Sydney-born Rick Bull felt an immediate resonance when he arrived for the first time in Berlin.

With luggage full of music and DJ equipment, the techno producer and DJ was set to play his first booked German gig. Although it was through the cold, dark and brutal European winter of 2005, he felt a palpable sense of relief overcome him.

Rick Bull. Image: Deepchild & Katrina James

“I felt this sense of elation and an uncanny lightness. The strangest thing for me was that this lightness was at odds with the climate. In winter, it’s so grey and foreboding, but, even this in its odd way, was a relief. I felt that in Berlin, it was ok to be ugly, confused, and an outsider.

“At that time, it was extremely rare to hear an Australian accent anywhere in Berlin. Now there seems to be hundreds of young Aussies,” the 36-year-old says.

Since Bull, also known as Deepchild, permanently relocated to Berlin in 2009, he has regularly played at iconic nightspots such as Panorama Bar, Berghain, Watergate and Tresor. He says Berlin is always changing – a city where he feels he can contribute to a story and that there is a very strong Australian community in Berlin.

“Although a lot of Aussies seem to stay for only six months to a year before departing, the magnetic pull of the clubbing culture seems to play a central role. It’s also interesting to see the emergence of expat bars and cafés for the first time. I’m seeing a number of Australian branded spaces and events around the city.

“Berlin represents an affordable playground, and almost a taboo experience of some culturally-inversion of values. Berlin in general, lacks the aspirational or careerist culture which Australia often trades on.

“Here, over 95 per cent of people rent for their entire lives, the vast majority of people do not own cars, most people share flats, and there’s a tacit understanding that Berlin is a place where you can sort of re-imagine your life, ” Bull says.

Melbourne-born Christian Vance, 34, also a techno producer and DJ says when he first arrived to Berlin in 2007 the Australian presence was hardly felt. Now, there are hordes of young Australians hanging out in Berlin clubs and working as baristas.

“Half the serious coffee places in town have Aussies making the brew right now,” Vance says.

One has to wonder, are Aussies jumping on some sort of a bandwagon or is there really something special about the modern capital of Germany? Has Berlin replaced London and New York as the top contender for Aussies living abroad?

According to Australian Embassy Berlin Public Affairs Manager Guenter Schlothauer there are 2,278 Australians living in Berlin; almost double the amount from around five years ago.
Christian Vance. Image supplied.

Although this figure could be higher in terms of Australians who have access to a European Union (EU) passport, it shows there has been a steady increase of Australians moving to Berlin.

Vance says his main reason for relocating were due to already having friends living in Berlin and thanks to his Austrian heritage, was able to acquire an EU passport.

“The rent is cheaper than other major cultural centres and electronic music is like a status quo of the city. I always connected with the vibe of the place. It became pure logic to relocate,” Vance says.

In fact, Numbeo states the rent in Berlin is 46.71 per cent lower than in Melbourne. The website also establishes that assuming someone rents in both cities, they would only need AU$4,211 in Berlin to maintain the same standard of life that they can have with AU$6,200 in Melbourne.

While Melbourne has the highest inflation rate in Australia and the cost of living continues to rise, there is no denying that Berlin’s cheap living costs are luring Aussies to relocate. However, this isn’t the only factor attracting people.

Likened as Europe’s own Silicone Valley, the cost of living is less in Berlin because of the lower income.

“This is great when you want to have a drink with your friends because it never becomes expensive. You don’t think twice about eating out or paying AU$60 for a cab just to get home,” Vance says.

Melbourne-born model, Alison Sara Guberek who moved to Berlin in 2009 after falling in love with her fiancé says that food and alcohol is also cheap.
“Last week I found some coins inside my jacket pocket which I had forgotten about, and bought a huge kebab for only three euros. You can also buy beer for less than a can of coke and it’s totally ok to drink in public places.”

Guberek says there are not many places in the world where one can survive on a ‘starving artist’ budget.
“You can live a decent life in Berlin and not have       Alison and fiancé Matthew. Image supplied.

to sell your soul for 80 hours a week doing something else for work just so you can afford to pay the rent like most people in London, New York City and Paris do.”

Defining the rich historical city, Berlin is reputable as one of the world’s leading creative hubs where many have the opportunity to pursue their creative passion as their main focus.

Down Under Berlin Festival Director Frances Hill says anything is possible in Berlin as the city is full of opportunities. Established in 2011, it is the only film festival in Germany which showcases Australian and New Zealand cinema.

“The festival gives Berliners a chance to see great Australian cinema productions and new talents from down under. Our audience is really interested in learning more about indigenous peoples through film,” Hill says.

After arriving in 2006 on a one-year working holiday visa, Hill decided she could no longer part with the city as it had become her new home.

“It’s a major city that feels like a town. The summer is so lively, like a non-stop party from April until September,” Hill says.

“You can discover amazing music, art and cinema without travelling too far – because everyone comes to Berlin to perform and put on exhibitions.

Francis Hill. Image supplied

“There is something for every budget; live music is sometimes free, you can get cheap tickets to the Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra and galleries and museums offer free entry on some days.”

Vance says many people are drawn to Berlin because of the creative opportunity.

“There is an energy here that prompts people to try new things, eke out a new existence purely from their craft. In electronic music for example, it can feel like the equivalent of an actor’s Hollywood.

“You bump into other artists and DJ’s all the time. This is the place many people think they can ‘make it’. Sure, there is a bandwagon and I do sometimes see people fall off it, but on the flipside, it’s the only city you can party all week and go record shopping the rest of your time.

“Berlin has a freedom, sustainability and acceptance of all things creative. You could also get deep and start citing the combination of Berlin’s rich, dark history and the jubilation of reunification as creating some kind of social impetus too,” Vance says.

Guberek says Berlin is a very transient city and that it’s a place where people come to find themselves after a break, and decided whether the path they were on before is the one they want to continue with.

“It also makes people realise if they want something different in life. If so, they then go back to their home country with a renewed sense of purpose and a different outlook on what is important in life.”

Featured image: Brandenburger Tor at night by Pedelecs (Wikimedia Commons).

Mandi Santic is a journalist and recent graduate from La Trobe University. You can follow her on Twitter at @candidmandi.