jades5
Reviews
"Don't move there! Warning! Any of those islands. Murder."
Macleay is very, very, expensive. Travel, ferry's, two cars, go cards, spar food shop prices and a lot of illness every winter from the ferry. Plus, even if you get the flu shot it doesn't work. People get crook for a month on Macleay and the Drs... Omg, eep. Has been banned from writing prescriptions apparently and has diagnosed my grandparents with allergies when they are crook and I mean crook for the 6th week.
Works out cheaper living off the island. High rate of drug users of all age, unemployed and the lovely elderly. Also you'll have to change to Telstra to get phone coverage. Barely coverage phone wise on the island for any other phone company. Most houses rented through Raywhite won't put the internet on either. They want you to pay 3-4 hundred to install the internet!? Then say they will reimburse you. Telstra is the only internet you can get, I've heard. The library which advertises internet and open is never open. I've never seen it.
People are friendly but seem to be hiding from the mainland. You'll find most people "Oh the mainland is too much for me, I never leave the island". When they go across to the mainland it a seems to be an all day event just to go across grocery shopping. The food cafe closes very early on a weekend before 1ish, exept spar, we have been to get lunch at the cafe near the post office a few times around 1pm Saturdays. We were told to go home as they were closed. When we did get into the parrot cafe I found a pubic hair in my toasted sandwich.
Macley island is about 20 years behind the times, but this is not to shame anyone just pointing out facts.
Great for elderly except there is no hospital so the water ambulance takes a while to come over from Redland Bay. Most of the time they are taking angry, yelling, ice users on the police boat. I wouldn't encourage raising children there as there isn't anything to do and the high drinking and drug use happening. There is a Primary school but no high school on the island. The rest of the people are unsavoury characters, unemployed and drug users.
You're on your own, the police are never around except picking up drug users every Friday and Saturday nights at the jetty where you catch the ferry. Google Macleay murder. People say the island is safe but there's a been a murder! It'scary catching the last ferry at 11ish. Then you can't get off the island. Male ferry staff especially one is very unfriendly and you cannot top up your go card on the ferry. So if your gocard is empty and the ticket booth is shut you are stranded. The ferry will leave without you. You have to get on a bus just to top up your go card.
The police station on and off the mainland closes very early every day. So you're on your own basically.
Crime rate is low due to under reporting or not reporting at all due to the lack of police presence.
Drug dealers, I have seen this. They seem very young with children and live in cheap shacks and never sleep. Domestic violence is an issue on this island also.
Lesbian and gay friendly. Mainly Aussies living there. Lovely beaches. Fishing. Kind of a hippy feel. Everyone has purple hair even the oldies which is interesting.
Parking is a MAJOR issue even though a new car park has been made. You could miss your ferry home or to work and be waiting up to 45 mins for a park. Other options are to pay $95 a month for parking on the mainland or park at an illegal house that offers slightly cheaper parking.
This is the information I wish I knew before I moved to the island. All the other islands are the same.
Wow.... this post it ridiculous. Shame on you!!! I guarantee you there are drug dealers in every suburb. I hear murders all over the place.. I see the cop nearly everyday i so dont know where you get this info from but majority of it is very untrue... every suburb has ferals but most of the island is such lovley people and your just stamping a ugly lable on the whole island.
Been on Macleay ten years. Still love it. Jade5 should check facts before injuring the island reputation.
FACT: Drug use on Macleay is considerably lower per capita than most mainland suburbs.
Police are very dedicated, community minded and as efficient as their workload will allow.
Ferry staff are friendly (except one who is just grumpy, not evil).
Our paramedics are some of the best in Queensland. Urgent medical cases are airlifted the 10 minute flight to Bris or Gold Coast hospital depending on the nature of the incident. Jade5 should have "holidayed" on Macleay before moving here. Clearly she didn't think it through before committing. We rented for 5 weeks before deciding the island lifestyle was for us.
Maximum of 3 minutes drive to anywhere on the island and no traffic lights. I can't understand people willing to spend 20 days (in hours) a year at red traffic lights ( yes I worked it out based on my drive to work in the city.)
Entertainment options are aplenty. Boat club (Power boats, yachts, dinghies, dragon boats, outriggers & kayaks.), Bowls club, golf club and Pub Paradise. Volunteering options for those willing to contribute to the community. We find that most people who complain about the island moved here because it was cheap. They didn't consider the realities of making an "island lifestyle choice". Oh, did I mention we have an internet based business that has only had a couple of internet outages over ten years?
nudgem**Been on Macleay 16 years** I find Jades5 opinions very comical..I only know of one resident with consistent purple hair , unless she/he means my burgundy or violet...Maybe it was around "Halloween"Am surprised SHARKS were not mentioned, but that would be sexist.As far as drugs or domestics..well they don' last long as we do live on an island and they are rounded up by the police soon enough after all where are they going to hide..Ah that was it! Didn't like our escort service huh...
Jade obviously has psychological problems and should return to live on the mainland as soon as possible to get help.
I find it interesting to see people's reactions to when a person has a different view or perspective to other people "weighing in". This is far more telling than any five star review from a die-hard, territorial "local". sg2, insulting someones' mental capacity after they have made a careful, balanced comment reflecting their own personal experience is vicious. You actually display an element of this "undesirable" jades5 spoke of.
jennyb23 - Jaces5 comments were far from careful and balanced. She has called so many good people unsavoury. What is careful and balanced about that? When jades5 says "The rest of the people are unsavoury characters, unemployed and drug users. " I can only assume she mixes with the wrong people. For example, the island provides many volunteering opportunities - organisations full of worthwhile people who aren't unsavoury, unemployed or drug users. The boat club is full of people that contribute to that healthy and supportive organisation. We just feel compelled to comment when untrue assertions harm our wonderful island.
guyh, perhaps jades5 had to live at the end of town where she was subjected to such unpleasantness. I find her review balanced and reflective of her experience. Perhaps she would have a different view if she had her own small boat to commute to the mainland, and lived in a $300,000 home at the north end and joined the golf and bowling clubs. Of course her review would be different.
I can't see why you have trouble with another persons perspective of their own experience. She hasn't written any lies, she has shared her experience. You both have different experiences. She is entitled to review her experience.
Jennyb23 "The rest of the people are unsavoury characters, unemployed and drug users." is a lie.
May I just ask, is the eastern side of the island the best all along the east or just some areas of the east coast line.?
Are most of the houses used for permanent living or mainly just school holidays letting?
As I am retired now and thinking of coming over with a view to purchase, I am not sure how to put this, but would there be any particular streets or areas that older more mature retirees live, without children, they can be very noisy and unsettling. Any children free areas? Thank you in advance.
Hi Christine, East for sunrise, west for sunset. Most island dwellers are retired. Having said that, the last few years have seen more and more workers commuting. Where you choose to live is more likely determined by what you want to do with your time. Best possible advice is come over and rent for a couple of months. This will allow you to determine if you like the island and where you'd prefer to live. My wife and I rented for five weeks before make any serious commitment to the island. That was just over 10 years ago. "Still loving it."
Thank you so much I am asking on behalf off of a friend who is nearly 70 and like me, prefers the quiet isolated lifestyle he certainly is not wanting for large shops or any kind of entertainment. A good vet would be good as he has blue Staffy girls. I really appreciate your info. This site has some great info and I will keep following.
Me again, what is the humidity like in summer, I understand the heat but humidity is what gets to me
It gets very humid. Another reason to "try before you buy" ;)
The winters are much milder than other places though.
Ok thank you very much
guyh Is this your hobby...? hijacking other people's threads, then sitting on them and acting the authority on every given subject. God help anyone who disagrees with you in person, you'd probably shout them down where they stand too.
Thank you guyh, I thought this was a group discussion. I appreciate all the info that guyh has given to me and a pleasant quick response. Sounds like I better get over there quick, do you need a hug mate ?
christinea10 Yes, a hug would be most welcome. I look forward to meeting you when you arrive. in fact shall we collect you at the jetty and show you around our wonderful island? No I'm not a real estate agent. In fact, I'm a volunteer who assisted with 3 medical airlifts in the last week. My wonderful wife performed CPR for one of those.
Its great to talk to you, I am also a volunteer wildlife carer and would love to continue that. I am 62 retired I am in Mackay ( still) and my best friend is in Adelaide area. He is putting his home on the market in the next week or two. He is going to be the main person who wants to either rent 1st or buy on the island. He is retired and we both love isolation, he is a well known registered breeder of English Blue Staffies in SA. He has sailed up and down the Queensland and NSW coasts, he is very level headed and has an amazing array of talents to build and fix things, very handy as well as knowing the both of you are committed to helping the community in good health and not so good health.
It great to hear positives, and we are aware every community may have a few bad apples thats life. The quiet life will suit him down to the ground.
Take care and stay safe.
what i would like to know is about personal boat transport. is it viable
and bad weather travelling
As an oldie advising a youngie (you're 62 I'm 63), personal boat transport is not viable unless you work at least 5 days a week somewhere near Redland Bay Marina. Personal boat is a nightmare in bad weather.
We have an internationally qualified dog judge here on the island that would relish the interaction with your Staffie breeding friend. We also have off-shore sailors to boot which would make for lively conversation when he is in the mood. I was sailing master for our Tingira Boat Club for two years and vice comm for two years. Sounds like he'll fit like a glove, unless his nautical stories are bolder than mine ;)
Thank you so much for your reply, it sounds so good that hopefully closer to the end of September both Ron and I could visit and check it out. His plan is to travel from Adelaide to Darwin and he is going to babysit one of his new owners pups. Then onto to Mackay where I am and travel down to the Brisbane area and over to the islands to have a look around. I know he would like to spend time checking everything out. Hopefully we will stay in touch as the time gets closer. Stay safe and well to both of you.
Greetings Christina10 and others reading this item. I heartily vouch for the honesty, sincerity and truthfulness of Guyh . He and his wife are community spirited volunteers much respected by Residents of Macleay Island and of many other Redlands Coasters.
To suggest that his opinions are "unbalanced" is ignorance! This is a person/couple whose awesome contribution to our Island life is greatly appreciated!
Wow everyone is allow to write how they feel. Not always bed a roses here. Ive been here long time too. The place has changed. Depends on who you want to socialise with. Most escape here for reasons. Others come here for affordability. Not all come here for island lifestyle. Comes down to this figure$$$ mostly.
Thanks so much to everyone who has taken the time to review. I think the best thing hubby and I can do is come for a visit. That way we can really get a feel for the island, sounds like our kind of layback lifestyle easing into semi retirement. We do enjoy the quiet simple life with a sense of community.
It certainly sounds like Macleay Island offers that.
Cheers, to everyone.
People should know what they want out of life and investigate places they'd be happy in before making a move. Much of what has been written here is gross exaggeration. We have lived here very happily and securely for 20 years and wouldn't live elsewhere! It's a beautiful life and we rarely see or learn of drug dealers or the like. But then, we don't hang about the Pub and don't know of any anyway.