Moving to Melbourne
A big, exciting life change
In a few days’ time I will be boarding a one-way flight to Melbourne. After months of planning, it’s finally time to make that move. It still doesn’t feel real to actually write that.
If you had asked me five years ago if I could ever imagine myself visiting Australia, let alone living there, the answer would’ve been a definite no. It was never on my bucket list of places to go. It’s too far away, full of dangerous animals and it’s far too warm for someone like me.
Yet a few years back I was lucky enough to spend some time in Australia through my work on a specific project and I remember that feeling of wonder at the place. It was so similar, yet so different. I finally understood why so many British people end up wanting to relocate there, and those four months gave me a glimpse of what everyday life there could be.
At the time, I felt like I was unlikely to ever return to Australia and that this was a once in a lifetime opportunity. But when I was offered a role to relocate there, I declined it. Australia was an adventure, but it wasn’t where I wanted to live. It was a great opportunity at the wrong time.
Looking back at what I wrote about Australia in 2022, it’s clear to me now just how transformative that period of time was for where I wanted to go in life. The shellshock of landing back in Manchester and life in England in comparison to what I could see in Australia ate away at me for a long time. Manchester was so grey, the weather was always abysmal and while I loved the people, I just felt like something was missing. While some of that I’m sure was the seasonal differences, I knew it was also much more than that. I had seen what life could be like.
There have been many days when I have regretted declining that job offer to relocate, but staying in the UK was also the right decision. Reflecting on that period of time now, it’s clear I needed that stability that I had in Manchester. I wasn’t ready for a huge life change like moving to Australia. I had more growing to do, relationships to end and life to live first.
Earlier this year, the company I work for asked whether I’d be interested in relocating to Australia to head up our regional Product Management function. I knew I had to say yes. I knew if I didn’t take this chance now, I never would. Things are different now - I’ve grown a lot, both personally and professionally.
I’m lucky enough that work figured out everything on the visa front, so I’ve been able to focus on all the other stuff. When I land in a few days’ time there’s going to be some life admin to sort out, but I am excited and hopeful for this next chapter. There’s a lot of things I’m looking forward to - the coffee, the wildlife, the culture, the food, all those stereotypically Australian experiences that will make my Australian friends cringe. The daily rhythm of life in Australia will feel different to life in England, but that’s exactly what I want.
It’s going to be strange no longer calling England home, but it feels right to be moving on. I’m sure there will be much I’ll miss, family and friends mainly. But five years ago, I couldn’t have imagined any of this. That’s what makes it worth doing.
Tom