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In 2007 the Weekly Times ran a feature on Talbot's revival, asking "What is it about this little town, perched on the edge of hard old gold country, that pulls savvy business types and human curios from cities"?
To find out, in early 2009 we ran a survey inviting everyone who'd moved to the area to tell us their reasons for moving and advice for others contemplating the same move. Below we share the results.
If you're thinking of making a "tree change", please do consider Talbot - there are all kinds of properties available, and we'd love to have you join us.
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Why did you move here?
Peace and quiet, affordable property, an escape from the rat race - but not *too* far removed from urban centres... These are all reasons people come to Talbot:
We moved to Talbot for the peace and quiet, the
community, and because it was cheap to purchase property. And only
150kms to a capital city!
Got sick of living in the Big Smoke -- too noisy, too
smelly, too crowded, too many people -- just wanted some peace and
quiet, fresh air and tranquility
I saw an ad in the paper of a small farm which looked
perfect. I hoped we would be able to grow our own vegetables, have
clean air, peace and quiet and a healthy life style
I liked the feel of Talbot, its proximity to a larger
centre (Maryborough) and also not that far from Ballarat
The ability to grow my own vegetables, and become part
of a caring community that is rebuilding itself
Living in the country and not in a 'cement city' - the
slower, peaceful lifestyle, open spaces and the central positioning
We moved here as a tree change and for retirement and
to be near family, in a well serviced rural environment
We moved to run a vineyard
We were drawn by the return of long forgotten
nationalism and a return to long lost family roots
We loved the thought of living in a rural area. The
peace and tranquility was our attraction
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What do you like about living here?
On the whole, life in Talbot has lived up to people's expectations, with local community support and friendliness singled out for praise by almost everyone:
You can see a sky full of stars, hear all the
different birds at dawn, and kangaroos hopping through the paddocks. We
take bush walks and push bikes on all the tracks that run through the
dense gum forests. The lifestyle is great, and your neighbours are
always friendly and helpful. Everyone sticks together
I didn't know there was so much to do, learn and
experience here, I had thought it would be too quiet sometimes. I
really like how the local communities support each other
The people are friendly and helpful and it is just a
very laid back place to be
Although newcomers we felt very welcome in the
community
I just love where I'm living and have got to know a
few people in Talbot, meeting up with them fairly regularly, even
though I work full-time out of the area. I have been able to join a
couple of community groups with similar interests to my own
Having a smaller kinder/school within walking distance
was a bonus for our younger boys, and the fantastic sporting
facilities - all within close proximity
We didn't have much money, so bought a block of land
and built our own house from mudbricks and secondhand materials. A lot
of work, but the satisfaction of 'doing it yourself' is just enormous.
Now we sit on the warm autumn nights (roll on winter and warm autumn
nights!) out on the verandah, watching the sun set over the distant
hills, wine glass in hand and say to each other, "I wonder what the
poor people in Melbourne are doing tonight?" Life doesn't get much
better than this
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Is there anything you don't like or wish you'd known before you moved here?
Of course, nowhere is perfect, and it's better to know about any potential downsides before you take the plunge. So, we also asked people if there was anything they didn't like about life in Talbot, or wished they'd known before they came.
Some were surprised by the weather:
Unfortunately the length of the drought has surprised
us
The summers are very hot and the winters are very cold
Some have been disappointed by 'small town politics':
The occasional pettiness of a small community was no
surprise, but is still sometimes frustrating and bothersome
Don't particularly like the 'factions' in town. There
is a place for all sides of arguments, but some seem to make it all
into a big fight and I don't like that
I was surprised by the number of organisations that,
although all working for the same goal (to make Talbot a better place),
seem to be against each other!
Some found themselves faced with unexpected practical hurdles:
I wish I had learnt more about farming. When I arrived
I thought that grass was green stuff that looked pretty with black and
white cows standing on it. It is a steep learning curve
We had a bad experience when we first got here, when
the jobs we had organised before we came disappeared and there were no
jobs to be had in the area. We found we couldn't go onto Social
Security benefits for 3 months, because we had come from an area of
high employment (Melbourne) to an area of low employment. That was a
testing time, but we got through it ok
The lack of access to public transportation is a
problem - the children, especially the older children, are stranded if
their parents/friends are busy
If you are thinking of building in the centre of
Talbot you may not be able to because there is no sewerage, and the
lack of water can be a problem
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What advice would you give others considering moving here?
Finally, we asked people for their advice to others contemplating making a move to Talbot:
Come spend some time in each of the seasons, meet and
mix and consider before say a purchase of property
Like moving anywhere - visit first. Read the local
newspapers - Maryborough Advertiser and TTT newsletter to get a feel
for what goes on. Talk to locals in the cafe - they are always very
friendly!
Tiny towns such as Talbot rely almost exclusively on
volunteers - so be prepared to chip in and help
Be prepared to be isolated - although it can be a
plus, depending on your work
Do your homework. Have enough money to live on if you
can't get work right away
If you are building, make sure you have the oomph to
do it and finish it!
Look around, ask questions, try a few things in Talbot
and the surrounding communities. There will be something you will enjoy
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Talbot is a small and growing town with a big heart. Newcomers are warmly welcomed - we'd love to have you join us and be a part of Talbot's rebirth.
If you think Talbot might be the place for you, please do come and visit, have a chat with people in the cafe or pub... We're generally a friendly bunch and would be happy to help answer your questions. Alternatively, you can email visitingtalbot@googlemail.com and we'll do what we can to advise.
NOTE: If you've already moved to Talbot or the surrounding area but haven't yet shared your thoughts, it's not too late! Please fill in our anonymous survey (click here) and we will add in the next update. Many thanks to everyone who has participated so far.
This page was last updated on 22 March 2009
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