Amanda Goff, a columnist and former Bondi Beach resident, has decided to leave Melbourne after 18 months, citing a pervasive culture of cocaine use among the city's affluent private school mothers.
Goff, who previously lived in Sydney's Bondi and Double Bay areas, sought a more sophisticated environment in Melbourne, hoping to escape what she described as Sydney's superficial influencer culture. She found Melbourne's perceived elegance, fashion, and cultural vibrancy appealing, initially finding it a refreshing change.
However, Goff observed that the superficiality she sought to escape manifested differently in Melbourne. Instead of overt displays of wealth, she encountered a more discreet snobbery centered on social standing, school affiliations, and family pedigree. "Instead of 'What do you do for work?', it's 'What school did you go to?' Instead of 'How many followers do you have?', it's 'Who are your parents?'", she wrote.
Her primary disillusionment stemmed from witnessing frequent cocaine use among affluent mothers, which she termed "inheritance-fuelled cocaine use." Goff described seeing these women, many of whom are Gen Xers poised to inherit significant wealth from their baby boomer parents, using cocaine on antique dining tables and during social events. She noted that this behavior was normalized within a circle of "respectable businessmen and elite school parents."
Goff recounted specific instances, including observing an AFL player and a married woman using cocaine over breakfast and guests at a charity ball frequently using drugs in the bathrooms between speeches. She highlighted a trend among middle-aged women, already financially comfortable, who, with their mortgages settled and school fees covered, allegedly use their inheritances for cocaine.
Goff, who has personal experience with addiction, found the widespread availability and acceptance of cocaine in Melbourne particularly triggering. She expressed disdain for those who maintain a facade of superiority due to inherited wealth while engaging in what she described as "common criminality."
Ultimately, Goff decided to relocate back to Sydney, which she characterized as "messy, wild, loud, and gloriously upfront." She suggested that while Sydney also has its share of wealth and misbehavior, it is more openly displayed, often in outdoor settings like the beach.