I found my soulmate in the UK...Visa problems!!

So I came to England in September 2009 on a Youth Mobility Scheme 2 yr visa, arrived in a hostel in London in December 2009 and met my beautiful boyfriend in the first few days. We have been together (and more importantly - living together) ever since.

We have had some anxious conversations about our future and it seems like a very scary trying task. We have even resorted to talking about just going ahead and getting married. This isn't the worst option - BUT to do this in time would mean my family couldn't make it here to be involved :-(

So I have been researching different visa option:

Fiancee Visa - Not really suitable, to switch to this means we would have to get married within the 6 months visa - and I wouldn't be able to work (NOT AN OPTION IN LONDON)

Unmarried/Partner Defacto Visa - Probably the more desiraable option - BUT it looks like we would have needed to live together for 2 years AND that isn't a fact until December. I might have to arrange a tourist Visa for the months in between - which again means I am not allowed to work...a tough feat if you want to live in London!

This is a very tough thing as I have made a life here without realising the dificulty of the consequences, and for the life of me - DO NOT want to lose it.

My partner cannot obtain a working visa for australia as he is now too old and also we may have some trouble as he has a criminal record from years ago.

If anybody else has been in the same or similar situation, i could use some advice and would love to hear of any horror or success stories!!