Has anyone ever immigrated to Australia...

[Flabbergasted]

My wife and I are contemplating whether it is possible to open a fitness related business there. Anyone have experience in this?

[SwissTony]

1. Have as look at http://www.immi.gov.au/

The Ozzie government makes you jump hurdles these days. But if you're planning on setting up a business here, they're more likely to look upon you favourably.

So, best of luck.

And greetings from down under.

http://www.immi.gov.au/

[Flabbergasted]

2. Thanks...Do you have any details...?

Any idea of price?

How is Brisbane?

[SwissTony]

3. I don't have any experience in setting up a business.

You should have a chat with someone at the Australian Embassy in your country. They'll be able to give you much more (and concrete) information.

This page will giver you some idea of visa costs etc.

http://www.immi.gov.au/allforms/990i/business-development.htm

$A1 = $US0.80 (if you're from the US)

Are you thinking about heading off to Brissie?

[Flabbergasted]

5. Yeah we thought about it. We need somewhere with a mild winter...

I'm not crazy about hot weather but it seemed like the best way to go.

It's going to depend on a lot of details and everything working out.

[SwissTony]

6. Average maximum temp in Dec/Jan/Feb is 29.

Highest ever was 40.2 which is reasonably low for "worst ever". C of course. (84.2 and 104.4F, respectively). Minimum of about 9C (48.2F) in winter.

Of course, you get used to the high temperatures. Up here in Darwin, people complain when the temperature drops below 25C. The locals walk in the sun, the tourists in the shade.

[Flabbergasted]

7. Oh I see you're way up North. I really struggled to get used to 90 degree weather here in

Portland Oregon.

My wife traveled through Australia years ago. She loved it.

Believe it or not I'm related to this guy...

http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A010449b.htm

His brother Ronald was a botanist and named some of the plants on Tasmania.

"In 1842 Gunn wrote Observations on the Flora of Geelong, and began a seven-year editorship of the Tasmanian Journal of Natural Science in which many of his articles appeared. He also contributed to the London Journal of Botany. In 1862 he helped to compile Charles Walch's Almanack, and wrote the section on zoology in West's The History of Tasmania (Launceston, 1852). William Harvey dedicated the fifth volume of Phycologia Australica (London, 1863) to Gunn for his collections of Tasmanian algae."

http://adbonline.anu.edu.au/biogs/A010448b.htm

the Gunn family goes all the way back to the Gunn Clan who were vikings in Scotland.

[SwissTony]

4. Edited to remove double post n/t