Impressions of Australia - different but the same

As it is my first visit to Australia, I wanted to capture my early impressions, especially as so many Brits, including Jacqui’s sister and family, had moved here. I feel that Jacqui has never fully settled with the idea of part of her family being so far away (what's the draw?), and Australia has never been much of a draw for me, but I wasn't sure why. How might I feel about these issues having visited?

Climate - We visited in Winter / Early Spring. It was pleasant, with cool evenings and bright days of around 19c. I'm told it doesn't get much chillier but it can be very hot in the Summer, requiring widespread use of air conditioning. Australia is a large country (2-3000 km top to bottom) and therefore climate varies significantly, but for me thinking about Perth versus the UK, cold winters had been traded for overly hot summers and less rainfall. Our stay, however, was perfect for us.

Culture - it felt very much like England. Driving on the left, the first language is English, predominantly western-looking people, bars, pubs, western brands, parks, sports and institutions working to a similar structure. Cultural institutions, like the arts, were strong and vibrant, very accessible, and similar to Europe.

People ate similar things to Brits, like fish and chips, Chinese food, cereal for breakfast, bread, drunk tea, coffee, beer and wine. Religion was predominately Christian.

There were differences; the Aboriginal influence, such as in painting and storytelling, and there was a strong outdoor pull; like free Gas BBQs in parks and sea sports. People seem relaxed and straight talking.

Man-made environment- I was struck by how clean, modern and manicured everything was. The infrastructure was excellent, and leisure facilities were extensive. Most major cities in Australia are near the coast, so with great beaches, there is a strong water sports culture, particularly surfing.

People - It was difficult to pick this out; it certainly felt more relaxed. People were less filtered (e.g. swearing more). There was also clear tension between "settlers" and "indigenous". We certainly felt welcomed as tourists and random people said ‘good morning’ as you walked the dog. People were predominately White ‘western’ or Asian, with a smattering of indigenous people (the % is much higher in the northern territories).

History - More than I expected, with many historical buildings preserved from the original times of settlement. More emphasis is being clearly being made to Aboriginal history, which is less about buildings and more about things like stories, use of the land and traditional culture. I would have liked to learn more about indigenous history which goes back around 50,000 years.

Natural Environment. It was greener than I expected; it was familiar yet different. Birds, except for seagulls, were different, more colourful and varied. Kangaroos living wild in large numbers surprised me, and I was struck by the diversity of the year-round marine life in the area, particularly sharks and whales. There were plenty of pointers to other features waiting to be discovered across this vast country. The beaches too were spectacular but watch out for sharks.

Standard of Living - It wasn't easy to pick this apart. Salaries are significantly more for many professions when compared to the UK. Everywhere is modern and clean with good facilities. Food was more costly, and whilst some things, like public transport, were free or cheap, healthcare is part self-funded and estimated direct cost of around $1,235 per person. Public pensions are means tested; petrol is relatively inexpensive. Life expectancy is a couple of years more for men and women than in the UK. The bottom line is - it's good.

Everyday life- with our extended stay, everyday life seemed familiar, families spent time together on Sunday, weekend markets popped up, people walked dogs, and the newspapers covered familiar topics.

Perth-We stayed in the Perth area, and I can see its attractions. Most things (airport/concerts/beach) were within 30/45 minutes, the city was clean, facilities were good, and it felt safe. Housing, typically bungalows with overhanging roofs to shade windows was generously sized, well maintained and had room for cars to park. Everything seemed modern, but history was still visible in preserved buildings and protected land. People seemed happy. Car ownership is a must, and bicycle use was minimal; come to think of it, I didn't see much exercise going on, but people seemed fit rather than fat.

Immigration - Over 50 years, there has been significant migration to Australia, and people's reasoning varies; it is very personal, like a life rich in opinions based on different life experiences. Some seek adventure, some seek to improve their economic position, and some to avoid conflict or rebuild a new life free of the past. Its sound healthcare system, schools and warm climate also are high on the list. Australia seems to have a promising future, with the opportunity to grow with less constraint from the past. Indeed, from our visit, it has much appeal, and for the British, it's probably as near as a possible way to take your slippers off in one place and slip on comfy ones somewhere else - As long as you don't mind one's made of Kangaroo for three months and wearing flips flops the rest of the time. Oh, and the wine is excellent.

Australia is part of the commonwealth, I suspect it won’t be in the near future.

Jacqui's family have established a successful life for themselves with a beautiful house, good jobs and a balanced lifestyle making the most of what is on offer. They are now Australian Citizens and more than just brits abroad.

Would I emigrate? Probably not, certainly not at my age, maybe in my youth. But it doesn't matter what I think. I'm not surprised people do; there is a lot on offer, and Jacqui's sister's family have made it a success.

Finally, I wouldn't be surprised if one of my kids considered it.

Martin

Note: As such a large country, the size of Europe, a more rounded view is only possible through further travel.

Photos: Looking towards Perth Business district; Wine tasting in Margaret River, Normal life - down the bar playing pool.