Britons escape dreary Britain for sunny “Britain”
When first Surveyor General of South Australia, Colonel William Light, set about designing Adelaide in 1835 he wanted to “build a better Britain”. Today, with 7% of Adelaideans born in England and almost 50% of British descent, his mission looks to be a success. Removals company Anglo Pacific is delivering even more to this “Britain with better weather”.
Anglo Pacific’s International Migration Manager, Noel Glavin, says, “This year we have seen a 10% increase in household removals to South Australia over 2011. It would seem that Brits are falling for Adelaide’s community spirit, optimism, old-fashioned values, family traditions, relaxed way of life and warm climate – aspects of Britain that have either been eroded over the years or never existed in the first place. Studies show that when they arrive in Adelaide they feel neither “foreign nor strange” and settle quickly into “Britain in the sun”. Add in South Australia’s need for skilled migrants and it’s little wonder 10,000 Brits have migrated permanently to South Australia in the last five years alone – many using Anglo Pacific’s services.”
Adelaide is ranked a mighty fifth in the Economist Intelligence Unit’s 2012 Global Liveability Ranking, up from ninth in 2011, whilst London in comparison languishes at 51st. The cities that fare the best in this Ranking tend to be mid-sized with low population densities, low crime rates, little congestion, good healthcare and easily available recreational activities. Adelaide ticks every box and, thanks to Colonel William Light, all with a British twist.
Adelaide’s Britishness was put under the microscope in an August 2012 Huddersfield University report commissioned by the South Australian Office of the Agent General to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee. Entitled “When the British built Adelaide, they wanted to build a better Britain”, the report makes note of all of its British characteristics – not least its name, after William IV’s consort Queen Adelaide. The city has a street named King William Street, beaches named Grange and Henley, Victorian era heritage buildings, the Adelaide Oval sports ground, the British Hotel founded in 1838 that continues to trade and even the locals’ accents are more “British” than in other parts of the Commonwealth.
Britishness aside, Adelaide has plenty to offer the modern-day migrant. With a population just above one million, Adelaide is a vibrant city laid out on either side of the Torrens River, fringed with a green belt of parks and set against the backdrop of the Mount Lofty Ranges. Hugely sociable, there is a thriving live music and arts scene and Adelaide is particularly known for its festivals – in fact there are 400 of them a year and 300 days of sunshine to make them possible. 72,000 hectares of vineyards producing excellent wines, lower than average house prices and 3,000 miles of coastline add to the appeal.
Melissa Hay, Business Development Manager – Migration, for the South Australia
Office of the Agent General says, “Britain has been a very important source of skilled migrants for South Australia, so we have been running plenty of roadshows this autumn to explain the new invitation-only visa system that came into effect 1 July this year - Skill Select. Currently South Australia is seeking skilled health professionals, engineers, teachers and all trades across the board including electricians, plumbers, diesel mechanics and welders. If you do decide to make the move, you’ll be delighted to hear that eight out of ten South Australian families surveyed for the Huddersfield report said they have a work-life balance that allows them to spend enough time with their family. Results from those surveyed in the UK told a different story citing a celebrity obsessed culture and loss of community spirit as reasons for wanting to emigrate.”
If you want to register your CV online, for free, with Anglo Pacific’s job finder service visit anglopacific.co.uk/jobs_abroad.htm and they will connect your skills with specialist recruiters to help get the ball rolling on a move Down Under – or indeed to New Zealand or South Africa. For removals enquiries, visit anglopacific.co.uk.
To find out more about the Australian visa process and moving to Adelaide – visit facebook.com/LiveInAdelaide.
