September 2014 Trip and Moving to Brisbane

[SnowWhite09]

Hi Everyone,

We are looking forward to our upcoming parents only trip to DL in September 2014. Can't wait to attend MNSSHP - woo hoo! Before that though, we are going to make a move to Brisbane. Knowing I can always rely on my Disboards friends I would like to ask a totally off topic question. What do you consider to be the best suburbs in Brisbane to live and why?

TIA everyone - any advice is greatly appreciated!

 

[rozpetal]

I live in Brisbane! We have only been up here for 3 years though.
Do you know where you will be working? Are you looking at public or private schools?
We live at North Lakes on the North side and love it here. We did move over to the South side for 12 months but ended up moving back to North Lakes because we liked it much better over this side!

 

[SnowWhite09]

I live in Brisbane! We have only been up here for 3 years though.
Do you know where you will be working? Are you looking at public or private schools?
We live at North Lakes on the North side and love it here. We did move over to the South side for 12 months but ended up moving back to North Lakes because we liked it much better over this side!

Thanks so much for responding to me rozpetal - it is greatly appreciated! I am glad to hear that you are loving living in Brisbane. Most likely I will be working in the Brisbane CBD, but not sure where as yet. We will be seeking a good State high school and from what I can tell there are quite a few within 5 to 10kms of the CBD including Brisbane State High itself (just based on the research I have done so far). Why do you prefer the North side better than the South side if you don't mind me asking? Thanks again for your help!

 

[heidispidi]

SnowWhite, I don't know much about Brisbane, but I share you pain. We're in the midst of moving back to Sydney after living in Perth for 18 months. It's daunting, moving interstate, but it will work out for you all!

 

[Aussie Wendy]

I'm another Brisbane girl and another north-sider but I have friends in the Mt Gravatt, Morningside area on the southside who equally are happy, others in the inner areas of Annerley (which is a very nice older suburb) and we have Disboard posters (overseas at present) who live Redland Bay way.

Brisbane State High is a State school that's like a private school you are right. There are a few other state colleges that are aspiring to be like it too. That said there are a lot of good State schools around. My DD did go to a co-ed private high school, but a cheaper, not posh one. We picked it for its ethos and the way it emphasised the individual development not just a focus on academia (though our DD is academic) and it reminded me of the country high schools I went to. I can't recommend it more highly (Hillbrook) though the fees have crept up over the years. I think Brisbane State High might have a catchment zone area - not sure but I can easily find out. If you are shortlisting schools you can pm me and I can tell you the latest info I know of them. I work at a Uni so we get a fair bit of info coming through about the best and worst.

Suburbs - North Lakes is a newer area on the northern fringe of Brisbane. My only negative would be the paucity of public transport from here but its close to Redcliffe which is on the coast, has a very good shopping centre, a very good State High School, and easy access to the highway north to the beaches and south into Brisbane. I live near Samford which is a semi-rural area so no public transport (nearest Ferny Grove railway line) but very scenic and pretty. More inner suburb areas of Ashgrove and Alderley and surrounding burbs are nice on the northside. I can probably say which suburbs I'd avoid more than favour but not sure I want to do so publically on here as I may get flamed.

Working in the CBD the new dedicated express bus lanes from the southside paralleling the motorway and northside along Gympie Rd and from the hospital through Kelvin Grove are super fast so being near one of them would be worth considering as would be being near a train line. Driving is a nightmare with long peak hour traffic jams the equal of southern states and no parking in the CBD. We leave early (6.45am to avoid the worst). Bus lines outside of the major routes are not as good as down south and sparse in many suburbs. There are park and ride facilities at the train stations and major bus interchanges. Translink is the spot for public transport info.

Off to bed - happy to answer any questions privately or publically as you get organised.

 

[SnowWhite09]

I'm another Brisbane girl and another north-sider but I have friends in the Mt Gravatt, Morningside area on the southside who equally are happy, others in the inner areas of Annerley (which is a very nice older suburb) and we have Disboard posters (overseas at present) who live Redland Bay way.

Brisbane State High is a State school that's like a private school you are right. There are a few other state colleges that are aspiring to be like it too. That said there are a lot of good State schools around. My DD did go to a co-ed private high school, but a cheaper, not posh one. We picked it for its ethos and the way it emphasised the individual development not just a focus on academia (though our DD is academic) and it reminded me of the country high schools I went to. I can't recommend it more highly (Hillbrook) though the fees have crept up over the years. I think Brisbane State High might have a catchment zone area - not sure but I can easily find out. If you are shortlisting schools you can pm me and I can tell you the latest info I know of them. I work at a Uni so we get a fair bit of info coming through about the best and worst.

Suburbs - North Lakes is a newer area on the northern fringe of Brisbane. My only negative would be the paucity of public transport from here but its close to Redcliffe which is on the coast, has a very good shopping centre, a very good State High School, and easy access to the highway north to the beaches and south into Brisbane. I live near Samford which is a semi-rural area so no public transport (nearest Ferny Grove railway line) but very scenic and pretty. More inner suburb areas of Ashgrove and Alderley and surrounding burbs are nice on the northside. I can probably say which suburbs I'd avoid more than favour but not sure I want to do so publically on here as I may get flamed.

Working in the CBD the new dedicated express bus lanes from the southside paralleling the motorway and northside along Gympie Rd and from the hospital through Kelvin Grove are super fast so being near one of them would be worth considering as would be being near a train line. Driving is a nightmare with long peak hour traffic jams the equal of southern states and no parking in the CBD. We leave early (6.45am to avoid the worst). Bus lines outside of the major routes are not as good as down south and sparse in many suburbs. There are park and ride facilities at the train stations and major bus interchanges. Translink is the spot for public transport info.

Off to bed - happy to answer any questions privately or publically as you get organised.

Thanks so much for your feedback Aussie Wendy and my apologies for the late reply - it has been a busy week! I am currently looking for work and as soon as I find something I will be in a better position to say whether we want to live North or South. I will definitely PM you with any questions I have. Thanks again and have a great weekend!

 

[PrincessInOz]

Good luck with the move.

 

[SnowWhite09]

Good luck with the move.

Thanks so much!

 

[SnowWhite09]

SnowWhite, I don't know much about Brisbane, but I share you pain. We're in the midst of moving back to Sydney after living in Perth for 18 months. It's daunting, moving interstate, but it will work out for you all!

Thank you and I hope your move back to Sydney is going well!

 

[heidispidi]

Thanks! DH leaves Perth tomorrow and is driving to Sydney, due to arrive Thursday. He has been transferred with work and will start the following Monday. We have a 3 month lease on a place my friend is vacating at the end of next week, and as she is moving to her mum's, she has volunteered to leave her furniture etc there until our furniture arrives in the first few days of 2014. My DD and I will stay here till the end of the school year. Furniture pick up 19/12, clean 20/12, flights out 21/12. Home for Christmas!

Hoping to buy a house in the next month - we kind of need to in order to secure my DD a spot at the high school she wants to attend. We have only been away for 20 months so she will have friends there still, and will start year 7 with them.

Exciting times! Packing has commenced. It was easier last time, as the company paid for removals, including packing!!

 

[platypus67]

I live on the south side (Redlands) but work on the north side (Ferny Grove) area. I prefer the climate in the Redlands. I find the North side freezing in winter and way too hot in summer.

We moved down from Cairns in 2008 and although it was a huge move we love it here.

 

[viaggiamo]

We don't live in Brisbane but have researched it a little as we may have to move there in the future. We have lived in places around it though and so have visited many times and have family there.

Afew places we like would be: Red Hill, Bardon, Paddington, areas of New Farm, Ashgrove, Mount Cootha, Kedron.

Hope that helps.

 

[Aussie Wendy]

I live on the south side (Redlands) but work on the north side (Ferny Grove) area. I prefer the climate in the Redlands. I find the North side freezing in winter and way too hot in summer.

We moved down from Cairns in 2008 and although it was a huge move we love it here.

I was amused by that statement - as I would say that about the western suburbs - Jindalee out to Ipswich especially but we don't notice it on the north. Then I grew up in the Brisbane Valley - inland country - you really want extremes then live there! (shudder!)

 

[SnowWhite09]

Thanks! DH leaves Perth tomorrow and is driving to Sydney, due to arrive Thursday. He has been transferred with work and will start the following Monday. We have a 3 month lease on a place my friend is vacating at the end of next week, and as she is moving to her mum's, she has volunteered to leave her furniture etc there until our furniture arrives in the first few days of 2014. My DD and I will stay here till the end of the school year. Furniture pick up 19/12, clean 20/12, flights out 21/12. Home for Christmas!

Hoping to buy a house in the next month - we kind of need to in order to secure my DD a spot at the high school she wants to attend. We have only been away for 20 months so she will have friends there still, and will start year 7 with them.

Exciting times! Packing has commenced. It was easier last time, as the company paid for removals, including packing!!

Wow - that is a big drive for your husband! That is nice of your friend to help out with your relocation. Do you mind me asking where you're looking to settle back in Sydney? It is great that your daughter will still have friends - it will make the transition to high school easier.

 

[SnowWhite09]

I live on the south side (Redlands) but work on the north side (Ferny Grove) area. I prefer the climate in the Redlands. I find the North side freezing in winter and way too hot in summer.

We moved down from Cairns in 2008 and although it was a huge move we love it here.

Really glad to hear you love it - I think we will too! Thanks for this feedback - we are definitely looking to get away from the freezing cold winters in Adelaide!

 

[SnowWhite09]

We don't live in Brisbane but have researched it a little as we may have to move there in the future. We have lived in places around it though and so have visited many times and have family there.

Afew places we like would be: Red Hill, Bardon, Paddington, areas of New Farm, Ashgrove, Mount Cootha, Kedron.

Hope that helps.

Thanks very much for this feedback - it is certainly very helpful!