I have spent hours researching Brisbane on the internet.. I have also tried to find all the down sides to the place, wanting a balanced view.

I can only find very positive and encouraging views on this fair city (apart from the heat issues and water restrictions of course).. so I thought I'd ask those of you who live, work or maybe even have just visited the city to see what you're thoughts are.

If we are successful in securing work we would look to live in the city I think to start with, renting a small apartment probably. Any advice on this please?

All and any Brisbane info is most gratefully received.. esp. on the city, features, things to do and the 'city beach' I keep reading about!

Thanks in advance

If you search Brisbane on this forum you'll find shedloads of posts from all points of view.
From my own point of view, the best bit of Brisbane is the International Departure Lounge, but I suggest you do a search and find some that aren't so extreme!

Hi and thanks for the advice which I will act on. Can you say what you dont like about Brisbane though please.. I'd be interested to know. Thanks

I lived in Brisbane for 4+ years.

Personally, I don't think BNE really has 'heat issues'. IMO SE Qld has probably as near to perfect a climate as you can hope for...yes it has some extremes, but all in all, I reckon the best year round weather in Australia. But I also think it's a bit of a one trick pony in that respect - I'm not sure it offers much else. I would sum it up as 'the lights are on but no one's home'.

I took a hit on the weather to live somewhere with stacks more character and life about it.

After two and a half years, I've come to the conclusion that living in a bungalow is boring.

It does depend on your outlook at the things you value in life. I have lived hear 2.5 years and I agree it can be quiet, however life is what you make it. Having a great climate makes it easy to spend a lot of time outdoors. something I enjoy.

But if your after night life and the hussle and bustle probably going to be a bit of a culture shock at first.

I live on the Gold Coast, but I love Brisbane. The beach at South Bank is a great day out and the weekend markets are nice to wander about. It has good music venues, some fantastic restaurants and still manages to feel more like a big town than a city. The only downside, for me, is that it is too far from a nice beach, hence staying on the GC. If it is surf you are looking for, then Brisbane is not the place for you.

Not sure from your post how old you are, but there are some great suburbs near to the city - South Bank, West End, Teneriffe, New Farm, that are young and trendy, with bars and restaurants along the river.

Personally, I like Melbourne and Sydney for a weekend visit, but I could live in Brisbane.

Your going to have to add some more info about yous .. what you like doing.. do you have kids?

I live in Woolloongabba, in an old wooden (workers) cottage on the side of a hill covered in green trees and those beautiful purple/blue ones (at the moment - what are they called?) and of course frangipani trees everywhere too, which are competing with the jasmine and just about every other flower around the place for my attention.. they havent a chance however as the BBQ has steak on and my beer is calling.

I am a 25minute walk to the City/Queen street mall, and a ten minute walk with my 2yr old to the "Beach" or west end... it doesn't get much simpler

The "Beach" is brilliant - but it's not a beach in the true sense of my word ie. deserted, waves, breeze, huge long walk. it is however a fantastic hub and a great place to go with kids.

Brisbane is easily the 'easiest' city in Australia (in my opinion) to live in
Melbourne has European weather
Sydney (harbour) is beautiful but just too expensive, busy, cranky and full
Canberra is a bit dull (20yrs exp.) - although i rate it

I personally wouldn't consider Perth or Adelaide as they're just too far away from everything/anything.. that said, they're both beautiful places.

Jacarandas.

Want a hand packing

I thought you moved to Melbourne

The purple trees are Jacarandas.

You are going to receive a lot of negative feedback about Brisbane, since you have asked for it, but there are a lot of good points. However do remeber that those who live in Brisbane will want to justify their choice while those who don't will want to justify theirs.

Weather - perfect, maybe two months of highish humidity, but other than that great unless you want to experience four seasons. Then it's Canberra or Melbourne (for a day -usually first day of the Boxing Day Test).

Housing - very odd and very expensive if you want traditional Qlder, which is wooden. However nowhere near as expensive as Sydney and Melbourne does have some very quaint stone and brick boxes.

Nightlife - have to admit - over that so can't really comment, but would think that Sydney and Melbourne beat it for clubs.

Beaches - none in Brisbane apart from the man made one, but an hour or an hour and a half way from the best beaches in the country.

Restaurants - getting better. Used to be horrific.

Transport - horrendous. The car is king and the infrastructure was not made for the increased population and can't keep up.

Appearance - Sydney has the harbour and that can't be beaten. Melbourne has a more European feel and lots of pretty parks. Brisbane has wide open spces, is a hodge-podge of architectural styles, but you are rarely far from water.

Feel - Sydney - glitzy and then misery in the outer west. Melbourne - culture and a bit smug, but great for a weekend away. Brisbane - slow, sometimes backward, but way more relaxed.

It's still experiencing lots of interstate immigration with around 1,200 net increase per week mostly from Sydney and Melbourne so that speaks volumes.

Ditto.

Melbourne's population hits 4 million

Melbourne's population has reached 4 million and is growing by 1800 a week

Melbourne records largest population growth

Official figures show Melbourne had the greatest population growth of any capital city last financial year.

The city grew by almost 75,000 people over the year.

"Melbourne's population has reached 4 million and is growing by 1800 a week"

Ahh, but where are the 1800 per week coming from?

Don't get me wrong, I do like Melbourne for a visit and Victoria is a very pretty little state.

Mostly natural increase and overseas migration, yes. However Vic also doesn't have a sizeable loss to net interstate migration:

From ABS:

Net interstate migration for Victoria in December quarter 2008 was a loss of 100 people.

Qld is also getting most of its migration from overseas:

Dec 2008 qtr:



...that adds up to about 400 net interstate migrants a week....and I bet they're all from NSW!