Brisbane's Inner Suburbs

Annerley’s close proximity to the Brisbane CBD and its elevated positioning has attracted many investors and owner-occupiers in recent times. Buyers keen to renovate will find a mix of dwelling types including post-war cottages and Queenslanders as well as 1970’s blocks of flats and modern units.

The suburb is renowned for its period homes, including the aptly named “Ashgrovian” which was Queensland’s interpretation of a bungalow during the interwar years. However Ashgrove is also very handy to the city, shopping centres and public transport, with regular City Council buses running along Waterworks Road.

2.5km from Brisbane’s CBD, Auchenflower continues to benefit from increasing consumer interest in inner-city properties and demand for boutique business space. As a result Auchenflower has seen a lot of unit development particularly along Coronation Drive and nearby streets. Auchenflower has a strong mix of both commercial and residential property that makes it a lively inner city suburb.

The small East Brisbane suburb of Balmoral, only 4km from Brisbane’s CBD, is another area that has benefited from growing consumer interest in living close to the city. The suburb has a lively café and local cinema precinct. For a suburb so close to the city, Balmoral offers several parks and is within five minutes of Colmslie Reserve and corners onto Hawthorne Park. For water lovers, Colmslie Reserve also provides boat access to the Brisbane River.

The Western Brisbane suburb of Bardon has experienced substantial capital growth in property prices over the last 10 years. This was always assured given the suburb’s close proximity to the City and its leafy tranquil environs, which border the bush land reserve area of Mt Coot-tha.

Bowen Hills is a mix of light industrial, commercial and some residential property. The suburb is ungoing a residential revival with many new medium density homes to be built in coming years. The RNA Showgrounds redevelopment proposal will provide a further catalyst for rejuvenation. Home to Queensland Newspapers and Brisbane Soccer’s Perry Park, Bowen Hills provides its relatively small population with good public transport and easy access to the Royal Brisbane Hospital, Fortitude Valley and Brisbane City.

Breakfast Creek is a locality within the inner Brisbane suburb of Albion, best known as the home to the iconic Breakfast Creek Hotel. You won’t be disappointed with their steak and coleslaw! Albion is  located 5 kilometres north of the Brisbane CBD. The suburb is home to a wide variety of housing styles ranging from workers cottages through to executive homes and riverfront apartments.

Bordered largely by the Brisbane River, Brisbane City is the heart of retail and business activity. Popular with professionals looking to live as close to work and play as possible, the City’s property market has experienced strong demand in recent years. At the heart of Brisbane is the CBD, full of boutiques, restaurants, cafes, the Queen Street Mall and numerous nightspots.

Bulimba is one of Brisbane’s popular riverside suburbs to have undergone a transformation over the last 10 years. Many couples and families have bought in the area and renovated to bring increased value to many properties around Bulimba. A leafy suburb, Bulimba offers residents the choice of Bulimba Memorial Park, and Vic Lucas Park on the Brisbane River for picnic spots and outdoor activities. Also in close proximity is Hawthorne Park.

Buranda is a locality within the famous suburb of Woolloongabba – best known internationally as “The Gabba” by reference to its Brisbane Cricket Ground, which hosts national and international cricket matches and Australian Football League games. Woolloongabba is a thriving inner city suburb 1 km east of Brisbane’s CBD. The suburb mainly consists of commercial, retail and restaurants.  Despite the high level of commercial and retail development in the suburb, there are pockets of prime residential areas.

Clayfield is an inner-city Northern suburb that is growing amongst independent youth, and occupied predominately by under 35’s. With a close proximity to both the Birsbane CBD and the Brisbane Airport, Clayfield is easily accessible and property prices are moving upward.

Coorparoo continues to benefit from consumer demand for near-city living and has experienced some of the strongest capital growth in Brisbane over the last 5 years. Coorparoo is on Brisbane’s southeastern side and has easy access to the city along either the Southeast Freeway. Home to many stunning Queenslanders its varied housing styles also include many affordable home units built in the 1970’s and 1980’s. more

Due to its close proximity to the Brisbane CBD and its position alongside the Brisbane River, Dutton Park has experienced very strong price growth in property in the last 5 years. About 5km from Brisbane’s CBD, Dutton Park property is still reasonably priced when considering its proximity to the City. The new “Green” Eleanor Schonell Bridge linking it to the University of Queensland opened in late 2006.

About 3km from the Brisbane CBD and located between Kangaroo Point and Norman Park on the Brisbane River, East Brisbane’s proximity to the city has secured its popularity with empty nesters and young professionals.Confirming its position as a popular suburb for tenants, and consequently a good suburb for investment, almost every second house is rented.

As one of Brisbane’s river suburbs, Fairfield is ideally situated and likely to attract buyers who want to secure attractive property close to the water. It is an area that is popular with families and professionals working in the CBD.Fairfield has easy access to major arterial roads, schools, shops and the other infrastructure so necessary for family and professional living.

Fortitude Valley is living proof that our tastes have changed. Wind the clock back maybe 30 years and Brisbane’s most sought-after lifestyle was a suburban plot with a big backyard, room for the Holden and a mammoth shopping centre popping up nearby.Today’s Valley couldn’t be more different and residents are flocking to this inner city patch.Our state’s most urban suburb, there are around 3,000 dwellings and only 140 of them are houses. Apartments dominate and their number has exploded in the past 10 years. There are no lawns with Hills Hoists, no picket fences, no sprawling shopping centres. This is gritty city living at its most raw. Concrete, steel and a blended mix of pubs, nightclubs and late night kebab shops.

Greenslopes has experienced strong growth in its median house price over recent years. With easy access to the city along Logan Road or the Southeast Freeway, Greenslopes’ popularity with buyers is reflected in its strong growth.Stand alone houses account for 46% of all dwellings in this area, with units accounting for a further 41%.

Bordering the Brisbane River and surrounded by the suburbs of Ascot, Albion and Newstead, Hamilton is one of Brisbane’s most popular prestige suburbs for owner-occupiers and investors alike. Only 5 km from the Brisbane CBD, the suburb is within easy reach of local landmarks like the Breakfast Creek Wharf, and the Eagle Farm Racecourse. Hamilton is the perfect residence for boat owners.

Many older homes have been renovated to their former glory by couples and families moving into the area. The renovation of these older homes has had a positive influence on the median sale price of the suburb. Situated along Brisbane River, Hawthorne offers buyers proximity to the city with a suburban atmosphere. Hawthorne Park is popular with sports lovers while water lovers only have to travel a couple of suburbs to Colmslie Reserve in Morningside to be able to launch their boats onto the Brisbane River.

Just over 2 kilometres from the Brisbane CBD and home to the Royal Brisbane Hospital and Rugby Union’s Ballymore Park, Herston has maintained its popularity with buyers over the last five years. The trend toward inner city living has resulted in a demand for housing in the area and in turn an increase in the number of higher density unit and townhouse complexes, although there is still a high proportion of older styles homes in the suburb.

The suburb has easy access to the City via the William Jolly Bridge, the Victoria Bridge and the recently built ‘Goodwill’ pedestrian bridge and is in a commanding position with easy access to all major amenities and retail shopping. Highgate Hill is definitely an investor’s dream as many students and professionals are attracted by its central position and quiet environment. Due to its close proximity to the City, and like many similarly located suburbs in Brisbane, Highgate Hill has experienced a strong level of ‘gentrification’ of its streets and homes. Renovation activity has been a feature with many older Queenslander-style houses being brought back to mint condition.

Hill End is a locality within the suburb of West End – quite literally the “hilly end”! It was once a very working class area, with a number of factories located along the river and Montague Road. As these factories began to shut down the suburb increasingly became home to university students, alternative types, and international migrants due to its affordable housing and rents, and its proximity to the CBD.This new mix of residents created a community vibe that is unmatched anywhere else in Brisbane. Small restaurants, cafes, coffee houses, shops, bars and bakeries began to pop up along Boundary Street, and have been added to over the years, providing a vibrant high street atmosphere day and night.

The suburb’s central position, thriving commercial, office and retail sector, and proximity to the CBD and University of Queensland have promoted a recent surge in population and supported new residential unit developments. Popular with many Brisbane professionals, as well as a strong element of university students from nearby University of Queensland (UQ), this riverside suburb has recorded significant gain in house prices, especially over the last three years. Indooroopilly residents enjoy extensive community facilities including Gandel’s Indooroopilly Shoppingtown (formerly Westfield’s), City train services and a bus interchange. Moviegoers are well catered for with the art deco Eldorado Cinema Complex and Megaplex at Indooroopilly Shoppingtown.

Home to more than 5,000 residents, Kangaroo Point has witnessed an enormous amount of residential construction during the past decade. The resident population in the suburb is estimated to have grown by more than 20% during that period.The redevelopment of the old Evans Deakin Shipyards into the visionary Dockside development in the late 1980s was the catalyst for further residential redevelopment in the suburb, particularly in those areas where maritime activities once took place. During the last 10 years, new stages of the Dockside development have been added as well as several other residential projects.

Kelvin Grove has experienced strong growth in the last 5 years as buyers took advantage of the suburb’s proximity to the city and comparatively cheap prices. The REIQ expects the median house price will continue to climb over the next few years.The Kelvin Grove Urban Village is changing the face of the area. Adjacent to the local campus of the Queensland University of Technology its staged development already includes a creative arts precinct and the new La Boite Theatre, along with new shops and apartments. With easy access to the city along Kelvin Grove Road, Kelvin Grove will continue to attract residents and tenants. The Royal Brisbane Hospital is next door and this also attracts a good deal of their employees wishing to reside close to work.

This inner city suburb located 1 km from Brisbane’s central business district is home to two Queensland icons: the Castlemaine XXXX Brewery and Suncorp Stadium (previously Lang Park).Almost as well known is the ‘Euro-precinct’ along Park Road offering residents and visitors an array of outdoor dining and cafes. A few select boutiques also attract the retail dollars. This inner west suburb contains many of the attributes modern buyers want, with an inner-city café lifestyle, a range of housing styles, access to public transport and in some cases, riverside living.

Approximately 5 kilometres east of the Brisbane CBD Morningside residents enjoy its close proximity to the City while taking advantage of the community atmosphere the suburb affords. This is a suburb that is expected to see even stronger growth in the next few years.The population of Morningside remained relatively stable during the 1990s, primarily due to the established nature of the suburb with a lack of vacant land suitable for new land development. A number of younger couples have moved into the area capitalising on the affordability of housing in the suburb.

New Farm is one of Brisbane’s most popular suburbs – maybe because it’s not all manicured and perfect. Just one block back from the Brisbane River there’s a short, elevated street that typifies this suburb’s housing … maybe even its residents’ outlook on life. One of the grandest Queenslanders you’ll ever see sits proudly along this short street. It has broad verandahs, a pyramid roof with a stylish flying gable over the entrance and a chimney that suggest early 1900s construction. With terracing down to the street and manicured gardens it’s been an imposing home for 100 years. Right alongside sits an uncomfortable looking three storey block of brick units. Ugly. And this contrast of dwelling types is typical of a suburb where proud locals enjoy a hugely broad variety of housing.

Newmarket was established early in the development of Brisbane due to it remaining largely flood free after the major flood of 1893. Once established it grew quickly, with the Newmarket railway station dating back to 1899. This long history is evidenced by the many large traditional Queenslanders spread across Newmarket and its immediate neighbouring suburbs.As has been the case with other suburbs in close proximity to the city, Newmarket has seen a population shift towards younger couples and families looking for easy access to work and recreational facilities.

Like its neighbouring suburbs of New Farm and Fortitude Valley, Newstead has undergone huge transformations over the last decade; it’s now one of Brisbane’s most expensive suburbs.Once known for its light commercial activity in the Teneriffe precinct, Newstead has developed a trendy, café lifestyle character with the sale and redesign of the old Woolstores into upmarket apartments and the older homes in the area being renovated to their former glory.

Only 4 km from the heart of Brisbane, Norman Park offers residents numerous parks and recreational areas close to the central business district and limited exclusive housing along the Brisbane River. Buyers will find a diverse range of properties available and some excellent examples of renovated Queenslanders and post-war workers cottages. Its neighbouring suburbs service the needs of school aged residents and also offers a variety of larger supermarket and retail outlets to complement Norman Park’s local stores.

The inner city suburb of Paddington is 2 km west of the CBD and borders the suburbs of Milton and Red Hill. Paddington is a true success story in terms of its rejuvenation as a vibrant inner city residential and lifestyle precinct over the last decade or so. Its proximity to the CBD has been a major driver of this growth, as too has the redevelopment of Lang Park and the creation of various village precincts such as the hugely successful Rosalie Village. These factors have made the suburb very popular with young families and professionals.

Petrie Terrace is a locality within the suburb of Brisbane City and includes the sub-tropical Roma Street Parklands up to the boulevard itself named Petrie Terrace. A new redevelopment of the old barracks with 5 storey commercial offices, cinemas and a new Coles will soon add to the lifestyle appeal of the area’s Caxton Street clubs and bars. Home to just a few Brisbanites Petrie Terrace includes some of the city’s quaintest cottages in winding hilly streets, along with the new apartment towers of Roma Street Parklands.

As one of Brisbane’s inner Western city suburbs Red Hill has benefited in recent years from investor interest and strong growth in median house prices. One of the oldest suburbs in Brisbane, Red Hill is only minutes by car to Brisbane’s CBD.St Brigid’s Catholic Church is a unique landmark in the area. The design of the red brick church was based on the fortress churches built during the Middle Ages. It is Red Hill’s history and hilly terrain that give the suburb its unique character.

A locality within the inner suburb of Paddington, Rosalie is probably best known today for its thriving cafe corner in Baroona Road, home to some fabulous eateries. The area has more recently been in the news for the Catholic Church’s decision to close their Marist Brothers Rosalie school. Rosalie is home to many renovated cottages and Queenslander homes and refurbishing units built in the 1970’s has been a popular trend over the past five years.

South Bank is a locality within South Brisbane best remembered as the former home of World Expo 88, where visitors from across the globe helped create a place full of energy, multi-culturalism and fun for people of all ages. Due to a careful and steady redevelopment program that spirit continues at South Bank today, and after a slow start its cafe and lifestyle precinct is now the place Brisbanites and visitors come to play. South Brisbane is located on the River directly opposite the CBD, yet despite this proximity large pockets have remained under-developed due to their continuing use for light industry. A new surge of interest over the past three years now sees residential towers co-occupying the suburb with Paul’s Milk and other long-term businesses. The Bees Nees team declare our complete bias for the area –  in 2006 we purchased our own office building in South Brisbane!

St Lucia, about 4km from Brisbane’s CBD, is a prestigious western suburb that has benefited from its proximity to the city, the Brisbane River and local facilities. With easy access to the City along Coronation Drive or via the ferry system, St Lucia offers quiet suburban living with good infrastructure, dominated by the sprawling University of Queensland. St Lucia’s central location, access to the University and other facilities will undoubtedly continue to attract investors and tenants. With the Uni at its doorstep and easy access to Mt Coot-tha and other facilities like the Indooroopilly shopping centre, St Lucia is popular with university students and those working in the city.

A locality within the suburb of Greenslopes in the inner south-east, Stones Corner is best known to locals as the home of factory outlet shopping. The local hotel underwent a significant refurb in recent years and serves up a delicious Sunday breakfast! The area has a variety of housing options on offer and its cottages and older style units remain some of the best buying close to Brisbane city.

Taringa is located 5km west of the Brisbane CBD. The suburb has easy access to the city via Coronation Drive or Milton Road, and offers a quiet suburban lifestyle with good access to major infrastructure. A recent upgrade to the central shopping strip has given the suburb a fresh appeal. The University of Queensland is only minutes away in St Lucia, while major shopping, retail and commercial centres are located in Taringa and nearby Indooroopilly and Toowong. The suburb is handy to the CBD and also benefits from the rail line into the City and a frequent bus service. These factors all help to make Taringa popular with university students, young professionals and families alike.

A locality within the inner northern suburb of Newstead, Teneriffe is best know to Brisbanites for its charming Woolstore apartments. From a run down and dingy neighbourhood of 15 years ago this riverside pocket of Brisbane is now one of our most sought-after. Riverfront homes and apartments now regularly sell for in excess of $3m and the last of the historic Woolstores in now undergoing its conversion to spacious apartments. A vibrant cafe community and its close proximity to the CBD ensure Teneriffe’s future popularity.

Woolloongabba is a thriving inner city suburb 1 km east of Brisbane’s CBD. The suburb mainly consists of commercial, retail and restaurants – it is also most famous for housing the ‘Gabba’, the Brisbane Cricket Ground, which hosts national and international cricket matches and Australian Rules Football games. Despite the high level of commercial and retail development in the suburb, there are pockets of prime residential areas. These consist of some heritage protected early period housing such as Queenslanders, and post-war workers cottages made from weatherboard and chamferboard.

Only one kilometre from the Brisbane CBD, Fortitude Valley has developed into a business district in its own right. As with its neighbouring suburbs, Fortitude Valley has undergone extensive redevelopment over the last decade. A mix of commercial and residential, much of the business activity around the Valley happens between St Pauls Terrace and McLachlan Street. Of the residential housing available in the area, new unit and apartment complexes make up the majority, attracting many young singles and couples to the area.

Toowong is located less than four kilometres south-west of the CBD and is less than five minutes’ drive from the University of Queensland at St Lucia. Toowong has a vibrant and thriving commercial and shopping precinct, and also offers lively night life options, thanks to the ready supply of university students in the area and institutions like the extremely popular pub The Regatta on Coronation Drive and the Royal Exchange Hotel. Toowong has been called the ‘North Sydney’ of Brisbane because it combines commercial and professional space with top quality residential areas, close to the Brisbane CBD. It has easy access to Brisbane’s CBD and boutique shopping areas, such as Park Road in the neighbouring suburb of Milton.

West End is an eclectic and dynamic suburb. It was once a very working class area, with a number of factories located along the river and Montague Road. As these factories began to shut down the suburb increasingly became home to university students, alternative types and international migrants due to its affordable housing and rents, and its proximity to the CBD. This new mix of residents created a community vibe that is unmatched anywhere else in Brisbane. Small restaurants, cafes, coffee houses, shops, bars and bakeries began to pop up along Boundary Street, and have been added to over the years, providing a vibrant high street atmosphere day and night. Brisbane City Council and property developers are increasingly looking towards the old industrial areas of West End to help house the future growth of Brisbane. This has been progressing slowly in recent years down by the river and in the areas between Boundary Street and the Convention Centre.

Located approximately three kilometres from the Brisbane CBD, Wilston is a mixture of the old and the new, from workers’ cottages to modern architect-designed homes on Wilston Hill. Wilston is home to many professionals, including many medical professionals, due to its inner city location, proximity to the Royal Brisbane Hospital and the breathtaking views of the city that are available from more elevated streets. In recent years, the area has been transformed by the revamping of Kedron Brook Road, an early pre-cursor to the City Council’s massive urban renewal process that was to roll out across much of inner Brisbane. This has seen a vibrant hub of al-fresco dining evolve, which in turn has increased the popularity of the area and thus also led to significant price growth in recent years.

Located approximately 3.5 km from the Brisbane CBD, Windsor offers buyers a wide selection of housing styles, in a variety of price ranges. The popularity of the suburb is largely due to its proximity to the city and has caused an increase in demand for homes in the area and in turn significant price growth. In keeping with the style of the suburb, older homes are being bought and renovated to their former glory. Also attractive to new buyers is Windsor’s access to excellent public transport. A trip into the City from Windsor train station will take residents less than 15 minutes. Leisure parks such as Keith Beavis Oval and the Windsor Bowling Club, and walkways running alongside Enoggera Creek offer residents a break from the major traffic of Lutwyche Road, which divides the suburb in half. Downey Park and Ballymore are also close by in Wilston.

Wooloowin is an inner-city Northern suburb just 6km from the Brisbane CBD. With two train lines and a close proximity to the shops, CBD and Brisbane Airport, Wooloowin is a desirable suburb. Queenslander homes on large allotments are abundant and the population is steadily rising for this inner-city suburb.

Yeronga is a residential suburb which is bordered buy the Brisbane River and along the Brisbane Corso. With an abundance of parklands, a close proximity to the city, private hospitals, and access to the Green Bridge into the University of Queensland it is becoming more popular for homeowners and investors alike.

Yeerongpilly is located just 8km from the Brisbane CBD and borders the popular suburbs of Yeronga, Tennyson and the growing suburb of Moorooka. Yeerongpilly has abundant transport options, parklands and even the Brisbane Golf Club at your doorstep! The trend lines see an increase in median property price steadily rising.