Hi all

I've just seen a dream job on t'internet but it is based in Port Augusta! :doh:

Doesn't quite fit in with the plans, but I can't help but wonder what it is like in Port Augusta. Haven't really thought about anywhere else in SA, other than Adelaide!

I imagine there isn't much there and have read it is known as the crossroads of Australia. In all seriousness it is unlikely to happen, but curiosity has the better of me...

Anyone been there? Go on, be frank! Dan needs someone to fight his corner and tell me how ludicrous it would be to live over 300km north of Adelaide!

Becks
:dance:

PS. The waiting is obviously driving me further and further in sane... :ph43r:

Hi Becks

Whilst on our recce last October we stayed in Port Augusta, we wanted to stay 2 nights the lady from SA tourist info advised against and said there wasn't much there, just use as a stopover on the way to wilpena.

The place itself seemed OK, they have a large woolworths where you can buy everything, and quite a decent small shopping centre along the high street. The people all seemed freindly but it did appear to have a fair few hoons and dropouts

It is miles away from anywhere else and personally i couldn't see myself living there. :doh:

Hopefully this answers some of your query although it is only my opinion and others would most prob like the place.

Jane

These things are kind of hard, lots of people choose to live in places like Pt Augusta because they can get work, so if you need a job and it's there, then that may be fine. Would I choose to live there? Not if I had the choice, which I do.

Port Augusta is built around industry, mining, rail and power generation, as such it provides good levels of facilities for those people. Companies would have difficulty hanging onto staff if the area didn't have the facilities required. It is very community minded and would be okay for kids, I suppose. It has a mayor that whilst is quite strange and I have been on the wrong end of the phone to her a couple of times, she has the best interests of the area at heart. I don't want to sound like a racist but the indigenous communities are quite prevelant in Pt Augusta, and some, which I'm sure would be a minority, can cause problems.

10 years ago the place was dying, but rail and mining are booming and so is the town along with it.

I personally wouldn't worry about 300km's from Adelaide anywhere, those distances are easily covered in half a day, you could day trip to Adelaide if necessary.

HTH

Hi Becks

I would say don't do it but then again it depends on how much importance you put on your job.

We stayed in P.A. on the way to and from Perth. There are two campsites - both are like prison camps because of the high fencing and high security (check our blog if you don't believe - Part 1 of the Nullabor trip photos). The town is currently suffering from high crime levels. When we arrived there the first time, we were warned by the owner of the problems that they have and we should carry our valuables with us at all times... They had had several "incidents" in the past few months. Also, we met a family from PA travelling down thru the Eyre Peninsula who were not very complementary about the place!

It is very industrial and not somewhere I would look to start a new life in Oz. We moved here for quality of life, not for the ideal job but that is us...

We found jobs here very quickly, have rented a great house in Glenelg and it is all good...

Cheers

Ben

lots of blackfella live there.

Stevo.

Hi

Thanks for your replies!

Everything you are saying is sounding accurate - I am a Community Worker so the work does tend to be in what we call 'areas of high deprivation'!

I also read that it has a population of 15,000 which is tiny! Not sure they'd be ready for some 'fresh from London' poms, or vice versa!

It's not a matter of needing a job (as there seem to be plenty in Adelaide that I can apply for) but WANTING a job! It is basically working for the Flying Doctors as a Healthy Living Project Coordinator - great pay, and would involve a lot of travel around SA! (I sort of picture myself in a Terri Irwin inspired Khaki outfit :dance: )

However, I don't think it is enough to make us seriously consider going. The big reasons for our move is to be near great beaches and vineyards - none of which Port Augusta has!

All good for preoccupying me whilst we wait for our visa anyway!

Thanks again

Becks