By Fiona Walker
IT’S been a great summer Down Under! The sun shone almost every day, the sea was warm, and the biggest problem was the temperature; sometimes it was just too hot to spend time outside.
While we were enjoying the seasonal delights of Western Australia, the Jersey media was reporting an increase in people emigrating from the Island to this part of the world. What on earth could possibly persuade them to come here, we wondered? OK, so the weather is just brilliant. Oh, and the beaches are beyond superb: clean, beautiful, unspoilt and perfect for surfing. Then there’s the city of Perth, which is quite an amazing place, easy to negotiate and exceptionally clean; it’s probably the most relaxed city we’ve ever visited. Or maybe it’s the people, because Western Australians are friendly by nature and very welcoming, perhaps due to the diverse nature of the population.
Compared to Jersey, housing is pretty inexpensive in Western Australia, with the average price for first-time buyers coming in at less than AU$500,000 (approximately £250,000). There is a continuous building programme in the Perth region, with numerous new housing estates under construction but, even so, there is a housing shortage and prices are increasing swiftly. The rental market is even more of a challenge, with low vacancy rates and rapidly rising rents.
Although properties on the estates are generally of a reasonable size, the houses all face one another with very little personal outside space or garden. But then, gardening is clearly not a high priority in a state where the temperature regularly stretches up into the 40s. However, here there is a great emphasis on recreational areas, so for every development there is a beautifully maintained park or a playground available close by for residents’ use.
Australia is still a land of opportunity where hard work pays off and an entrepreneurial spirit can thrive.
As well as an “outdoorsy” culture, the emphasis in WA is very much on families, with plenty of activities for every age group. As well as catering to their dietary desires, many restaurants provide elaborate and imaginative play areas for children. Throughout the school summer holidays, public transport is free around Perth, as is entry into the museums.
In addition to the natural beauty this state has to offer, there is something else, something difficult to quantify but very appealing. There is a real warmth here, which was clearly illustrated on Australia Day. Along with thousands of other people, we took a picnic to a seaside town and found a patch of grass in the shady park adjoining the shore. Strangers chatted with one another, families played together, there was free entertainment and free fairground rides for children and the atmosphere was sociable, warm and welcoming. No alcohol was allowed (and none seen) and the evening culminated with a superb fireworks display at 9pm, after which everyone immediately set off for home. The whole event was most memorable for its wholesome, easy atmosphere, inclusivity and the kindness of strangers.
During the course of our trip, we chatted with other tourists, many of whom were from the other side of this huge country. When you live on an island as small as Jersey, it’s hard to get your head around the fact that tourists from Sydney visiting Perth have flown a greater distance than from London to Moscow, and without even leaving their own country.
One couple from New South Wales told us that visiting Western Australia was like stepping back to an easier, simpler time and reminded them of the Australia they had first known when they emigrated from the UK almost half a century ago. On this side of the country, they said, they had found a far more laid-back atmosphere, and it felt safer than the Sydney of the 21st century.
It is easy to see why so many Jersey residents are considering emigration to this part of the world. The lifestyle is uplifting and there is a positive “can-do” attitude to everything, while this region also offers the means to create a healthy balance between work and play. With fantastic beaches, parks and countryside close to hand, whether you’re in the city, the suburbs or a more remote region, it is easy to leave your work life behind – if only for a day or a weekend. Here you can enjoy whatever lifestyle gives you pleasure, whether it be indulging in the many outdoor activities on offer, or simply relaxing and appreciating the unique wildlife or the incomparable beauty of Western Australia.
Fiona Walker was born and educated in Jersey and worked in finance before having children. She moved into media, presenting her own programme on BBC Radio Jersey, then as a senior broadcast journalist for local BBC television news. She was editor of The Jersey Life and wrote eight series for the national publication Motor Boat & Yachting magazine. She now promotes Jersey charity shops on social media under the name Upstylejersey.
