What about the poisonous snakes, spiders, scorpions etc mixed with pets and kids? Has this been an issue for anyone?

I think this is something that tends to vary quite a lot. In our city apartment (top story of a 3 floor block), we've only ever seen one spider in 7 months - and that was a Huntsman, which are not considered poisonous to humans (classified as mildly toxic). There's an Australian spider identification page here: http://www.termite.com.au/spider-identification.html. As for snakes, we haven't seen any yet but have heard that they can be common in outlying suburbs. Your encounters with such things will clearly depend on which part of Melbourne you are looking at living in. It seems the closer you are to the city the better!

Cal Wilson (a kiwi comedian living in Australia) made a really funny joke last week. She had been reading a big book about all the poisonous animals in Australia. After 4 years living here she finally got bitten ... by a dog.

Melboure should be OK. I have been bitten by Green Ants seen over quite a few people get stung by bluebottles. Oh the huntsman spiders can get HUGE! Oh and dont forget the cockroaches.! Saw one snake this summer near the spit and a couple of people got bitten down near Marina Mirage (Gold Coast). However it was reported that there were snakes in this one localised area. Just be careful where you walk at the beach/sand dunes and avoid sitting on the grass for too long (Green Ants have some firey sting to them - yes they sting not bite). I guess this year sharks have been a bigger worry than anything else. Keep your eyes open and you will be fine...I do miss be able to lie on the grass though :-(
Here on the Gold Coast the water dragons and many geckos keep creepy crawlies in check around the home.

By the way no one really worries abotu white tails spiders here at all, I think we blew that one way out of proportion back home.

Damn forgot that Australia has snakes and stuff. Didnt even cross my mind until now before moving over. Im worried now!

I grew up in Qld (Bundaberg and Brisbane), now living in NZ. Kiwis blow this whole issue way out of proportion. I've seen just as many redback spiders in NZ as is Oz. Even living in the country in Oz, I very rarely saw a poisonous snake, and have never seen any in the city. Only reptiles I've seen in the suburbs (living near creeks/reserves) were harmless lizards and the occasional carpet snake (easily identified and totally harmless to humans), nothing poisonous. Worst thing I'll agree with were the green ants, they really hurt and make it a bit scary to sit on the grass for too long (you learn to look really carefully before choosing where to sit). For the kids, get a couple of childrens picture books about poisonous animals, and they will educate themselves. Just tell them not to touch any bugs unless they're certain they know what they are, and always make a lot of noise if they need to walk through long grass (common sense really). I've never heard of pets dying from poisonous snakes, but have heard of dogs dying after eating cane toads. Animals have instincts though, so generally they should be fine.

With Dogs and I suppose Cats you'll need to get a flea treatment in Aussie that also protects against Ticks - especially Paralysis Ticks. Those nasty things can kill your pets if they are left untreated, but are pretty rare in urban areas. I'm an Aussie who's moved to NZ and I've found most Kiwis on the south island don't even know what ticks are, so heads up!

We are ex kiwis on gold coast and we just get our house sprayed annually for ants, spiders and cockroaches and its fine. Have only seen one dead snake on the road. Green ants are on the grass just be careful where you sit. Living in suburbs is better than living in the country we have had no problems. But need watch the bluebottles in sea - learnt that the hard way.

My sister was freaked out about snakes when she moved to Mackay about 7 years ago. She googled it and watched some amazing videos about snakes hating cats. She got 2 cats, lives in a rural area, and shes never seen a snake near her place.

we have found quite large spiders in our garage. Dont know if they're poisonous.

Lots of cockroaches in apartment.

Have lived in Australia for the past 10 years. Melbourne then country vic (East gippsland) on a small property.
In all that time have seen 1 snake

You do get a few spiders huntsmen etc but nothing to worry about.

Further North you go you tend to get more snakes spiders etc Melbourne is fine :-)

I'll echo the comments on this thread about keeping things in perspective: close to 23m people live in Australia, and deaths from poisonous things probably number less than 10 per annum, if that. Do what's sensible if you see anything poisonous: leave it alone. I chased one snake and loads of spiders in my childhood & teenage years, and not one of them had the slightest interest in turning around and attacking me.

You will probably get stung by an ant at some stage though - the pain only lasts relatively briefly, and there are no long-lasting effects. It's a small price to pay for a great climate.

We are looking at Moving to Melbourne from NZ and I was really ok with that until the kids showed me a picture of a huntsman spider. I get quite a lot of cockroaches in NZ and am ok with them. I know huntsman spiders are not poisonous or dangerous and have heard they are like common house spiders. But they are sooooo big and hairy. I could do snakes anyday, but those spiders look mean. I would completely loose the plot. Are they really overly common? How many do you find in your house?

@Gnome38 - We've had three Hunstman spiders in our house in 4 years, but many other people we've spoken to haven't had any in a similar period of time.

I've been living north of Melbourne in the country for a year now - moved here from NZ - seen three snakes so far, all dead. I'm careful when walking in the field - make lots of noise and don't lift stuff up. Had one huntsman in the house - yes they're big and hairy, but harmless - I still remove them with the vacuum cleaner, I'm not fond of spiders!

We're in Elsternwick, Melbourne, been here 4 months, ex Christchurch, haven't seen anything scarier than dogs...

Cheers

Been here 6 weeks and our cat was very close to dying, from suspected snake bite, very unwell and high hospital fees, strongly recommend animal health insurance

People are funny creatures, they worry about all the critters but the biggest threat sits in the driveway, your vehicle. More people are killed by vehicles in Australia than any critter. Ive moved to Cairns from NZ last November. The critters here are fascinating. I didnt bring my 3 dogs, cat or many birds as the stress and adjusting was a consideration. Most critters dont want to have a confrontation with you and usually retreat. I found a baby huntsman in my apartment, big baby, everyone at work said kill it they bite, I couldnt, he got rehomed outdoors. See snakes up here, esp after the rain but they to be respected and left alone. The dog chasing the snake is a possibility. Up here the pythons and crocs have a bad rap latley for taking little dogs. NZ has the katipo, red backs have now established themselves and the toxic white tail is well established.