maxxinel

I met a couple at a kid's party yesterday who were thinking of moving to Bathurst, and having lived there myself I thought I'd repeat my comments on here just to help anybody out who was also thinking of making the move.

We lived in Bathurst for nine years due to hubby's desire to live close to Sydney but be far enough away for that nice country feel, and potentially because we wanted a few acres for the kids to run around on later on. We found the town to be a relatively nice and safe place with enough to do for the first two years. But after that its limitations start to appear- the relentlessly cold winters, the limited jobs and recreation opportunities, lack of shops and the almost constant smells from the sewerage plant, devro plant and pet food plant in Raglan does start to make you wonder why you live there!

I'll mention it bluntly for the sake of those who've come from warmer areas: the weather in Bathurst is a huge obstacle for those who weren't born here and aren't used to it. Winter drags on for 6+months making it impossible to keep the outdoor/adventure routine you had going through the warmer months alive. It really takes until the end of November for it to get warm enough to want to venture outside and everything you get yourself or kids used to (swimming/swimming lessons, going to Machattie park/bushwalking) comes to a crashing halt around April. In Sydney or elsewhere on the coast we were still swimming at the beach at that time of year or at least able to go for a nice walk in a large park.

There are no specialty shops and most people head to Penrith or Orange for a good day of shopping.

Jobs are very limited, you really need to know someone to get a head start. Working for the council seems a great option but usually requires a close contact to get you in and trusted and even then the pay is much lower than at other councils. The university was a great employer, but that has been turned on its head by COVID and the financial setbacks it has suffered. The TAFE seems a ghost town. Even the big motor race isn't what it was- the RAAF hornet flyovers don't happen anymore and the big crowds are fading.

The town has lots of sporting opportunities if that's what you're looking for. And plenty of pubs.

Areas to avoid- probably best to go for a drive to work that one out.

If you're looking for warm weather, an open and inclusive culture, live music and nice weather then definitely look elsewhere.

The idea of even returning to see how the place is looking after not having lived there for one year isn't appealing in the slightest to us.

Try somewhere with a lower elevation and within one hour of the coast, with a population over 80,000.