Allegra Pickering

I moved to Bateman when I was 7 and I’m now 19.

Bateman is a very quiet, established suburb. Most of the housing is long-settled and it feels like a place that hasn’t changed much in years. There’s no real energy or sense of development, just a fully residential area where nothing really happens.

There isn’t much to do at all. Outside of a couple of parks, it’s pretty dull and not very engaging, especially for younger people.

Socially, it’s quite closed off and cliquey. Most people seem to stick tightly to the groups they’ve had for years, and if you’re not already part of that, it can feel pretty hard to break in or feel fully accepted. It’s not really a welcoming “meet new people easily” kind of place.

There’s also a strong culture of talking and messaging about things that happen, even small or minor stuff. Things don’t really stay private, and word tends to spread quickly through different groups. It can feel like people are very quick to involve others or make situations bigger than they need to be, rather than just letting things go.

Overall, it’s a very quiet suburb that suits people who are already settled in, but if you’re new or looking for a social or open community, I’d recommend elsewhere.