Armidale, NSW 2350

3.6(33 reviews)

Ranked 3rd best suburb by locals in Northern Region, NSW

Great for

  • Schools
  • Parks and recreation
  • Safe and sound
  • Neighbourly spirit
  • Public transport

Not great for

  • Nightlife
  • Shopping options
  • Resale or rental value
  • Pest-free
  • Cost of living

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Families With Kids
  • Retirees
  • Students
  • Country Lovers

Reviews of Armidale, NSW

Editors Choice

"New resident who loves it"

Basically, if you love the outdoors and/or the arts, have kids and want a reasonable mortgage, then Armidale is about as good as it gets in NSW.

I have lived in a few places in NSW (public servant) - Sydney (Surry Hills and Haymarket), Wollongong (Thirroul, Russell Vale), north coast (Tweed Heads and Grafton) and the Riverina (Hay, Finley, Coleambally). We moved here (January 2017) for the opportunities for our young family. Excellent public schools, a huge number of clubs and community groups, lots of cultural opportunities (especially music), affordable housing, lots of parkland, surrounded by national parks and an easy drive to the coast. Summer is great here if you love the outdoors. Despite the locals complaining about how hot it has been this year, I have been spending all day on Saturday's and Sundays outside without melting (mind you, we did spend the last 4 years in Hay where you have weeks on end over 40). If your the sort of person who can take a cold winter for an enjoyable summer, then it's ideal. In terms of winter, all I can say is I expect a high power bill. When we were here last winter house hunting it was pretty cold at night (-10) but the days were on par with riverina temperatures.

I'm not sure about it being snobby here. Everyone seems pretty friendly. It is certainly more friendly than any metropolitan area. I have not felt unwelcome at any of the events and groups I have attended.

In terms of shopping, it has 95% of what you would need in a year and it is not hard to get a decent coffee. If shopping is your thing, then you would be doing some traveling, as you would in any country town.

If you are in the market for a house I would suggest north over south. It is 80-100k cheaper, houses are newer and it is quieter. As well, there are a lot of young families on this side of town.

In terms of night life, I can't say much because I have young kids, but it seems on par with Wagga. Once the uni kids are in town it seems to have plenty on in the pubs.

There are also a lot of great places to visit for day trips and weekends in the area.

Great for

  • Beautiful
  • Nearby National Parks
  • Friendly/relaxing
  • Plenty of space
  • Cafes and restaurants

Not great for

  • Need sunscreen in winter

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • LGBT+
  • Country Lovers
1
Kim Eccleston
Kim Eccleston

Thank you for taking the time to write this. Just wondering if you would add anything now or how life in Armidale is in 2022?

Mick Sciffer
Mick Sciffer

When I wrote that comment the plan was to stay here until the kids finished high school. We are now thinking we might stay even longer. I'm pretty sure we won't be moving to the northern rivers after the last three summers. The town and district is definitely humming at the moment, with all of the construction and infrastructure. There are a lot more jobs available compared to 2017. The hospital and airport have had major upgrades, the new high school is amazing, a bunch of new government departments have moved to the area and the university has students back on campus so nightlife has returned after Covid.

Kim Eccleston
Kim Eccleston

Thank you for the update

neter singh
neter singh

Hello Mick my wife got a job in public hospital. So can you please suggest which are is safe for family with kids to.live

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Looking for a home in Armidale?

Editors Choice

"Armidale - It is what you make it"

I have been in Armidale a little over two years now (after moving from a large Metropolitan City) and have to say it is fantastic place to be so long as you are prepared to put effort into getting involved with the community. People are inveriably warm and quite polite and to date I have not experienced anyone being unfriendly.
As others have mentioned the Council has been less than proactive in attracting businesses to Armidale and that significant projects were diverted to other centres which was quite short sighted. However, there is a balance required as some of these projects would have been to the detriment to the environment or would have have placed stress on Armidale water supply. The Council does need to become more proactive in attracting business which in turn will assist in building employment away from education and government.
Armidale is a great place for kids to grow up as they can roam a little wild and be children by riding bikes and spending time outdoors. My children have settled well and both have made good solid friendships and I know they would both be reluctant to leave.
Armidale has great sporting facilities for a city our size and if there is any passing interests in the outdoors there are numerous National Parks and Mountain Bike tracks. For people who love being outdoors it is fantastic.
The winters are very cold and the cost of power quite prohibitive but hey that is life there are always concessions to be made. I for one would prefer to put a few additional layers of clothing on rather than sit in traffic for an hour and a half. Life is for living and living here has enabled me to spend more time with my family which is without far more important than a large power bill once a year.
For those considering the move, I would recommend coming and exploring first (we did). It is a unique place but does not suit everyone. Like all small cities shopping and dining experiences are limited. If you are coming from a larger city and expect people to be instantly pleased you are there then you have come to the wrong place. If you come to Armidale with the view point of getting involved, investing in understanding people and what they have to offer then you will have a fantastic time. My neighbors are fantastic and we see each other regularly whilst walking the dogs.
Also it is a pretty safe town where reported crime has been falling which in comparison to its peers is unheard of. Armidale has seen the four most common criminal acts fall 52% since 2006. The town had a crime problem and between the Council and Bernie Shakeshaft (founder of Backtrack) has worked to remedy it.
Like life in general you get out of it what you put in.

Great for

  • Child Friendly
  • Good Schooling
  • Beautiful
  • Friendly/relaxing
  • Nearby National Parks
  • Plenty of space

Not great for

  • Cold in Winter
  • Small town

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Students
5
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8th July 2022

"Great Foundations and Improving"

I’ve lived in Armidale for two years with my young family. We moved from southern Sydney two years ago looking for a change and cheaper housing. My job fortunately means we can live practically anywhere so we chose Armidale based on what we valued. We like milder weather, we valued the good churches here and thought my professional skills would be helpful.

We love the community, the amenities, the schools and the general vibe. Could do with a few more varied places to eat and more shops.

Who lives here?

  • Families with kids
1
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27th February 2022

"Yeah no thanks"

Yeah no thanks

1
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"A Cool Change"

We recently moved to Armidale, and found it to be a refreshing experience and would encourage anyone considering moving here. It is easy to get around the town, the people are friendly, and the climate is welcoming and accomodating.

Armidale has all the facilities that a family could need, and we are really enjoying our time here. Traffic is very light, and the 50 Km speed limits make it very safe.

My Family and I could live here for the rest of our lives.

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
2
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Rentals in Armidale

"Cold and boring. But cheap"

Visited a few times as I almost moved there to study, happy I didn't. I don't fancy frostbite and it seems pretty dead. Most of the reviews seem to indicate its a town full of church-going Hyacinth Buckets'. I can't really comment on that but I wouldn't be surprised.

Ended up studying elsewhere and eventually bought a house closer to the coast, Bellingen to be specific. Even though it's smaller than Armidale it packs a much larger punch in the culinary, arts and cosmopolitan stakes. Probably why Armidale is much cheaper to buy a house.
But I suppose if you couldn't afford to be nearer to the coast and you don't mind the bitter winters, Armidale would do.

2
leea33

Thank you for your honesty!

Drew Kach
Drew Kach

It's Bookay...

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"Armidale"

nice place

Who lives here?

  • Singles
2
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"Cheap housing and pretty historic buildings with lots of trade offs"

I moved there and moved away again. Armidale is the only town in Australia where the cafes close early on the weekend. And when I say early I mean midday on a Saturday and not open at all on a Sunday. WTH? The weekends are the busiest trading days for a food business and essential if you want to cash in on any kind of tourist trade. Tourists generally aren't visiting Mon-Fri. What food outlets there are, are under the impression they are the most hipster and happening thing in Australia. Even though a menu consisting mostly of Turkish bread hasn't existed in any cafe since the 90's. In their defence you can find a decent coffee in town just don't go looking for it on the weekend. The more ordinary eateries are still serving Coles white sliced for toast. The one and only pattiserie charges you $6.50 for an eclair just because it has berry coulis in it. The local bakery is serving packet mix delights from the 1970's.

It has the usual lineup of shops, which is to say every major franchise discount store, Bunnings & McDonalds. It's sadly lacking in any kind of boutique or artisan shopping especially if you are not a 60yr old female. The mall is a ghost town any day of the week and the eastern end of it is home only to Real Estate agents probably because of the cheap rent. I currently live in a town with less than half the population and easily 3 times as many things happening in it.

Armidale is a very sleepy, staid country town where nothing ever changes. If you ever wondered what living amoung a large community of academics, and healthcare workers is like, move there now. Otherwise there are many other places with better employment prospects, more happening culturally and a livelier community. Armidale isn't a tree change town, Sydney people aren't flocking to the cheap real estate and starting artisan boutiques. That's happening in Bellingen & Dorrigo. The entire CBD looks like it had it's last upgrade in the early 80's. There's been zero investment in public parks or infrastructure and the entire time I was there I encountered zero advertising for the local events even though I was signed up to the local FB groups. I received more advertising about things happening in Glenn Innes for goodness sake. If this town wants to do anything except slowly die, it needs to send some representatives to anywhere on the coast and have a look at the jam packed events calendars and the amount of advertising going on.

Who lives here?

  • Families with kids
3
Jane Ahlstrand
Jane Ahlstrand

I live in Armidale and I agree.

jonj2

I lived there for 13 years, i had to get away. It was like living a groundhog day existence. Everything does close early, it felt so behind the times there

Samantha Smith
Samantha Smith

Sounds perfect

S P
S P

Just spent a couple of days in Armidale, Ive traveled the globe for work and have lived in a multitude of places; city, country and coast. And I couldnt disagree with you more, although respect your views. Armidale is a beautiful country town and life is they say what you make it. BTW Im writing this from a local cafe that leaves a lot of coastal cafes behind.

Jim Gilmore
Jim Gilmore

Then go to Bellingen and pay 10x the price for property food and goods. Armidale is a country town, its a simple lifestyle with family values. Bellingen is populated by professional students and yuppies and hippies born 30 years after hippies went out of fashion. Go buy your latt in Bellingen for $10 and enjoy yourself

leea33

Thank you for your objective appraisal of Armidale. Shame some people decide to attack those who are more insightful about such places.
They need to stay on topic and refrain from personal attacks!
Your impression of Armidale is a very fair observation, which many can attest to.
Hope you find a more socially cohesive & vital place to live in. Good luck & best wishes.

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"A good place for a quiet life"

We moved to Armidale as a family 8 years ago. Our children spent their latter primary school and high school years here, and have each successfully obtained steady employment and trade training here with no problems. The public schools they attended left a lot to be desired (they lacked adequate communication and the staff are both incompetent and judgmental). Each of our children (now adults) has faired much better after leaving school and obtaining employment. All of them successfully found work in retail, hospitality, and trades/building industries in Armidale within a month of completing school, with one attending university. My husband and I have found steady ongoing work here in our fields (we both have a Masters level of education) and have been better off financially here than any other place in which weve lived. I would however say it is more difficult to establish yourself as a sole trader if you are new to town, but that would apply to most towns. There are a lot of churches for the religiously minded but they are more religious than useful. They tend to be cliquey and unfriendly (we have tested most of them). You wont find it easy making friends in the churches unless you live up to their lofty expectations. And if you dont go to a church, if not for the presence of religious buildings, you would never know there are even Christian people in the town. They do not seem to do any community involvement or outreach so unbelievers or people of other faiths can quite easily get along without ever knowing the Christians exist outside of their religious buildings. Crime does exist here with house break ins and it is highly recommended that you have good security around your home (though this tends to ebb and flow and seems to be due a handful of people who eventually get caught). Ive lived all over Australia though and it seems much the same as anywhere else. The bogans do let the town down (they seem to be most of the negative reviewers who have posted previously) as they expect everything to be handed to them without effort. Well it doesnt matter where you go in this world, if you are not prepared to educate yourself in a trade, industry or higher education then you have to settle for the lower rung on a capitalist ladder. Thats the nature of Western Civilisation. You have to work and make an effort to get what you want. We rented for a few years before buying. Our rent was reasonable for a nice home on a large property with very friendly landlords. We have now purchased and are very happy with our home. We are in town in a good area and can enjoy a mostly quiet home life where we can have visitors or keep to ourselves as we choose. Life is what you make it, and that applies to wherever you choose to live.

Pros: small town with most of what you need in retail, food, and health with larger regional centres within an easy few hours drive.
Good surrounds of natural beauty, national parks,
seasons,
rural,
climate,
opportunities for personal growth ,
higher education,
trade opportunities,
work is easily found for those with the skills/and or qualifications or for those with the right attitude (same as anywhere else),
our neighbours are friendly and community minded,
and we have found it better for our personal economics than any other place weve lived.

Cons: theres a handful of people who hate hard working high achievers and who think theyre entitled to either mock you or steal from you.
Public schools are low quality and private schools too expensive.
The towns roads are rough and the council does not seem interested in fixing them (many dirt roads outside town are smoother than the town roads).
Fuel prices are high but a good independent local service station offers cheaper fuel and is well known to many locals.

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
3
fiona-ramsayf
fiona-ramsayf

Hi! Thank you for your honest post. I am looking at buying an investment property in the area and later in live move in. But not sure what areas in Armidale to stay away from... Would you have any recommendations ?

mrsf

The general rule of thumb is to stay away from the west side, particularly around Niagara and streets which intersect with or run close to Niagara Street and Golgotha St and Brogan St . Same with East end of Kentucky Street where it runs on the north side of the railway, and thus streets intersecting or running nearby that area (such as Chapel Street). Also avoid around Dale Street and any streets in that vicinity, and the south end of Cookes road where it intersects with Mann St or Long Swamp Rd. Around the uni tends to have a high population of uni students so, if youre an investor you might like that opportunity for renting to students. On the other hand that might be a high risk investment. Generally think what kind of tenants youre wanting. Good areas to have Families and professionals as tenants will mean buying in the north hill or south hill/Soudan Heights areas, the Foothills, Fittler Close and Kamerunga Close (and the new estates in this area), perhaps McDonald Drive, and around Norris Drive or McCarthur Drive. These places will naturally ask a higher price, but price reflects the area youre buying in in this town. If a nice looking house seems really cheap compared to other similar houses in Armidale, then you really need to question the area it is in. Hope that helps.

elizac2

hi! is grafton road safe to stay in armidale? any reviews about the area? thank you

Samantha Smith
Samantha Smith

What about houso scum ? What streets?

Joy Berwick
Joy Berwick

Thanks for your comments on good and bad areas, Ive asked real estates and they refuse to comment !

Harry Hain
Harry Hain

How about cookes hill?

brianb16
brianb16

Well done.that is one of the most even handed & useful reviews I have ever read on this site. A very practical guide to anyone seriously considering a move to Armidale.

indies1

Mrsf's opinions are very different to my experience of living in the western area of Armidale. The area has many lovely, quiet and well established streets with beautiful homes. We have lived in the area for over 20 years and raised our children here too. Close to the centre of town and amenities, also very convenient to the University. All towns experience various social issues from time to time and Armidale is no different, but I feel it is very naive to believe you can single out certain areas within a small town like Armidale to be better than others. If you subscribe to the local neighborhood watch groups on Facebook, many of the so called "better" areas, as described in the above post, are regularly mentioned for having break-ins and other issues. We have not had any issues at our home in all the years we have lived here. If you are looking to get into the property market, this part of the town should be an area to consider, particularly for families looking for good value properties.

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"Terrible, I wouldn't move there!"

Not the best place to live. Highest crime rates ! Locals can be friendly, but the place is full of university students. Nothing to do at all! It's freezing cold 80% of the year, no jobs available and not many good restaurants. You might enjoy it, but honestly I think there is better places to live.

Great for

  • Nearby National Parks

Not great for

  • Uni students
  • Crime everywhere
  • Cold in Winter
  • Bogans
  • No Jobs
  • Small town
  • Stuck up snobby

Who lives here?

  • Students
2
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"Don't even bother"

We're do I start! I've been living here for 10 years I went to school here I studied here and I've worked here, I've rented and I own a house here (big mistake)

Growth-
the council is corrupt, broke and couldn't care less about the progress or growth of the town, they have knocked back several good opportunities for this town like factories to help job and town growth, for the 10 years I've been here one small shopping Center has opened, and there has been nothing else in terms of growth or job opportunities.

Families-
there are no fenced playgrounds and many are near water ways or roads (3yo drowned just the other day near the play ground) the public transport is crappy, the hospital and health facilities are seriously lacking! You'll be sent away if you need any serious health care.

Recreational activities-
unless you like bushwalking there is nothing else to do except break into people's cars and houses, that's what most of the disadvantage youth do here anyways.

Drugs-
there is a huge ice (drug) problem and the break-ins and crime in this town reflect that.

Jobs -
Unless your a well known family who's been here for generations or rich white educated professional who's already lined up a job, good luck finding a job, as I like to say "it's not what you know, it's who you know" here. There is a large portion of people on welfare and large sections of town are housing commission.

Shopping-
And to top it off the shops are terrible, every second shop is vacant and the ones that are there it's hard to get some customer service! It's like no one even wants to sell you anything, everything from clothes, jewellery to builders, contract workers. you'll wait weeks for a quote, you won't be contacted, you will have to chase people up for months. I believe it's partly because if you are not a known family your just not a priority. And when you do buy something here you'll pay the "Armidale tax" (aka ripped off) everything is so much more expensive then it should be, they are trying to pull off this botique, unique country town thing and failing, if you want a coffee your best bet is going to maccas at least they are actually open!

Education-
I've worked at some of the daycare centres in town casually, all but a small few are bellow standard, and you will really have to do your homework to find out which ones are which. The primary schools here are quite good, but again do your homework because some are not, the high schools are similar. The une (university) is shameful, there are so many problems I could make a whole seperate post!

Politics-
National/liberal safe seat, don't expect it to change, let alone for the good. Something like 5,000 people here invalidly voted last election.

So there's ether snobby people or total bogans, and everyone in between will go nuts living here, we are moving at the end of the year and I couldn't be happier!

Great for

  • Beautiful
  • Nearby National Parks

Not great for

  • Cold in Winter
  • Bogans
  • No Jobs
  • Small town
  • Stuck up snobby

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Retirees
4
Elle Sagginelli
Elle Sagginelli

do you know what the Brown street estate is ?

kerrin

hahahaha

kerrin

so accurate

Samantha Smith
Samantha Smith

So there's a lot of scum?

leea33

Thank you Courtney for being honest about the hidden realities of this town. Your summary fits in with many people's views I have encountered over the years.
This town seems to suit devout isolationists & people in need of educational institutions.
It lacks social vitality & social cohesion for those who don't fit the first two categories. Not a lot on offer for those who don't fit the 'social norms'.

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"Where aspirations and expectations are often mismatched with reality."

Look, many of the complaints worth mentioning about Armidale are the same complaints you will read in every other review of every other suburb in Australia. So let's instead concentrate on the idiosyncratic features of this funny little town:

First, it's bitterly cold (just check bom.gov.au). It's as cold - and often colder - as the southern snow fields, but without the snow (except for the rarest of times we get a flake here or there). So if you dig mild summers and brutally cold other three seasons, you're in business. I think it is ridiculous, but your mileage may vary.

Shopping is awful, unless you dig '(s)mall' shopping or have a vested interest in the local retail sector. Council never had a clear vision for the retail industry in town and so the mall suffers from being very disjointed in its layout. This is offset by Armidale having the best NBN (FTTP) in Australia, meaning etailing can sometimes be as good as it gets... except for when postage is prohibitively expensive for almost no good reason. Probably something to do with Armidale's fuel being the most expensive in NSW, but who knows, right? But generally a trip to town to purchase something (especially if it is an even slightly out of the ordinary item) is an exercise in complete and utter frustration and disappointment. And it is cold.

Education, retail and health dominate the employment sector, with many schools, the university and Hunter New England health outlets all here. Which also means there is a very large gap between the haves (those that work in private practice (real estate, law etc.) and are probably fourth generation Armidale-ites or are employed at the university) and the have-nots, ie everyone else. This is reflected in the local retail market, the real estate market and so on, with hilariously inflated prices and egos present especially in the real estate market. As much as it pains for people to admit it, the place is reliant on the university for its existence.

The council is a wreck, as shown by the complete reluctance of all other nearby councils to merge with Armidale. Despite this, much of the infrastructure is very good, with terrific public parks, sporting facilities and so forth. The local public hospital is also outstanding, given what it has to work with. There are many, many public and private schools in Armidale, too. Some local roads leave a bit to be desired. The town has been stagnant for the ~15 years I've lived here, barely growing in population and absolutely not growing in facilities or attractions (aside from the ubiquitous farmer's markets and what-have-you springing up). It's also so very cold - you can be freezing while also getting sunburnt due to the never ending UV rating of 'extreme'. Despite being a halo town for the evo-cities campaign, it has been revealed that only a few families bothered to resettle in Armidale as part of this campaign. This is despite Armidale - on paper atleast - probably being the pick of the bunch. I think this speaks again to the actuality of expectations not meeting reality.

There are only two sets of traffic lights, which is a huge pro. Traffic flow is instead managed by a large amount of roundabouts, which are vastly superior for traffic management if you drive even a little bit actively and know how to indicate.

There is a quaintly aspirational aspect to the pubs in their propensity for 'craft beer' and local wines. The local music scene is similar, and despite its best efforts from a very committed few, it leaves much to be desired compared to almost any coastal town. But note that Armidale is only ~20,000 people large. A few of the pubs seemingly go in and out of financial administration on an annual basis. These pubs are largely ruined by the attendance of the kids who attend the colleges at the university (many of the pubs 'sponsor' the colleges), but otherwise they are ok. They're trying, at least! You won't get much - if any - change out of $50 if you buy a round of beer for 5 even though you'd only be springing for tarted up Lion Nathan swill. The food is pretty honest and well priced. Don't expect any Surry Hills ostentatiousness here (and it's better for it, though some glitzy, seasonal variety wouldn't hurt)!

On that point, local eateries are not nearly as good as they wished they were. Many cafes change their faces and owners regularly, and it would seem that most are afraid to try to be genuinely different (or more likely, they know how to sell to the reality of Armidale and have decided to not bother with the aspirational segment). But there is some decent food to be found if you hunt around and it isn't always prohibitively expensive. Expect a lot of very safe food fare that is largely indistinguishable from one outlet to another.

Related to both of those points - there is very little else to actually do in Armidale if you are of university or TAFE age and are not actually attending either of those things. Sure, you can get involved in almost any sport you can think of (and see first hand what happens when big fish in small ponds clash with people whose egos write cheques their skill can't cash), but that can be real tiresome on an otherwise fine (but probably cold) Saturday afternoon. It also doesn't pay the bills nor does it help if you don't care for sport and it can really ram home both how small Armidale is and how knowing the right people is critical.

Armidale aspires to be green and eco-friendly and progressive (the Socialist Alliance and similar groups have a decent following here), and there is a large undercurrent of people who support and live these ideals. But then, there are more churches than you can poke a stick at and it has been a safe National seat for as long as can be (until a successful independent came along an election or two ago). So here again, Armidale isn't nearly as good at that as it aspires or presents itself to be, but I do feel it has improved here over time. Politics aside, Armidale does have a magnificent tip and waste recovery centre, and great facilities for green and recyclable waste, among the very best.

It is 6 hours to either Brisbane or Sydney (and soon you'll be able to fly to both instead of just Sydney), which is both good and bad. Despite appearing to be close to the coast on Google maps, it is a solid 2 hour drive along a rubbish road and even then, you're only in Coffs Harbour which is a truly awful place. Thankfully once you have arrived there you are only a matter of minutes (or at most another hour) away from properly magnificent northern NSW beaches and coastal towns. And away from the onerous cold.

Great for

  • Everything can be walked to
  • Miles cheaper than any large metro/coastal centre
  • Beautiful
  • Plenty of space
  • Nearby National Parks

Not great for

  • Cold all year round
  • Very shallow job market
  • No Jobs
  • Stuck up snobby

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Country Lovers
3
Kim Eccleston
Kim Eccleston

Thank you for that thoughtful review. Would you mind updating how things are post covid please?

Trev
Trev

Hello Kim! Jules V here. Armidale was remarkably resilient during COVID, with many little shops co-opting together to provide boxes of supplies delivered during lockdown. The citizens here were reasonably sensible, followed lockdown and our health services and staff were impeccable and wonderful (and remain so).

Which is a small example of just how great this place can be when people have a fairdinkum go. Re-reading my review above, I don't know that I'd change much, except that perhaps things are a little better? There's a few new foodie places around that are properly brilliant and the new council are miles better than previous iterations. Retail still sucks, real estate is embarrassingly priced (but that's an everywhere problem in 2022) and the roads are still pretty ordinary, haha. (like everywhere in NSW, this is a state government funding issue funnelling down to the local level, including rate pegging and so on, big issue).

Hey, if you're thinking of moving, have a school-ages family and are a professional or a tradie, or even have a modicum of decent skills (NDSS are always crying out for carers, there's thousands of gardens to maintain), you'll have a great time here. Join all the community Facebook groups (Armidale has a well-renown Thumbs Up Thumbs Down page) and see what you can see, tell people you like rail trials/hate bikes/love trains/hate trains and you'll fit right in :)

talithab1

Loved the review and update! ....is it still cold..? LOL

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"Friendly, pretty town"

I'm from Armidale and I love it here. Since finishing high school 10 years ago I have lived in Moree and Sydney and I travel a lot for my current job all around the area - Tamworth, Gunnedah, Inverell, Moree, Narrabri - and everywhere in between.

I find people friendlier in smaller towns (like Armidale or anywhere else in the region) compared to in larger cities, and Armidale is no different in that regard.

Pros:
Good, interesting, diverse friendly people
Pretty town
Good climate (winter is cold but I don't mind that for a change, I would prefer it to a hot summer)
Everything is close by - catching up with friends, cafes, pubs and bars, bush walks, amenities
The coast is only a pretty 2 hour drive away
Lots of nice old houses that are affordable (yes, maybe slightly more expensive than some towns in the region)
Lots of flights to Sydney
Reasonable drive to Sydney or Brisbane
Things to do

Cons:
More long term jobs would be good, which is the case for most country towns - this would create a less transient population which I think would benefit the town in other ways as well.

Some of my friends who I see on a weekly basis are long standing friends from Armidale, but most are actually not from Armidale (e.g interstate and overseas).

I mention that I have friends who are not from Armidale because this seems to be a sticking point for some of the naysayers. In my experience making friends anywhere does take time, some work out and some don't.

Some of my friends work at the uni as lecturers etc, some work in town as tradesmen or in hospitality, others in professional jobs, so I think I mix with a fair share of the community.

I have worked in pubs, cafes and retail, and I have worked and studied at the uni, but at the moment I have a professional job in town.

With regards to the 'snobbiness' of the town reported sometimes, I'm assuming people think this comes from people at the uni, and some richer established families in town. I know some fantastic, good and humble people at the uni, and there are also some wankers, but that's life. Similarly, there are rich, families in every town and city in Australia! From my experience, this influence is less in Armidale than in some rich agricultural towns where there is the gentry and then there are the blue collar workers.

Great for

  • Interesting, diverse people
  • Climate
  • Beautiful
  • Friendly/relaxing
  • Plenty of space
  • Nearby National Parks
  • Cafes and restaurants
2
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"Indifference"

Great for

  • Plenty of space
  • Nearby National Parks

Not great for

  • Bogans
  • No Jobs
  • Small town
  • Stuck up snobby

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Retirees
  • Students
2
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"The best"

In Armidale I was allowed
to follow my dreams, and high they towered
far beyond the light blue sky
I want to live there until I die,
never before have I ever found
a place that people are so on the ground
as a tiny little ant I have come to know
that in Armidale it doesn't snow!!

Great for

  • Care for the ants
  • Beautiful
  • Friendly/relaxing
  • Plenty of space
  • Leave out small pieces of food
  • Ant poision isnt that strong

Not great for

  • Cold in Winter

Who lives here?

  • Tourists
  • Country Lovers
0
TaureanT

You sound really positive about the place but the majority of commentors have painted negative pictures. Can someone else please provide more feedback. Thanks.

BetsyJ

what this place needs is..........a nuclear explosion!!! lol

Lin01

The majority usually wins, just saying. Armidale is a beautiful city; this is negated by some of the unsociable, snooty locals who think they are above the majority of the community. It makes it hard though, to participate fully and genuinely in the many 'clubs' that abound. While there appears to be much to do, one has to remember, one really wants to 'do' things in a club, as a club. There is a 'them' and 'us' prevalence that sadly lets the town down.

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"Beautiful country city with all you need!"

I recently visited Armidale and i plan on moving up there hopefully by the end of 2012. Armidale is a country city located high on the Northern Tablelands(New England) region at an high altitude of 960-1020 metres and a two hour drive inland from the coast.

I personally think Armidale is a beautiful place, most people are decent and friendly, the scenery and atmosphere is quiet beautiful, the weather is great for me, many may say the weather is too crazy for them and i beleive Armidale is far different from other towns its size in Australia.

The climate is one of my favourite parts of Armidale, i am not a fan of the heat, Armidale has four distinct seasons resulting to a distinct highland climate, meaning generally mild to warm stormy summers, unique and colourful moniker autumns, distinct and variable shortlived springs and long and cold frosty winters. Temperatures in winter can fall beyond -8C occasionally giving Armidale that northern hemisphere feel right here in Australia, but if one cannot deal with the extreme cold then Armidale is a very bad choice. Summers are fairly comfortable, average temperature is around 26C for maximums and a cool 12C at night, temps above 35C are very rare and when Armidale occasionally feels higher warmth (28C)+ the humidity remains mostly low and dry making the heat much more comfortable than the coastal areas. There is so much more i could write about the weather in Armidale but it would go for to long.

Oh and yes Armidale snows on the rare occasion in winter, i find that amazing!!!

If you are a country lover and like civilisation not to big in the country and appreciate the cooler weather than Armidale is a wonderful choice eigther to live or visit.

Great for

  • Distinct four seasons
  • Friendly locals
  • Lovely properties
  • Beautiful
  • Friendly/relaxing
  • Cafes and restaurants
  • Nearby National Parks
  • Plenty of space

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Tourists
  • Students
  • Country Lovers
  • Trendy & Stylish
2
Kim Eccleston
Kim Eccleston

Did you end up moving, if so how did you find it?

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"Easy, neat and beautiful!"

I have always lived in Armidale -I wouldn't want to move anywhere else. The city is too crazily busy, the coast is stinky hot & muggy. Out west is too hot & dry (e.g. Tamworth)
All around Armidale there are places to go - National Parks by the dozen, waterfalls, rainforests, farm getaways and the beautiful north coast is only 2 hours away along the Waterfall Way - one of NSW's most scenic trips.
And within the city we have everything you need for a great life no matter your age or population. Education with a range of both public, private and boarding schools will never be a problem. Childcare is great as is the range of sporting and facilities available. The UNE is also great - a very different tertiary education than what you could find in any of the big cities - friendly, happy and ever so beautiful.
I think the best part about living in Armidale is being able to enjoy the four seasons. Spring is fresh and green with the many tree-lined streets coming to life. Summer is cool and pleasent - no need to get stuck indoors because of the heat. Autumn is the best of all....absolutly stunning colours throughout the whole town and surrounding area!! Anyone with kids needs to come to Armidale during Autumn - you will all love it and be hooked on coming up every year or even moving!! Winter - I agree - is cold but in truth its my favourite. Waking up to perfectly clear crisp mornings with a layer of sparkling frost covering everything...spiderwebs sparkling in the sun....smoke curling from each chimney down the street and unforgettable times with family and friends by the fire sipping hot chocolate...I JUST LOVE IT!!!
Okay - not everyone likes the cold but its only for a quarter of the year...In Armidale there is a time for every season and we all enjoy them as they come around each year.
One negative of Armidale is the work - we have little industry and due to a difficult council - little hope of any in the future. This means no more people can move in to enjoy our beautiful city - I feel sorry for you all....your missing out on something very unique and special - I hope it changes so you can move here but for now, come for a visit. You'll LOVE IT!!!

Great for

  • Four distinct seasons
  • Beautiful
  • Friendly/relaxing
  • Cafes and restaurants
  • Nearby National Parks
  • Plenty of space

Not great for

  • Bogans
  • No Jobs

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Tourists
  • Students
  • Country Lovers
1
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"A regional city close to everything, but far enough away for peace"

Armidale is a beautiful welcoming regional city halfway between Sydney and Brisbane on the New England Highway. Armidale offers a variety of options for all people, Armidale is surrounded by some of the most beautiful and interesting National Parks in the country, the two hour drive to the coast via the Waterfall Way is a lovely drive. Armidale’s hidden gems include its Golf Course, some lovely restaurants, friendly people and the fantastic sporting clubs. For the art minded people there is the Art Museum, the theater and dance groups the University etc…

Real Estate is reasonably priced, there are a variety of options for shopping for fresh produce in addition to the supermarkets, and the local Coffee Houses produce a very nice enjoyable warm beverage on a chilly winters morning.

Great for

  • Best Golf Course in regional NSW
  • Plenty of employment opportunities if your are willing
  • Beautiful
  • Friendly/relaxing
  • Cafes and restaurants
  • Nearby National Parks

Not great for

  • Cold in Winter
  • Bogans

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Students
  • Country Lovers
1
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"Well, I love it here!"

I moved here three months ago to settle here with my family. It's gorgeous. The people are very friendly, and some of the naysayers above are living in dreamland if they think people are rude here. It's clean, customer service has been great, there's a real feeling of community that you just don't get in Tamworth or other more impersonal towns. It has been the best decision we have made, and as a Brit, a cold winter holds no worries for me- people need to man up a bit I think. The Bogans I see are positively benign and every town has its idiots. Some of them have internet access and post disparaging comments about where they live- sad cases!

Great for

  • Beautiful
  • Friendly/relaxing
  • Cafes and restaurants
  • Plenty of space
  • Nearby National Parks

Not great for

  • Bogans

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Tourists
  • Students
  • Country Lovers
2
son

After you have lived in Armidale for a number of years and not just 3 months you will see what others have said about the lack of spirit and rude customer service to be only to true. I dare say that the customer service you would be used to in Britain would be not to different from Armidale - poor.
I have lived in Armidale a long time, not born any where near Armidale although my ancestors helped to settle this place. The place has become a entity on it's own, it is well renowned for being the odd one out against other rural towns due to it's upper crust elite and rudeness, this is why Armidale has stalled against the likes of Tamworth and Kempsey which were once the size of Armidale. The elite crew have turned every commercial project down for decades as they want Armidale to be an education city only, due to the technology advances that have been made over the past few years university campusses will become an admin hub and most courses will be done online as Oxford and Cambridge universities have discovered all ready. Armidale is not what I would class a real Rural town, Inverell, Tamworth and Gunnedah would be more suited to this status.

Lin01

3 years too long, we are out of here. After 3 months we were still positive too. It takes time to know a place. There is a definite lack of spirit here. The only think colder than the winter temperature would be some of the coldest, unfriendly people we have ever met, this coming from someone who has lived the world over. Customer service, appalling. Are they so short-sighted they don't realize the customer slighted doesn't come back? That that customer talks and spreads the word? Public schools not what they make themselves out to be. Some are ok but overall there is a put-down, bullying culture that permeates the place, filtering down through the ranks to the next generation. So it carries on. Shame as Armidale is actually a beautiful little town if you take away some of the narrow minded people that give the place a bad name. Can't see how an evocity is going to grow without a serious shake up and attitude change.

NatE1

Agree with everything said!

AudreyL

We moved to Armidale 12 years ago and have found it very confronting to live here. Firstly, I would like to say that the climate here suits me very well as I prefer the cold to the intense heat of other areas of Australia.
Socially we have found it very lovely and not inclusive, especially if one does not fit the social norms ie; go to pubs, churches, mainstream sports or involved in the education system.
After joining various groups (too much passive bullying & superiority) over the 12 years and not developing any sincere long term friendships, I now spend most of my spare time reading, walking & gardening.
When we first moved here I was in a local coffee shop and was told by a woman who had lived here for decades that 'This mountain town will shake you up'! At the time I thought her to be quite negative, however, her words have rung in my ears ever since.
Over the years we have met nice people who have moved here, found it unbearable, then left. One couple referred to the town being over populated with 'Jackals'. Another woman gave me a book to read titled 'Colonial Armidale' which she said gave insights as to why this town has evolved to where it is now. Interesting read.
Currently, I know of three more families leaving the town after working and living here for years who cannot happily assimilate.
Also, I have observed that women seem to have more difficulties here with their emotional health deteriorating after a couple of years.
I spoke with a woman briefly last week who said that this town reminded her of Dickens 'Bleak House'. Dark, heavy energies hanging over the place.
We have lived all over Australia and found (as one would expect) some towns to be friendly and inclusive and others not so much....this town fits the latter unfortunately.
We are not in a position to leave here in the near future, so one has to make the most of things and go away to replenish personal energies.
I would like to add that these comments are all observations.....not judgements.
Perhaps Robert Hughes's 'The Fatal Shore' provides insights into why some of our towns/places/people have evolved the way they have.

Lin01

AudreyL you have made my day reading this. Not because I am vindictive, quite the opposite, but because I now feel with absolute certainty that 'it was not me' or 'just my family'...Obviously things haven't changed much 'up the mountain'. I think the thing to recognise though, is that it is their own insecurities, lack of worldliness and incredible (much over-rated) 'sense of self', that leads these types to behave in the unpleasant 'mountain manner' they do. Enjoy your books and your gardening Audrey, you will be in a happier place there, far from the shallow insecurities of certain of the locals. We now live in a wonderful, friendly place that has reminded us of the Australian way, and our own personal energies are much restored! I reckon if we were still stuck up there though, you and I might have enjoyed some great walks together :) Now, there's a book or two I want to dig out...Bleak House, where are you?

AudreyL

Hello Lin01, It was comforting to read your response to my posting too. Agree with your observations regarding the behaviour which seems to be all too prevalent in this town.
Perhaps someone could be encouraged to do a Phd on why this is so!
Am pleased that you and your family have recovered from your experiences here and are enjoying a happier life elsewhere.
I feel sure that I would have enjoyed your company on my walks!
If you feel like sharing the name of the area where you are now, it may provide hope for all of us who are seeking new places to move to in the future. It would be nice to think there is light at the end of the tunnel.....and not a train!! We live in hope.
Thank you for your warm insightful reply.

FionaF

Lin01 i would love to know where you moved too.
I have a young family and we are thinking of moving to armidale in the next few years. But now im not so sure. Its such a hard decision to make.
AudreyL thank you for your honest comments. I hope you enjoy your time reading and walking. I hope you get your dream to move soon.

Lin01

Hi Fiona, I moved to a lovely place on the coast where we are all very happy. We were happy pretty much 'instantly' but after less than half the time we spent living in Armidale, we already had made wonderful new friends, genuine friends I should say, and continue to make new ones regularly, whilst retaining the old. Life could not be better really. I pretty much reckon you could move anywhere and be happier, although now I would be a little wary of anywhere inland. Which is probably silly and groundless. All I can suggest is, think long and hard on any decision you make. Armidale seems to promote itself as a family oriented place but personally we didn't find it so. True, there are plentiful public schools, expensive private ones, the university, non-gridlocked roads, affordable housing, plentiful sports etc., etc. But family is still so much more than that. The love and genuine 'care' was missing. Replaced by cliques and wagging tongues. There really is a 'them' and 'us' mentality that is completely outrageous...and sad. I could go on and on, but why spoil my beautiful Sunday morning. There are good things about Armidale too, though. Things that hopefully will still exist long after the present cliques have left - if they are not replaced by the next generation, that is. In Armidale you can experience the changing seasons, the 'old' feel of the place held a lot of appeal to me, personally. The heritage is a huge part of what makes the city what it is, alongside the University, although what the future of the University, I don't know. Other towns once similar to Armidale, continue to grow under progressive councils, providing employment opportunities. I was fortunate to find employment in Armidale but I was aware of some who moved in and soon left as they were not so fortunate. Personally, I don't think you can go past a growing, forward-thinking, friendly community that welcomes you with open arms. I should add, not everyone in the place was awful. There were a handful of souls who extended their warmth, but the majority seem to bow down to the ruling gentry and the others seem to know their place. I would visit first, maybe even set yourself up, if you can, to live in the place for a year or too, before fully committing. The place works for some, not for all - which could be said for all places. Just not our cup of tea! Wishing you the best of luck :)

FionaF

Thanks so much for your reply.
We are currently in wollongong but looking forward to a sea change.
We will visit places quite a few times before we make a move.
We have now started looking at different areas too.
My husband doesnt like humidity or heat haha so thats why we are planning inland.
Very glad you are so happy where you are living now. Moving away is such a hard decision, but it sounds like you have make the perfect choice.

Lin01

Wishing you the very best. It is a hard decision to move, and so much involved in it, but so often you wake up one day and go 'Yep, I'm in a better place'. All the best!

TanyaF

Wow this is such an insightful view into Armidale and for my partner and I, it was initially going to be our choice when we decided to make our 'sea/tree change' from the Illawarra (yes, FionaF we too were once 'Gongians' - well Shellharbour !), particularly because of the climate. We do love the feeling of the change in seasons, cool crisp winters and summers that don't leave you feeling totally drained with heat and humidity. However after some exploring and research we ultimately settled on moving to Inverell. The area was not on our radar initially but there was a good "feel" about the town. I cannot comment on the schools in the district as this was not something we needed to look at, not having school-age children, but there is a high school and several primary schools in the district, a public swimming pool, many parks, and a couple of clubs (bowling and RSM) and a few pubs. Restaurants aren't haute cuisine but there is the usual chinese/thai/motel restaurants etc and there are a few cafes that seem nice. We've found a couple of take-away stores that suit us when the urge strikes and of course there is a local Maccas and KFC if that takes your fancy ! I do love cooking though so the lack of high-end restaurants doesn't bother us too much. Although we have only been here a couple of months now (and renting whilst we look for our ideal rural property) we are finding it quite a very friendly town and easy to settle into. Yes, it is small (approx. 14,000 population) but it has enough of what we need in terms of stores and shopping, banks and other facilities. What we cannot get here I have been able to order on-line (bless the internet!). I imagine that work opportunities here could be somewhat limited but for us it is a "retirement move" back to the land having lived and worked in various parts of Australia over the last 30-odd years. The bonus for us is that towns like Uralla and Armidale are only between 1 and 1 1/2 hrs drive away. Having family in the Upper Hunter also helps us in terms of not feeling too isolated from people we know. I have yet to immerse myself in the cultural or other activities here in Inverell but there are things that have piqued my curiosity, such as the lapidary club and local theatre group. The riverside walks and parks / lake area are simply beautiful and I have not yet met a local that hasn't responded to a smile or a friendly greeting... but then again my partner's nickname for me is "miss have-a-chat" !!! I guess any move to a new area does have challenges in terms of getting and feeling settled and feeling like a part of the community. It will take time for us but I truly think we are off to a good start and have chosen well with Inverell. I wish you luck with your move FionaF !

AdamS3
AdamS3

@son, Kempsey is a far more pleasant place to visit than Armidale, So I can agree with you there.

emmar14

I definitely agree

Kim Eccleston
Kim Eccleston

Oh my, this thread certainly paints a picture. Has anything changed recently how are things mid 2022?

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"4 Seasons"

Armidale is a true New England city, with all the 4 seasons, including a brisk winter which is made up for by having a low humidity cool summer! While they're sweating it out down on the Coast, I am relaxing in relative comfort, I don't even have a fan in the House! Some people complain about the Winters, but we don't have 6 foot snow drifts like they do in the USA, just cold nights with cool days (put another log on the fire!).
Great shopping, great schools, our own University, no traffic, low crime rate, basically a great place to raise a family.

Great for

  • Cool Summers compared to the Coastal Areas.
  • Beautiful
  • Friendly/relaxing
  • Plenty of space

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Students
  • Country Lovers
2
sorpleo
sorpleo

After surviving 46c temperatures the past few years, I'm ready to move! I have Armidale saved on my weather forecast. Many times I looked with yearning during the past summer! I'm not looking for 'friends' so comments about 'unfriendly' don't bother me. The crime rate bothers me - but having said that - the authorities would also be aware - is it safe to assume you have a large police presence? That would comfort me enough to move there!

Siam

sorpelo, I lived in Armidale for 7 years and only moved away because my wife needed to move for her job.
As I stated in my review I really loved the weather, I am basically a cool climate person, I lived in Darwin for 2 years and hated every minute of it's hot sticky heat, yuk!
As far as crime is concerned it really depends on the area of town that you decide to live, some suburbs are rough and some are trendy with lots of young families with children, basically the newer the suburb (modern housing) the lower the incidence of crime. I personally never experienced any crime in the 7 years that I was there.
Armidale does have a large courthouse and police station, so there is plenty of law and order :)

Siam

I should also add that I lived 10km out of town on an acreage, but I did live in the actual town near the University for a couple of years, and had no problems at all.

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"Get Real"

Armidale is a place that is very different from it's neighbours i.e. Uralla and Guyra, it has a "We are better than everybody else" attitude. It is full of wanna be's, snobs that parade around town as though they are kings and queens, and the academic crew, well thats a different story, they really are up themselves and for what reason I ask myself? The Fraud Squad and ICAC story has gone quiet at the UNE, I wonder how their investigations are going? Armidale council is broke and shops are closing left right and centre, we have no developments going on at present and the council keeps turning projects down like the Ex Servies hotel. How silly the council is we need projects and the Ex Servies would bring work here and tourism. How can Armidale be a tourist destination when most cafes close at 1.00pm on Sat and don't open on Sun, what must the tourists think when only Mcdonalds and the likes are open. House prices are way over priced, by about $100,000 compared to surrounding areas including Coffs, rent is ridiculous $500+ pw for a 4 bed compared to $250 pw at Inverell, people can not afford high rents, we are not on Sydney wages here. We have 2 real estates who jack up house prices and rent in town, shame on you, you know who you are. As for the Evo cities project how on earth are we to get people to come to Armidale when we have only 12 full time positions as of the 30/8/11? It is like building a shipping container terminal here when we only have a creek, we need to start at the begining and create jobs by allowing industry to come here, not turning it away as the council does. Why is the Chamber of commerce and the Armidale council's developement office so fixated on focusing on the wine industry when this industry is dying worldwide? We can hardly claim be be another Hunter Valley, trust me I was in the wine industry and the wine from here is absolutely awful, Surely their resources would be better focused on securing industry. Armidale is run by a select few who have done a very poor job, they turn all industry away and any thing that might affect their pecuniary interests, silly as more people here means more money flowing. The customer service in Armidale is shocking people turn their noses up at you, strange as the customer is your income, I wont shop at these places again. Thumbs up for the Locals for Locals campaign which is making people aware that local businesses/government depts (local and federal) do not shop/support local businesses, some of these groups whinge when nobody uses their services, ask yourselves do you or they buy local?

Not great for

  • Stuck up snobby
  • No Jobs
  • Cold in Winter
  • Small town
  • Gets down to minus 15c in winter not 0c as others are saying

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
3
Siam

My, My, who got up on the wrong side of bed this morning!!
Not everyone is a snob, maybe you just mix with the wrong sorts of people?
The jobs are there, you just have to look.
Armidale is a lovely New England town with 4 seasons, and everything a Family could want (Schools, Shopping, Parks, etc).

gonads

Well Siam thats the typical respone from people who live with their heads stuck up their posteriors, when they do bring them out into daylight, which is very rare, they do so with rose coloured glasses.
The truth often hurts and because no one likes to take note of it nothing gets done, please provide links to the relevant jobs as last time i looked there were only 12 full time jobs listed. Tamworth and Coffs Harbour were the same size as Armidale and look how they have gone ahead while Armidale has stagnated. This council does nothing to attract people here, it does everything with a short term view to try and cover its loses from the GFC, thats why it is trying to introduce paid parking at the airport and gps parking in town, we are a regional town not a metropolitan city. Because Armidale is heavily concentrated with Government Depts we dont get as much ratable income as places with industry, most governments lands i.e. schools and UNE do not have to pay rates. Now that the UNE has annouced funding cuts next year and different entry levels across the country to all Uni's where will that leave Armidale? Beacuse the powers that be have focused so much on one thing in this town we will probabaly not fair very well, so lets not sit back and do nothing, this town needs help and fast.

Siam

You make some valid points, but all Towns have their shortcomings, not just Armidale. I will not lower myself to comment on the personal insult in your first sentence, however it has been reported to the Moderator of this Website.

D_A_L

I'm new to Armidale from Brisbane and Far North QLD (I've travelled a bit) and I have to say I've found Armidale as welcoming as any other town I've visit (including my drives to/from Armidale). I'm afraid it sounds an awful lot like you (Gonads) are from one of those surrounding towns like Guyra (a town which I've had the pleasure of being a guest in) and I'm afraid you have some very misconstrued ideas. You should keep in mind that people in larger towns like Armidale aren't so much snobbish as adaptive. There are too many people in town to be on friendly terms with everyone and frankly if you said g'day to or smiled at everyone you passed on the street you wouldn't have a spare second to think. Perhaps it is you who should lower yourself off your pedestal and recognise that others are your equals

UnHappy8686

I think I have to agree that Armidale is indeed very snobby. For an outsider to come to Armidale, not as a professional, but as a student to study and you don't live on campus then it is very difficult to make friends. Most people I have found have their circles they move it, from friends they made at school to friends they made at college. But it is very hard to be accepted into one of their circles. It is obvious that people are allowed their own opinions, but I have even have shop keepers tell me that Armidale are full of strange people, that there are several families here that still think money is all that counts and treat everyone as though they are beneath them. This is how I have found Armidale, I have been here 3 years. Also, I have noticed that a very large number of drivers here don't use their blinkers!

NatE1

Armidale is full of snots!!!! And the Uni? Well that is going to loose 8,000 of its students!!! To online courses!! Yehaaaaaa. Hopefully the town will shut down!!!!

AudreyL

Well stated Gonads! Our experience with tradesmen has been mind blowing. We actually have a 'Blacklist' which we have shared with others to hopefully prevent them from being deceived. This is the worst collection of dishonourable tradesmen we have ever encountered. Fortunately, by trial and error we now have two who can be relied upon to do the job properly and not over charge. We thoroughly recommend these men to others. Hopefully the process of elimination will rein supreme in spite of family networks and protectionism. We live in hope!

WomblinaW

goodness. sounds like canberra!

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"Moved back from interstate, I love it."

I grew up in Armidale and then moved away for more than 10 years. When my wife and I got married we wanted a country town with good schools, sport, jobs and affordable property. Armidale fit the bill and after 3 months back here we love it. As with any new town it can be hard to meet people unless you put yourself out there, but after joining the rugby club and RFS we've met plenty of great friends.
Good facilities, the traffic is non-existent, and nice houses. Great nearby National Parks for camping and exploring. Didn't realise how much the town has changed in the past 10 years.

Great for

  • Plenty of space
  • Nearby National Parks
  • Beautiful

Not great for

  • Cold in Winter

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Students
  • Country Lovers
1
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"Small but sweet :)"

Having lived in Armidale now for 10 years, I've found it just big enough to have everything you need, whilst being small enough to maintain that country town feel.
The educational aspect is especially wonderful, from preschool to university.

Great for

  • Beautiful
  • Cafes and restaurants
  • Friendly/relaxing

Not great for

  • Cold in Winter

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • LGBT+
  • Students
  • Country Lovers
1
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"Armidale is cold and house prices are stagnant"

Armidale is a bit of a small town and with this comes a lot of small town ideas. It is very much a University town and young people move through the town and don't stay making it harder for young people who do stay to feel welcome and want to stay and raise a family.
I probably would not buy a house here the house prices have stalled out and I don't see it changing quickly.
You can get a good rental price here for an investment property.

Great for

  • Beautiful
  • Plenty of space
  • Nearby National Parks

Not great for

  • Cold in Winter
  • Small town
  • Bogans
  • No Jobs
2
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"Sophisticated and busy country town."

Armidale has a great range of schools and social activities. it is a classy town in a rich agricultural belt. Lots of schools of a high standard, and a good UNI to graduate on to. Great shopping and social activities, eg. horse riding, the tennis club and trivia nights at the local hotel. Historically rich and lovely people.

Great for

  • Beautiful
  • Cafes and restaurants
  • Friendly/relaxing

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Tourists
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Students
  • Country Lovers
  • Trendy & Stylish
0
NatE1

Snobby town and the schools are no better than the rest of the country.....

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Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Tourists
  • Students
  • Country Lovers
1
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"Armidale is gorgeous, has good facilities and is cultral."

I grew up in Armidale and stayed on to attend UNE. Armidale has great facilities for a town it's size, excellent schools, a lot of sports and is very cultural. Plus there are delicious restaurants and great monthly markets!! There's flights to Sydney a few times a day, a cinema, the uni bistro gets national bands, an art gallery and loads of cool cafes. The country side is gorgeous and relaxing. Yes there are bad parts of Armidale- but there are bad parts of every town. Personal safety is something you have to be aware of wherever you are...i believe the review saying it was the worst town ever possibly lived in one of the areas which are not so safe or great to be in. The weather in Armidale is really variable...it does show all four seasons! The summers aren't that hot- maximum of 30- and the winters are really cold- but Autumn and Spring are beautiful...

Great for

  • Beautiful
  • Friendly/relaxing
  • Cafes and restaurants

Not great for

  • Cold in Winter
  • Small town
  • Bogans

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Hipsters
  • Students
  • Country Lovers
2
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"City to Country, bad choice"

Armidale is a terrible place to live if your coming from the city, it takes at least 2 years to get use to and once your use to it your soo sick of the weather, its always cold even in summer 2 years ago it snowed in november.
the neighbourly spirit isn't so great, we were down town and saw our neighbours walking our way we were only being friendly by waving and saying hello and they didnt even respond they just looked at us and kept walking and their always pinching our newspaper. Our other neighbours are always have non stop partys.
Also Armidale is very slack and stuck up, we asked a few friends if they would like to come over for dinner for a celebration and they said yeah we will give you a call, and they never called, i also put my resume into 50 different places and 6 months later a get a call and i went for the interview and 2 weeks later they said no, so if your trying to get a job here, as a student it is almost impossible unless you know people or you own your own business.
If you want to rent here it is very high and if you compare to some of the prices in one of the bigger citys its alot more cheaper, also when you go food shopping it is soo dear and expensive.
In winter here the bills are so expensive we had a $1000 electricity bill just for having our little tiny heater on so we could keep warm over winter so we didn't freeze to death.
And one more thing i would like to add and be honest about for armidale is that if one person in armidale gets sick EVERYONE in armidale gets sick doesn't matter what time of the year.
me and my mother will be moving back to the city where you dont have to drive 3 hours to see water.
im only being honest and warning the innocent people like me. thank you

Who lives here?

  • Retirees
2
MrPerson

Lol! maybe your neighbors just don't like you...

Armidillian

PMSL at MrPerson ;)

wadeaj

Funny, I have had the exact opposite experience. PS Im sure its not fun being poor anywhere.

Radars

Well... This makes up my mind. I'm not moving anywhere where someone will steal my newspaper!

NatE1

And there you go people!! These last four comments gives you insight into the snotty head up your butt attitude here in this......

MapleJ

I completely agree, I have had very similar experiences.

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"Great Getaway!!!"

I moved to Armidale in Jan 08 to be far from the bad sides of living in a big City (Sydney). In Armidale I can enjoy my friends and have an active social life without hassel. I have met some of the best people and made friends in Armidale that will be with me for the rest of my life.
The cost of living is one of the lowest in Australia but standard is extremely high.
Its easy to entertain and be entertained in Armidale. It does not matter if you are 8 or 80. There are activities for all ages. The library is one of the best i have ever been to.

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
0
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"great shcools food and art . diverse demographic ."

I moved here 9 years ago from Melbourne with my family because my father and mother transferred to the University of New England . Armidale has been the most amazing city to grow up and finish my education . I can still live at home with my parents on their property and finish my teaching degree here as well .Ggrowing up here has meant i could have horses ,dogs and even a llama .
I recommend Armidale for any young parents to get a good schooling for their kids and have a great social life .

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
3
samh29

Thanks for sharing your perspective. May I ask, where did you go to school Jack?

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"White collar society"

Armidale is a stuck up place. If you're just an ordinary worker who don't own your own business or have a high paying job e.g. a doctor, lawyer, accountant, teacher good luck trying to fit in as people here will judge you and look down on you. Armidale is so up it self that when a magazine wrote an article on the top 100 towns to visit in NSW and Armidale wasn't included, it caused an uproar in this town with newspaper articles saying how armidale should have been included and the people here complaining as if Armidale was God's gift to this state. Safety here is also a major issue, as I work night shift between 12 am to 8 am and one night a man equiped with an axe tried to break into the centre I was working in and when I opened the door to investigate what all the noise was about the man attacked me with the axe. Lucky for me my security door was locked but when I rang police it took them close to an hour to get to the scene when the station was only located about 100metres away from where I worked. My wife and I also rang 000 one night as we thought we were getting broken into and when 000 transferred our call to the armidale police station there was no answer. Lucky for us it was only my brother in law who tried to get in. There doesn't seem to have much to do here for families. Jobs are hard to get here unless you know people. Neighbourly spirit is really bad. Where we currently live none of our neighbours even acknowledge us when we walk past them, it's not as if we have parties all the time or make a lot of noise as we have 4 very well behaved kids. One of our neighbours have a big dog that barks all the time and no one around seems to have a problem with it but one night when there was a possum on one of our trees and our LITTLE DOG with her LITTLE BARK was barking at it the police where called to our house. People here also brag about the 4 seasons here and how beautiful it is and how how you could all 4 seasons in one day and how you can't get that anywhere else, well all I can say for that is thats how people get sick easily. It's very cold here in winter so if you don't like the cold don't step foot anywhere near here. Rent is very expensive, if you compare it to other places about the same size you will see what I mean. People always compare the rental prices here with sydney and all I can say about that is this is NOT A MAJOR CITY. I'm moving to Brisbane soon and when comparing rental prices with Brisbane, Brisbane is only a little bit more dearer but value for money in Brisbane is much better and the thing is Brisbane is a major city while Armidale is NOT. I know some people might be thinking I'm just another jobless low life trying to cause trouble but I've worked here pretty much the whole time I've lived here which is about9 years and I am just trying to to tell the truth out there for the little people like me.

5
indana

Hello there, i agree with you, i have also moved to armidale about a year ago from brisbane, it was a big change, i found it extremely hard to fit in too, the school education wasn't top notch but the drama and music department was great, the teachers loved there jobs because they got away with SO much stuff, but they were just bad at there jobs. I didn't no anyone when i first moved here, so i had to start from scratch, if people didnt know you they starred and if they did they would walk past and wait for you to say the first greeting it is horrible, a recent friend has moved back to brisbane because of the jugement and arwardness there is between people, no one wants to make new friends because they already had friends. to get a job here as a student is terrible no one wants to employ anyone and everyone gets more poor here easily. the weather is like walking out of the frezzer and having to pretend its normal and if you complain its almost like you don't exist. gossip is the worst thing in armidale it spreds like rabbits you hardly ever get it in brisbane, anyway im thinking about moving back to brisbane, why did i move here in the first place, thank you for helping me realise i should deffinatly move. Rachel.

MrPerson

The prices are high because there is a high demand for rentals, due to the UNE, not because they think we are 'equal' to capital cities

NatE1

Not for long!!!!

AudreyL

No wonder you are disillusioned with the town!!
Sadly, too many people have had bad experiences in this town over the years, so it's doubtful they are isolated cases.
Having known many families who have already left, I have to say they were all lovely people with very respectful social skills...so what is going on here?

MapleJ

It's a shame, you've experienced this, I have to.

AdamS3
AdamS3

I was looking a realestate.com I saw on a few of the listings, "inspection invite only" NO WHERE IN THE COUNTRY have I ever seen this. I mean how so very up yourself do you have to be to filter potential buyers to a house. I mean all those people who are in denial about what Armidale is really like. How do they explain that written proof that a select few residents of this town want to pretend they are something they're not!

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"Armidale - Major Country Centre"

Armidale is situated on the Northern Tablelands in NSW right on the New England Hwy so access is not a problem. Although being an agricultural area Armidale is also home to the University of New England. Armidale has a good climate with summer day time temperatures averaging 27 degrees and winters are cool with temperatures ranging from 0-16.
The city has a number of art galleries and museums to visit as well as the Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place. There is a cinema complex and several craft venues.
Outside the city centre there are a number of beautiful national parks where you can walk the trails and see not only some native flora and fauna but amazing waterfalls and scenery.
There is plenty of accommodation in Armidale ranging from caravan and camping parks, B & B’s, guest houses to quality hotels and motels. There are cafes and restaurants to suit all tastes.

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
0
CommunityMan
CommunityMan

One of the coldest places I've been - winter is brutal there!

Armidillian

You just need a great big wood fire CommunityMan!

sorpleo
sorpleo

Respiratory problems are rife because of wood fires Armidillian. Invest in Solar heating! Community Man - don't ever visit Goulburn. It makes Armidale look like it in a heatwave during the winter peak. While winter temps there say '7c' degrees - the WINDCHILL is minus 12!! THAT is cold.

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"Armidale is a city with a few unique features."

Armidale is often referred to as the university and cathedral city, but it is also referred to as the city of four seasons. Located in the Great Dividing Range, Armidale experiences all four seasons which so many coastal cities do not.

The University of New England, as it is now called (used to University of Sydney), was founded in 1938 and is well established. In fact, Armidale has a very strong educational background, partly because many of the farming familes tend to support the schooling in this area.

This factor makes Armidale a very attractive city all year round. There are many historical sites to see and there are half and full day tours out of town to various pastoral homesteads and historical areas. There are beautiful drives into the National Parks and bush walks suitable for all. All up this area is a very interesting place to visit.

Winter is very cold and the area is lovely as the autumn leaves turn colour.

For the locals there is a wide range of interests to keep the family occupied. As long as the weather does not bother you, this is a lovely place to live.

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
0
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