Junipergirl
Reviews
"Tourist town not geared up for locals."
Moved here 6 years ago. Like most, I was wearing rose-coloured glasses! Beautiful place, full of quirky charm, but live here! No casualty department, (had to drive 45 minutes to nearest ER in Ringwood for child with broken arm at 10pm!) No decent footpaths (goat tracks are slippery and unsafe in winter) in the East end of Healesville. No public transport in the East end either. (Hospital end of town) Only one High school, if you want private school, Lilydale is closest. Kids catch bus at ridiculous times with no bus shelters here for them to not get drenched! You want to buy something like an oil filter for your car? You have to drive to Lilydale. One main supermarket, Coles has very little in ranges for gluten free, vegetarian, etc. Vegies etc are often stale and starting to rot. (Must admit they have started to listen to the complaints!) IGA is small and expesive.
Youth crime is VERY high here, as they are bored stupid. Nothing really for the average kid to do here. One skate park is often under water. One indoor pool is too small to allow a decent play and people doing laps are squished into two lanes only. Outdoor pool is only open for a short few months in summer and closes at 6pm daily!
Log trucks barrel through at all hours since the bushfires. Bikies, car clubs and tourists come through on Sundays, so prepare for lack of parking in Coles! No cinema to speak of. (only two shows a week and usually an Art house type fim. You fold the chairs and put them away!)
Positives? Beautiful scenery. Beautiful scenery and some more beautiful scenery! If you like wine, then this is a great wine area. Not too far from Melbourne. If you are fit, well, and have a decent car and don't mind lack of facilities, then this is a nice place to live.
I wouldn't recommend for teen families. Probably empty-nesters, retirees, artists, or those who wish a weekender.
I wish I had done my homework before I moved here! Fair armed is fair warned!
This sounds like the lament of an 'URBAN GREENIE' . Healesville has just as much to offer as the Dandenong Ranges and more. Your comments are unreasonable and we know families in Healesville, with teens, who have plenty of job opportunities and are rebuilding and renovating rather than move. The bus services to the private schools drop them off from point A to Point B and.... they've worked out how to use an umbrella! Toughen up princess : )
I was trying to give an honest appraisal in the WHOLE of the town not just one issue. Since my post, there is now underway development of building a huge complex including a state of the art cinema and shopping centre.
Neets, I am an ambulance member and called one in an emergency and was told there were none local to get in the car and if got worse to call Lilydale on the way. I found that amazing. Since that time, though, a new ambulance service is on its way to being built. There is now a new medical service offering out of hours service, which is fantastic.
I wrote in August 2010, and was very much an advocate in getting some things changed here in Healesville, I am proud to say things are changing!
Morza, I feel your attack on me unwarranted as at the time of writing those issues were valid. My son did not go to a private school and there are still people my end of town who have difficulty getting a bus, this too is in the works but progress is slow.
Youth crime is still fairly high, but since the installation of our new police officer Wayne Williams and his tough stance, this is starting to become a thing of minority and not majority. Again, there is in the works a 24 hour police station, very much needed in this area.
I came here after a life threatening cancer, and a violent ex-husband, I take umbrage at your rant I need to 'toughen up princess'
I enjoy Healesville immensely and am very happy to live here, especially now after many years of the locals getting the above done, we can all live in less fear, have more facilities aimed at the locals, rather the tourist.
I tried to show an honest and informed point of view.
I meant to not offend anyone.
THANK YOU for your honest appraisal. How else will we know if everyone 'takes offence' at 'their' town being described honestly, and instead paints a dishonest, deceptive, 'glorified' picture? The truth can stop people making very expensive mistakes and moves!
Just wanted to add also that of course people at different stages of their lives need different things when deciding on where to live. What younger people may think of as 'wonderful' may in fact be not wonderful at all to someone older, and vice versa. It's good to get both sides of the story!
- Junipergirl - thank you for your reviews; because it is really important to hear the good and the bad. :
Both good and bad exist in all places, large and small. It takes a very brave soul to describe their experience, with truth, whilst still living in a small town,
I know many who have lived in Healesville for years, yes there is no ER but thats why you become an ambulance member.
The reason most people live here is to get away from the hustle & bustle, if you want to be near shops etc then I do not advice to move to healesville, but if you would like to be part of a friendly community and would love some peace & quiet I highly recommend living here!