eurotraveller

I'm on Harris Street, well during the UK winter which is the Oz summer, and I love it.
Stroll down to the city cat for Riverside or South Bank, or the bus stops just outside my house. Power House is just across the river, one stop on the city cat, catch the Sunday night comedy shows.
Morningside Panthers, I'm a socio, is five minutes away. Usually I bike to Oxford Street for a coffee. My grand kids love the parks. And I was just above the floods!!!!

All in all its exclusive 'river avenues' but you just need to afford the entry price which is 1 million plus and rising.

River, Parks, City Cat, Oxford Street, Morningside Panthers.
What else can you ask for in an inner city suburb?

Last saturday I was driving upcountry through Esk, good to see Wivenhoe full, and cqalled in for petrol and the Courier mail. But even I was surprised that the town was full of 'Ironbark' full bearded old men; standard dress is dungarees and plaid shirt plus a big bushy beard.
Now I used to like Esk but this retro back to Banjo Patterson is too much. If I want beards I'll go to a beardy place but I always wonder about how esk sees itself. Mates in Brisbane rave about it as the authentic Aus experience but I have my doubts. I think the couple of tourist draws are just overpriced, the local shopping mall is a tiny place with a nice coffee shop but its not Quenn Street by a world away.

Reasons to live here?
If you've got a big beard you'll probably fit in well. Add some denim and plaid and you'll probably be a trendy councillor.

For modern people, like going to work, connectivity, et al, sorry but its a big miss.

I'm am annual visitor to Narrandera for the Southern Cross Cup flying competition held south of the town so I've stayed in the town motels, with mates and without, quite a few times now despite being a pom flying in from UK. So my comments might not be typical, though I am a fam of Oz bush poetry and John O'Brien though I missed the festival last year by a few days.

I have a really soft spot for this historic town with its almost victorian style brick houses, very unusual in Oz, and I enjoy every visit. I nearly bought a house here, a spanish hacienda job built by the developer of a bungalow - oops, sorry, lowset - development on the north of the town, a beautiful place but a bit out in the wilds for this city gent.

Great things about the town are its old brick houses, the John O'Brien church, and the best fish and chips I have experienced anywhere - and that's a lot of fish and chips worldwide - at the chippy on the top of main street. Its got a great lake and its a historic landmark in the breakout from Sydney in the crossing of the Murumbidgee.
Has great hot rod festival at easter when they close main street for the the hot rod runs - love that, with all the locals turning out to view.

Not so good is the feeling that the place is declining. Plenty of neat homes about but the graffiti and closed shops are starting. It gives the feel of a place living on its past, which is a real shame as this town would suit a lot of people but I do wish the standard of catering on the main street was up to the excellent standards at the RSL club.

Cheers you Aussies, I back for the Ashes - hope you have a plan for losing!

Cheers Broone

OK I give in to all the locals, meaning Australians, who have posted but if I'm driving this highway I always call here for fuel and a drink.

Out in the middle of nowhere it is just what I dream is rural Australia - but I wish they had better service at the fuel stop! If you are not ready for it, it goes by at 110KMH or possibly 100kmh if you stick to the speed limit, but you will be all the worse for passing it by as Oz has far too many roadhouses of note and this is one you should preserve.

Last time through to Mundubbera it was up for sale - just hope it sells to some moneyed bushy - If driving this road don't miss it.
PS Nice creek across the road.

Well Gayndah has a great hill lookout position, complete with acrvings and graffiti, but not so bad for that. From the lookout you get a great plan view of the town - if you are thinking of buying here then get up to the viewpoint with some binos and you can get the complete up front and personal view of your potential neighbours!

Right, its a good town - possibly the oldest in Qld - in the country style but each time I stop here its like I am in a time warp, think 1955 or so milk bars and when I go in a cafe its just there - I mean you have to go into Gayndah's cafes because as much as this pom has driven in Oz its still an experience - Now note I didn't say good or bad so just go try it.

All across town are neat tidy homes, presumably occupied by neat tidy people.

My mate has a great house, though in Brit terms I'd call it a bungalow with a great view; its on acres of land with loads of sheds.
He's a farmer and misses his land and stock and this outer urban living is not suiting him.

When I visit its like the lost souls who live round here, secure on their expensive acreage, just wishing they were somewhere else. No amount of money and a good view can make up for being in the wrong place. You might look out over Tweed Heads and the lower Gold Coast and feel smug but you'd all be better living in Brisbane or Sydney - no matter how many BMWs and AUDIs you've got in the sweep round drive.

Broone the Sporting Brit - Brisbane and upcountry

I'm coming over from UK to compete in the Ozi model aircraft championships, held at Dalby club ground just outside town and bexause my Ozi life revolves around Brisbane and Mundubbera Dalby is smack in the middle!

I'm booked in at the camping park, single unit so no shareing, plus it will be great to meet up with my mates from the Brisbane Free Flight Society. I might not be Oz but I like to keep up on events and calling in at Dalby makes me think of why Oz is the can do country.

Its there, you've got it. Its all real.

What more do you need - well just don't forget my booking for 27 December at the tourist park!
PS There are so many people coming to this event, if you have any interest go along, my mates from NSW and NZ arepleading for accommodation.

Wishing you all well in Dalby.

Love Broone

Well I couldn't believe it when I moved into Harris Street and on the first day a strange friendly dog came round and parked itself next to my work desk. Reading the collar its Jonathan Brown's dog!!!! I ring the number and get Kylie who walks round about 40 metres to collect Tonka.

You don't have to believe this but its real. As a Brit I was gob-smacked (UK term) that I was living just a shout from Oz's biggest (and he is a big guy) footie star, in UK i would never have a chance of living within a rifle shot of David Beckham, but here people (who are stars in all sorts of fields) just stroll about - we meet up at Morningside Panther clubhouse and watch a game - I'm still not sure of the rules despite my expert advice over a beer and a snag (where did you Aussies get that word) but its the most athletic team sport I have ever seen.

Hawthorne - its like Holywood in Brisbane except all the people are real and you'll bump into them in Woolies on Oxford Street - I Love it but see my posting for Mundubbera so won't be seeing so much of you Hawthorne Stars in 2011 - have a beer for me and remember the canny Pom/Brit!

Cheers Broone
PS Make sure you have plenty of razoos if you are planning to live in Hawthorne - riverside with boat is 6 million plus, good street is million plus - guess why I'm in Mundubbera!

I'm in Oz as a sporting competitor for about 4 months a year and used to be based in Brisbane, great city love the Cats and Powerhouse and Southbank (Matties down the road at Manly), and in three weeks I'll be back in Mundubbera for a rest (think Ashes - and losing you Aussies).
Peaceful it is though you should catch its show each year. For me its an unwind place, bike down to Lyons Street (CBD - not that this is a CBD in normal terms) call in at the new coffee shop, order a pizza for dinner at the bakers, pick up my gold prospecting maps from the agency at the top of the street, take my grandchildren up to the Black Stump or the Railway Engine, mix with the internationals when its picking season.
Night life is nil, there are two pubs in town, straight Crocodile Dundee, which is good as I sit out on the back deck looking out over the horse paddock, glass of chardonnay in hand as the sun goes down and wonder why more city slickers haven't followed me here!