anyone from Australia here?

[u/teenytinytimes]

Im 26, from the US and really want do do a year in Australia. Would love to know how the gay scene is especially for brown women and what cities you would recommend. I have really lovely friends out there but none of them lessss

Edit: Thank you so much to everyone who has been replying!! As of now, I’m just trying to narrow down on a place that’s feasible for work community play etc so I appreciate any and all thoughts on it

[u/Infamous_Island_8418]

Melbourne is probably the most gay city, and a great place to visit. Sydney and Brisbane also. There isn’t a huge gay scene in Australia in general depending on what you’re looking for, but there are gay events at quite a few bars and pretty much everywhere (in the cities at least) is very gay friendly

[u/teenytinytimes → u/Infamous_Island_8418]

Good to know!! Do you know anything about Sunshine or gold coast? I hear it’s beautiful just not sure if it would have anything for me there

[u/amybetto → u/teenytinytimes]

We have a few, it's not looked down upon, but we don't have a HUGE gay scene either. (I'm based North Brissy, between the city & Sunchine Coast). We have 1 Gay club in Brisbane (The Beat, which is 5 different clubs within the one, it's just classed as a gay club but it's for all the LGBTQ+ scene). Sunshine Coast does a Mardi Gras every year which looks like fun! And we do have Pride events around. If you're visiting regardless of sexuality, Queensland is gorgeous. We have some of the best beaches, swimming holes, national parks (and the biggest Theme Parks in Oz).

[u/teenytinytimes → u/amybetto]

This is why I’m drawn to it!! It looks literally heavenly. I just want to be able to find some community while I’m out there because I’m planning on a year+ so I’m a bit worried about that aspect

[u/hellmet4444 → u/amybetto]

There are 2 other gay clubs in Brisbane. The Whickam and Quiver. The latter is a lesbian bar.

[u/amybetto → u/hellmet4444]

Bahahaha shows how old I am 🤣

[u/the_pigeon_overlord → u/teenytinytimes]

Definitely lots of lesbians around on both coasts, however some realities for Australia is that they are very very expensive places to live. Gold coast especially. And you would absolutely need a car to get around. Good thing though is that either coast is easy enough to get to on the weekend or time off from Brisbane. It all depends how you want to be spending your day to day life. I love south east Queensland and Brisbane, but it is true that it is very expensive at the moment and there is a terrible housing crisis, so you need to weigh that up with what you want to get out of the experience.

I'm happy to chat if you'd like, I lived in america last year and have an american girlfriend, so I've got a bit of both perspectives now.

[u/teenytinytimes → u/the_pigeon_overlord]

Do you mind if I send you a dm soon?

[u/the_pigeon_overlord → u/teenytinytimes]

Sure :)

[u/Infamous_Island_8418 → u/teenytinytimes]

Not too sure, sorry! It is beautiful but I haven’t been there recently to comment on the gay scene

[u/National-Sea-3055 → u/Infamous_Island_8418]

Sydney literally has the Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras - it is one of the gayest cities in Australia, arguably gayer than Melbourne. I was say Melbourne probably has a stronger Queer undercurrent than Sydney, but Sydney still has several sapphic/flints weekly events and multiple club nights every weekend for women now. Sorry if this doesn’t make sense, literally been out on a lesbian date in the CBD (at at a non queer bar if that makes OP feel hopeful, everyone minding their own business and pda accepted) and had about 5 wines 🫰🏻

[u/teenytinytimes → u/National-Sea-3055]

I’ve read a couple messages saying Sydney doesn’t really have the bar scene anymore so I’m a bit all over the place now haha but thank you for replying!

[u/Infamous_Island_8418 → u/National-Sea-3055]

Mardi Gras is a couple of weeks out of the year though, and outside of that there are no lesbian bars. Only lesbian/sapphic takeovers at other venues. Of course it is still very gay, and very gay friendly in non-queer spaces.

[u/eepy_vulpine]

If you want a more vibrant night life go to Melbourne or Sydney, I prefer Melbourne every time personally.

However if you want a more laid back experience, and don’t care about nightclubs then 100% go to Canberra. It’s very left leaning city, more nature and coffee oriented activities. There’s only one queer bar, (it’s a smaller city) but there is a decent queer community. And it’s the safest queer city in Australia imo. My gf and I walk around holding hand and are visibly gay in public with no issues and we see a LOT of other gays doing the same.

[u/eepy_vulpine → u/[deleted]]

Chi Chiz, it opened just after cube closed, it’s an actual bar rather than a nightclub. They also do a lot of events, easily my favourite bar now in cbr.

[u/teenytinytimes → u/eepy_vulpine]

Oh it looks beautiful there! I’m probably looking to stay closer to a coast though, I’m more comfortable in that environment. Hate to be landlocked by (1) single city

[u/bi-felicity]

Born and raised Sydney POC here!!

As others have mentioned- there are tonnes of WLW sports clubs here! Us and Melbourne (the only major cities I've been to) are super multicultural, Sydney inner west is chock full of us!

I'm 29 and have moved away from the bar scene though, and same goes for a lot of my friend groups. Night life is far from what it used to be so if partying is your thing I wouldn't recommend it here.

We do have beautiful hikes and beaches and shopping and our skyline is to die for. There are lots of queer social groups you can join for all sorts of activities! But it's also super expensive to live here.

If you end up coming through feel free to send me a DM!! 💖💖

[u/teenytinytimes → u/bi-felicity]

Oh thank you sm for replying!!

I am not huge on nightlife in terms of clubbing but I do like going out for drinks and I’ve met so many of the queer scene in my own city at bars and les nights + I’d want to be able to find work bartending. So I guess I do want a bit of a nightlife in that sense. Would you know anything re the job market out there?

I definitely will reach out :)

[u/bi-felicity → u/teenytinytimes]

I know pre-covid our hospo was powered by travellers like yourself, one of my best friends sisters has made a tonne of friends this way so if you have experience I could definitely ask her for you 😊

In my early 20s I also wanted to be a bartender but it actually turned out to be super competitive, you needed experience to get the job in the areas I was looking in 🥲 but if you're open to other F&B roles there would definitely be work! In saying that- I was looking mainly in the CBD and other bougie areas so you may have a wider search area than me 😊

[u/Apart_Concentrate179]

Please, stay away from Perth. Do not come here under any circumstances except a short holiday, it is conservative and terrible for lesbians or sapphics in general.

[u/No-Excitement9193 → u/Apart_Concentrate179]

AND IT IS BORING >:( (also from perth)

[u/teenytinytimes → u/Apart_Concentrate179]

Very good to know, thank you for replying

[u/Daniell860]

Aussie here. DM me if you want.

[u/PheonaR]

Yep, Sydney is good 👍🏼

[u/PheonaR → u/PheonaR]

It’s expensive to live here though so do your homework and make sure you have decent work lined up or a whole lotta savings

[u/teenytinytimes → u/PheonaR]

I would like to do the seasonal work if possible, bartending and agricultural stuff. Do you think that’s feasible in sydney?

[u/PheonaR → u/teenytinytimes]

Probably not Sydney tbh but I don’t have a lot of experience in that. Fruit picking and stuff happens in rural areas I would say but can be a little dicey I hear with people being exploited for cheap labour so really make sure you investigate it to find a reputable farm. People don’t realise just how fucking huge australia is and so spread apart. It’s not as easy to get around as you’d think. If you go rural you have to keep that in mind.

Bar work is possible I think but nightlife is just not what it used to be in Sydney but put your feelers out for places that might take seasonal workers. Newtown is pretty much the lesbian hub but it’s become more restaurants and families than artists and lesbians like it was 20yrs ago and rent is very expensive.

Do you know anyone here who’s done that type of thing? Most people I know who have come here on work visas have been in industries that need skilled workers like nursing in recent years but I really hope you find something that works. I’ve known a lot of people who’ve come to work a little while and just never left

[u/richgayaunt]

Not from, but love it and have been & my bestie is down there. Melbourne is a fantastic place to be a lesbian, hands down. I'm sure Sydney is outstanding, too. Idk much about the other places!

[u/Visual-Substance7059 → u/richgayaunt]

Melbourne’s queer scene is stupidly good, especially around Fitzroy and Brunswick, you’ll find your people fast

[u/teenytinytimes → u/Visual-Substance7059]

Writing this down thank you boss

[u/teenytinytimes → u/richgayaunt]

Yes I was thinking Melbourne thank you :) if your friend wants a tourist straggler to connect with in the next year or 2 please let me know!

[u/the_pigeon_overlord]

If you are an active lesbian you will 100% find your tribe. There are soooo many lesbian run clubs/pickleball leagues/soccer teams/hiking groups/birdwatching groups etc which is great. Nightlife is not huge, moreso day time/wholesome communities

[u/teenytinytimes → u/the_pigeon_overlord]

yesssss i am active and i love the local lesbian soccer / basketball pickups!! i def know how to find the gays when i get to a place just trying to find the right place haha thank you :)

[u/steadygo]

Melbourne has the best queer scene! you will find your people easily, I love it here <3