Experience: Moving to Melbourne

3 April 2026

Moving to Melbourne was a pivotal point to my development in character. I have grown up and lived in Brisbane my whole life. I am so familiar with driving in the area, the communities and the culture Brisbane has to offer. I feel as if I am starting new in this city.

There were a lot of reasons for me wanting to move out of Brisbane. A big factor that pushed to pull the trigger was that I wasn't happy with where I was in life. The quality of life I made for myself and that was provided to me wasn't what I wanted. I think there's a lot I realised after moving to Melbourne relating to my quality of life.

Melbourne is an attractive city to me because it's culture and lifestyle resonated so much to how I wanted to live my life and how the culture spoke to me. Melbourne is often commented as a strongly diverse culture in fashion, music and niche ways. In comparison to Brisbane, it didn't offer anything like that. There were limiting norms, styles and accessibility to such lifestyle. Whilst one could argue that you can just create that lifestyle there, I felt as if I were to live a Melbourne lifestyle it would go under appreciated as it was outside a Brisbane norm. For example if i dressed in a fashion wizard's style in Brisbane, many would perceive that as unusual. I can see where people would say, don't worry about them or just do you, but I think i have a very strong sense of "closed" mindset in Brisbane. Not to say that I am close minded, but I felt like i was guided by a lot assumptions and norms I have in my mind, whether I made them or whether it was inflicted on to me.

It has now just been a month since I have properly moved to Melbourne! For some reason, it has been the first time in a while where I felt as if this place I sleep and eat at, is my home. I used to live in another apartment back in Brisbane, but I for some reason could never feel it was my proper home. I think a huge aspect of it was because I was just renting. But now renting my studio in Melbourne, I love my little place. I have nested in it, getting used to the little knick knacks and understanding the community. I love the interior of the studio, it's design is ideally what I want in my life and I think it has really helped me feel more at peace. I think something important to me is the environment I surround myself in. So making it feel like me is important. That is something I also couldn't gague in Brisbane as I felt like there were too many identities crises. Now being more put together I can find peace in my home and self.

I find myself pushing myself more and creating healthy habits for me in Melbourne. To be honest everyt ime i step outside I am extremely happy because I find the city so beautiful (even though sometimes it's dirty and unorganised). I think weather plays a huge role in this.

I started making a Melbourne map with all the places i've been to with a little note for me to remember, and it seems like i often travel to brunswick and fitzory. Driving was weird at first, but I am more comfortable with driving in Melbourne. There are a lot of parallel parks everywhere. Exploring the different suburbs is fun and it's architecture draws me in constantly. I've been grabbing iced coffees and walking around the area just to explore the different shops and surrounds.

I haven't been actively trying to make friends or meet people but I'm pretty content with it as I am quite introverted now. Whether I meet new people or not I am happy where I am.

I really look forward to building a life here.