jungles of Grays Point Road (or was it North West Arm Rd) for a swim.

There wasn't many houses down there back then.

Can you just imagine that today. About 10 to 12 kids of all ages sitting / standing unrestrained in the back of a council truck going down Grays Point Road.

Arhhh the good old days.

We can't bust heads like we used to, but we have our ways. One trick is to tell 'em stories that don't go anywhere - like the time I caught the ferry over to Shelbyville. I needed a new heel for my shoe, so, I decided to go to Morganville, which is what they called Shelbyville in those days. So I tied an onion to my belt, which was the style at the time. Now, to take the ferry cost a nickel, and in those days, nickels had pictures of bumblebees on 'em. Give me five bees for a quarter, you'd say.

Now where were we? Oh yeah: the important thing was I had an onion on my belt, which was the style at the time. They didn't have white onions because of the war. The only thing you could get was those big yellow ones...

 

[coolumsharkie]

Not sure.
I’ll pop in and check it out.
I heard the tavern is gonski.
Rumour of a massive new pub

Guees where Paul Liddy has moved to?

 

[carcharias]

Guees where Paul Liddy has moved to?

On a macadamia nut farm in Coolum?