Moving to Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital of Queensland and Australia's third biggest city with a population of around 1.1 million people. It is also Australia's fastest growing city.
The city itself is young, with modern architecture, and even since the devastating floods of early 2011, efficient reconstruction has made the area once more clean and compact. The heart of the city revolves around Queens Street Mall, which has five major shopping centres, two department stores and four shopping arcades. It’s a shoppers paradise.The streets of the city centre are easy to navigate as it is set out like a grid: the lengthwise streets are named after Queens, and those travelling across them after Kings. It's difficult to get lost.
The city is built around the winding Brisbane River, but to compensate for it not being near the beach, the manmade lagoon at South Bank Parklands offers sunbathing and swimming for holiday makers and office workers on their lunchbreak.
Brisbane is a laid-back city that still manages to buzz. The city offers alfresco dining all year round, a bustling nightlife over at Fortitude Valley and more trendy charm at neighbouring New Farm.
Whilst the city may be compact, the suburbs sprawl north, south, east and west. Open spaces and outdoor entertainment is Brisbane’s trademark thanks to its sub-tropical climate. It is possible to reside just 40 minutes drive from the city, yet live in the countryside on several acres of property.
Those living much closer to the centre will still benefit from a choice of local parks, normally within walking distance and often offering free to use barbeque facilities.
Queensland is known as "The Sunshine State" for good reason. Brisbane boasts around seven hours of sunshine each day, and claims summer temperatures that average 29°C (84°F), but can occasionally hit 40°C (104°F) or more. The average winter daytime temperatures are around 21°C (70°F), which is almost no winter at all. Winter mornings can be really fresh, but you won't need to scrape ice off your car.
You may be tempted to choose to live on an eastern location by the coast, but you still won't be on the beach. Coastal Brisbane is mainly mangrove, just mud and trees.
But one of the beauties of Brisbane is the easy access to two of Australia's best seaside locations, the Sunshine Coast and the Gold Coast. Both are within about an hour and a quarter’s drive.
Expats should have no problems finding suitable employment, as you would expect with a growing city. Median house prices are much less than in Sydney or Melbourne, and are even less expensive than the more reasonable Perth.
~ content written by local Expert BobinOz
See the Word Travels Brisbane travel guide
Are you living in Brisbane? We are always looking for local "expat experts" to contribute to our expat guide and to answer forum questions for people moving or planning to move to Brisbane. Please contact us if you would like to contribute.
See the Word Travels Brisbane travel guideLiving in Brisbane?
Are you living in Brisbane? We are always looking for local "expat experts" to contribute to our expat guide and to answer forum questions for people moving or planning to move to Brisbane. Please contact us if you would like to contribute.
