Any suggestions as to the pro''s and cons of both cities since we have narrowed our choice of residency down to these two cities. We are two chartered accountants who love sport and have a toddler = so good schools are a must.

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" Many Australians say that Sydney is a great place to visit, while Melbourne is a great place to live. Even so, I''m sure there are a great many Sydneysiders who would beg to differ and the reality is that in many ways the two cities are very similar. Sydney is certainly one of the most beautiful cities in the world and in terms of natural and man-made landmarks, Melbourne just can''t compete. However, Melbourne does not have Sydney''s famous traffic jams and, in general, living is cheaper, more laid-back and with a slightly more European feel due to the cooler winters and less hurried pace. Melbourne is also the sports capital of Australia but you will find ample sporting facilities in both cities as sport as something of a religion in Australia. In terms of education, Melbourne has a slightly better reputation than Sydney when it comes to elite schools, but in general education standards are excellent in both cities. My advice would be not to be too concerned about education or sporting facilites, as these things do not differ significantly between Melbourne and Sydney. I would make my choice based on cost (Melbourne is cheaper), climate (Sydney has humid summers, Melbourne has chilly winters and houses are often not heated adequately), pace of life (Sydney is face paced - more American and Melbourne is slightly slower - more European) and what you want from your lifestyle in Australia. If you really love the beach you will have more warm days each year to enjoy it if you are in Sydney. If you like skiing, Melbourne is much closer to the snowfields. Both cities have plenty to offer and I wouldn''t hesitate to live in either (in fact, I was born in Melbourne and have spent about half my life there but I also love Sydney for it''s spectacular views and big city buzz). I probably haven''t helped much in terms of making a final decision, but I would suggest you base it on different criteria. Consider the kind of lifestyle you want rather than what facilities are available - because this is where the greatest differences are. If you want more info on Melbourne I''m always happy to help hvempige@yahoo.co.uk "

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" Thank you for your help. It is very refreshing to note that your facts correspond with what our research has identified thus far. (It is always difficult to know whether you are getting biased information from friends and family). Thank you for your point on schools as well as your suggestions re climate and cost of living. I have another question for you. Would you send your children to public schools, and if possible would you name which are the better ones in each city. Much appreciated. "

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" Juliette, I would be happy to help you out regarding schools in Melbourne. Unfortunately I don''t know enough about schools in Sydney to give detailed advice, as each state has it''s own education system. Even so, throughout Australia people generally have confidence in the ''state'' education system, especially in the wealthier suburbs where the state schools are better than in other areas because they are competing with private schools for students. Many people who could well afford to send their children to private schools, send them to state schools as a matter of principal, especially for primary school (ages 5 - 12) - many parents then switch to the private system for high school. You may or may not have already discovered that Australians don''t like to show off if they have money and egalitarianism is an extremely important conept to many. I think this explains why many Australians are reluctant to send their children to a private school. Therfore, if you live in a middle-class or upper middle class area the state schools are generally of a fairly high standard because the parents are well educated and involved in the school and demand a good education for their children. Also, these schools must compete with private schools for students. In working class areas the schools may not be as good. In general, I think the state schools are of a higher standard than those of the US or Canada, although the systems are different so it''s hard to compare. Private schools are generally affiliated with a religious institution although sometimes (especailly with Protestant schools) that affiliation may be quite weak. Protestant and Jewish schools tend to have a higher educational standard than Catholic schools, although there are a few catholic schools with excellent reputations. I do not personally know any non-Jews who have attended the Jewish schools, but with the catholic and protestant schools people of all faiths send their children to these schools. There are several differneces between the private and state schools - the private schools are often quite strict about uniforms, they are often single sex schools, and they push the students harder academically which can be good or bad, depending on the child. They also encourage a strong sense of school spirit. The state schools are more likely to let a child learn in his or her own time and encourage a sense of independent learning in the child. Also, the state schools are virtually free. Of course, these are generalisations; my brother went to a private school that designed a program especially for him because of his specific learning disability (high IQ but total inability to spell anything). Other private schools do not necessarily provide the same programs and I know of at least one state school with a program for gifted children. In Melbourne I would recommend the following state schools (that I can think of off the top of my head): McKinnon or Ormond Primary School (I can''t remember which, but one offers an excellent Korean as a second language program with opportunities for grade six students to travel to Korea) Canterbury Primary School Surrey Hills Primary School Deepdene Primary School Mont Albert Primary School Camberwell South Primary School (offers an excellent French immersion program, can be difficult to get a place) Private Schools for Girls: MLC (Methodist Ladies College) excellent - all students above grade 5 have their own lap tops, a 10 week survival program in year 9 etc. St.Catherine''s - generally regarded as the best girl''s school in Melbourne (I think it is Anglican - not sure) Strathcona (Baptist) Ruyton (not sure which religion) Lauriston (?) Melbourne Girls Grammar Fintona (Anglican?) Tintern CEGGS (Church of England Girl''s Grammar School) PLC (Presbyterian Ladies College) Camberwell CEGGS Co-educational: Carey (Baptist) - excellent reputation for helping children of expatriates acclimatise Preshill - alternative education (no uniform, encourages independent learning etc.) St.Michael''s (also has an excellent reputation) Rudolf Steiner School Kingswood College (primary school only - the high school does not have the same reputation) Boys: Xavier (Catholic?) Scotch College (Protestant) Camberwell Grammar (Protestant) Trinity (Catholic) Ivanhoe Boy''s Grammar Geelong Grammar Melbourne Grammar St.Kevin''s Most of these schools are in ''the leafy inner east'' suburbs as this is where most of the money is! Some of the very exclusive schools may already be full as parents enrol their children before their first birthday. The best thing to do is contact the schools and ask for a brochure. When you arrive in Australia, call the school and ask for a tour -they will always be happy to oblige. "

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Once again thank you for your insight. I am glad to see that there are numerous good schools in the areas we have already identified as possibilities. Any other helpful information which you think we should know about.

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" For what it is worth, I''d like to add that if you truly enjoy the advantages of a city, then Sydney is the choice: music and theater, good shopping, restaurants and public transportation. Sydney is closer to the Great Barrier Reef, but be sure to read up on jellyfish and wetsuits before you go. When I think of Melbourne I think of art galleries and nature. It''s an artsy kind of place. There are an enormous number of impressive galleries. It''s a more manageable size and I get the feeling that many more people know each other. There are wonderful forests and places to enjoy nature VERY close to Melbourne. Our favorite is Wilson''s Prom, a pinched off peninsula where much native wildlife is effectively, and apparently happily ""trapped."" You can rent a very simple cabin and stay overnight. We saw eagles and lorakeets, wombats, emu''s and kangaroos. There is another place nearby to watch little penguins return from the sea to their nests. Mama and Daddy penguin leave the nestlings while they go fishing. Everybody returns at sundown. The beaches are covered with penguins, and all of them find their young. I am biased, I admit. (My husband prefers Sydney.) "

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" Dear Juliette, After writing a very long response to your question about schools in Melbourne and Sydney - I got home at the end of the day only to discover I had a guide book on the subject that I had completely forgotten about. The book also has a web-page, which I think is: www.schoolchoice.com.au - although I haven''t visited the site, I think it might be able to provide you with some of the information you were looking for. With regard as to any other information that I might feel may be useful - I am always willing to answer specific questions and it is easier for me to do that than try and second-guess what you might need to know. The only other thing I might suggest is some cross-cultural awareness training before you leave. Australian culture may be similar to British and American culture, but it is not the same. Being aware of what cultural differences you may encounter and how to respond to these differences will greatly ease the settling in process. For more info, as always, you can e-mail me at hvempige@yahoo.co.uk "

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" Thank you for your help. We are ex South Africans, therefore the reason for the said location. We currently live in NY and have found the culture quite a lot different to what we are used to, and we know for a fact that the Oz culture will be a lot more familiar to us. "

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Thank you All help and insights are greatly appreciated. It brings new ideas and thought processes to the fore.

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" Hi Ruth! I read with interest your letter on differences between Melbourne and Sydney. We are two Americans who are about to move to Australia (I have lived in Europe but my husband is American through and through). We are hoping to find a place where friendships are more permanent and people live to work not work to live. It''s hard to tell which city has that atmosphere more. What do you think? I guess we''re looking for a place with ""joie de vivre"" and maybe a more European flair. What do you think? Thanks for all of your helpful info! Jessica Campbell (carpideum@aol.com) "

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" Hi Jessica, If you''re looking for a bit more joie de vivre, I would probably choose Melbourne over Sydney. However, Perth in Western Australia might be another good choice. Anywhere in Queensland is very laid back, but it''s a more tropical style, not very European. So I''d recommend Melbourne or Perth - hope that helps. "

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" Dear Jessica I read with interest your enquiry as to whether Sydney or Melbourne would be the better place for you and your husband. I would suggest that, while Melbourne may be in some senses more ""multicultural"" than Sydney, Sydney is in fact more ""international"" in outlook and, therefore a much easier city for foreigners. In addition, Sydney is a stunningly beautiful place to live. It most certainly has ""joie de vivre""! Regards Dominic (vendeedom@hotmail.com) "

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