A British dad reveals how London’s violent crime scene led to an ‘extraordinary’ new life in Australia

A horrific home invasion in south London is the unlikely trigger for Jim Groves to leave the UK and take a life-changing trip to Australia.

In 2007, Jim, 53, and his wife Sarah were raising their one-year-old twins in London when their home was attacked by attackers.

The painful experience, along with increasing reports of violent crime in their neighborhood, forced the couple to face a shocking truth: it was time to leave.

“We were a bit sick of London,” Mr Groves, then a banker, told the Paper.

An opportunity arose when a former manager, who had already moved to Australia, offered Jim money to work for his investment firm.

What was originally planned as a temporary “year or two” in Sydney quickly turned into a permanent move.

The company paid for the relocation costs and sponsored their visas, making the transition seamless.

Renting an apartment in London costs around £1600 (AUD $3000) per month which is slightly less than doing the same in Sydney at an average of around $3300 per month.

This meant that the relatively cheap cost of living in Australia when it came to food and other necessities saw the Grove family completely broke.

“We arrived just after Christmas, from dark, cold, wet London to the middle of the Australian summer,” recalls Mr Groves, a stark contrast that immediately attracted them.

The global financial crisis hit the following year, prompting Jim to consider returning to the UK.

However, Australia’s recession-related austerity, coupled with being offered a job after his transfer expired, strengthened their decision to stay.

“This problem seemed to be felt in Australia as in other places,” he commented.

They sold their London property, bought a house in Sydney, and committed themselves to their new life, eventually obtaining Australian citizenship.

Fast forward ten years, and Mr Groves, inspired by Australia’s “go-to” attitude and “entrepreneurial environment,” decided to pursue his dream.

In 2016, he founded Rubberdesk, an office search business that has grown globally.

Beyond business success, the Grove family has embraced the quintessential Australian lifestyle.

Mr Groves and his wife, Sarah, enjoying the beach near their home in Sydney

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“Aussie life is outdoors,” he enthuses, explaining how his kids start surfing on Wednesday afternoons during school.

With no language barrier, they bonded quickly, intentionally building a new network of work and social support.

“Hiking and hiking are on our doorstep.

While housing in Australia is “expensive”, Mr Groves finds food and fuel “relatively cheap”, making the cost of living comparable to the UK.

He also praises Australia’s health system, which he describes as “subsidized” and “better” than the NHS.

“I’ve never struggled to get a doctor’s appointment. The focus here is on disease management,” he explained, citing his annual heart health checkup since he turned 50.

Despite the undeniable benefits, the distance from extended family is always a painful trade-off, with expensive annual flights back to England.

However, for Mr Groves, the benefits far outweigh the challenge.