Hobbs Family Wanted Down Under

You've spent your life believing you should be living on the other side

of the world, in a country you've never even visited.

But when push came to shove, could you actually go ahead with the move,

especially when it meant potential heartbreak?

George Hobbs believes his destiny lies Down Under.

I am, at heart, an Australian person.

Although I've never been there,

I feel like I would be a happier person there.

But when some aspects of a trial week disappoint...

-This house would be a reason not to come.

-It would.

..and his wife can't bear to leave loves ones behind...

It would be really hard to leave my mum. Really, really hard.

..will George's lifelong dream be gone for good?

I'm just been pulled in two directions and, in the end,

we have to make a decision.

With one of the lowest population densities in the world,

it's no surprise so many Brits flock to Australia's

spacious shores every year, in search of a better life.

Today, the country has over one million UK-born residents,

but the move doesn't work for everyone and, each year,

11,000 people make the journey back home to Britain.

Ancestral ties to Australia

have given George Hobbs a yearning to uproot his family

and start a new life with them on the other side of the world.

Achieving his wish to visit the country, at long last,

he'll now have just one week to convince his young children

and wife, it's where their future lies.

The journey to Perth has taken the Hobbs almost 10,000 miles from home

and 18 hours in the air hasn't been a pleasant experience.

-The journey was horrible.

-I hated the journey.

We were determined to get here and say, "Yeah, no, we feel great."

Although we look all right, we're absolutely shattered and, yes,

it is a long, long way.

George can't believe his feet are finally on Australian soil.

This is a lifetime's ambition, to see Australia for the first time.

Fantastic to be here.

But the coming week will be no holiday

and wife Paula's already feeling the pressure.

Thinking about it as a permanent thing is...

incredibly scary. Really scary.

George knows just what's at stake in the week ahead.

We have to make a decision about whether we're going to make the move

out here, so, it's serious stuff.

A lifetime of dreaming hangs in the balance, as the family set out

on a week of discovery which could change their lives forever.

Meet the Hobbs...

Dad George, mum Paula, Paula's son, Jack, who's 14,

Eddie, aged nine, and Evie, who's six.

Life's good in the UK, with a beautiful home, secure job

and loving family, but George wants to give it all up

for a new life Down Under.

I've had this dream of going to Australia for at least 40 years.

-Really, ever since I can remember.

-It's really inside him.

He really... It is something that he really feels like he belongs there.

Part of his heart is in Australia.

George's fascination with Australia is inspired by

his great-grandfather, Sir Joseph John Talbot Hobbs.

He moved to Australia in 1887, when he was just 23.

The young Brit went on to design

many of Perth's most important buildings

and, on the outbreak of World War I, was given command

of the artillery of a division of the Australian Army.

That's Edward VIII, presenting some medals.

My great-grandfather's in the background there.

At the end of the war, that's the command of the division,

my great-grandfather in the middle

and Edward VIII right next to him.

A triumphant war campaign saw George's great-grandfather

highly decorated and George

is incredibly proud of his achievements.

These two and these two are his knighthoods.

These are the British medals and, then, there's two

Croix de Guerre with palms,

which the French gave him, because most of his success was in France.

On the hero's return to Perth, a statue was erected in his honour,

one George has only ever seen in a photograph.

And on the statue, he's got his medals on him.

I've always, always wanted to go, to connect up with this history.

George has been captivated by his Australian heritage for decades,

but he's the only one of his six siblings never to have visited.

I was going to go at the end of university, for sure. And then...

..I didn't do that.

And then, jobs and children came along

and I've still not managed to do it.

Both George and Paula have children from previous marriages

and, to date, time's never been right to explore a move.

I had Jack, he had John and Mads,

and then Eddie and Evie came along with us.

So, it just didn't seem that it would ever be possible for us,

with our family dynamics.

With his two older children at university,

George believes now is the time to not only visit,

but uproot and move his family Down Under for good.

Yeah, we have a great lifestyle here and we don't want to lose that,

we don't want the children to lose what they've got.

We want them to gain from going to Australia. We're in a good place,

but we could be in a better place

and I think Australia would allow us to achieve that.

Paula is all too aware of how much passion

George holds for the country.

I, kind of, feel, as his wife, it something in his heart,

since I've known him. And I feel like it's important

to support him in that. At least try, give it a go.

But a move for her would mean potential heartache.

Following her husband's dream would mean abandoning the close

-relationship she has with her mum.

-My mum and I are very, very close.

I'm her only daughter. I've got three brothers.

She gave us a great life, we've all done really well.

Now she's old, I feel it's time for me to look after her.

Yeah.

It would be really hard to leave my mum. Really, really hard.

Definitely.

The whole family's future depends on the upcoming week on the other

side of the world,

and if Australia can live up to the paradise built up

in George's mind over decades of dreaming.

It's a long, long dream and what's riding on the week is finding out

whether that actually is just a pipe dream.

He's got such high expectations

of going out to Australia. This is what he thinks

he's been waiting for all his life. On the one hand, I want to support

his dream. On the other hand, I feel like I would be letting down

-the people I love most in the UK.

-It's make or break time for George.

The next few days will either see his family following

in the footsteps made by his great-grandfather over 120 years ago

or stay put in the UK for ever.

I think the chance to go now has got to be grabbed.

And it's a last chance, because if we don't do it,

this little window of opportunity that we've have got,

then, we never will.

The family will be spending their trial week in Perth,

but one person's been left behind.

Paula's son, Jack, has had to stay at home,

to study for his upcoming GCSEs.

The final leg of the rest of the family's journey brings them

to Mount Lawley, a sought-after

suburb on the city centre's outskirts.

This three-bedroom, two-bathroom property

will be their base for the week.

-Will it come up to scratch?

-I was hoping for something...

-..a lot bigger.

-Maybe not.

-It's a bit gloomy.

-Dark.

-It is an "Oh, dear," I'm afraid.

-It's small.

It's far from the start George was hoping for.

-This house would be a reason not to come.

-It would.

-If it was all we could afford.

-Yeah.

Although it hasn't been the best introduction to Australia,

George's spirits are not dampened.

I'm really dead keen to come,

so what I need to find out is, is that realistic?

Is what I imagine life's going to be like here, actually what it's

going to be like?

But the whole family's aware of the dilemma Paula will face

-at the end of the week.

-My mum needs convincing.

-A little bit.

Yeah, just a little. She doesn't want to leave her mum.

On the plane, I was thinking of my mum. The distance really hit home.

Is this place going to offer me enough to leave what I've got,

which is great? What I've got at home is great. Brilliant.

And I think I've realised that even more over the last few weeks,

thinking about coming on this trip.

After years of longing, George is finally in the city

his relative helped build and he's determined to make work.

I'm really going to try this week to put my excited head away

and really look at it in a practical way, to really help us

make a final decision.

Back in the UK, the Hobbs live in a six-bedroom detached

farmhouse, just outside Lancaster.

A lot of people might look at us and think,

"You've got a great life! Why would you want to

"go and live anywhere else?"

And we'd agree with that, up to a point.

-If there wasn't a better option, we'd be staying here.

-Yeah.

The couple would have a healthy budget of £700,000, to find

themselves a home in Australia,

and they know exactly what they're looking for.

Something which is really spacious, really open plan.

-Goes out to a lovely pool.

-Big enough for us and our other children.

There's going to be a lot of boxes to tick, but we won't go

unless we find what we're looking for.

Finding the perfect family home in Australia could help

get Paula on board.

To give the family an idea of what's available on the Perth

property market, we've arranged for them to view three properties.

Two close to their budget and a third which should be everything

they're looking for in a dream home.

The search begins in Alfred Cove, six miles south of Perth.

Nestled on the banks of the Swan River,

it is a well-established community, with plenty of good schools

and excellent transport links to the city centre.

This five-bedroom, two-bathroom family house should have

all the space the Hobbs are looking for.

Hopefully, it'll impress more than their accommodation.

Right, guys, here we go.

-Lovely!

-It's a lovely hallway, isn't it?

-Shall we have a look in here?

-It's a bedroom.

-This is a lovely, lovely room, isn't it?

This is what I would expect of a bedroom

with an en-suite in Australia. This is probably bang on.

It's a good start.

-Oh, now, another bedroom.

-This is a sweet room.

It that the side of somebody else's house there, though? It is, isn't it?

That is slightly weird.

Neighbours may be just too close for comfort downstairs,

but the view upstairs has more appeal.

I think, looking at it from here, it's so quiet, with the tree line.

Mum and I could set up here,

watching you playing out the front on your bikes.

George is already visualising this house as a home

and everyone else seems impressed, too.

Oh, my goodness, this is beautiful.

I love it.

I could definitely see us here. Could you? Could you, George?

-Definitely see us here.

-Yeah.

It's a thumbs-up inside and outdoors also holds some Aussie appeal.

-Built-in barbecue.

-Wow, look at this. This is what I'm talking about.

-And pool. It's got everything we want.

-It absolutely beautiful.

-It's fantastic.

-This outside area is small, but perfectly formed.

-Yeah.

-It's just spot on.

-Yeah.

This property's gone down swimmingly well with everyone, but is it

somewhere the family could afford, given their £700,000 budget?

-I think it's going to be over 700.

-Do you?

I think somewhere between 650 and 700, think. Right, are we ready?

-Big moment.

-This is the moment. Are you going to do it, Eddie?

-Are you going to turn it over?

-Eldest's turn.

-Ready?

-Come on, come on.

That's £19,000 over budget.

-That sounds a lot in dollars or pounds, doesn't it?

-OK.

-Phew!

That is stretching the budget, definitely.

But could it be worth finding the extra funds?

I think we could do that,

but we, kind of, don't want to be coming here and...

..having a lot of stress in our life,

because we've got a huge mortgage again.

So, we'd have to think about it.

-It certainly doesn't kill the dream, though.

-No.

-Definitely not.

This house may have impressed,

but affording it could put some pressure on the family's finances.

Will home number two be the perfect fit for the Hobbs'

plans and wallet?

It's in White Gum Valley, 12 miles from Perth, but close to the lively

city of Fremantle, with its bustling streets and cafe strip culture.

Will this four-bedroom property sound the right note?

HE CLANGS THE BELL

Do you think we can go in?

-Right, here we go. What's this room, then? Ah! This is a bedroom.

-Gosh.

-This is big.

-I'm not keen on the fact that they have the bedrooms

at the front of the house.

It's right on the street, it feels like, which is

a bit strange for a bedroom.

It is a typical feature of Australian homes, though.

-This house has a stunning open-plan living area.

-Gosh.

-Oh, my gosh!

-This is different.

-This is rustic, this is definitely rustic.

-Mmm.

I actually think it's a really cool house, really cool.

But I don't know whether I could see me living here.

Can imagine those windows getting absolutely filthy.

-Imagine trying to clean those.

-And the windows aren't the only issue.

It's got no pool,

which isn't a massive deal for me...

It is for me.

It's a lot less beautiful and perfect than the other place.

But downstairs lies a more appealing feature.

-Oh, my gosh!

-Barrel!

It is a wine room. That would be perfect for us.

This could be a great room for the kids, as, you know, a teenage den.

-It would be fab.

-Finally, something positive,

but upstairs...

-Oh!

-Not necessarily this one.

-This is our bedroom.

-Oh, right, OK.

The master bedroom's not quite what they were expecting.

This has taken a definite dive.

I wouldn't particularly like to have my bedroom open to

-the living room and the kitchen.

-No. I think this is a deal breaker,

-as they say.

-We're together in not being keen on this.

This house probably isn't going to be the one to persuade Paula

to make the move, but if it falls within their £700,000 budget,

-could the price change her mind?

-I'm thinking 650.

I'm thinking 650, too, yeah.

Shall we do a drum roll?

Are you ready?

It may be £34,000 under budget,

but the family feel it's overpriced.

Here, we've got not enough bedrooms, less bedrooms, no pool

and yet, it's still quite expensive. Slightly worrying, so far.

With property two a disappointment, there's just one more home to view.

Next up is what we believe should be the ideal family home for the Hobbs.

It's in Warnbro, a quiet coastal suburb 30 miles south of Perth.

Flanked by beautiful beaches, the area has a nearby nature reserve,

perfectly suited to outdoor activities.

-So it could be the perfect spot for the family.

-Oh, crikey!

Look what I can see over there. Just go on your tippy-toes.

-I think it's going to be expensive.

-I think it is.

-Yeah.

-Gosh.

-Wow!

-My goodness.

That's not a disappointing start.

-This is what I would want.

-This is beautiful. Really, really nice.

This five-bedroom house has the wow factor,

but George is already worried it will also have a price to match.

A fantastic place, right next to the beach. It's going to be expensive.

And it's even got a pool and it's still right next to the beach.

Which is the double whammy, isn't it?

You don't normally get both, do you, eh?

The larder's got Paula in a spin.

I get excited about places I can put all my food.

-And the kitchen impresses, too.

-Wow, look at this kitchen.

No, it is, it's beautiful. It's lovely, it's absolutely gorgeous.

I think this could be a boy's room in here.

-This would be Eddie's room.

-This could be Eddie's room.

Eddie, look at the view from Eddie's room.

Eddie's got a room with a perfect view.

It would be really, really good. Like, open the door.

This is like a holiday villa that we would go to in Portugal

-or somewhere.

-Well, nicer.

-We'd actually be living in it.

To actually be living in it, yeah.

And it's not in Portugal, it's in Australia, which is far better.

So far, this architect-designed house is living up

to expectations of a dream home.

And outside doesn't disappoint, either.

Oh-ho! Look at this.

This is beautiful. Aw!

You feel like you're in paradise, really.

This is really, really beautiful. You do feel that you're in paradise.

The house has been deliberately positioned in dunes, to shelter

the outdoors from any sea breeze in the summer.

-Oh, Frankie, look at that.

-You can imagine just diving in there.

Look at the back of the house. It's absolutely beautiful, isn't it?

Yeah, never mind millions of dollars, it must be

-well over a million pounds.

-Well over a million pounds.

Upstairs continues to impress.

Ah! Look at that view!

Whoa!

This is just gorgeous. Listen to that. Look at that.

I thought it was about one million, now I'm thinking more like two.

-Two million.

-With that view.

This house could definitely be worth making the move for.

-This is it.

-This is it. This is... Yeah.

This is the style of living that we would absolutely aspire to.

It's fabulous.

But will their £700,000 budget be enough to cover the cost?

This is just out of this world.

And it is, more or less, perfect for us,

but it's also going to be way over our budget.

-Because that is what we've dreamed of.

-Yeah.

So... This is really quite exciting. Evie, turn it over.

-Oh, my...

-£846,000.

What?!

It may be £146,000 over budget,

but it's still a lot less than everyone was expecting.

I am gobsmacked, because that is unbelievable, for a house like this.

-You almost think we could do that.

-Yeah, you do.

Oh, I definitely, definitely, seriously would consider going back

to work, if we could afford a house like this.

In a place like this, which, actually, we probably could...

Their day exploring the Perth property market has been a real

eye-opener for George and Paula. Property number one

proved a hit, indoors and out, but was just slightly over budget.

House number two had plenty of character, but too many windows

and a bedroom too open plan.

House number three was a showstopper and, though it had a price to match,

Paula felt it could be somewhere worth working for.

So, when it comes to properties,

will the family vote for Australia or the UK?

We've looked at three very different houses and it's now time for us

to vote.

ALL: Australia!

-Why did you vote for Australia?

-Because I like it.

After that last house, I'm not surprised that we voted Australia.

It is attainable, what we want. We've realised that today.

We've still got some big steps to make,

but property wise, definitely...boxes ticked.

There may be big steps yet to make, but a full house of votes

for Aus is definitely one in the right direction for George.

George has been dreaming of a life in Australia for over 40 years.

But to turn it into a reality,

it's crucial the right job prospects exist.

Back in the UK, he's been a GP for the past 20 years.

I love my job.

I know all my patients very well. A lot of them are friends

and that bit of it's great.

But the admin side of the job means George hasn't as much time

for his patients as he'd like.

I am always pressed for time in the UK,

because of the pressure of the job.

The job in Australia has got to be right. It needs the right salary.

Most importantly, of all,

it needs to fit into the life that we're hoping to lead out there.

To find out if that's possible in Australia,

he's spending the day at Floreat Medical Practice in Perth,

where he's met by Dr Rosanna Capolingua.

Welcome to Floreat Medical. Nice to see you here.

-Shall we show you around?

-Yeah, please.

OK, we actually have an on-site pathology collection centre, as well.

If I have an urgent specimen, it can be taken straight away,

gets sent off straight away and I can have results within a few hours.

-It's very efficient.

-Well, that's a lot better than England, yeah.

George is impressed and is keen to find out more.

-As I understand it, this is your practice.

-It is.

-The buck stops with me. The bottom line stops with me.

-Yeah.

One of the things I'm looking to move away from is having

all that responsibility of running the practice alone.

In that case, you can come and work for me and I'd have

all the responsibility,

and all you'd need to do is look after patients.

And my role is to make sure that you have an environment

that you can look after patients the very best can.

How long do you get to see each patient?

Each doctor can do whatever they feel they need to do for the patient

-and for the patient's needs.

-Sounds absolutely ideal for me.

George would ideally reduce his working hours Down Under,

but needs to know if that's a possibility.

So, if I say that I'm looking to work 30 hours...

My two major income earners here would work about 30 hours a week

and they would take home 340,000-350,000 a year.

Easily.

Right.

Which is about £200,000, which is more than double

what I earn in England, working 40 hours a week, so...

-That's OK.

-And in this beautiful environment.

-Yeah.

And with a beautiful-sounding job as well,

where you can actually DO the job.

And they don't have to do the administration. No red tape.

-That's very interesting, thank you.

-My pleasure.

'It's a fantastic result for George.'

Still thinking of their dream home,

Paula's now considering a return to work, if a move went ahead.

With me working and adding to the family income, I think that

would go a long way towards helping us get house that we really love.

Back in the UK, she worked as a nurse

before the children came along.

So we've arranged for her to meet with Louise McInnis,

a fellow practise nurse, to find out what

the job would entail Down Under.

Most practice nurses here work part-time.

It's really good for a family, because you don't have to do

shift work, you don't have to do night shifts, that sort of thing.

That's the kind of thing I was doing back in the UK.

It would give me time to spend with the children.

Paula's keen to know if her specialist skills

would stand her in good stead in Australia.

Since my speciality...

I've done training diabetes and I also did a course in sexual health.

I think, obviously, if you've got those skills in those areas,

that would be really beneficial to getting a job and you'd be

a more attractive nurse for us, because you'd be able to run

clinics and things like that.

That's a real plus for me, so, yeah, thanks for that, that's great.

Just one more question left.

What is the current salary for a practice nurse?

Probably around 55,000, you'd start on,

which is probably around £33,000.

And then, it would go up from there, with experience.

That's absolutely brilliant.

That's quite a lot more than a senior nurse would be on in the UK.

That's really great news.

'It's been an encouraging visit for Paula,

'but she's completely staggered when she hears George's news.'

-For 30 hours?

-For 30 hours.

-£200,000 for 30 hours?

-Yep.

That is so much more than I thought.

That is double, and more, what I'm earning now.

-What you're earning now with...

-For less work.

-For less work, less stress.

-And better work.

-Crikey.

You must have nearly fallen on the floor when you heard that.

I didn't fall on the floor, no. But I nearly did!

-And I was definitely very surprised.

-Right, right. Hey!

Give me a high-five.

It looks like the outcome of this vote's already clear.

Australia.

No surprises there, then. Given the salaries.

-I'm not surprised. How could you do anything else? Yeah.

-So that is...

..that's a real nail in the coffin of the UK today.

Because the job and the salary

and the whole work/life balance for both of us.

-For both of us, yeah.

-No questions asked.

-No, brilliant.

Paula's second vote for Australia is another massive boost

for George's dream.

But, there's still work to be done

if he is to convince her to move halfway around the world.

Could a day out experiencing some of what Perth's got to offer

bring his vision of the family's future one step closer?

Their day starts with a visit to Cohunu Koala Park, where the

-family get up close to some native wildlife.

-Is that lovely, Eddie?

-Does it feel really lovely, holding it?

-It's like a sheep.

I think she's so cute. She is so soft and fuzzy.

It's a dream come true for George.

These are my favourite animals in Australia. There they are.

Look at them. They're like a big hedgehog.

-They are cute, actually, aren't they? Look at their noses.

-They are fab.

Keen to explore George's great-grandfather's

legacy on the city,

the family make their way to the State War Memorial,

designed by Sir Joseph John Talbot Hobbs himself.

For George, it's a proud moment.

This was put up for the First World War remembrance, Eddie.

It's amazing, isn't it?

This is to remind the people of Perth about all the people

who went and didn't come back.

And, at long last, George comes face-to-face

with the statue of his great-grandfather.

There is the sword, there's the medals.

There he is. It's absolutely vast, isn't it?

It's a day he thought would never come...

Ever since I was a little boy, I've dreamt of coming here

and I've dreamt of standing in front of his statue

and here I am, which is...

It's been a long time coming. Too long.

..and he's overcome by the occasion.

I am...

I'm feeling emotional.

This is your history, right in front of you.

Your great-great-grandfather up there

was a big part of Perth's early history.

The day has been a reminder of why George feels

Australia should be his home.

I think having seen the memorial and knowing that he designed that,

I feel very proud.

And a sense of belonging as well

because it's part of my family's heritage and it's also

part of Perth's heritage and the two are intertwined.

Exploring the city has also had a positive effect on Paula...

It's amazing here. It's beautiful. Would be a fantastic place to live.

..but she can't help thinking of who she has left behind in the UK.

It's such a long way from home and to leave everything that

I have known at home to come over here...

And there are many good reasons to do that.

It will be a very difficult decision. Really difficult.

George knows he's still got a battle to fight.

I think the task of convincing Paula is going really well,

but there are still a couple of really big hurdles.

Based on lifestyle, though, will the family vault home or away?

After a quality day with the animals and seeing

my great-great-grandfather's statue, it's now time to vote.

ALL: Australia!

I voted Australia because you couldn't see

-koalas and kangaroos in England.

-No, you couldn't.

-You couldn't see any of those animals.

-And you couldn't feed them.

It's been a fun day and a really emotional day at the same time.

To see George in front of his great-grandfather's

statue like that, it was such an important moment.

It's great. I'm really happy for him.

It's been a landmark day for George

and a future in Australia could be shaping up to be a certainty.

But achieving the perfect life Down Under will come at a cost.

So getting the right price for the family home in the UK will be key.

George and Paula think it's worth £650,000.

Will two local estate agents agree?

The setting is beautiful.

There are trees, lots of space.

A great place to have chickens.

The chickens are on!

Very, very nice.

Very nice, very welcoming entrance hallway. Beautiful floor.

Very good first impression.

Smart. A very cosy sitting room. Beautiful place. Road noise.

You can definitely hear the road from this room,

obviously being on the external wall there.

But other than that, a great space.

He's mentioned the road.

Lovely kitchen. Some interesting features up there.

Lovely. I would have thought that fireplace was original.

Doesn't the house look nice?

-Hooray!.

-Who is that?!

A little lad's bedroom.

-Hey!

-Brilliant. Again, good size.

All the rooms in the property seem to be a good size.

Original fireplace and nice big, wide floorboards. Charming stuff.

Interesting toilet seat! A lovely big bath though.

You would never get me out of there!

OK. Obviously, the smallest bedroom, but by modern standards...

It is the smallest.

..most people would be quite happy with this.

It still has nice features. The original beams. No, very smart room.

-Does that make you pang for home?

-Does it?

Does it make you want to go back? No.

So, master bedroom.

Very nice. A very charming room. Very nice place.

The front garden is beautiful. Very well stocked.

Obviously, well looked after by the owners.

The summer house is a beautiful feature. Yes, it works a treat.

This is a beautiful five bedroom farmhouse in a wonderful location.

In the current market,

I would recommend an asking price of £575,000.

For a quick sale, £550,000.

All right, so it's a beautiful farmhouse in a lovely area.

In the current market,

I would advertise this property for £600,000.

If the family were looking for a quick sale,

I would recommend £575,000.

The valuations are around £50,000 lower than expected, but...

I think, given the news we got about salaries the other day,

it's less bad news than it would have been.

-We will probably end up selling it for 575.

-I think we will.

Unless somebody comes and loves it because of the quirkiness of it,

we may get a bit more for it.

But we'll see. I am not selling it for nothing.

Now it's time to tackle the cost of everyday living.

I think it's going to be a lot more expensive to live here

than in England, but we'll see.

-Shall we see?

-We might as well.

-OK.

We've provided a comparison of living costs

in Australia and the UK.

First up is the weekly supermarket shop.

What's that? Chicken.

-Chicken.

-And ham. Much, much cheaper.

-Much cheaper.

-Much cheaper.

A huge difference there. Avocados. Double the price.

-Yes, I noticed they were expensive in the shop the other day.

-£28.18.

That's the difference. More expensive here by £28.

An extra £28 a week on food won't break the bank,

but what about the family's bigger outgoings, such as a mortgage?

Basing their figures on the dream property they saw...

-4,210.

-That mortgage figure is huge.

It's more than double what we pay now.

It's an enormous increase.

So on a monthly basis,

how much more would the couple be spending in Australia?

It's 2,456.72.

-But that is for that fab house.

-That's for the fab house.

It's a massive amount of money

but George could earn twice as much in Australia

and with Paula also working full-time,

could their potential earning power Down Under turn things around?'

£51,231 and 36 pennies

a year better off in Australia.

-After tax.

-After tax. Dear me.

That's amazing, isn't it? It's very tempting, isn't it?

-Look at you.

-It's hard to resist, is that.

-Never mind tempting.

-It certainly is.

That's got to be a record.

-That is a life-changing...

-It is.

..difference.

If our family saw that, who could resist that?

-That's one big reason to come.

-Who could resist that?

It's all too good to be true,

the goodness that is coming out of Australia, isn't it, really?

-It is but it isn't because it is true.

-Yes.

And these figures are fab.

No prizes for guessing how this vote turns out.

It's time to vote.

BOTH: Australia.

I think that's getting to be a bit of a habit, isn't it?

We couldn't have voted any other way, could we?

We would have been carted off if we had voted for England, I think!

-Based on money.

-It's great news.

-It's definite Australia.

With Paula's fourth vote for Australia, George's lifelong

dream could be within grasp.

But a move across the world would mean breaking close bonds

with loved ones in the UK.

And for Paula, the prospect of saying goodbye to her mum

could prove too much to bear.

We've prepared a DVD of messages from friends

and family back in the UK.

The family have decided to watch it together.

Hello, everyone. It's Mum. As you can see.

Hello George, Paula, Evie and Eddie.

Hi, Paula and George. All right?

Dad, Paula, Eddie and Evie, I hope you're having a great time

and I hope the sun is shining.

Paula is a real fun character. She can be really fiery.

So, she gets that from my dad.

Paula has a really strong relationship with her mum.

I said I wasn't going to do this.

Come on. Pull yourself together, Mum.

I love her to bits.

I'm really close to Dad.

I always say that he is one of my best friends,

so I think if he goes away, it would be quite difficult for me.

And not being part of it will be quite...

It would be quite hard.

Whenever Paula talks about it, I'm always positive to her.

But she knows how I feel about the family

and how I would miss them all.

But I never say to her... I think I might have done.

I might have said to her, "Don't go. I hope you hate it!"

Yes, you've said that, Mother!

But I would never ask them not to go. No.

Just thinking about it is awful.

I can only wish you every good wish.

And a happy, healthy life

and that you thoroughly enjoy it and become true Australians.

If you go away and have this new life, it will be so difficult for me

to stay as close to you as I am now

and that's something which is so important to me, our relationship.

It's just something I don't want to lose,

so I don't really want you to go, if I'm totally honest.

I find it very difficult.

But whatever your decision is, I just hope you make the right

one for you and your family and all the children.

I hope it's right for you all.

But if it isn't right for you all, come back home.

Because I miss you so much.

I knew this would get you.

It's all right. It's OK.

It certainly gets you in the heart a little bit, as a father.

I'm sure it got all of us, a little bit.

You are just being pulled in two directions.

Because it's been Australia all along the way, it has.

Every time, it's been Australia, Australia, Australia.

But always in the back of my mind, home has always been there.

Massively.

We haven't come the last ten years because of these sort of issues.

In the end, we have to make a decision.

And that isn't an easy one.

The reality of emigrating can be hard to face

and messages from home have affected the family deeply.

After a lifetime of dreaming,

Australia has surpassed all of George's expectations.

And knowing how much better off they would be Down Under

has convinced him even more where his family should be.

But for Paula, breaking the close bond

she has with her mother could be a step too far.

As the final vote approaches, could hearing how much

they will be missed have put an end to George's dream?

The trial week's been a culmination of decades of anticipation...

It's been worth the wait, because it is everything I had hoped for.

And, in fact, much, much better. I feel totally at home here.

..and has opened Paula's eyes to the kind of life

they could have Down Under.

Australia has got a massive amount to offer me,

George and us as a family and Jack.

I love Australia and if it was simple, I would be here.

But it's not simple. Knowing what they would be leaving behind

has left both Paula and George torn.

I think for me, personally, John, my son, hearing him talking

and on behalf of Mads, as well, was difficult.

I don't know what's going to happen.

I'm not sure which way I'm going to...

I'm going to vote.

It would be terribly easy to just stick a vote up for Australia

because I love it, but I'm really trying to think,

"No, this isn't just about saying where would you like to be.

"It's saying, what are you actually going to do?"

It's been a make or break week for George and it's now time to vote.

After 40 years,

his lifelong dream rests on the final turn of the cards.

After a wonderful week, it is now time for us to do our final vote.

-Undecided.

-Undecided.

-Australia.

I've got a family of ditherers!

I voted undecided, because I would miss all the people at home.

And I would miss the lifestyle here.

-I voted undecided because I watched that video.

-Is that why?

-Did it just make you sad? Yes?

-Why did you vote for Australia?

I voted for Australia because, for us, as a family,

I think the opportunities here are just too good to turn down.

So, that is why I voted for Australia. For our family.

I agree with everything you've said,

but it's just there are big issues to sort out back home.

Big issues. That is why I voted undecided.

Because I really am undecided, with regards to family.

I'm not disappointed, at all. Undecided is not no.

So, the dream is definitely not over of coming, for any of us.

I am probably more than 50% confident that we will be here

in a few years...or a bit of time.

It's far from the result George had been hoping for,

but he has not given up on his dream just yet.

Who knows?

After a short spell at home he may be able to find a way

to make the move work for everyone.

Whatever happens next, we wish the Hobbs every happiness.