Ask MetaFilter questions tagged with Melbourne

live in melbourne, work in sydney - have you done it?

compound eye — Sat, 05 Dec 2009 00:11:37 -0800

what's it like living in melbourne and commuting to sydney for work? Have you done it?
how often do you travel back and forth?
daily? weekly?
do you have kids at home in melbourne?
did it work out?
what was it like?

is it worth it?
or is it hell?

Advice on moving to Melbourne

emd3737 — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 11:46:25 -0800

I just got a research fellowship in Melbourne and am moving there in mid February- hooray! Now I need to find an apartment. Complications: I don’t know a soul there and I currently live in the United States. Aside from craigslist, where can I find apartment listings? I’m looking for something cheap (less than $1000/month, ideally $700-800- it that even feasible?) and close to the north part of the city where I’ll be working. I’ve been to Melbourne once and really liked the Fitzroy neighborhood- what other areas of the city should I consider? I would prefer to live alone but would be fine with roommates if I can’t find an affordable studio or 1-bedroom. I’m 32, though, so the days of me sharing a flat with a bunch of uni students are long gone. Would like to move in Feb 15th or March 1st.

I’ll also need to acquire some furniture- I know that there is an IKEA, anywhere else I should look? And lastly, I play soccer- does anyone know of any women’s or co-ed leagues/clubs in the area? I figure that would be a good way to start making some friends (in addition to organizing a metafilter meet-up).

What is the best way of finding a replacement housemate for a sharehouse in Melbourne?

severin — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 23:11:07 -0800

I'm moving out of a two person sharehouse and need to help my ex-housemate find another housemate to replace me on the lease. What are some good sites that we could post advertisements on? The house is in Melbourne, Victoria. I'm not sure if this makes a difference, but my ex-housemate is (probably) looking for:

* Student
* Female
* 20-30 years old.
* Clean
* Quiet

Maybe there's some sites that would be good for that demographic...

Also, what are some non-Internet techniques for advertising the room? E.g., can anyone recommend any Melbourne cafe's etc (near the lower end of Sydney Rd), that have accommodation boards?

Thanks in advance

Are there any storytelling shows in Adelaide or Melbourne?

chinese_fashion — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:51:32 -0800

Are there storytelling/live reading shows in Adelaide or Melbourne, similar to The Moth in NYC/LA? I write and tell short stories in NYC, mostly through The Moth, though I've gotten stuff onto This American Life and done a number of smaller shows here like The Liar Show, Risk!, and Seth Lind's Told.

Are there any opportunities to do something similar in Australia, by any chance? There's a growing storytelling scene here in New York, sort of like standup mixed with essay-writing ... wondering if there might be something similar Down Under.

A few of my stories deal directly with aspects of Aussie culture, too, as I lived there for about a year. Here's a few samples:

'Roo Shooter
Foreign Soil
Now or Never

I'm leaving for Australia tomorrow morning for a 2-week holiday, spending one week in Adelaide and another in Melbourne. And if possible, I'd love to try some of these out down there. Is there any chance for something like that to happen? If so, would you mind putting me in touch with the right folks?

Thanks so much ...

Keeping Busy

sycophant — Sun, 13 Sep 2009 00:35:07 -0800

Keep us busy in Melbourne. What to do for a few days in Victoria's Capital? My wife and I are visiting Melbourne for four days in about a week. We've got a few things planned (art exhibit at National Gallery, dinner on one night, optimistically in the audience for Rove) but basically have three days free.

We were last there for a little under a week about three years ago, and did some of the most obviously touristy thing then, but are looking for some more inspiration this time around.

We're planning to visit Bridge Road, and maybe the museum, but that's about all we've got on our minds for sure this time around. We're staying in the CBD and probably planning to stick relatively central, but we're not afraid of a wee train or tram journey for something interesting.

Bonus points for a few great ideas in close proximity. And, I suspect, Mrs. Sycophant would be interested in other bargain shopping opertunities beyond Bridge Road and DFO.

Will Wonderful Weekends Wither Without Wheels?

LongDrive — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 07:12:19 -0800

Tent-phobic city-dweller seeks weekend getaway suggestions which do not require a car to reach. I've just come out of a long, high-stress period of work, and am looking to take a weekend off with a special someone to just decompress for a bit. The problem is however, my driver's license is suspended for the next three months, which puts a damper on my usual plan of renting a holiday house either in the bush or by the sea to just sit and read in for the weekend, as sometimes a new setting and some quiet can really help me recharge.

I'm wondering if anyone else had any suggestions or general ideas on how to take a mini-vacation without access to a car, keeping in mind that I'm not the person who will ever go camping, ever (again). Sleeper trains? Really expensive cab fares?

I am located in Melbourne, Australia. Bonus karma for any suggestions specific to Victoria.

Sydney and Melbourne with a baby?

k8t — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 22:36:34 -0800

Sydney and Melbourne with a 10-month-old in September. Any suggestions? We're taking advantage of the cheap travel to AU from the US and taking our little family on a trip to Sydney and Melbourne. I haven't been in 15 years, SO has never been. 4 days in each city. (Hotel in Sydney: Menzies Hotel and hotel in Melbourne: Swanston Hotel Melbourne Grand Mercure to give you a sense of location.)

Any baby-friendly suggestions for activities and dining? Thankfully the baby is good natured and is pretty tolerant of museums and the like.

SO is into nature and photography. I like food, funky markets and interesting cultural stuff (ethnic neighborhoods, for example). Baby is into playgrounds.

We have a bunch of travel books and sites, but personal recommendations are great.
TIA!

New to contracting in Australia and need some payroll/tax advice!

Flying Squirrel — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:39:58 -0800

New to contracting, and new to Australia. Can someone please help me find a company to sort out my insurances and payroll (and the 'living away from home allowance' -- or recommend an accountant if I need one? I am living in Melbourne, Australia on a working holiday visa. I am currently working a 3 month contract (intranet development) for a healthcare insurance company. I got hired through a recruitment agency. I have never worked as a contractor before.

The recruitment agency will pay me a daily rate but I need to have all the workplace insurances and payroll sorted out. They recommended Ayers Management, who they normally work through. Ayers works by taking 3.5% of your pay, and that covers their 'service fee' -- they pay you and take care of all the workplace insurances you need.

I also have the option of setting up my own company but I believe this will be expensive and complicated. I don't know if I will work as a contractor again after this job.

I kept asking Ayers for a breakdown of what taxes I needed to pay as I do not know much about the income tax rates, superannuation, etc. They took a long time giving me a breakdown, and thought I would be eligible for the 'living away from home allowance' (I'm Canadian.) After they determined I was eligible for this, they gave me a breakdown. According to their calculations, the LAFHA will give me more take-home pay. This seems great, except if I use the LAFHA, they jack up their 'service fee' to 7.5%. It still means slightly more take-home pay for me, but I was irritated by this.

I have also began looking at other similar companies (I don't even know what to call them...payroll management companies??) such as Geoffrey Nathan, and Free Spirit, who seem to be more tailored to people who can claim the LAFHA.

But when I get a 'quote' they all have vastly differing income tax, superannuation, and 'service fee' deductions. I don't want to be in a situation where I end up paying tax at the end of the year.

I'm wondering if I should talk to an accountant because I can't get my head around all the payroll deductions and taxes I need to pay, and I don't understand why these companies keep quoting me different tax rates.

Can anyone point me in the right direction or recommend a good accountant I could talk to for advice? (I'm working in Hawthorn, Melbourne)

Sorry if this is confusing, I really am lost. Let me know if more information would be helpful!

Ordering a return ticket Melbourne to Los Angeles with V Australia; can I travel to LA and cancel the return flight for a refund?

Eastgate — Tue, 28 Jul 2009 06:31:51 -0800

I'm going to be flying one way from Melbourne, Australia to Los Angeles with V Australia. It's cheaper to book a return ticket than a one way ticket. Can I cancel the return flight and get a refund? I'm looking at going via Premium Economy with V Australia and getting a "Premium Deal" ticket from Melbourne to Los Angeles (approx. $923) and selecting a "Premium Flexi" ticket for the return journey (approx. $2500). After arriving in LA, I would want to cancel the return ticket. Is it possible to do this and get a full refund of the $2500 for the return ticket? Has anyone had experience doing this kind of thing before?

Going with a return ticket option was much cheaper than going with one way. I had considered selecting a "Premium Deal" ticket for the return, but I read that there was a $550 cancellation fee, which is why I'm asking about the "Premium Flexi" instead.

Anything except 'Antichrist'

Ritchie — Mon, 27 Jul 2009 20:16:33 -0800

What should I and a friend see at the 20090Melbourne International Film Festival? We have tickets to one film, which can be anything on the program except opening and closing nights, and special events. The program is here (Flash-based, sorry). There are so many films, it's making our heads hurt. Suggestions?

How has droughts in Australia (Brisbane, Melbourne) impacted perceptions of climate change?

GIMG — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:00:43 -0800

How have landscapes transformed by drought in Australia (esp. Brisbane or Melbourne) impacted people's perceptions of climate change? I'm traveling through Brisbane and Melbourne at the moment, researching how the consequences of drought have transformed the landscape (e.g. rainwater tanks, water conservation signs, desiccating lawns and parks, disappearing ponds, lowering dams, shifts toward native Australian plants for gardening, waterless fountains, brown sporting fields, etc.), and the subsequent cognitive processing of climate change. Even with the recent flooding, is this a connection Australians make? Have landscapes been transformed in other ways? And who might provide relevant insights into this question?

Melbourne, Monash and U. Melbourne?

signal — Fri, 26 Jun 2009 17:37:24 -0800

Please tell me about Melbourne, Monash and U. Melbourne. My wife is being encouraged by a fairly important researcher to get a master's at Monash University in Melbourne, where he teaches. If we did this, I would probably take the opportunity to get a second master's or a PhD, at Monash or U. Melbourne.
We know nothing at all about Monash, U. Melbourne or life in Melbourne. We're all the way around the globe in Chile, so this would be a major move.
So:

What's life in Melbourne like (esp. for a couple with a 3 year old)?
How good is the film department in Monash? The computer science department at Monash or U. Melbourne?
Any other schools I should be looking into?

I'm an architect with an interest in Comp. Sci. approaches to spatial analysis, in case that's relevant.

where can I watch televised Rugby League in Melbourne?

UbuRoivas — Sun, 31 May 2009 18:23:58 -0800

MelbourneFilter: where can I watch televised Rugby League in Melbourne? yep, i'm in town again, and the mighty South Sydney Rabbitohs are playing tonight. so, i'm wondering if there's any known pub (preferably in the CBD, Carlton, Fitzroy or Collingwood areas) where people might gather to watch Rugby League...?

bonus points if the place is a regular pub, not some kind of horrific sports bar.

as an example of what i'm looking for, the grungy, hipsterish Courthouse Hotel in Newtown (Sydney) is well known as an AFL pub, for aerial pingpong fans needing a sporting fix.

What are your favourite things to do in both the Byron Bay and Melbourne areas?

Flying Squirrel — Thu, 28 May 2009 16:02:09 -0800

What are your favourite things to do in both the Byron Bay and Melbourne areas? I've been living in New Zealand for the past year, and am now making my next move to Australia. I've got a trip planned at the beginning of July with two of my best friends from NZ. It's the last time I'll see them for a while so I want to make this a really great and memorable trip!

Another travelling friend of ours had a very romantic view of Byron Bay, it was her favourite place in the world -- so we're planning on spending a week there, then flying to Melbourne and spending another week.

I'm in my late 20s, my friends are in their early 20s, and they haven't travelled overseas without their families before. What are some really fun and memorable things we can do in both these places?

Thanks!!

Help me get the cheapest flights to New York from Australia

crossoverman — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 20:37:20 -0800

TravelFilter: Will the current cheap flights between Australia and New York remain into 2010? And what times of the year are considered off-peak travel to NYC? Flights to New York from Australia have become really cheap this year (AUD1000-1500) as opposed to normal (AUD2500). This is due to the market opening up: instead of only United and Qantas servicing direct routes, Virgin Australian and Delta are flying direct to the US as well.

I am tentatively planning a trip to NYC in May 2010. (Gives me a full 12 months to save.) It looks like prices will shoot back up to the AUD2500 next year (according to airline websites right now), though most airlines are only listing prices through March 2010 anyway.

Are these prices likely to stay as low as they are currently? With the economic crisis, I suspect this might help to keep prices down AND if I wait six months I'm likely not to be stung by premium rates being offered to people willing to book 12 months in advance. But I'm not really sure how long-haul overseas flight prices fluctuate, if at all.

And is May a good time of the year to visit NYC? I'm flexible to travel between April-June 2010 - don't want to go in the depths of winter or the heat of summer. Is May considered off-peak? (I'll be traveling to other parts of the US, but NYC is my main port of call - everything else can fall in line behind that.)

I don't need suggestions of what to see and do in the city - that list is already LONG - just advice on when is the best time to stay and when the best time is to book the holiday. Thanks.

I need a crash course in finding good prices in Melbourne.

mosessis — Mon, 27 Apr 2009 20:26:35 -0800

What shops should I go to in Melbourne, Australia, to buy inexpensive necessities (clothes, shoes, groceries, linens, electronics)? I'm in Melbourne and I need to find the cheap places to go shopping. I'll only need these goods for six months to a year and then I'll be giving them away or tossing them out, so price definitely wins out over long term quality.

The things I will need to buy are women's clothes (shops I often use in UK: H&M, Primark; in US: Target, Marshalls, Forever21), shoes, coats, groceries, toiletries, housewares, basic electronics (burnable dvd's, usb headset, etc.), or anything else you would normally shop for during the course of a year

I have this down to somewhat of a science in the US, where I know more or less where to look - and where to avoid - for the best deals on these basic categories of goods. But I know almost nothing about Australian stores and where, for example, it will be cheapest to buy deodorant. I went into a Target in the CBD yesterday, and it looks about the same as a Target in the US, with cheaper clothes and dishes and such, so that's a start. Where else should I be looking? Any Melbourne specific details, such as which Salvation Army location is best for kitchenware vs. best for clothing, or which specific shopping centers I should look at/avoid are much appreciated.

If you're a very price conscious shopper, please share your expertise or favorite web resources with me!

Can a cop retaliate to an objection to a fine he's issued by adding a more serious offence?

chmmr — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 05:26:18 -0800

I was recently issued a minor traffic infringement by a Melbourne police officer. I told him that I believed the charge was unfair and that I intended to contest it in court. He told me that if I did, he'd then present me with an additional, more serious charge. Was this just bluster to dissuade me from contesting the charge, or could he in fact do that? The charge at present is riding a (fixed wheel) bicycle without an effective brake. I know that the safety of this is debatable. However, less effective braking mechanisms are satisfactory as far as the law is concerned. The law is vague on what exactly constitutes an effective braking mechanism, so I at least have an argument to present.

If a magistrate were to reject my defense out of hand, fine, that's the final word on the interpretation of the law. What bugs me about this is that aside from the charge at hand, I did nothing wrong aside from making known my disagreement with the officer and my intention to contest the charge. I wasn't riding dangerously or breaking road rules. The bike even has a bell.

My concern is that he might fabricate something more serious but ambiguous, for instance that I "became verbally abusive" or some such. Even if I'm completely out of line as far as the brake issue is concerned, it's my right to contest the charge and I don't want to be bullied out of it.

Passport complications.

alexei — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 01:07:44 -0800

I have jumped on an opportunity to take a vacation on the sunny beaches of Australia (insert mixup of seasons joke here). I am leaving in three weeks, and staying for six. However, I have run into a problem: my American passport expires two weeks before I return (though after I leave). Now, I could pay the extra $60 + shipping for expedited service and hopefully get it back before I leave, or go for the in-person service which is presumably even more complicated and expensive. However, since I also have an EU passport, and can use it while in Australia, I only need the American passport to return home in nine weeks.

1) Will leaving the country be a problem with a soon-to-expire American passport? I know they check your passport, but it is generally perfunctory, and only checks for validity, right? Can I leave with only the EU passport, if the American one is still in the mail?
2) If I return with an expired passport, what sort of trouble am I liable to encounter? This says none, this says $100 worth, although neither source is authoritative, and most other sources are vaguely gloomy at the prospect. I know that entering on a foreign passport, even with a valid visa, is considered Very Bad.

As I see it, I can either
I) delay renewing the passport and travel anyway, dealing with expired passport issues on my return, or
II) send in my passport for renewal, running the risk of not having it at all on my departure (although it could be mailed to me later, before my return). If leaving the country is not a problem, I would skip the expedited service and have it mailed to me in Australia, especially since it seems many people report fast turnarounds, and I might get it within three weeks anyway.

3) Any Melbournians for a meetup in may?

Reference

Where to go in Australia and for how long?

smackfu — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 06:12:22 -0800

I'm visiting Australia for 10 days / 9 nights, flying in and out of Sydney. How would you divide your time amongst the various cities? 3 nights each in Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane?

Melbourne to Brisbane: inland by camper

bookley — Wed, 25 Mar 2009 02:16:07 -0800

We’re hoping to rent a camper van in Melbourne (approx April 13), drop it off in Brisbane a week later. Any advice? There’s a good discussion about driving through Australia here:
http://ask.metafilter.com/52325/Help-me-cross-Australia-in-March

What we’re looking for are some specific suggestions for going inland from Melbourne to Brisbane. For example, we’d like to get a respectful sense of the bush fire devastation and recovery efforts, maybe have a couple stops in some of the wine valleys, find misc things like the sculpture Nick Cave is supposed to be building, plus whatever outback flavour we might soak up without going too far off track -- anything we wouldn’t find in the guidebook.

Any tips about camper rental and travel in Australia are also appreciated, even if it’s just appropriate driving music. We’re not totally committed to the van either -- as much as anything it’s a case that the camper rental companies seem more flexible on one way drives than companies who rent small cars.

Two important parameters:

1) We’ll have already spent a week in and around Sydney and don’t need to head that direction.

2) Quite a few years ago I drove from Melbourne to Tibooburra via the Great Ocean Road, Bendigo, Mildura, Broken Hill, popping up to White Cliffs. One of the most amazing drives of my life, but I’d like to see as much new terrain as possible on this trip.

We certainly don’t need to go in the straightest fastest line either, and I don’t mind under or overshooting Brisbane by a day’s drive, if it means a more interesting route. (Would be quite keen, for instance, to spend time in the rainforest area between Byron Bay and Nimbin.)

Thanks for any suggestions.

MelbourneFilter: What are some good things to do after hours in Melbourne?

UbuRoivas — Mon, 16 Feb 2009 13:53:12 -0800

MelbourneFilter: What are some good things to do after hours in Melbourne? To give an idea of the kinds of things I am after, in Sydney you can:

* go to Chinatown for night markets on Fridays (in season)

* visit the the Art Gallery of NSW on Wednesday nights for free talks, movies & music related to whatever touring exhibition happens to be on at the time.

In Melbourne, so far, I only really have Monday nights covered - cheapo movie night at the Nova Cinema in Carlton.

So, what other things are there to do, along the lines described above? ie more like special nights or events, less like "go to Lygon St or random city alleyways"

How can I book a sane vacation?

mhz — Tue, 20 Jan 2009 13:41:25 -0800

What's the safest/best way to book airline tickets? Hey…

I'm planning on flying from New York to Melbourne. I don't have a credit card. What is the best way to make sure my trip is hassle-free?

I've flown many times in the past and have never had a problem with lost baggage. But I figure I'll get screwed sometime, and with the multiple connections (and chances for things to go wrong) I'm seriously debating the extra $60 or so that the booking website charges for insurance. So as far as insurance is concerned:

- Is it worth it?

- What do these things usually cover? I'm landing in Australia a day before my friend's wedding – what exactly happens if Gaffubid my stuff gets lost?

- Is it possible to get a third-party insurer after booking my tickets, with a better cost/benefit ratio? If yes, please provide a link.

- Is there a credit card that helps? I vaguely recall something about AmEx guaranteeing something – does it only work for the cardholder? How about someone in the cardholder's household? How about a companion? If so, does the companion ticket need to have been bought together? Are there any other credit cards that would offer this?

- I'm going to start and end in Melbourne, but I will be in Sydney and possibly other cities as well. Is there a better traveler's insurance which will cover all flights and incidentals during my trip?

slightly offtopic
- I will probably be flying Virgin Blue (MEL-SYD-MEL), and I can't seem to figure out from their website if there's a 1 bag limit (using the super cheap fares) or not. I know there's an $8 charge – I just don't know if I can take two bags.

I've flown between the US and Australia multiple times, so I think I've got everything covered, but if there's anything else that may help…

If it helps at all as far as getting insurance things are concerned, I'm 22, male, US and Australian citizen.

Thank you very much

Can I get a tax deduction from building a website for a charity?

Eastgate — Fri, 09 Jan 2009 00:50:45 -0800

Building a website for a charity in Australia. Can I get any tax deductions from this? Does it make a difference if I charge them or if I do it for free? I'm a freelance web developer in Melbourne, Australia, and I've been asked by a charity if I will build a website for them. I'm wondering whether I can get any tax deductions or any other tax benefits from doing this. I'm also wondering whether anything changes if I do it for free or charge them. Anyone know about how this works?

Can I get a tax deduction from donating clothing in Australia?

Eastgate — Thu, 25 Dec 2008 03:07:49 -0800

I'm living in Melbourne, Australia, and I have a whole lot of unwanted clothing (some unworn or barely worn) that I want to donate to an op shop. Am I able to get any tax deduction for this?

Skin specialist in Melbourne AU?

Coaticass — Mon, 22 Dec 2008 17:07:24 -0800

Can anyone personally recommend a skin specialist in Melbourne, Australia? I wondered if anyone could recommend a good skin specialist in Melbourne (AU) for a VERY difficult elderly relative who has a history of nasty spots needing removal. Someone with good people skills who is prepared to explain everything in great detail. Alternatively- how can I find such a one? I'm afraid I don't know how to google for personal recommendations. His GP has apparently run out of suggestions (all were rejected) and/or saint-like patience- it had to happen eventually.

If it feels weird to post your recs here, there's always MeFi mail or email: coati dot cass at gmail dot com.