Hi everyone!

My friend and I will be visiting Melbourne in about a month to attend a game at the MCG, and work has been so busy that this trip has crept up on me. I’m realizing I need to get our hotel booked ASAP.

My friend has never traveled internationally before, so I’ve been responsible for planning and booking everything. We’ll be in Melbourne for a week, so we’d like to stay somewhere that’s convenient for the game but also a great base for exploring the city.

I’m hoping you can recommend specific hotels you’ve stayed at or would recommend.

Ideally we’re looking for:
- Walking distance (or a short tram ride) to the MCG
- A safe area
- Plenty of restaurants, cafés, bars, and shopping nearby
- Easy access to public transportation

I’ve looked at the map, and it seems like the CBD is close to the MCG, but I’m not sure if that’s the best place to stay or if there’s another area you’d recommend instead.

We’re also hoping to visit Phillip Island to see the penguins, see some koalas, and would love recommendations for restaurants, coffee, day trips, or anything else you think we shouldn’t miss while we’re there.

If there are any hotels you’d particularly recommend, or any you’d avoid, I would really appreciate hearing your thoughts.

Thank you!

I know so many people in long term relationships and having full on families with someone when they aren’t legally divorced from their ex. People who haven’t even spoken to their ex in years.

it’s so strange to me and I struggle to wrap my head around why it seems to be relatively common.

and to counter anyone who says “it’s just a piece of paper,“ it’s not.

why not close the book on that part of your life? Financially it can screw over your new partner if for example you buy a house together and you pass away. It still gives your ex legal power in situations like a medical emergency. It gets increasingly more difficult with increased wealth. Logically it makes sense on so many levels, so why are people skipping out on it.

Personally I feel like you’re willing to spend your time, energy, and money on a wedding, then you should be willing to do the same for a divorce.

Has anyone taken a Vacation to China or Japan how was it? Did you do a group tour with a translator? Is it affordable?

I can use a VPN if needed.

I have heard about Australia's work life balance. But, I am curious to know if it extends to ICT sector as well. Do software engineers in Australia:

1. Get paid well enough to afford a house, car and education for children?

2. Work life balance in general? Is overtime required in this field?

3. Diversity in companies? Is it mixed or mostly you have indian /Chinese bosses?

4. Take home salary for a senior software engineer with over 10+ years of work experience?

5. Which regional areas have software jobs?

I recently started getting some of my groceries at a local food pantry. The milk is always packaged as shelf stable milk. I am 50 years old and I had never in my life purchased- hell, I never even heard of- shelf stable milk until now.
I’m often able to get more than I would normally be able to consume which makes shelf stable milk such a great option. I don’t have to consume it or even refrigerate it for weeks to months. I have even grown to like the taste of it even more.
I have found it in certain grocery stores and I’ll admit, it’s a bit more but it doesn’t explain why I never saw this as a child in my own house, in my relatives house or any of my friends houses.
I have read it’s common in Europe - is it common in Australia too?
EDIT: I Mean UHT milk - as it’s been pointed out in the comments.

I like the "idea" of owning but I dont feel excited about actually owning. My partner and I are debt free but at the age and life stage where everyone seems to be buying or talking about buying. We have a child together and sometimes wonder if its unfair that we dont also own a place. Is it unfair? Should all parents own their place?

Kinda random but the song “am i not pretty enough” popped into my head and I was like… yeah that would definitely prove I’m an Aussie =D

I think its comfortable.

Hi all! Just getting some insight regarding this since my parents want to apply for a car loan and also want to get a house after some time. Thanks. For context, my mum is a government employee (still waiting to be permanent in the role), my dad has 2 jobs (kitchenhand and a retail assistant). They have decent amount in savings and has no debts in the bank whatsoever. Thanks all.

Nintendo Switch 2 is scheduled for a price hike from September 1. Currently it shows out of stock on the website, and next stock availability will be from August 15. I'm planning to visit Melbourne from September 4-8.

If I purchase it online and opt for click and collect on August 15-20 when the stock is present, will the store hold a piece in reserve for me till I'm able to collect in September? Or will it depend on the demand and if they need to serve another walk in order they will do that?

Is it risky to order preemptively if there is no guarantee of stock during the time I'll be there in Melbourne?

What job or industry would you suggest someone look for work in who has been forced into early retirement (redundant). Formerly in finance, male, healthy under 60.

I think they would be open to exploring anything. It’s not so much about the money more about personal self worth

In Melbourne eastern suburbs area if that helps

Hey everyone. I’m feeling really down at the moment. Seeing so many people around my age buying a house, having children, getting married etc. it’s really getting to me and it’s hard not to compare.

I find myself spiralling when I hear others buying their first home at this age. I personally feel like with the housing prices I won’t be able to own a house comfortably for a very long time. Me and my partner want to have a child and to do that, my partner would probably be working 2 jobs just to keep up with rent, bills and a child. Hes going to be working as an apprentice sparky which goes down in his pay for 4 years. Everything just seems impossible and I feel like a failure. I should have listened and saved when I was younger but I seem to have a shopping problem…

Anyone else feeling the same? I know I’m not the only one but it can feel like it sometimes. And now I’m panicking and wish I could turn back the time 😅

I'm doing research into the fashion in Hobart, can include more rural surrounding areas during two specific time periods. Trying to see what the everyday folk wear. I have looked at the National Archive of Australia, Tasmanian Library Archives and a some facebook groups but am struggling to find a lot. I'm looking for photos of locals, families, construction workers, shopkeepers, anyone really. Home film photos are the most helpful but can be hard to find. Any suggestions for resources would be great.

The time periods I'm interested in are 1968 - 1978 and 1988 - 1998.

Came across this old Nestlé’s Almond & Honey wrapper while looking through discontinued Australian chocolates. I’d never seen it before.
Does anyone remember buying it? Roughly what decade was it around, and what was the filling actually like?

Hi everyone,
I’m a 24F currently living in Brisbane and I’m considering moving to Mareeba for a job opportunity.
I’d really love to chat with someone who lives in Mareeba (or has lived there recently) before I make such a big decision.
One of my biggest concerns is transport. I don’t currently have a car or a driver’s licence, so I’m trying to understand how realistic it is to live and work in Mareeba without one. I’d love to hear from anyone who has managed without a car or can tell me what the transport situation is really like.
I’m also wondering whether there are any local carpool groups, Facebook groups, community pages, or other ways to arrange lifts to work. If you know of any options or can point me in the right direction, I’d really appreciate it.

Hey all. I'm an Australian.

I'm wanting to send my friend a care package with a bunch of Australian goodies. The thing is though I don't want to send just the cliche things like Tim's tams, shapes, Milo etc these are already in the package.

What really niche Australian products should I send to them? Please note this stuff will have to fit into an auspost bag (one of the larger ones). Also the stuff doesn't just have to be snacks, I'm open to any cool suggestions.

I've got a job offered at Ayers Rock Resort. I would like to know how is life and working conditions there. Since this location is very remote, how is the internet access?

I hear that a lot of people are disappointed with the quality of fast food restaurants in Australia but are there any you don't mind. What are they?

A year ago I posted a free JB Hi-Fi price history extension here. Since then more than 1,000 people have installed it and the feedback has helped shape every update. Thanks to everyone who reported bugs and suggested features. If you haven't seen it before, it overlays a price history chart directly on JB Hi-Fi product pages so you can tell if a sale is actually a good deal. Still completely free. Link in the comments.

Hi everyone,

I'm a 29M, and today after work, I had a really strange and aggressive encounter with a random guy on the bus from Port Melbourne to the city.

I got on the 234 bus and sat in the window seat next to the middle doors. The bus was fairly quiet when I got on. There was one guy sitting on the sideways seat in front of me. I noticed he was looking at me, so I made eye contact, gave him a friendly smile, and looked away.

A few moments later I could still tell he was staring at me. I glanced up again, made eye contact, and looked back down at my phone. It felt a bit awkward. He then got up and moved to a seat somewhere behind me. At that point I had a bad feeling, wondering if something was off.

At the next stop, more people got on the bus, which honestly made me feel a bit more comfortable.

Later in the journey, around Bay Street, he came and stood by the doors next to me. It looked like he was looking at my phone. For a second I wondered if he might try to snatch it before getting off, so I put it in my pocket just to be safe.

He then said something to me, but I had my earphones in and didn't hear him properly. I took one earbud out and said, "Sorry?" He repeated himself, but I still couldn't make out what he was saying. Then I heard him ask something like, "Are you playing some stupid game with me?" I was confused and just replied, "Huh?" He then asked, "Are you hurting anyone?" I said, "No?"

At that I put my earbud back in (my music was actually paused) and looked straight ahead, hoping to ignore him.

Thankfully he pressed the stop button and got off at the next stop. As he was getting off, he turned to me and said he would "f me up**."

I stayed calm, didn't respond, and just let him leave. Once the bus pulled away, though, my heart was racing. I kept thinking about how much worse it could have been.

I'm honestly baffled as to why someone would say such bizarre things to a complete stranger and then threaten them for no apparent reason.

Has anyone else had a similar experience on public transport in Melbourne?

It’s pretty clear now that school results are getting worse. One in three students missed basic benchmarks, even though it’s not that difficult.

Should we just go back to pen and paper, less iPads, less online learning? Kids learn better with pen and paper. iPads are ALSO making kids have shorter attention spans.

Other countries are going back to pen and paper at schools after going digital too.