News and Media
31 March 2011
The country charm of Sale
Nestled in the Gippsland Lake Region is the quaint country city of Sale. Popular for its wide open spaces and relaxed way of life, Sale is home to more than 13,000 residents. It has a strong community-based feel and is a great place for Defence families to live.
Defence members in Sale work out of RAAF Base East, and although it is the only Defence establishment in the city, it’s an important part of the Sale community. It provides a substantial amount of employment for civilians and Defence members, and is a hub of activity with plenty of opportunities to join community groups and clubs. A wide range of sporting facilities are also available on-base with a swimming pool, gym, squash, tennis, volleyball, basketball and badminton courts, and a nine-hole golf course. The facilities aren’t all for the grown-ups either; a Youth Group and the Roulette cinema prove a popular choice with the younger family members.
The housing market also benefits from the RAAF Base presence. It’s an affordable market, and consequently, many Defence members have purchased their own homes in the area. Price isn’t the only reason for Defence members buying into Sale though - it’s a great place to raise a family or to settle.
When Defence members and their families move to Sale they usually take up residence in one of the 130 Defence Housing Australia (DHA) managed properties. All DHA houses are located in the town itself and are within 5km of the base and mostly within walking distance to the local shops. DHA houses are all single-storey, free-standing dwellings with a modern brick and rendered brick exterior. The typical layout of the homes is three and four bedroom with separate living and family rooms. Land sizes are generous and they tend to have large garden/backyard areas which are great for the kids to run around in. To help you cope through the notoriously cold winters, DHA houses are also equipped with either natural gas or central heating.
Weather in Sale is not unlike Melbourne really; four seasons in one day can be a regular occurrence. Summers are generally warm with the average maximum temperature around 30 degrees. Towards the end of summer and into autumn it can be quite dry and water restrictions are often imposed on Sale and the surrounding areas.
While Sale is a small place it has a surprising amount of choice when it comes to schooling. It offers a range of State, Catholic and Anglican grammar schools for both primary and high school students. There is also a University in Traralgon - Monash University - an hour drive from Sale. For primary and high school students a Regional Education Officer and a Defence School Transition Aide are available to help the children adapt to their new school environment.
For the little kids, there is a reputable kindergarten available on the base that can be accessed by Defence families and civilians. There are also plenty of opportunities for parents and younger children to get together over a ‘cuppa’ - a playgroup meets once a week at the local Community Centre in town.
If you’re moving to a small town for the first time and are worried about the lack of amenities, you’ll be pleased to know that Sale has all the ‘must haves’ – a major regional hospital, banks, restaurants, supermarkets and a variety of retail shops. There is also a small public transport system that consists of two buses per day that run through the shopping precinct. A train line also runs right past Sale and has three train services a day to Melbourne. With Melbourne just over 200km away, you’ll be there in approximately three hours.
With its country charm and friendly community, Sale’s lifestyle is something that most find surprisingly easy to settle into. As the base has been in the region for almost 70 years it is well entrenched in the community and there is a lot of support and advice on offer to new families.
If you’d like any further advice, please contact DHA on 139 DHA (139 342). Alternatively if you’re already in the area stop by at the Sale Housing Management Centre (HMC); it can be found on Sale’s main street at 99a Raymond Street, Sale VIC.
