Living in Sydney N.S.W.
SYDNEY
Sydney was established in 1788 by Captain Phillip as the first British Colony in Australia and is the largest city in Australia and is the Capital City of New South Wales with a population of approximately 4.25M people. With the Sydney Harbour Bridge, Opera House, Zoo, Sydney Harbour, the beaches and the Blue Mountains, all which are world famous, Sydney is a prime destination for tourists (approximately 10 million annually) from overseas as well as from within Australia. Sydney attracts emigrants from all over the world. The predominant nationalities are from United Kingdom, China, New Zealand, with a good cross section from Europe, Middle East and Asia.
Sydney is a sprawling city in all 3 directions, North, South and West around the many bays and inlets as well as into the Blue Mountains. Just North of Sydney is Newcastle and the world famous Hunter Valley Winery Region.
Sydney is the hub for many of Australia’s top companies as well as a large selection of multi-national corporations. These industries including Banking, Mining, Oil, Retail and Vehicle Manufacturing to name just a few, having their Head Offices or Regional Head Offices in the CBD along with the Stock Exchange and the Reserve Bank.
Temperatures range from an average low of 8 degrees and an average high of 28 degrees, with the occasional summer burst of 35 degrees. With the Great Dividing Range as Sydney’s back drop, and Sydney being such a sort after destination from tourists worldwide, opportunities abound for the go-ahead entrepreneur in the Tourism Industry. During the winter months, the ski fields just South of Sydney attract visitors and workers from both Australia and overseas.
The diversity of occupations are the same as with any major city worldwide, and due to the Skilled shortage in so many occupations, opportunities exist for the Accountant, Doctor, Registered Nurse, Teacher, Electrician, Mechanic, Carpenter, Plumber, Welder, Sheet Metal Worker. The list is endless.
Housing prices are currently growing at a meagre 1.5% which is less than the majority of Capital Cities (Hobart 3.8%, Brisbane 2.9%, Darwin 2.8%), with units for $250,000 and houses from $350,000. These prices will be for suburbs in the outer circle, with houses on Sydney Harbour at $3-5M plus. Rental can vary but a median price would be approximately $450.00 per week.
The Education system has Public (Government run) and Private (Fees paid by parents) schools. There are a large number of Child Care facilities (0-5yrs), Pre-school (4-5yrs), some Pre-Prep (4-5yrs) and then years 1-12. There are many Private Colleges (girls only, boys only as well as mixed), TAFE Colleges, Universities, Museums, Art Galleries, Performing Arts, Live Theatre and Music Academy.
Sports are too numerous to mention, but include Cricket, Soccer, Rugby (both codes), AFL (similar to Gallic football), Swimming, Surfing, Sailing, Tennis, Horse Racing, Harness Racing, Basketball and Netball.
