don't give anything away

Don't know much about schools in the area, but you are moving into one of the best Shiraz wine districts in Australia!!

Hi Skinny

are you talking about Heathcote in Vic? If so, I know of some people who live in the area had a bit of trouble with one of their kids being picked on at one of the primary schools, but I believe that Tooborac School is very good, which is about 15-20 mins from Heathcote.

Good luck!

It is a great Shiraz area, lots of roos too the last time I was up there, [we're about 35 mins from there]

cheers

Lyn

Heathcote - I know many people there through my yrs in the RFS.. The Shire HQ is in Heathcote.

The area from there to Engadine and back to Waterfall is a nice and bushy, if fires and smoke give you the manures, then dont go near it. Not sure on house prices etc, but not my cuppa tea.

The kids and sports in the area are big, plenty to choose from, but the kids of the area down that way are known as rough.
Have a look at Alfords Point, not too far, and a bit nicer, and without trying you can glow at night (lucas heights nuclear place).. ;) If you want remote, go to Sandy Point... they dont even have a shop now, and probably have one of the best bunch of blokes in the shire RFS (Grays Pt best, Sandy pt second, Kurnell 3rd, Engadien 4th)...

4wding is non existant unless your in a club and lick the dates of the local "indodgeynous" people.

Hello Skinny

For a similar distance out , try the lower Blue Mountains . Cooler in summer due to the height , and nice village atmosphere . In the 1970's the Sydney smog used to stop at Glenbrook , but probably intrudes a little higher now . Used to be the cheapest land and housing within 100 miles of Sydney but that may have changed . Go higher up than Springwood and it gets a bit miserable in winter .

Heathcote is the land of 'Duck Muck' - soils with profiles deeper than the 2m generally considered to be the 'A' horizon. Beautiful area - you may pay a premium.

Hows it going Skinny ,

I happen to live in Engadine and have lived here for seven years after a couple in a unit at Woolaware.

I think this is a great place to live.

I work at Mascot and it only takes 35 min without traffic ( at 5am ) or 15 min on the highway to Stanwell Park to surf.

Its lots quiter than the rest of the Shire. I dont know where you are from but dont expect too much to be open on Sunday , on the other hand only a short drive to excellent resturaunts at Cronulla open every day.

I like living so close to the Royal NP , lots of opportunities for walks ,mountain biking and uncrowded beaches.

After we moved here it took my wife less time to get the train to town than Woolaware , about 30 min.

As for schools , I am not an expert but there are public schools in every suburb and there is a Catholic school in Engadine only the next suburb.

On the down side , have looked at houses / land with reactor or high tension wire views , if it blows westerly for a long time ( twice in 7 yr ) you can smell the Menai tip. The upside could be great views up a bush valley ( the house we looked at in Heathcote before buying ours )

I wouldnt describe the pubs at Heathcote or Engadine as lively but have had a few ales at each.

Let me know if you are moving ,

Glenn.

Come to Waterfall
Its God's country and the best kept secret in the Shire. I have been here for 20 years and the only way i will leave is when i retire to the country in about 5 years.

A 2 Storey brick veneer just sold here last week for $560,000, but there are other properties selling at the moment. The prices have dropped a little since the real estate bust. In any case Waterfall prices are usually a bit lower than Engadine or Heathcote and our landrates are lower too.

Watefall Public school is a small one usually about 40 pupils. They have composite classes and the teachers are very good. My 2 have been thru and they are doing ok at high school. If you want them to learn the basics like times tables and spelling this is one school that never stopped teaching them, even when the dept of education tried to stop it in their curriculum. Now they are coming back to it....

My kids now go to Heathcote High which has a good reputation in scholastic achievement.

I know of one house that is coming up for rent very soon, waynepd@yahoo.com.au if you want to talk.