SouthernCrossAI/Reddit-posts · Datasets at Hugging Face

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Seconded.
Nah, it's about 40 minutes from Lithgow, too.
Sounds like Orange would be better if I want it to be quieter?
Well I'll let you know how it is! I'm trusting you as I just booked it!!
Hotels are already sold out and the only Airbnb is over $500
Mate you should see some of the mansions being built on the hobby farms around there. I would say it's more like peak wealthy Sydney retiree now.
So true - all the women have the same haircut.
We are pretty nice people too if you get to know us…
Lithgow is hell on earth and the people are mean and bitter - unless they are lucky enough to escape once they’re old enough. The town has no culture, schools are some of the worst in the state (and violent), it’s a key drug route for nsw and is full of Ice , and there is zero chance of a meaningful career if you are someone with a brain.
Hey we also have a Ferrero Rocher factory! Don’t forget that.
I know people who grew up in Lithgow and they confirm it is hell on earth.
But have you looked at some of the other small towns?
Rydal, for example, has a pretty cool pub that used to have accommodation. Might not be booked out yet and it's on the way out to Bathurst.
Haha, race weekend means Orange isn't quiet.
Haha too much pressure. I stay at a lot of different country towns for work. Going there is a definite highlight, It's a great place to base yourself. And if you need some groceries or some classic Australian Chinese food there's always Blayney a slightly bigger town on the way to Bathurst. Orange is about 30 minutes in the other direction by way of some back roads if you want something from a bigger country town. There's a lot of little tourist/boutique shops in Milthorpe, but I can't say much about them as they're not open when I'm done for the day.
Hobby farms in Lithgow do not qualify people as wealthy retirees from Sydney. Wealthy retirees from Sydney have properties in Scone or Bowral/Sutton Forest or Kangaroo Valley - they wouldn’t go near Lithgow. Unfortunately some bogans have money - and those are the only wealthy people you’ll find in Lithgow (wealthy by Lithgow standards)
I mean Race Week specifically.
Just called that pub and they're already booked. Shame because the pictures looked awesome
You need to get out more. There are some seriously impressive properties around Bathurst, Orange, you'd never know they were there because they are on country roads you would never go down. I call them hobby farms because they aren't being run for profit, but they are large enough to stick a few cows on them to keep the grass down.
I am very ready to leave Sydney. I am nearing 50, and a mature aged student at University. I graduate in the next couple of years and I am thinking about the next phase of my life. I have chronic illnesses that mean I will be underemployed anyways. I had hoped to work in community arts & arts admin after my degree, by my health will now prevent any long term employment. I just can't afford Sydney, and I am absolutely done with share housing.
Most of my friends are moving up to the blue mountains, and as much as I would love to join them, I am getting priced out pretty fast. Especially if I want to live alone. I am way too old for share living. I also don't love the idea that there's a community of low income folks getting displaced by city tree-changers.
So I am asking for recommendations and ideas.
I need a place where:
I can live in town, (because I can't drive).
There is ideally a train station, or at least a Greyhound stop.
Hopefully a place where I won't be bashed for being a fat old gay woman.
A supermarket that does delivery groceries - I am not always mobile enough to walk to the shops. This suggests a town of a certain size.
A cooler climate than Sydney - I love the cold, and I flare up really badly in the heat.
Decent internet or NBN, for hopeful remote work.
A local arts scene, maybe a gallery or a theatre?
And they need to have a hospital. My disabilities mean I need to be less than an hour from help, but I don't need super specialist care.
EDIT: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/26/the-changing-face-of-homelessness-in-regional-nsw-im-working-but-everything-is-unaffordable
I don't think I can do it. I can't just push another 'me' into a tent. I can couch surf for a bit. Austudy will cover storage of my stuff.
Armidale is cold rural and as far as I'm aware friendly enough. A few highschool mates went to university there so it has a good uni.
Lithgow ticks all those boxes. People can be incredibly snobbish about Lithgow, but I find it a lovely town. It's the last stop Blue Mountains train line, so it's easy to visit Sydney or the Blue Mountains for the day. It has a big art culture - just walk around the main Street and see all the installation art. Has great NBN and phone reception (except vodaphone!). Housing is still fairly affordable (at least it is compared to Sydney), though, like everywhere, it has gone up dramatically in the last couple of years. It has a hospital, several doctors surgeries (most that have walk-in service, no need for an appointment), a few dentists. Has Aldi, Coles and Woolworths and a Target. Oh, and it's cold!
Have you considered Illawarra region?
I think Albury and Orange tick all those boxes. Albury is bigger (with Wodonga) and has more of a creative arts scene
Lithgow as much as a bad rap as it gets in some circles will suit you well.
Hospital, rail, easy taxis and a decent sized township. Not to hard to get up the mountains via rail to your friends. Cheaper than Bathurst and Orange. FTTC and FTTP internet.
And you won't get bashed for being fat old and gay. People tend to mind thier own business and have that "each to thier own" mindset.
Given you mentioned being old and having a helath condition there is also a graduated assisted living facility right next to the hospital that has townhouses with differeing levels of support available. Might be worth checking out.
Glenn Innes is your best bet I reckon. Super affordable, super cold and very scenic.
It would be disingenuous for me to pretend I can give any insight into the LGBTQ friendliness of the town (strait cis)... so take this observation with a grain of salt, I noticed there were openly gay couples at my uncle's 50th who seemed to be locals.
I have spent a lot of the town's in the region (Armadale, Uralla, Guyra, Inverell) and I think I like Glenn the most as its the only one I haven't experienced first hand racism. this may be due to the people I'm with when I'm there as opposed a tru representation of the town tho.
Orange NSW had the first two. Prices have gone up in recent times though.
*Edit - though is anywhere in Australia affordable at the moment?
Bit different to other thoughts here, but Cooma might suit
I dont think there is anywhere you can go in Australia right now that wouldn't be displacing people already in the area who have jobs and kids. I'm from a regional area, every second facebook post on our community pages, moving from Sydney looking for a house must have blah blah blah. Meanwhile you have kids living in tents, old people living in their cars. Yes you all want out, but you made your beds and for another year or so everyone needs to stay in their own bed! Hate on me all you want it is just the plain truth from someone in a regional area.
Have a look at Bega, on the South Coast. It's a progressive and arty town of a decent size.
Might be Maitland is a fit for you :)
Yass in the Southern Tablelands ticks those boxes. We have a small hospital, but for some specialist appointments you would have to go to Canberra or Goulburn. There are buses daily (Mon-Fri) to Canberra and you could link with Action buses in Canberra to get to the hospital.
The thing is once you cross the Ranges yes it is colder in Winter but Summer can (not so much the last couple of years due to La Nina) be really, really hot.
I live in a small country town in the New England area (about an hour from either Tamworth or Gunnedah) and it does have most of what you're looking for but the heat in Summer is a killer.
If you are really heat adverse I'd join in the chorus of checking out Armidale or Glen Innes.
Move to Queanbeyan and get a job in Canberra.
You could try Bathurst? It’s cold in winter, not far from Orange, Lithgow and the Mountains. It has a Uni, in case you want to study some more, and has decent hospitals.
The shopping doesn’t look too bad and it would definitely have delivery. Probably cheaper than Orange for rentals/buying a house.
Vote for Maitland, Armidale, Glen Innes, Bathurst or Orange
np, rural cold town's of NSW are specialty of mine lol. I'm currently in Perth but moving to Queanbian in Sep so from North to south I've gotf it covered lol
I'm probably late to the game here but Bathurst has a good theatre and arts scene. There's always plenty of shows at the theatre and exhibitions at the gallery. [Arts out west ](https://artsoutwest.org.au/) is a great place to find out about arts stuff in the region!
Sanctuary point.its an affordable part of jervis bay ( house prices and rentals are similar to Western sydney). There is a train in Nowra and buses that run to nowra and local. The hottest we really get is very low 30s on extreme heat days, but winters are modest high teens low 20s.
We have a great lgbtqia group that does a lot of fun things. And as a bonus wee have also great bush and amazing beaches close by.
FTTH NBN, hospital, loads of arts (galleries, play house etc), university, bus and train and airport, big supermarkets that also deliver and it’s cold as shit in winter
Oh nice. I will definitely check it out?
Had the best lunch at the Blue Fox on Saturday, a bit fancy but so delicious and all round pleasant outing. Yum!
I have been looking at Lithgow. This is a great endorsement!
I'm not ruling it out. I just assumed that stuff near the coast would be more expensive. ETA: And I kind of like the idea of village life.
I was going to say both of these too. Might also add in Armidale but I think it is a little more country than regional.
Albury is great though as you can get to Sydney or Melbourne very easily.
Though house prices in the county are not as cheap as they used to be. Still.better than Sydney.
I'm definitely keen! I have been looking at Orange, and it didn't occur to me to look so far south as Albury. Thank you for the suggestion!
Oh awesome. Thank you
Oh cool. Thank you for responding. It's now on the list
The idea of only spending 30% on rent is hilarious. That's $90 for me. That will get me a storage unit, in a rural area only.
Oh yeah, hey. I absolutely do not want to squeeze anyone out. It's why I am trying to find somewhere that's maybe not so trendy.
I don't know what you mean by 'made our beds'? It sounds like low income city folks have done something we shouldn't have? I lived in Sydney for so long as a carer for my parents, when my health and mobility started going down hill I thought about leaving then. But my parents were frail and needed support. I spent 6 years nursing them. They've passed on, but I started uni part time as the thing that would be 'for me'.
And now it's just me.
I want to find the town I will live in for the rest of my life. I want to find somewhere, that will have room for me. Where I can contribute, and become part of the community, in good times and bad.
I absolutely do not want to make any family homeless, and I am asking here so I can prevent exactly that.
Oh awesome. Thank you
Ok, this is weird, but according to Domain, there are not rental properties available in Bega. Like, at any price.
I'll add it to the list, thank you!
That works fine, my ailments aren't especially rare or tricky, they're just chronic and worsening.
Wonderful tip! Thank you
Rent in Queanbeyan is getting pricey too
Oh good lord no. The ACT and Queanbeyan are as bad as Sydney.
I was wondering about Bathurst actually. O don't know much about it beyond the race.
Thank you!
Could you rate these town options for a small family with nerdy snr teens ? Would value your insight, many thanks
I'm keen on Bathurst actually! Good snow, large town. Now it depends on finance and resources.
That's a great endorsement! I'll add it to my list. Thank you
That sounds great. It's on my list!
Wonderful, thank you!! I will add Armidale to the list 🥰
Central West treechanger here, I’m so glad I made the move from Sydney, even though I love her, our time was done
I’d recommend Orange first (excellent hospital, very cool temps), and add that Bathurst isn’t too far by coach, which gives you two relatively large towns near each other. Check out BRAG for their art scene. Also the Uni in Bx (local abbreviation!) means that there are student arts and culture events, and a theatre, which will hopefully soon return to post-covid frequency. Not far from Bx to Hill End, famous for artists since the ‘40s. Bx Hospital not very good. Mudgee is the next town in the group, hospital there is dreadful – however is being refurbished/extended so could come good. Smaller towns won’t have transport or shopping to meet your needs.
For anywhere you’re investigating, always be sure to look up the Visitor Information Centre (VIC), which will have friendly people with great local knowledge, very willing to help and advise.
I don't rent
It is an expression "you made your bed, so sleep in it" in other words, you made your choice now deal with it.
I get you want to move, you and so many other hundreds of people. Australian economy says no. Why can't people be patient. There are no houses, there are no beds or spare rooms, jobs plenty of them. The whole bloody country needs to settle down and just breathe.
Yes, you are right. Wow. The housing crisis must really be biting there.

Seconded.

Nah, it's about 40 minutes from Lithgow, too.

Sounds like Orange would be better if I want it to be quieter?

Well I'll let you know how it is! I'm trusting you as I just booked it!!

Hotels are already sold out and the only Airbnb is over $500

Mate you should see some of the mansions being built on the hobby farms around there. I would say it's more like peak wealthy Sydney retiree now.

So true - all the women have the same haircut.

We are pretty nice people too if you get to know us…

Lithgow is hell on earth and the people are mean and bitter - unless they are lucky enough to escape once they’re old enough. The town has no culture, schools are some of the worst in the state (and violent), it’s a key drug route for nsw and is full of Ice , and there is zero chance of a meaningful career if you are someone with a brain.

Hey we also have a Ferrero Rocher factory! Don’t forget that.

I know people who grew up in Lithgow and they confirm it is hell on earth.

But have you looked at some of the other small towns?

Rydal, for example, has a pretty cool pub that used to have accommodation. Might not be booked out yet and it's on the way out to Bathurst.

Haha, race weekend means Orange isn't quiet.

Haha too much pressure. I stay at a lot of different country towns for work. Going there is a definite highlight, It's a great place to base yourself. And if you need some groceries or some classic Australian Chinese food there's always Blayney a slightly bigger town on the way to Bathurst. Orange is about 30 minutes in the other direction by way of some back roads if you want something from a bigger country town. There's a lot of little tourist/boutique shops in Milthorpe, but I can't say much about them as they're not open when I'm done for the day.

Hobby farms in Lithgow do not qualify people as wealthy retirees from Sydney. Wealthy retirees from Sydney have properties in Scone or Bowral/Sutton Forest or Kangaroo Valley - they wouldn’t go near Lithgow. Unfortunately some bogans have money - and those are the only wealthy people you’ll find in Lithgow (wealthy by Lithgow standards)

I mean Race Week specifically.

Just called that pub and they're already booked. Shame because the pictures looked awesome

You need to get out more. There are some seriously impressive properties around Bathurst, Orange, you'd never know they were there because they are on country roads you would never go down. I call them hobby farms because they aren't being run for profit, but they are large enough to stick a few cows on them to keep the grass down.

I am very ready to leave Sydney. I am nearing 50, and a mature aged student at University. I graduate in the next couple of years and I am thinking about the next phase of my life. I have chronic illnesses that mean I will be underemployed anyways. I had hoped to work in community arts & arts admin after my degree, by my health will now prevent any long term employment. I just can't afford Sydney, and I am absolutely done with share housing.

Most of my friends are moving up to the blue mountains, and as much as I would love to join them, I am getting priced out pretty fast. Especially if I want to live alone. I am way too old for share living. I also don't love the idea that there's a community of low income folks getting displaced by city tree-changers.

So I am asking for recommendations and ideas.

I need a place where:

I can live in town, (because I can't drive).

There is ideally a train station, or at least a Greyhound stop.

Hopefully a place where I won't be bashed for being a fat old gay woman.

A supermarket that does delivery groceries - I am not always mobile enough to walk to the shops. This suggests a town of a certain size.

A cooler climate than Sydney - I love the cold, and I flare up really badly in the heat.

Decent internet or NBN, for hopeful remote work.

A local arts scene, maybe a gallery or a theatre?

And they need to have a hospital. My disabilities mean I need to be less than an hour from help, but I don't need super specialist care.

EDIT: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/26/the-changing-face-of-homelessness-in-regional-nsw-im-working-but-everything-is-unaffordable

I don't think I can do it. I can't just push another 'me' into a tent. I can couch surf for a bit. Austudy will cover storage of my stuff.

Armidale is cold rural and as far as I'm aware friendly enough. A few highschool mates went to university there so it has a good uni.

Lithgow ticks all those boxes. People can be incredibly snobbish about Lithgow, but I find it a lovely town. It's the last stop Blue Mountains train line, so it's easy to visit Sydney or the Blue Mountains for the day. It has a big art culture - just walk around the main Street and see all the installation art. Has great NBN and phone reception (except vodaphone!). Housing is still fairly affordable (at least it is compared to Sydney), though, like everywhere, it has gone up dramatically in the last couple of years. It has a hospital, several doctors surgeries (most that have walk-in service, no need for an appointment), a few dentists. Has Aldi, Coles and Woolworths and a Target. Oh, and it's cold!

Have you considered Illawarra region?

I think Albury and Orange tick all those boxes. Albury is bigger (with Wodonga) and has more of a creative arts scene

Lithgow as much as a bad rap as it gets in some circles will suit you well.

Hospital, rail, easy taxis and a decent sized township. Not to hard to get up the mountains via rail to your friends. Cheaper than Bathurst and Orange. FTTC and FTTP internet.

And you won't get bashed for being fat old and gay. People tend to mind thier own business and have that "each to thier own" mindset.

Given you mentioned being old and having a helath condition there is also a graduated assisted living facility right next to the hospital that has townhouses with differeing levels of support available. Might be worth checking out.

Glenn Innes is your best bet I reckon. Super affordable, super cold and very scenic.

It would be disingenuous for me to pretend I can give any insight into the LGBTQ friendliness of the town (strait cis)... so take this observation with a grain of salt, I noticed there were openly gay couples at my uncle's 50th who seemed to be locals.

I have spent a lot of the town's in the region (Armadale, Uralla, Guyra, Inverell) and I think I like Glenn the most as its the only one I haven't experienced first hand racism. this may be due to the people I'm with when I'm there as opposed a tru representation of the town tho.

Orange NSW had the first two. Prices have gone up in recent times though.

*Edit - though is anywhere in Australia affordable at the moment?

Bit different to other thoughts here, but Cooma might suit

I dont think there is anywhere you can go in Australia right now that wouldn't be displacing people already in the area who have jobs and kids. I'm from a regional area, every second facebook post on our community pages, moving from Sydney looking for a house must have blah blah blah. Meanwhile you have kids living in tents, old people living in their cars. Yes you all want out, but you made your beds and for another year or so everyone needs to stay in their own bed! Hate on me all you want it is just the plain truth from someone in a regional area.

Have a look at Bega, on the South Coast. It's a progressive and arty town of a decent size.

Might be Maitland is a fit for you :)

Yass in the Southern Tablelands ticks those boxes. We have a small hospital, but for some specialist appointments you would have to go to Canberra or Goulburn. There are buses daily (Mon-Fri) to Canberra and you could link with Action buses in Canberra to get to the hospital.

The thing is once you cross the Ranges yes it is colder in Winter but Summer can (not so much the last couple of years due to La Nina) be really, really hot.

I live in a small country town in the New England area (about an hour from either Tamworth or Gunnedah) and it does have most of what you're looking for but the heat in Summer is a killer.

If you are really heat adverse I'd join in the chorus of checking out Armidale or Glen Innes.

Move to Queanbeyan and get a job in Canberra.

You could try Bathurst? It’s cold in winter, not far from Orange, Lithgow and the Mountains. It has a Uni, in case you want to study some more, and has decent hospitals.

The shopping doesn’t look too bad and it would definitely have delivery. Probably cheaper than Orange for rentals/buying a house.

Vote for Maitland, Armidale, Glen Innes, Bathurst or Orange

np, rural cold town's of NSW are specialty of mine lol. I'm currently in Perth but moving to Queanbian in Sep so from North to south I've gotf it covered lol

I'm probably late to the game here but Bathurst has a good theatre and arts scene. There's always plenty of shows at the theatre and exhibitions at the gallery. [Arts out west ](https://artsoutwest.org.au/) is a great place to find out about arts stuff in the region!

Sanctuary point.its an affordable part of jervis bay ( house prices and rentals are similar to Western sydney). There is a train in Nowra and buses that run to nowra and local. The hottest we really get is very low 30s on extreme heat days, but winters are modest high teens low 20s.

We have a great lgbtqia group that does a lot of fun things. And as a bonus wee have also great bush and amazing beaches close by.

FTTH NBN, hospital, loads of arts (galleries, play house etc), university, bus and train and airport, big supermarkets that also deliver and it’s cold as shit in winter

Oh nice. I will definitely check it out?

Had the *best* lunch at the Blue Fox on Saturday, a bit fancy but so delicious and all round pleasant outing. Yum!

I have been looking at Lithgow. This is a great endorsement!

I'm not ruling it out. I just assumed that stuff near the coast would be more expensive. ETA: And I kind of like the idea of village life.

I was going to say both of these too. Might also add in Armidale but I think it is a little more country than regional.

Albury is great though as you can get to Sydney or Melbourne very easily.

Though house prices in the county are not as cheap as they used to be. Still.better than Sydney.

I'm definitely keen! I have been looking at Orange, and it didn't occur to me to look so far south as Albury. Thank you for the suggestion!

Oh awesome. Thank you

Oh cool. Thank you for responding. It's now on the list

The idea of only spending 30% on rent is hilarious. That's $90 for me. That will get me a storage unit, in a rural area only.

Oh yeah, hey. I absolutely do not want to squeeze anyone out. It's why I am trying to find somewhere that's maybe not so trendy.

I don't know what you mean by 'made our beds'? It sounds like low income city folks have done something we shouldn't have? I lived in Sydney for so long as a carer for my parents, when my health and mobility started going down hill I thought about leaving then. But my parents were frail and needed support. I spent 6 years nursing them. They've passed on, but I started uni part time as the thing that would be 'for me'.

And now it's just me.

I want to find the town I will live in for the rest of my life. I want to find somewhere, that will have room for me. Where I can contribute, and become part of the community, in good times and bad.

I absolutely do not want to make any family homeless, and I am asking here so I can prevent exactly that.

Oh awesome. Thank you

Ok, this is weird, but according to Domain, there are not rental properties available in Bega. Like, at any price.

I'll add it to the list, thank you!

That works fine, my ailments aren't especially rare or tricky, they're just chronic and worsening.

Wonderful tip! Thank you

Rent in Queanbeyan is getting pricey too

Oh good lord no. The ACT and Queanbeyan are as bad as Sydney.

I was wondering about Bathurst actually. O don't know much about it beyond the race.

Thank you!

Could you rate these town options for a small family with nerdy snr teens ? Would value your insight, many thanks

I'm keen on Bathurst actually! Good snow, large town. Now it depends on finance and resources.

That's a great endorsement! I'll add it to my list. Thank you

That sounds great. It's on my list!

Wonderful, thank you!! I will add Armidale to the list 🥰

Central West treechanger here, I’m so glad I made the move from Sydney, even though I love her, our time was done

I’d recommend Orange first (excellent hospital, very cool temps), and add that Bathurst isn’t too far by coach, which gives you two relatively large towns near each other. Check out BRAG for their art scene. Also the Uni in Bx (local abbreviation!) means that there are student arts and culture events, and a theatre, which will hopefully soon return to post-covid frequency. Not far from Bx to Hill End, famous for artists since the ‘40s. Bx Hospital not very good. Mudgee is the next town in the group, hospital there is dreadful – however is being refurbished/extended so could come good. Smaller towns won’t have transport or shopping to meet your needs.

For anywhere you’re investigating, always be sure to look up the Visitor Information Centre (VIC), which will have friendly people with great local knowledge, very willing to help and advise.

I don't rent

It is an expression "you made your bed, so sleep in it" in other words, you made your choice now deal with it.

I get you want to move, you and so many other hundreds of people. Australian economy says no. Why can't people be patient. There are no houses, there are no beds or spare rooms, jobs plenty of them. The whole bloody country needs to settle down and just breathe.

Yes, you are right. Wow. The housing crisis must really be biting there.