Photo blog: Australian way of life

by vbo Mon Oct 24th, 2011 at 01:01:10 AM EST

This Sunday I have visited friend that recently moved in Varsity Lakes, development that is typical modern development that Australia has many of. This one is situated on Gold Coast a little bit in land.
Well in Australian urban areas almost everything is manmade so are those Lakes and everything around them.
Lately as you will see they are making more apartments then houses even this far from the city. These developments have all the infrastructure around them and this one is about 2 km from Robina where they have one mega shopping centre and new modern hospital, but it also has schools , shops, Medical centres etc. right there on the spot. Australians (at least here in QLD) like to live in these places. The only trouble is that it is not easy to find a job in the area. Gold Coast is a tourist area anyway and they can only work in hospitality or trade. Not in this particular area but in a brother area on the Gold Coast there are quite a few people living there who actually do not have to work. So they play golf (there are numerous golf courses) and follow the market to see what their shares earned them today. Also there are a lot of pensioners (not on a state pension, ha-ha). Recently there are a lot of families with small children moving there cause it seems to be safe.
Here are photos. I hope you'll understand why we have to protect our way of life´ ;)

Photo blog: Australian way of life | 24 comments (24 topical, 0 editorial, 0 hidden)

Re: Photo blog: Australian way of life (none / 1)

I think with sufficient density and total people, jobs will appear. Cities seem to be self-sustaining beyond around 150000 people (that's the point where it becomes possible to have small businesses able to start competing globally in the high tech industry for example). So as long as they keep the density up, I think the gold coast will become another strong city.

by njh on Mon Oct 24th, 2011 at 05:59:08 AM EST

Re: Photo blog: Australian way of life (none / 0)

The Gold Coast's current population of 515,157* is expected to continue to grow by 13,000 to 16,000 people per year, so that by 2026 Gold Coast City will be home to over 730,000 residents.

Yeah, it's growing but recently because of this crisis prices of the properties are going slightly down and that tells us that it's going to slow down...I suppose.

Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind...Albert Einstein

by vbo on Mon Oct 24th, 2011 at 08:12:10 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Photo blog: Australian way of life (4.00 / 3)

Your photos are just lovely. Thanks for the info.

I don't think I would like the newness and sameness. It reminds me of "Planned" places in Florida and California somehow, which just don't appeal to me for living in. But, different strokes for different folks. I certainly don't feel any sort of disdain for those who take comfort in this style of living, just wouldn't be wanting it for myself.

This is very different from Australian city life, like in Melbourne or Sydney, yes or no? I'm curious about Australia, having never been.

'tis strange I should be old and neither wise nor valiant. From "The Maid's Tragedy" by Beaumont & Fletcher

by Wife of Bath (kareninaustin at g mail dot com) on Mon Oct 24th, 2011 at 06:58:36 AM EST

Re: Photo blog: Australian way of life (none / 0)

Oh yes, it's very much different, especially from life in Melbourne (most European look alike city in Australia) or central Sydney. Look there are lot of people that do not like this stylish new buildings (after some time they all look the same you are right), but then there is a lot of them who love it. I have never been in USA but I have a feeling that a lot of QLD looks like some parts of USA. After all they are copying USA except maybe for some landscape. Australia has many different styles in living...this is just one of them, popular at the moment for some.
A lot of folks (mostly snobs, ha-ha) like to live in so called "Queenslander" that looks like this

Even that people say reminds them of USA south...and they look pretty much similar after you see a lot of them, haha.

Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind...Albert Einstein

by vbo on Mon Oct 24th, 2011 at 08:11:10 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Photo blog: Australian way of life (4.00 / 2)

The architecture is a little too interesting to really make the Florida comparison work. Not nearly enough stucco (obligatory Groucho Marx reference goes here).

But, yeah, I can certainly see the California/Florida comparison, especially in the landscaping. The "Queenslander" style vbo shows could come from any older, upper-class area on the beach in the South.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (pedobear@pennstatefootball.com) on Mon Oct 24th, 2011 at 10:08:25 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Photo blog: Australian way of life (none / 0)

Yes, the beaches and even just the flatlands in Louisiana, where it's similar to an Acadian style house, principally because of the wrap-around balconies. Said balconies are wonderful to have, though many must be screened in somehow to avoid the plagues of mosquitos. But in good weather with a breeze, there's nothing so wonderful as watching the sunset from a balcony.

'tis strange I should be old and neither wise nor valiant. From "The Maid's Tragedy" by Beaumont & Fletcher

by Wife of Bath (kareninaustin at g mail dot com) on Wed Oct 26th, 2011 at 03:50:56 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Yuck (none / 1)

The International Style: sterile, mind-numbingly boring buildings set in a sterile, mind-numbingly boring unused Green Space© so people can "enjoy" living in sterile, mind-numbingly boring neighborhoods as a background to sterile, mind-numbingly boring lives except when they - foolishly - try to walk and get mowed down by a car.

She believed in nothing; only her skepticism kept her from being an atheist. -- Jean-Paul Sartre

by ATinNM on Mon Oct 24th, 2011 at 01:57:15 PM EST

Re: Yuck (none / 0)

It's the palm trees. They're soul-sucking Hellspawn.

Be nice to America. Or we'll bring democracy to your country.

by Drew J Jones (pedobear@pennstatefootball.com) on Mon Oct 24th, 2011 at 04:38:32 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Yuck (none / 1)

Well, listen, I wouldn't know what to say...I do not live in one of this places but I feel OK when I visit. Actually I like it, but I am not sure if I would like to live there...As I am getting older I have a feeling that I could, but as I said I am city girl and it may become boring at some point. However Gold Coast central, Surfers Paradise and other places are very close if one needs to feel "urban", ha-ha.
When my brother's wife visited us here in Brisbane at some point she said to me "Everything is so manicured here, I am getting seek of it, take me to the woods".
Maybe I am just used to "manicured landscape" and I like it. I was happy to see that Belgrade centre is manicured now as opposed to "untidiness" that I could remember.

Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind...Albert Einstein

by vbo on Mon Oct 24th, 2011 at 08:03:39 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Yuck (none / 0)

Manicured is certainly better than littered.

I think the sameness is the problem, which is partly caused by the homeowners' Association rules forbidding individuality - no real range of choice in styles and colors, types of landscaping, etc.

The minimum asset requirement enforced by the purchase prices is another factor, as you find yourself sealed off from those who are of lower income status. If one truly believes that variety is the spice of life, then subdivision living could prove too bland.

That doesn't mean it wouldn't be a nice respite from too much spice, though, yes?

'tis strange I should be old and neither wise nor valiant. From "The Maid's Tragedy" by Beaumont & Fletcher

by Wife of Bath (kareninaustin at g mail dot com) on Wed Oct 26th, 2011 at 03:57:51 AM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Photo blog: Australian way of life (4.00 / 3)

Just to mention, Varsity was a swamp 15 years ago.Other interesting facts Varsity Lakes is a corporation and there are few tiger shark in the lake ;-)

Could have add some pics of Bond University, quite a cutie.

by fredouil (fredouil@gmailgmailgmail.com) on Mon Oct 24th, 2011 at 04:29:18 PM EST

Re: Photo blog: Australian way of life (none / 0)

Bond University? James Bond?

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Mon Oct 24th, 2011 at 06:00:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Photo blog: Australian way of life (none / 0)

If it is a fresh water lake perhaps piranha would thrive?

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Mon Oct 24th, 2011 at 06:33:06 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Photo blog: Australian way of life (none / 0)

It is a mix of fresh water and sea water as it is connected to canals that are connected to the ocean

Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind...Albert Einstein

by vbo on Mon Oct 24th, 2011 at 07:41:09 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Photo blog: Australian way of life (none / 0)

Does the lake level fluctuate with the tides?

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Mon Oct 24th, 2011 at 07:45:07 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Photo blog: Australian way of life (none / 0)

I wouldn't know but I suppose so.

Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind...Albert Einstein

by vbo on Mon Oct 24th, 2011 at 07:51:52 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Photo blog: Australian way of life (none / 1)

Then there would be inflow and outflow and the "lake" would be brackish water and a littoral zone. With proper management, a non-trivial requirement, the lakes and channels could be a significant bio-diversity resource. Great effort and expense has gone into even partially re-creating such littoral zones in coastal California. They play a vital role in the marine ecosystem as spawning grounds and places for juveniles of various species to grow. But this will be compromised if the entrances are through marinas, which can be quite polluted with hydrocarbons.

"It is not necessary to have hope in order to persevere."

by ARGeezer (ARGeezer a in a circle eurotrib daught com) on Tue Oct 25th, 2011 at 12:22:22 AM EST
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Re: Photo blog: Australian way of life (none / 1)

People are not allowed to swim in these lakes. This one they say is actually connected with Gold Coast canals so you can expect sharks.

Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind...Albert Einstein

by vbo on Mon Oct 24th, 2011 at 07:39:18 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Photo blog: Australian way of life (none / 0)

. Bond is a private University there. So quite a few wealthy kids live in the area.

Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind...Albert Einstein

by vbo on Mon Oct 24th, 2011 at 07:50:22 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Photo blog: Australian way of life (4.00 / 3)

No more wealthy than anywhere else (beside few overseas students from Dubai).Bond cost about the same as public Uni as it is much faster to graduate (only 10 weeks holidays (lower opportunity cost/accommodation etc..))

Great place to study and to pick up gorgeous chicks (found my wife there ;-))

by fredouil (fredouil@gmailgmailgmail.com) on Mon Oct 24th, 2011 at 08:02:29 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Photo blog: Australian way of life (none / 1)

Yes it was a swamp (and still is close to Varsity) but then again this part of the coast was/is the swamp too. Obviously with "some" money they can make whatever they want, where ever they want. They have ski fields in Dubai and tropical beaches in Japan

But as we leave nothing to Mother Nature any more I just wonder is this the world we all ( and our children) want to live in?

Science without religion is lame, religion without science is blind...Albert Einstein

by vbo on Mon Oct 24th, 2011 at 08:28:15 PM EST
[ Parent ]

Re: Photo blog: Australian way of life (none / 0)

I lived in Canberra as a child, and it was not at all like this. Quite primitive even for a planned capitol city. The only heat in our house was provided by wood stoves, one at each end, and an electric fire in the bathroom. Despite rumors to the contrary, it gets cold in winter!

If there were time travel, I would select 1960 and Australia.

by asdf on Tue Oct 25th, 2011 at 11:15:09 PM EST

Re: Photo blog: Australian way of life (none / 0)

Now this is something more to add about Australian life style. I've spend this afternoon with my granddaughter at the Park that we call "Southbank" in the city. It is just next to the Brisbane River. People are enjoying outside even tho weather is hot but cloudy these days. Here are some photos.

Landscape