Rockhampton vs. Sydney/Newcastle/Melbourne?

Question

I've done some research on Rockhampton and so far I know it to be very country-like, and quite different from the bustling city life. But I've heard some negative comments about it also. So my question(s) are:
how different is the northeastern part of australia from the southeastern? Climate wise, culture wise, people wise. What are the negatives and positives about it?

I'm leaving to Australia next year, but still can't make up my mind. So I'm relying to those who live there to help me out. I appreciate any input...thanks

Answer 1

I lived in Rockhampton from 1976 to 1990 and in '76 the population was about 45,000. It is a bit bigger now, I spent a day or so there a year ago.

130 years ago the English traveler, writer and inventor Anthony Trollope called it the city of "sin ,sweat and sorrow". It can be pretty hot and steamy between late November and the end of January, mid December is generally the worst. In the cooler months the temperature almost never drops below freezing overnight, though I will swear I saw frost there once or twice. By 9am temperatures in "winter" are usually over 20C.

Facilities in Rockhampton are pretty good, hospitals, cinemas, theatres, medicos, dentists, a good variety of shops etc, but don't go looking for anything too specialised. There is a daily newspaper, the "Morning Bulletin" which is a bit thin but carries some real international and national news. There are radio and TV stations.

There are enough people with good money for some of the shops to have real quality goods. There has been a Mercedes - Benz dealer there for many years, for instance.

Most of the people are friendly but I will admit there are quite a few who don't know very much. On the other hand there are a good few people who are smart and educated. They tend to run things - like every other place on Earth. You will find them living in places like the eastern side of the Athelstane Range which is a line of hills on the south western side of the old city centre. You can make good money around Rockhampton if you know where and what and why.

A neighbour of mine there lived across the street from the power station on Glenmore Road during the 1950's and the house did not have electricity because their landlord was too cheap to put it on. Since electricity had been available there for about 50 years even then, that was pretty peculiar.

Some odd things happen, recently a girl who was thought to have been murdered by a small time serial killer turned up after four or five years living with her boyfriend in Rockhampton. The supposed serial killer turned out to have been pretty much an ordinary murderer. But the place is safe, I would have said that in the 14 years I was there there were only 1 or 2 murders and other serious crime was pretty unusual. The only thing I can think of is the bloke who held up an armored car and escaped down a narrow lane on a bicycle!

There are a few quite good schools and the University of Central Queensland has a good reputation in science and engineering.

The city is subject to occasional minor floods when the river comes up so when buying or renting look for a house on a hill. or at least away from the river.

Answer 2

Rocky is a relatively small country town on the Tropic of Capricorn. It has warm to hot wet summers and warm dry winters. Sydney and Melbourne are the largest cities in Australia with everything you would expect in big modern cities. Newcastle is the second largest city in NSW but still has a country feel to it. It is two hours north of Sydney. If you have a job in Rocky then go there but I wouldn't go there looking for work.

Answer 3

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