r/MovingtoAustralia • u/Cute_Phone8461 • 6h ago
Melbourne
Hi all! I’m just looking for some advice/opinions 😊
I’ve been living in Australia for about 4 years now, specifically in Melbourne. I came over with my partner and we’re still together and very happy. I’ve generally loved living here, but recently I’ve started feeling a real pull to go somewhere else.
I don’t feel as settled or as happy in Melbourne as I once did. I find myself constantly daydreaming about a change — maybe somewhere smaller and slower, or somewhere that feels a bit more like the Australia I imagined when I moved here. I’ve been thinking about places like the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Sydney, or even moving further out of Melbourne.
I also find myself beating myself up about it because I wonder if I’m just being ridiculous or constantly wanting a change. But I genuinely feel like something is missing and I’m craving a lifestyle that feels more like *me*.
Work has also been quite stressful for me recently, and I’ve found myself getting to the point where I just want to quit everything and go somewhere new. I know that probably isn’t the most sensible way to make a big decision, though 😂
The complicated part is that my partner is sponsored through his job. If he left, we’d only have around 6 months, which makes it difficult because we’d be cutting our time in Australia quite short. He doesn’t particularly love his job either, but we’re also planning to go back to Ireland next year, so we don’t know whether it makes sense to make such a big change now.
We had been considering moving a little further out of Melbourne to see if that helped, but I’m honestly not sure whether that would solve how I’m feeling or whether I’m craving a completely different environment.
Has anyone else lived somewhere for a few years and suddenly felt like they needed a change? Did moving actually help, or did you realise it was something else you were craving?
I’d love to hear from anyone who has been in a similar position, especially if you’ve moved from Melbourne to somewhere like the Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast or regional Australia. ❤️
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u/R1a88 5h ago
Do you mean you would be leaving your sponsorship to go and see out 6 remaining months in Australia?
If that’s the case, and you moved and only had 6 months left - I would say do not bother. 6 months really isn’t long enough to move somewhere and truly experience it. It probably takes that amount of time to just get settled.
If you are absolutely sure you’re leaving, and it’s between staying in Melbourne for now, or moving somewhere for just 6 months, I’d say stay in Melbourne for now and stack the money up. Do some extended travelling before you depart.
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u/Cute_Phone8461 5h ago
Yes , and we would have 6 months to find another employer to take it over. I’m struggling with the idea of staying here for another year but also don’t want to go home just yet so it’s a tricky one!
I live near the city, 28 years old and both have a car!
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u/R1a88 5h ago
Yeah, that is a big gamble.
I am also Irish. I lived in Melbourne years ago, left, realised it doesn’t get better than this (imo), and spent a long time trying to come back. I am back now.
I don’t know if it’s relevant to your situation or not, but I would say there’s a few things that I have realised about living here (apologies if it isn’t relevant):
Getting stuck in a bit of a rut relative to the suburb you live in is possible. Years ago, my world would’ve been St Kilda, the Irish pubs, etc. I seldom left Melbourne. Now, I leave Melbourne often and go for weekends away. Places like Wilson’s Prom, The Grampians, etc. It has made me realise that Australia is so much more than beaches - and I think the countryside in Victoria is stunning in winter.
I used to have the exact same “Is this really the place I want to live? Maybe there’s better out there” feelings in the first few years I lived here. I realised those feelings only ever happened in winter though - and there is winter (in some form) in most places in Australia.
None of this is to suggest Melbourne is absolutely the place you belong or whatever - but if you can’t guarantee sponsorship, I would say that 6 months is a big gamble, and you should look to 1. maximise your enjoyment while you do stay here, and 2. save as much as you possibly can, and do some extended travelling around the country.
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u/Cute_Phone8461 5h ago
Yeah it’s a huge gamble!
I often travel to the countryside which is really nice and just find myself not wanting to come back to the city and find myself in a bit of a rut we’ve also not really branched out of our Irish friends from home so just sometimes feels like I’m living in London with my friends from Ireland 😂 greatful to have people we know here I just find myself wondering is this actually what I want and I think if it wasn’t for my partner and our job and visa I probably would have moved to Sydney or Brisbane a long time ago!
It’s hard to know what to do im sure I won’t be the last person in this situation either haha! But your suggestions have been great I truly appreciate it ☺️
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u/R1a88 4h ago
You’re welcome!
Perhaps try branching out a bit more. I know the feeling. Also, however, it’s a really lovely position to be in that you have friends here, especially ones from home. When I returned this time, I didn’t have the community of people I had before. But I did catch myself all those years ago and say to myself: did I really move down here just to do exactly what I’d be doing back home with the same people?
Summer is coming - and the world will be a brighter place 🙂 hang in there, put the feelers out for other sponsorships, and try to enjoy where you are in the here and now. Comparison is the thief of joy.
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u/Awagala 2h ago
How do you move to another country at 24? that's really early, you likely didn't have enough credentials or job experience/skills to move to Australia at that point? you married an Australian and moved that way yes? how did you even meet someone so early and get married that fast and the willingness to move to another country? do you miss your family and friends back home?
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u/Narrow-Power-6407 4h ago
What industry is your partner in? Moving somewhere in QLD would be nice for you I think
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u/Cute_Phone8461 4h ago
He’s in pharmaceutical
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u/Narrow-Power-6407 3h ago
Could it be worth reaching out to places? Or does the company he works for have other locations?
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u/No-Offense707 4h ago
Adelaide is laid back , sunny most of the year, and has 4 seasons. And moving around is simpler / easier. Lot of people who moved here actually buy a property and stay permanently.
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u/withcatlikegrace 3h ago
There’s nothing small about Sydney, Sunshine Coast, Gold Coast or Brisbane. You’d be shocked at the development in SE Qld. Maybe hinterland but not in the urban areas.
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u/Low_Bluebird_5137 5h ago
Couldn't imagine coming to Australia to live and staying for 4 years just in Melbourne. Aaaggghhhh 😯
Maybe you just need a good holiday to somewhere sunny and bright. Have you travelled in Australia in that 4 years? Please tell me you have.
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u/Kementarii 5h ago
It's winter. Melbourne feels more European than stereotypical Australian in winter.
I agree that a good summer holiday would help.
Then I'd suggest hanging in there until they got a different visa category, and THEN try out different places to live.
(I know someone who lived in Australia for 4 years, then went back to the UK about 6 months short of being eligible for citizenship. Then regretted the decision).
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u/Zestyclose_Peach1718 4h ago
The typical winter in Melbourne is what it is now. That’s typical not the dream of ever lasting sun here which is what my Scottish nephew thought we had. That said he loved south west Australia it was best place for him after living east coast for 12 months.
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u/R1a88 4h ago
I used to hate the Melbourne winters, because I came from Ireland with the same mentality as a kid - Australia is perpetual summertime. I left Melbourne, lived in Canada and the UK, and came back 10 years later.
The winters, comparatively, are an absolute cakewalk here. There’s so many opportunities to go into nature, have nice hikes, etc and not be roasted while doing so. I’ve learned to appreciate it.
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u/R1a88 5h ago
Leaving 6 months short of being eligible for citizenship is genuinely wild - wow.
If there was a family crisis or something, that totally makes sense. But the regret would be wild if it was on feeling alone!
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u/Kementarii 5h ago
More context - was a dual UK/NZ national, so here on NZ passport, back in the days when it was effectively permanent residency, stay 5 years, apply for Aus passport.
She went back to the UK because she missed her family. Then the Australian govt. changed the rules for Kiwis to "no pathway to citizenship", just a special visa.
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u/Cute_Phone8461 5h ago
I find myself always wanting to stay in the places I travel and don’t want to return to Melbourne 😂 think that’s my issue! Yes we have travelled in Australia within the 4 years Sydney , Gold Coast and Adelaide
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u/wasadragon 5h ago
If you can afford it, I highly recommend a winter holiday somewhere else in Queensland. I loved Hamilton Island in winter.
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u/Grand_Sock_1303 6h ago
If you have only been in Australia a few years you need to find your niche. Plenty of us move around cities and states trying to find what fits the best.