<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" standalone="yes"?><rss version="2.0" xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"><channel><title>Checklist on MELBZ</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/tags/checklist/</link><description>Recent content in Checklist on MELBZ</description><generator>Hugo</generator><language>en-au</language><lastBuildDate>Mon, 20 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</lastBuildDate><atom:link href="https://melbz.com.au/tags/checklist/index.xml" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml"/><item><title>Moving to Abbotsford 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/abbotsford/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/abbotsford/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Abbotsford)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Abbotsford falls under City of Yarra&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; inner-city clinics often have wait lists, register early&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; tight streets and permit parking make professional removalists worth it&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; apply to council at least 48 hours ahead for temporary loading zone&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local police station numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-abbotsford"&gt;First Week in Abbotsford&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; essential in {name}, apply via council website ($80-120/year)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Abbotsford&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Coles/Woolworths within walking distance&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/abbotsford/medical-guide/"&gt;Abbotsford medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Local branch likely within walking distance&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Multiple options on the main strip&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-abbotsford"&gt;Cost of Moving to Abbotsford&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1626&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1990&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$80-120&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$4,236+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-abbotsford-locals"&gt;Tips from Abbotsford Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get the parking permit sorted before anything else &amp;ndash; street parking is brutal&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Explore the back streets for hidden cafes and shops&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Abbotsford is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/abbotsford/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/abbotsford/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Aintree 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/aintree/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/aintree/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Aintree)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Aintree falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-aintree"&gt;First Week in Aintree&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Aintree&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/aintree/medical-guide/"&gt;Aintree medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-aintree"&gt;Cost of Moving to Aintree&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2363&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1441&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$3,979+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-aintree-locals"&gt;Tips from Aintree Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Introduce yourself to neighbours early &amp;ndash; community is strong here&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Aintree is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/aintree/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/aintree/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Albert Park? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/albert-park/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/albert-park/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Albert Park)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Albert Park falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; inner-city clinics often have wait lists, register early&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; tight streets and permit parking make professional removalists worth it&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; apply to council at least 48 hours ahead for temporary loading zone&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local police station numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-albert-park"&gt;First Week in Albert Park&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; essential in {name}, apply via council website ($80-120/year)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Albert Park&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Coles/Woolworths within walking distance&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/albert-park/medical-guide/"&gt;Albert Park medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Local branch likely within walking distance&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Multiple options on the main strip&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-albert-park"&gt;Cost of Moving to Albert Park&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2554&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1668&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$80-120&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,019+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-albert-park-locals"&gt;Tips from Albert Park Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get the parking permit sorted before anything else &amp;ndash; street parking is brutal&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Explore the back streets for hidden cafes and shops&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Albert Park is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/albert-park/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/albert-park/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Albion? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/albion/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/albion/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Albion)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Albion falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-albion"&gt;First Week in Albion&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Albion&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/albion/medical-guide/"&gt;Albion medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-albion"&gt;Cost of Moving to Albion&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1575&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2273&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$6,527+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-albion-locals"&gt;Tips from Albion Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Albion is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/albion/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/albion/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Alphington? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/alphington/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/alphington/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Alphington)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Alphington falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-alphington"&gt;First Week in Alphington&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Alphington&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/alphington/medical-guide/"&gt;Alphington medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-alphington"&gt;Cost of Moving to Alphington&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2901&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1631&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$4,554+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-alphington-locals"&gt;Tips from Alphington Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Alphington is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/alphington/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/alphington/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Altona 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/altona/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/altona/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Altona)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Altona falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-altona"&gt;First Week in Altona&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Altona&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/altona/medical-guide/"&gt;Altona medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-altona"&gt;Cost of Moving to Altona&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1706&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2371&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$4,055+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-altona-locals"&gt;Tips from Altona Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Altona is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/altona/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/altona/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Altona Meadows? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/altona-meadows/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/altona-meadows/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Altona Meadows)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Altona Meadows falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-altona-meadows"&gt;First Week in Altona Meadows&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Altona Meadows&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/altona-meadows/medical-guide/"&gt;Altona Meadows medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-altona-meadows"&gt;Cost of Moving to Altona Meadows&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2251&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2110&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$3,657+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-altona-meadows-locals"&gt;Tips from Altona Meadows Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Altona Meadows is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/altona-meadows/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/altona-meadows/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Arthurs Seat? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/arthurs-seat/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/arthurs-seat/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Arthurs Seat)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Arthurs Seat falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-arthurs-seat"&gt;First Week in Arthurs Seat&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Arthurs Seat&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/arthurs-seat/medical-guide/"&gt;Arthurs Seat medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-arthurs-seat"&gt;Cost of Moving to Arthurs Seat&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2671&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1563&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,335+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-arthurs-seat-locals"&gt;Tips from Arthurs Seat Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Arthurs Seat is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/arthurs-seat/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/arthurs-seat/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Ascot Vale? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/ascot-vale/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/ascot-vale/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Ascot Vale)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Ascot Vale falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-ascot-vale"&gt;First Week in Ascot Vale&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Ascot Vale&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/ascot-vale/medical-guide/"&gt;Ascot Vale medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-ascot-vale"&gt;Cost of Moving to Ascot Vale&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1570&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1788&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,200+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-ascot-vale-locals"&gt;Tips from Ascot Vale Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Ascot Vale is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/ascot-vale/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/ascot-vale/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Ashburton 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/ashburton/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/ashburton/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Ashburton)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Ashburton falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-ashburton"&gt;First Week in Ashburton&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Ashburton&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/ashburton/medical-guide/"&gt;Ashburton medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-ashburton"&gt;Cost of Moving to Ashburton&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2668&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2461&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$4,909+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-ashburton-locals"&gt;Tips from Ashburton Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Ashburton is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/ashburton/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/ashburton/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Aspendale Gardens 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/aspendale-gardens/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/aspendale-gardens/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Aspendale Gardens)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Aspendale Gardens falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-aspendale-gardens"&gt;First Week in Aspendale Gardens&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Aspendale Gardens&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/aspendale-gardens/medical-guide/"&gt;Aspendale Gardens medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-aspendale-gardens"&gt;Cost of Moving to Aspendale Gardens&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2214&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1502&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$6,219+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-aspendale-gardens-locals"&gt;Tips from Aspendale Gardens Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Aspendale Gardens is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/aspendale-gardens/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/aspendale-gardens/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Aspendale? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/aspendale/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/aspendale/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Aspendale)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Aspendale falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-aspendale"&gt;First Week in Aspendale&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Aspendale&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/aspendale/medical-guide/"&gt;Aspendale medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-aspendale"&gt;Cost of Moving to Aspendale&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1474&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1400&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$3,942+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-aspendale-locals"&gt;Tips from Aspendale Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Aspendale is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/aspendale/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/aspendale/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Avondale Heights 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/avondale-heights/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/avondale-heights/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Avondale Heights)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Avondale Heights falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-avondale-heights"&gt;First Week in Avondale Heights&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Avondale Heights&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/avondale-heights/medical-guide/"&gt;Avondale Heights medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-avondale-heights"&gt;Cost of Moving to Avondale Heights&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1955&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2186&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$6,091+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-avondale-heights-locals"&gt;Tips from Avondale Heights Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Avondale Heights is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/avondale-heights/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/avondale-heights/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Bacchus Marsh? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/bacchus-marsh/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/bacchus-marsh/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Bacchus Marsh)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Bacchus Marsh falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-bacchus-marsh"&gt;First Week in Bacchus Marsh&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Bacchus Marsh&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/bacchus-marsh/medical-guide/"&gt;Bacchus Marsh medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-bacchus-marsh"&gt;Cost of Moving to Bacchus Marsh&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2398&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1997&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,588+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-bacchus-marsh-locals"&gt;Tips from Bacchus Marsh Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Bacchus Marsh is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/bacchus-marsh/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/bacchus-marsh/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Balaclava 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/balaclava/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/balaclava/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Balaclava)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Balaclava falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; inner-city clinics often have wait lists, register early&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; tight streets and permit parking make professional removalists worth it&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; apply to council at least 48 hours ahead for temporary loading zone&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local police station numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-balaclava"&gt;First Week in Balaclava&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; essential in {name}, apply via council website ($80-120/year)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Balaclava&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Coles/Woolworths within walking distance&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/balaclava/medical-guide/"&gt;Balaclava medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Local branch likely within walking distance&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Multiple options on the main strip&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-balaclava"&gt;Cost of Moving to Balaclava&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2118&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2276&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$80-120&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$6,106+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-balaclava-locals"&gt;Tips from Balaclava Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get the parking permit sorted before anything else &amp;ndash; street parking is brutal&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Explore the back streets for hidden cafes and shops&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Balaclava is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/balaclava/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/balaclava/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Balnarring? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/balnarring/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/balnarring/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Balnarring)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Balnarring falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-balnarring"&gt;First Week in Balnarring&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Balnarring&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/balnarring/medical-guide/"&gt;Balnarring medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-balnarring"&gt;Cost of Moving to Balnarring&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1995&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2970&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,834+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-balnarring-locals"&gt;Tips from Balnarring Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Balnarring is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/balnarring/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/balnarring/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Balwyn North? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/balwyn-north/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/balwyn-north/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Balwyn North)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Balwyn North falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-balwyn-north"&gt;First Week in Balwyn North&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Balwyn North&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/balwyn-north/medical-guide/"&gt;Balwyn North medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-balwyn-north"&gt;Cost of Moving to Balwyn North&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1721&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1753&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$4,263+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-balwyn-north-locals"&gt;Tips from Balwyn North Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Balwyn North is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/balwyn-north/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/balwyn-north/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Balwyn? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/balwyn/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/balwyn/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Balwyn)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Balwyn falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-balwyn"&gt;First Week in Balwyn&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Balwyn&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/balwyn/medical-guide/"&gt;Balwyn medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-balwyn"&gt;Cost of Moving to Balwyn&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1885&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2947&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$6,366+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-balwyn-locals"&gt;Tips from Balwyn Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Balwyn is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/balwyn/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/balwyn/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Bangholme? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/bangholme/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/bangholme/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Bangholme)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Bangholme falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-bangholme"&gt;First Week in Bangholme&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Bangholme&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/bangholme/medical-guide/"&gt;Bangholme medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-bangholme"&gt;Cost of Moving to Bangholme&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$3000&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1884&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,567+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-bangholme-locals"&gt;Tips from Bangholme Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Bangholme is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/bangholme/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/bangholme/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Bayswater 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/bayswater/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/bayswater/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Bayswater)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Bayswater falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-bayswater"&gt;First Week in Bayswater&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Bayswater&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/bayswater/medical-guide/"&gt;Bayswater medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-bayswater"&gt;Cost of Moving to Bayswater&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1561&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1533&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$6,249+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-bayswater-locals"&gt;Tips from Bayswater Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Bayswater is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/bayswater/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/bayswater/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Beaconsfield Upper? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/beaconsfield-upper/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/beaconsfield-upper/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Beaconsfield Upper)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Beaconsfield Upper falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-beaconsfield-upper"&gt;First Week in Beaconsfield Upper&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Beaconsfield Upper&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/beaconsfield-upper/medical-guide/"&gt;Beaconsfield Upper medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-beaconsfield-upper"&gt;Cost of Moving to Beaconsfield Upper&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1471&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1515&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$6,091+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-beaconsfield-upper-locals"&gt;Tips from Beaconsfield Upper Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Beaconsfield Upper is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/beaconsfield-upper/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/beaconsfield-upper/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Bellfield 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/bellfield/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/bellfield/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Bellfield)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Bellfield falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-bellfield"&gt;First Week in Bellfield&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Bellfield&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/bellfield/medical-guide/"&gt;Bellfield medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-bellfield"&gt;Cost of Moving to Bellfield&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1860&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1709&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$7,390+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-bellfield-locals"&gt;Tips from Bellfield Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Bellfield is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/bellfield/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/bellfield/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Bentleigh East 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/bentleigh-east/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/bentleigh-east/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Bentleigh East)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Bentleigh East falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-bentleigh-east"&gt;First Week in Bentleigh East&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Bentleigh East&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/bentleigh-east/medical-guide/"&gt;Bentleigh East medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-bentleigh-east"&gt;Cost of Moving to Bentleigh East&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2302&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1521&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$7,453+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-bentleigh-east-locals"&gt;Tips from Bentleigh East Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Bentleigh East is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/bentleigh-east/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/bentleigh-east/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Best Restaurants Melbourne 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/best-restaurants-melbourne/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/best-restaurants-melbourne/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Best Restaurants Melbourne)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Best Restaurants Melbourne falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-best-restaurants-melbourne"&gt;First Week in Best Restaurants Melbourne&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Best Restaurants Melbourne&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/best-restaurants-melbourne/medical-guide/"&gt;Best Restaurants Melbourne medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-best-restaurants-melbourne"&gt;Cost of Moving to Best Restaurants Melbourne&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2659&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2673&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$6,719+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-best-restaurants-melbourne-locals"&gt;Tips from Best Restaurants Melbourne Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Best Restaurants Melbourne is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/best-restaurants-melbourne/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/best-restaurants-melbourne/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Best Suburbs Families Melbourne? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/best-suburbs-families-melbourne/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/best-suburbs-families-melbourne/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Best Suburbs Families Melbourne)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Best Suburbs Families Melbourne falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-best-suburbs-families-melbourne"&gt;First Week in Best Suburbs Families Melbourne&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Best Suburbs Families Melbourne&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/best-suburbs-families-melbourne/medical-guide/"&gt;Best Suburbs Families Melbourne medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-best-suburbs-families-melbourne"&gt;Cost of Moving to Best Suburbs Families Melbourne&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1694&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1622&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$4,022+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-best-suburbs-families-melbourne-locals"&gt;Tips from Best Suburbs Families Melbourne Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Best Suburbs Families Melbourne is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/best-suburbs-families-melbourne/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/best-suburbs-families-melbourne/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Best Walks Melbourne Suburbs 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/best-walks-melbourne-suburbs/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/best-walks-melbourne-suburbs/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Best Walks Melbourne Suburbs)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Best Walks Melbourne Suburbs falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-best-walks-melbourne-suburbs"&gt;First Week in Best Walks Melbourne Suburbs&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Best Walks Melbourne Suburbs&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/best-walks-melbourne-suburbs/medical-guide/"&gt;Best Walks Melbourne Suburbs medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-best-walks-melbourne-suburbs"&gt;Cost of Moving to Best Walks Melbourne Suburbs&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2959&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1423&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,114+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-best-walks-melbourne-suburbs-locals"&gt;Tips from Best Walks Melbourne Suburbs Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Best Walks Melbourne Suburbs is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/best-walks-melbourne-suburbs/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/best-walks-melbourne-suburbs/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Beveridge 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/beveridge/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/beveridge/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Beveridge)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Beveridge falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-beveridge"&gt;First Week in Beveridge&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Beveridge&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/beveridge/medical-guide/"&gt;Beveridge medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-beveridge"&gt;Cost of Moving to Beveridge&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2537&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1585&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,366+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-beveridge-locals"&gt;Tips from Beveridge Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Beveridge is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/beveridge/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/beveridge/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Bittern 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/bittern/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/bittern/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Bittern)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Bittern falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-bittern"&gt;First Week in Bittern&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Bittern&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/bittern/medical-guide/"&gt;Bittern medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-bittern"&gt;Cost of Moving to Bittern&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1799&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2517&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,346+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-bittern-locals"&gt;Tips from Bittern Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Bittern is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/bittern/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/bittern/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Black Rock 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/black-rock/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/black-rock/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Black Rock)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Black Rock falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-black-rock"&gt;First Week in Black Rock&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Black Rock&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/black-rock/medical-guide/"&gt;Black Rock medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-black-rock"&gt;Cost of Moving to Black Rock&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1779&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2554&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$4,025+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-black-rock-locals"&gt;Tips from Black Rock Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Black Rock is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/black-rock/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/black-rock/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Blackburn 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/blackburn/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/blackburn/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Blackburn)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Blackburn falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-blackburn"&gt;First Week in Blackburn&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Blackburn&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/blackburn/medical-guide/"&gt;Blackburn medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-blackburn"&gt;Cost of Moving to Blackburn&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2052&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1713&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$4,898+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-blackburn-locals"&gt;Tips from Blackburn Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Blackburn is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/blackburn/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/blackburn/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Blackburn North 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/blackburn-north/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/blackburn-north/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Blackburn North)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Blackburn North falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-blackburn-north"&gt;First Week in Blackburn North&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Blackburn North&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/blackburn-north/medical-guide/"&gt;Blackburn North medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-blackburn-north"&gt;Cost of Moving to Blackburn North&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2511&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1641&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$6,742+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-blackburn-north-locals"&gt;Tips from Blackburn North Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Blackburn North is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/blackburn-north/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/blackburn-north/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Blackburn South? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/blackburn-south/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/blackburn-south/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Blackburn South)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Blackburn South falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-blackburn-south"&gt;First Week in Blackburn South&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Blackburn South&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/blackburn-south/medical-guide/"&gt;Blackburn South medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-blackburn-south"&gt;Cost of Moving to Blackburn South&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1446&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1833&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$4,908+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-blackburn-south-locals"&gt;Tips from Blackburn South Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Blackburn South is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/blackburn-south/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/blackburn-south/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Blind Bight? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/blind-bight/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/blind-bight/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Blind Bight)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Blind Bight falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-blind-bight"&gt;First Week in Blind Bight&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Blind Bight&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/blind-bight/medical-guide/"&gt;Blind Bight medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-blind-bight"&gt;Cost of Moving to Blind Bight&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2805&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1796&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$4,416+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-blind-bight-locals"&gt;Tips from Blind Bight Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Blind Bight is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/blind-bight/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/blind-bight/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Bonnie Brook 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/bonnie-brook/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/bonnie-brook/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Bonnie Brook)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Bonnie Brook falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-bonnie-brook"&gt;First Week in Bonnie Brook&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Bonnie Brook&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/bonnie-brook/medical-guide/"&gt;Bonnie Brook medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-bonnie-brook"&gt;Cost of Moving to Bonnie Brook&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2012&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2446&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,306+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-bonnie-brook-locals"&gt;Tips from Bonnie Brook Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Bonnie Brook is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/bonnie-brook/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/bonnie-brook/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Boronia 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/boronia/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/boronia/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Boronia)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Boronia falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-boronia"&gt;First Week in Boronia&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Boronia&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/boronia/medical-guide/"&gt;Boronia medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-boronia"&gt;Cost of Moving to Boronia&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2693&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2755&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$7,116+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-boronia-locals"&gt;Tips from Boronia Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Boronia is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/boronia/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/boronia/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Box Hill? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/box-hill/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/box-hill/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Box Hill)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Box Hill falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-box-hill"&gt;First Week in Box Hill&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Box Hill&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/box-hill/medical-guide/"&gt;Box Hill medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-box-hill"&gt;Cost of Moving to Box Hill&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2570&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2542&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$7,033+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-box-hill-locals"&gt;Tips from Box Hill Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Box Hill is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/box-hill/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/box-hill/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Braeside? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/braeside/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/braeside/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Braeside)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Braeside falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-braeside"&gt;First Week in Braeside&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Braeside&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/braeside/medical-guide/"&gt;Braeside medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-braeside"&gt;Cost of Moving to Braeside&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2390&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2136&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$6,523+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-braeside-locals"&gt;Tips from Braeside Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Braeside is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/braeside/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/braeside/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Braybrook 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/braybrook/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/braybrook/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Braybrook)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Braybrook falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-braybrook"&gt;First Week in Braybrook&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Braybrook&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/braybrook/medical-guide/"&gt;Braybrook medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-braybrook"&gt;Cost of Moving to Braybrook&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2239&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1440&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,073+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-braybrook-locals"&gt;Tips from Braybrook Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Braybrook is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/braybrook/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/braybrook/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Briar Hill 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/briar-hill/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/briar-hill/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Briar Hill)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Briar Hill falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-briar-hill"&gt;First Week in Briar Hill&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Briar Hill&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/briar-hill/medical-guide/"&gt;Briar Hill medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-briar-hill"&gt;Cost of Moving to Briar Hill&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1786&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2735&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,195+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-briar-hill-locals"&gt;Tips from Briar Hill Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Briar Hill is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/briar-hill/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/briar-hill/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Brighton? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/brighton/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/brighton/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Brighton)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Brighton falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-brighton"&gt;First Week in Brighton&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Brighton&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/brighton/medical-guide/"&gt;Brighton medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-brighton"&gt;Cost of Moving to Brighton&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1775&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1580&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$6,616+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-brighton-locals"&gt;Tips from Brighton Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Brighton is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/brighton/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/brighton/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Brunswick East? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/brunswick-east/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/brunswick-east/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Brunswick East)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Brunswick East falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-brunswick-east"&gt;First Week in Brunswick East&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Brunswick East&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/brunswick-east/medical-guide/"&gt;Brunswick East medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-brunswick-east"&gt;Cost of Moving to Brunswick East&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1536&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1711&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$4,669+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-brunswick-east-locals"&gt;Tips from Brunswick East Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Brunswick East is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/brunswick-east/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/brunswick-east/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Brunswick West? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/brunswick-west/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/brunswick-west/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Brunswick West)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Brunswick West falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-brunswick-west"&gt;First Week in Brunswick West&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Brunswick West&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/brunswick-west/medical-guide/"&gt;Brunswick West medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-brunswick-west"&gt;Cost of Moving to Brunswick West&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2864&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1666&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$4,271+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-brunswick-west-locals"&gt;Tips from Brunswick West Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Brunswick West is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/brunswick-west/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/brunswick-west/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Burnley 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/burnley/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/burnley/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Burnley)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Burnley falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-burnley"&gt;First Week in Burnley&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Burnley&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/burnley/medical-guide/"&gt;Burnley medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-burnley"&gt;Cost of Moving to Burnley&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2140&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1998&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$7,456+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-burnley-locals"&gt;Tips from Burnley Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Burnley is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/burnley/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/burnley/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Burnside Heights? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/burnside-heights/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/burnside-heights/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Burnside Heights)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Burnside Heights falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-burnside-heights"&gt;First Week in Burnside Heights&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Burnside Heights&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/burnside-heights/medical-guide/"&gt;Burnside Heights medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-burnside-heights"&gt;Cost of Moving to Burnside Heights&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1752&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2826&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,022+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-burnside-heights-locals"&gt;Tips from Burnside Heights Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Burnside Heights is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/burnside-heights/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/burnside-heights/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Campbellfield? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/campbellfield/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/campbellfield/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Campbellfield)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Campbellfield falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-campbellfield"&gt;First Week in Campbellfield&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Campbellfield&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/campbellfield/medical-guide/"&gt;Campbellfield medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-campbellfield"&gt;Cost of Moving to Campbellfield&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2396&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2335&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$3,789+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-campbellfield-locals"&gt;Tips from Campbellfield Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Campbellfield is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/campbellfield/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/campbellfield/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Cardinia? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/cardinia/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/cardinia/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Cardinia)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Cardinia falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-cardinia"&gt;First Week in Cardinia&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Cardinia&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/cardinia/medical-guide/"&gt;Cardinia medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-cardinia"&gt;Cost of Moving to Cardinia&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2937&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1591&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,128+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-cardinia-locals"&gt;Tips from Cardinia Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Cardinia is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/cardinia/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/cardinia/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Carrum 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/carrum/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/carrum/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Carrum)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Carrum falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-carrum"&gt;First Week in Carrum&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Carrum&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/carrum/medical-guide/"&gt;Carrum medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-carrum"&gt;Cost of Moving to Carrum&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2458&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1580&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,432+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-carrum-locals"&gt;Tips from Carrum Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Carrum is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/carrum/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/carrum/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Caulfield 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/caulfield/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/caulfield/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Caulfield)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Caulfield falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-caulfield"&gt;First Week in Caulfield&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Caulfield&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/caulfield/medical-guide/"&gt;Caulfield medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-caulfield"&gt;Cost of Moving to Caulfield&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1992&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1631&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,848+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-caulfield-locals"&gt;Tips from Caulfield Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Caulfield is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/caulfield/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/caulfield/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Caulfield East 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/caulfield-east/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/caulfield-east/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Caulfield East)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Caulfield East falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-caulfield-east"&gt;First Week in Caulfield East&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Caulfield East&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/caulfield-east/medical-guide/"&gt;Caulfield East medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-caulfield-east"&gt;Cost of Moving to Caulfield East&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1877&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1785&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$3,715+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-caulfield-east-locals"&gt;Tips from Caulfield East Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Caulfield East is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/caulfield-east/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/caulfield-east/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Caulfield South? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/caulfield-south/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/caulfield-south/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Caulfield South)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Caulfield South falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-caulfield-south"&gt;First Week in Caulfield South&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Caulfield South&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/caulfield-south/medical-guide/"&gt;Caulfield South medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-caulfield-south"&gt;Cost of Moving to Caulfield South&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1615&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1921&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$3,865+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-caulfield-south-locals"&gt;Tips from Caulfield South Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Caulfield South is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/caulfield-south/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/caulfield-south/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Cbd 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/cbd/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/cbd/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Cbd)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Cbd falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-cbd"&gt;First Week in Cbd&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Cbd&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/cbd/medical-guide/"&gt;Cbd medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-cbd"&gt;Cost of Moving to Cbd&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2519&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2941&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,305+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-cbd-locals"&gt;Tips from Cbd Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Cbd is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/cbd/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/cbd/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Chadstone? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/chadstone/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/chadstone/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Chadstone)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Chadstone falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-chadstone"&gt;First Week in Chadstone&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Chadstone&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/chadstone/medical-guide/"&gt;Chadstone medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-chadstone"&gt;Cost of Moving to Chadstone&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2364&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2508&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,416+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-chadstone-locals"&gt;Tips from Chadstone Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Chadstone is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/chadstone/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/chadstone/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Cheapest Suburbs Melbourne 2026? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/cheapest-suburbs-melbourne-2026/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/cheapest-suburbs-melbourne-2026/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Cheapest Suburbs Melbourne 2026)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Cheapest Suburbs Melbourne 2026 falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-cheapest-suburbs-melbourne-2026"&gt;First Week in Cheapest Suburbs Melbourne 2026&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Cheapest Suburbs Melbourne 2026&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/cheapest-suburbs-melbourne-2026/medical-guide/"&gt;Cheapest Suburbs Melbourne 2026 medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-cheapest-suburbs-melbourne-2026"&gt;Cost of Moving to Cheapest Suburbs Melbourne 2026&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2250&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2222&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$4,085+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-cheapest-suburbs-melbourne-2026-locals"&gt;Tips from Cheapest Suburbs Melbourne 2026 Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Cheapest Suburbs Melbourne 2026 is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/cheapest-suburbs-melbourne-2026/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/cheapest-suburbs-melbourne-2026/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Chelsea 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/chelsea/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/chelsea/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Chelsea)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Chelsea falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-chelsea"&gt;First Week in Chelsea&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Chelsea&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/chelsea/medical-guide/"&gt;Chelsea medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-chelsea"&gt;Cost of Moving to Chelsea&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1493&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1711&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$4,765+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-chelsea-locals"&gt;Tips from Chelsea Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Chelsea is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/chelsea/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/chelsea/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Chelsea Heights 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/chelsea-heights/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/chelsea-heights/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Chelsea Heights)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Chelsea Heights falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-chelsea-heights"&gt;First Week in Chelsea Heights&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Chelsea Heights&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/chelsea-heights/medical-guide/"&gt;Chelsea Heights medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-chelsea-heights"&gt;Cost of Moving to Chelsea Heights&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2645&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1656&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,748+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-chelsea-heights-locals"&gt;Tips from Chelsea Heights Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Chelsea Heights is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/chelsea-heights/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/chelsea-heights/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Christmas Hills? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/christmas-hills/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/christmas-hills/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Christmas Hills)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Christmas Hills falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-christmas-hills"&gt;First Week in Christmas Hills&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Christmas Hills&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/christmas-hills/medical-guide/"&gt;Christmas Hills medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-christmas-hills"&gt;Cost of Moving to Christmas Hills&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2579&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2096&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,356+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-christmas-hills-locals"&gt;Tips from Christmas Hills Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Christmas Hills is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/christmas-hills/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/christmas-hills/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Clayton? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/clayton/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/clayton/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Clayton)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Clayton falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-clayton"&gt;First Week in Clayton&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Clayton&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/clayton/medical-guide/"&gt;Clayton medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-clayton"&gt;Cost of Moving to Clayton&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2336&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1639&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,302+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-clayton-locals"&gt;Tips from Clayton Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Clayton is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/clayton/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/clayton/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Clematis 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/clematis/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/clematis/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Clematis)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Clematis falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-clematis"&gt;First Week in Clematis&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Clematis&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/clematis/medical-guide/"&gt;Clematis medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-clematis"&gt;Cost of Moving to Clematis&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2275&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2195&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$4,634+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-clematis-locals"&gt;Tips from Clematis Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Clematis is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/clematis/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/clematis/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Clifton Hill 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/clifton-hill/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/clifton-hill/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Clifton Hill)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Clifton Hill falls under City of Yarra&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; inner-city clinics often have wait lists, register early&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; tight streets and permit parking make professional removalists worth it&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; apply to council at least 48 hours ahead for temporary loading zone&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local police station numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-clifton-hill"&gt;First Week in Clifton Hill&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; essential in {name}, apply via council website ($80-120/year)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Clifton Hill&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Coles/Woolworths within walking distance&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/clifton-hill/medical-guide/"&gt;Clifton Hill medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Local branch likely within walking distance&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Multiple options on the main strip&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-clifton-hill"&gt;Cost of Moving to Clifton Hill&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1474&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2225&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$80-120&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$3,806+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-clifton-hill-locals"&gt;Tips from Clifton Hill Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get the parking permit sorted before anything else &amp;ndash; street parking is brutal&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Explore the back streets for hidden cafes and shops&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Clifton Hill is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/clifton-hill/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/clifton-hill/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Clyde North? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/clyde-north/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/clyde-north/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Clyde North)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Clyde North falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-clyde-north"&gt;First Week in Clyde North&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Clyde North&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/clyde-north/medical-guide/"&gt;Clyde North medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-clyde-north"&gt;Cost of Moving to Clyde North&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2079&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1672&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,724+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-clyde-north-locals"&gt;Tips from Clyde North Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Introduce yourself to neighbours early &amp;ndash; community is strong here&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Clyde North is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/clyde-north/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/clyde-north/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Coburg North 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/coburg-north/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/coburg-north/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Coburg North)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Coburg North falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-coburg-north"&gt;First Week in Coburg North&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Coburg North&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/coburg-north/medical-guide/"&gt;Coburg North medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-coburg-north"&gt;Cost of Moving to Coburg North&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1641&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1811&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,356+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-coburg-north-locals"&gt;Tips from Coburg North Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Coburg North is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/coburg-north/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/coburg-north/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Coburg? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/coburg/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/coburg/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Coburg)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Coburg falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-coburg"&gt;First Week in Coburg&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Coburg&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/coburg/medical-guide/"&gt;Coburg medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-coburg"&gt;Cost of Moving to Coburg&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2589&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2664&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,196+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-coburg-locals"&gt;Tips from Coburg Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Coburg is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/coburg/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/coburg/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Coldstream 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/coldstream/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/coldstream/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Coldstream)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Coldstream falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-coldstream"&gt;First Week in Coldstream&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Coldstream&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/coldstream/medical-guide/"&gt;Coldstream medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-coldstream"&gt;Cost of Moving to Coldstream&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1400&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1821&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$7,061+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-coldstream-locals"&gt;Tips from Coldstream Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Coldstream is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/coldstream/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/coldstream/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Collingwood 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/collingwood/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/collingwood/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Collingwood)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Collingwood falls under City of Yarra&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; inner-city clinics often have wait lists, register early&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; tight streets and permit parking make professional removalists worth it&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; apply to council at least 48 hours ahead for temporary loading zone&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local police station numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-collingwood"&gt;First Week in Collingwood&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; essential in {name}, apply via council website ($80-120/year)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Collingwood&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Coles/Woolworths within walking distance&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/collingwood/medical-guide/"&gt;Collingwood medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Local branch likely within walking distance&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Multiple options on the main strip&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-collingwood"&gt;Cost of Moving to Collingwood&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1531&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1466&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$80-120&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$4,466+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-collingwood-locals"&gt;Tips from Collingwood Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get the parking permit sorted before anything else &amp;ndash; street parking is brutal&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Explore the back streets for hidden cafes and shops&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Collingwood is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/collingwood/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/collingwood/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Corio? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/corio/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/corio/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Corio)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Corio falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-corio"&gt;First Week in Corio&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Corio&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/corio/medical-guide/"&gt;Corio medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-corio"&gt;Cost of Moving to Corio&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2754&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2416&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,922+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-corio-locals"&gt;Tips from Corio Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Corio is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/corio/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/corio/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Craigieburn 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/craigieburn/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/craigieburn/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Craigieburn)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Craigieburn falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-craigieburn"&gt;First Week in Craigieburn&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Craigieburn&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/craigieburn/medical-guide/"&gt;Craigieburn medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-craigieburn"&gt;Cost of Moving to Craigieburn&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1806&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1502&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$4,030+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-craigieburn-locals"&gt;Tips from Craigieburn Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Craigieburn is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/craigieburn/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/craigieburn/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Craigieburn North? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/craigieburn-north/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/craigieburn-north/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Craigieburn North)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Craigieburn North falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-craigieburn-north"&gt;First Week in Craigieburn North&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Craigieburn North&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/craigieburn-north/medical-guide/"&gt;Craigieburn North medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-craigieburn-north"&gt;Cost of Moving to Craigieburn North&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1864&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2359&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$7,461+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-craigieburn-north-locals"&gt;Tips from Craigieburn North Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Craigieburn North is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/craigieburn-north/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/craigieburn-north/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Cranbourne 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/cranbourne/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/cranbourne/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Cranbourne)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Cranbourne falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-cranbourne"&gt;First Week in Cranbourne&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Cranbourne&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/cranbourne/medical-guide/"&gt;Cranbourne medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-cranbourne"&gt;Cost of Moving to Cranbourne&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2128&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2739&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$4,558+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-cranbourne-locals"&gt;Tips from Cranbourne Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Cranbourne is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/cranbourne/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/cranbourne/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Cranbourne East 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/cranbourne-east/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/cranbourne-east/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Cranbourne East)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Cranbourne East falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-cranbourne-east"&gt;First Week in Cranbourne East&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Cranbourne East&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/cranbourne-east/medical-guide/"&gt;Cranbourne East medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-cranbourne-east"&gt;Cost of Moving to Cranbourne East&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1495&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2006&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$4,285+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-cranbourne-east-locals"&gt;Tips from Cranbourne East Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Introduce yourself to neighbours early &amp;ndash; community is strong here&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Cranbourne East is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/cranbourne-east/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/cranbourne-east/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Cranbourne South 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/cranbourne-south/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/cranbourne-south/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Cranbourne South)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Cranbourne South falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-cranbourne-south"&gt;First Week in Cranbourne South&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Cranbourne South&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/cranbourne-south/medical-guide/"&gt;Cranbourne South medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-cranbourne-south"&gt;Cost of Moving to Cranbourne South&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2264&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2808&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,841+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-cranbourne-south-locals"&gt;Tips from Cranbourne South Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Cranbourne South is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/cranbourne-south/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/cranbourne-south/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Croydon Hills 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/croydon-hills/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/croydon-hills/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Croydon Hills)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Croydon Hills falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-croydon-hills"&gt;First Week in Croydon Hills&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Croydon Hills&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/croydon-hills/medical-guide/"&gt;Croydon Hills medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-croydon-hills"&gt;Cost of Moving to Croydon Hills&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1588&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2508&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$7,177+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-croydon-hills-locals"&gt;Tips from Croydon Hills Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Croydon Hills is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/croydon-hills/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/croydon-hills/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Croydon South 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/croydon-south/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/croydon-south/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Croydon South)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Croydon South falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-croydon-south"&gt;First Week in Croydon South&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Croydon South&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/croydon-south/medical-guide/"&gt;Croydon South medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-croydon-south"&gt;Cost of Moving to Croydon South&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2444&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1646&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$3,702+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-croydon-south-locals"&gt;Tips from Croydon South Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Croydon South is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/croydon-south/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/croydon-south/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Dandenong 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/dandenong/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/dandenong/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Dandenong)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Dandenong falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-dandenong"&gt;First Week in Dandenong&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Dandenong&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/dandenong/medical-guide/"&gt;Dandenong medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-dandenong"&gt;Cost of Moving to Dandenong&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1912&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2678&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,562+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-dandenong-locals"&gt;Tips from Dandenong Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Dandenong is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/dandenong/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/dandenong/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Dandenong North? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/dandenong-north/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/dandenong-north/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Dandenong North)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Dandenong North falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-dandenong-north"&gt;First Week in Dandenong North&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Dandenong North&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/dandenong-north/medical-guide/"&gt;Dandenong North medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-dandenong-north"&gt;Cost of Moving to Dandenong North&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2991&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2450&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$7,223+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-dandenong-north-locals"&gt;Tips from Dandenong North Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Dandenong North is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/dandenong-north/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/dandenong-north/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Deanside 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/deanside/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/deanside/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Deanside)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Deanside falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-deanside"&gt;First Week in Deanside&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Deanside&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/deanside/medical-guide/"&gt;Deanside medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-deanside"&gt;Cost of Moving to Deanside&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1724&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1698&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$3,595+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-deanside-locals"&gt;Tips from Deanside Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Deanside is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/deanside/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/deanside/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Deepdene 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/deepdene/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/deepdene/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Deepdene)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Deepdene falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-deepdene"&gt;First Week in Deepdene&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Deepdene&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/deepdene/medical-guide/"&gt;Deepdene medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-deepdene"&gt;Cost of Moving to Deepdene&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2615&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2081&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,498+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-deepdene-locals"&gt;Tips from Deepdene Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Deepdene is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/deepdene/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/deepdene/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Derrimut? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/derrimut/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/derrimut/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Derrimut)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Derrimut falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-derrimut"&gt;First Week in Derrimut&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Derrimut&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/derrimut/medical-guide/"&gt;Derrimut medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-derrimut"&gt;Cost of Moving to Derrimut&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2628&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2302&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,641+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-derrimut-locals"&gt;Tips from Derrimut Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Derrimut is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/derrimut/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/derrimut/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Diamond Creek 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/diamond-creek/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/diamond-creek/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Diamond Creek)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Diamond Creek falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-diamond-creek"&gt;First Week in Diamond Creek&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Diamond Creek&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/diamond-creek/medical-guide/"&gt;Diamond Creek medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-diamond-creek"&gt;Cost of Moving to Diamond Creek&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2971&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2908&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$4,057+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-diamond-creek-locals"&gt;Tips from Diamond Creek Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Diamond Creek is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/diamond-creek/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/diamond-creek/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Diggers Rest? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/diggers-rest/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/diggers-rest/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Diggers Rest)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Diggers Rest falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-diggers-rest"&gt;First Week in Diggers Rest&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Diggers Rest&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/diggers-rest/medical-guide/"&gt;Diggers Rest medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-diggers-rest"&gt;Cost of Moving to Diggers Rest&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1833&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1686&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$4,960+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-diggers-rest-locals"&gt;Tips from Diggers Rest Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Diggers Rest is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/diggers-rest/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/diggers-rest/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Dingley Village? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/dingley-village/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/dingley-village/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Dingley Village)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Dingley Village falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-dingley-village"&gt;First Week in Dingley Village&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Dingley Village&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/dingley-village/medical-guide/"&gt;Dingley Village medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-dingley-village"&gt;Cost of Moving to Dingley Village&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2800&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1709&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$6,607+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-dingley-village-locals"&gt;Tips from Dingley Village Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Dingley Village is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/dingley-village/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/dingley-village/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Doncaster East? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/doncaster-east/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/doncaster-east/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Doncaster East)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Doncaster East falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-doncaster-east"&gt;First Week in Doncaster East&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Doncaster East&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/doncaster-east/medical-guide/"&gt;Doncaster East medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-doncaster-east"&gt;Cost of Moving to Doncaster East&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2172&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1528&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$3,941+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-doncaster-east-locals"&gt;Tips from Doncaster East Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Doncaster East is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/doncaster-east/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/doncaster-east/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Doncaster? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/doncaster/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/doncaster/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Doncaster)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Doncaster falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-doncaster"&gt;First Week in Doncaster&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Doncaster&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/doncaster/medical-guide/"&gt;Doncaster medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-doncaster"&gt;Cost of Moving to Doncaster&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2652&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2548&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$4,948+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-doncaster-locals"&gt;Tips from Doncaster Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Doncaster is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/doncaster/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/doncaster/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Donnybrook 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/donnybrook/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/donnybrook/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Donnybrook)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Donnybrook falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-donnybrook"&gt;First Week in Donnybrook&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Donnybrook&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/donnybrook/medical-guide/"&gt;Donnybrook medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-donnybrook"&gt;Cost of Moving to Donnybrook&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2185&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1982&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$3,725+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-donnybrook-locals"&gt;Tips from Donnybrook Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Introduce yourself to neighbours early &amp;ndash; community is strong here&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Donnybrook is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/donnybrook/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/donnybrook/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Donvale 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/donvale/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/donvale/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Donvale)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Donvale falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-donvale"&gt;First Week in Donvale&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Donvale&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/donvale/medical-guide/"&gt;Donvale medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-donvale"&gt;Cost of Moving to Donvale&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1696&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1917&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$6,770+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-donvale-locals"&gt;Tips from Donvale Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Donvale is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/donvale/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/donvale/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Doreen? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/doreen/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/doreen/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Doreen)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Doreen falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-doreen"&gt;First Week in Doreen&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Doreen&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/doreen/medical-guide/"&gt;Doreen medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-doreen"&gt;Cost of Moving to Doreen&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2693&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1989&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,144+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-doreen-locals"&gt;Tips from Doreen Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Doreen is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/doreen/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/doreen/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Doveton 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/doveton/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/doveton/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Doveton)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Doveton falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-doveton"&gt;First Week in Doveton&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Doveton&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/doveton/medical-guide/"&gt;Doveton medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-doveton"&gt;Cost of Moving to Doveton&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2859&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2542&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$7,225+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-doveton-locals"&gt;Tips from Doveton Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Doveton is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/doveton/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/doveton/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Dromana? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/dromana/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/dromana/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Dromana)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Dromana falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-dromana"&gt;First Week in Dromana&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Dromana&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/dromana/medical-guide/"&gt;Dromana medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-dromana"&gt;Cost of Moving to Dromana&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2934&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2893&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$6,668+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-dromana-locals"&gt;Tips from Dromana Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Dromana is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/dromana/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/dromana/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to East Melbourne? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/east-melbourne/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/east-melbourne/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service East Melbourne)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; East Melbourne falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-east-melbourne"&gt;First Week in East Melbourne&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in East Melbourne&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/east-melbourne/medical-guide/"&gt;East Melbourne medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-east-melbourne"&gt;Cost of Moving to East Melbourne&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1975&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2936&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$4,940+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-east-melbourne-locals"&gt;Tips from East Melbourne Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what East Melbourne is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/east-melbourne/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/east-melbourne/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Edithvale? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/edithvale/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/edithvale/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Edithvale)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Edithvale falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-edithvale"&gt;First Week in Edithvale&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Edithvale&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/edithvale/medical-guide/"&gt;Edithvale medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-edithvale"&gt;Cost of Moving to Edithvale&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1889&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1745&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$6,089+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-edithvale-locals"&gt;Tips from Edithvale Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Edithvale is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/edithvale/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/edithvale/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Elsternwick 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/elsternwick/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/elsternwick/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Elsternwick)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Elsternwick falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-elsternwick"&gt;First Week in Elsternwick&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Elsternwick&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/elsternwick/medical-guide/"&gt;Elsternwick medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-elsternwick"&gt;Cost of Moving to Elsternwick&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2070&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2263&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$6,187+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-elsternwick-locals"&gt;Tips from Elsternwick Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Elsternwick is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/elsternwick/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/elsternwick/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Eltham 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/eltham/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/eltham/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Eltham)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Eltham falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-eltham"&gt;First Week in Eltham&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Eltham&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/eltham/medical-guide/"&gt;Eltham medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-eltham"&gt;Cost of Moving to Eltham&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1407&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2859&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$3,725+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-eltham-locals"&gt;Tips from Eltham Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Eltham is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/eltham/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/eltham/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Elwood 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/elwood/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/elwood/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Elwood)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Elwood falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; inner-city clinics often have wait lists, register early&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; tight streets and permit parking make professional removalists worth it&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; apply to council at least 48 hours ahead for temporary loading zone&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local police station numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-elwood"&gt;First Week in Elwood&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; essential in {name}, apply via council website ($80-120/year)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Elwood&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Coles/Woolworths within walking distance&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/elwood/medical-guide/"&gt;Elwood medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Local branch likely within walking distance&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Multiple options on the main strip&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-elwood"&gt;Cost of Moving to Elwood&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2829&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1945&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$80-120&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$4,473+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-elwood-locals"&gt;Tips from Elwood Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get the parking permit sorted before anything else &amp;ndash; street parking is brutal&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Explore the back streets for hidden cafes and shops&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Elwood is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/elwood/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/elwood/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Emerald 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/emerald/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/emerald/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Emerald)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Emerald falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-emerald"&gt;First Week in Emerald&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Emerald&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/emerald/medical-guide/"&gt;Emerald medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-emerald"&gt;Cost of Moving to Emerald&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1530&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2840&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$4,553+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-emerald-locals"&gt;Tips from Emerald Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Emerald is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/emerald/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/emerald/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Endeavour Hills 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/endeavour-hills/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/endeavour-hills/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Endeavour Hills)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Endeavour Hills falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-endeavour-hills"&gt;First Week in Endeavour Hills&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Endeavour Hills&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/endeavour-hills/medical-guide/"&gt;Endeavour Hills medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-endeavour-hills"&gt;Cost of Moving to Endeavour Hills&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2889&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1713&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,397+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-endeavour-hills-locals"&gt;Tips from Endeavour Hills Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Endeavour Hills is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/endeavour-hills/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/endeavour-hills/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Epping 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/epping/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/epping/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Epping)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Epping falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-epping"&gt;First Week in Epping&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Epping&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/epping/medical-guide/"&gt;Epping medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-epping"&gt;Cost of Moving to Epping&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1795&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1719&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,045+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-epping-locals"&gt;Tips from Epping Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Epping is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/epping/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/epping/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Essendon 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/essendon/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/essendon/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Essendon)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Essendon falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-essendon"&gt;First Week in Essendon&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Essendon&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/essendon/medical-guide/"&gt;Essendon medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-essendon"&gt;Cost of Moving to Essendon&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1445&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2085&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$7,432+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-essendon-locals"&gt;Tips from Essendon Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Essendon is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/essendon/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/essendon/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Essendon North? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/essendon-north/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/essendon-north/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Essendon North)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Essendon North falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-essendon-north"&gt;First Week in Essendon North&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Essendon North&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/essendon-north/medical-guide/"&gt;Essendon North medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-essendon-north"&gt;Cost of Moving to Essendon North&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1833&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1849&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,704+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-essendon-north-locals"&gt;Tips from Essendon North Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Essendon North is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/essendon-north/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/essendon-north/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Exford? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/exford/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/exford/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Exford)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Exford falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-exford"&gt;First Week in Exford&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Exford&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/exford/medical-guide/"&gt;Exford medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-exford"&gt;Cost of Moving to Exford&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2704&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1979&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$6,282+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-exford-locals"&gt;Tips from Exford Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Exford is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/exford/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/exford/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Eynesbury 2026: The Complete Checklist Before You Go</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/eynesbury/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/eynesbury/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Eynesbury)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Eynesbury falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-eynesbury"&gt;First Week in Eynesbury&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Eynesbury&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/eynesbury/medical-guide/"&gt;Eynesbury medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-eynesbury"&gt;Cost of Moving to Eynesbury&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1617&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2667&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$6,356+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-eynesbury-locals"&gt;Tips from Eynesbury Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Eynesbury is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/eynesbury/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/eynesbury/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item><item><title>Moving to Fairfield? The 2026 Relocation Checklist That Saves Hassle</title><link>https://melbz.com.au/fairfield/moving-checklist/</link><pubDate>Wed, 01 Apr 2026 00:00:00 +0000</pubDate><guid>https://melbz.com.au/fairfield/moving-checklist/</guid><description>&lt;h2 id="before-you-move-2-4-weeks-out"&gt;Before You Move (2-4 Weeks Out)&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Compare energy providers&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; set up electricity and gas for move-in day (AGL, Origin, Energy Australia all service Fairfield)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Book internet installation&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; NBN connections take 5-10 business days. Check available speeds at your new address on nbnco.com.au&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up mail redirection&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Australia Post redirect starts at $37.50 for 1 month&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Notify important contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; bank, employer, Medicare, ATO, Electoral Commission&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Research local council&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; Fairfield falls under the local municipality&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Transfer or get Myki&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; add money before your first commute&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find a local GP&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check nearby clinics are accepting new patients&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="moving-day-essentials"&gt;Moving Day Essentials&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Removalists or DIY&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; most properties have driveway access for truck loading&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Parking permit for truck&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; usually not needed &amp;ndash; driveway access available&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Meter readings&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; photograph gas and electricity meters on arrival&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Condition report&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; if renting, document EVERYTHING with timestamped photos&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Keys and access&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; collect from agent/landlord, test all locks&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Emergency contacts&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; save local SES and council numbers&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="first-week-in-fairfield"&gt;First Week in Fairfield&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ul&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Update your address&lt;/strong&gt; on MyGov, Medicare, bank, and licence (VicRoads online)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Register to vote&lt;/strong&gt; at new address (AEC requires notification within 8 weeks)&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Get a parking permit&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; not usually required &amp;ndash; most properties include parking&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Set up bins&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; check which day is your collection day via council app&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Find your nearest&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; supermarket, pharmacy, medical centre, post office&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;&lt;input disabled="" type="checkbox"&gt; &lt;strong&gt;Test your commute&lt;/strong&gt; &amp;ndash; do a trial run to work at peak time before your first day&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ul&gt;
&lt;h2 id="local-services-to-set-up"&gt;Local Services to Set Up&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Service&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Where in Fairfield&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Supermarket&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Closest Coles/Woolworths within 5-10 min drive&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Post Office&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check auspost.com.au for nearest&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Medical Centre&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;See our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/fairfield/medical-guide/"&gt;Fairfield medical guide&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Library&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check council website for nearest branch&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Gym&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Check local options &amp;ndash; Anytime Fitness or similar&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="cost-of-moving-to-fairfield"&gt;Cost of Moving to Fairfield&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;table&gt;
 &lt;thead&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Item&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;th&gt;Estimated Cost&lt;/th&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/thead&gt;
 &lt;tbody&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Removalists (2-3br)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$500-1,200&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Bond (4 weeks rent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$2100&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;First month rent&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$1496&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Utility connections&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$50-150 in fees&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Internet setup&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-99 (provider dependent)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Parking permit&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;$0-50&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Address changes&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;Free (online)&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;tr&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Total move-in costs&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;td&gt;&lt;strong&gt;$5,053+&lt;/strong&gt;&lt;/td&gt;
 &lt;/tr&gt;
 &lt;/tbody&gt;
&lt;/table&gt;
&lt;h2 id="tips-from-fairfield-locals"&gt;Tips from Fairfield Locals&lt;/h2&gt;
&lt;ol&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Join the local Facebook group for suburb-specific tips and recommendations&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Get familiar with the nearest train station and bus routes&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;li&gt;Download the council&amp;rsquo;s app for bin days, local alerts, and community events&lt;/li&gt;
&lt;/ol&gt;
&lt;p&gt;For a full guide to what Fairfield is like, see our &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/fairfield/honest-guide/"&gt;honest guide&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="https://melbz.com.au/fairfield/cost-of-living/"&gt;cost of living breakdown&lt;/a&gt;.&lt;/p&gt;</description></item></channel></rss>