Peepster

G'day you Brisbane retrobates! Thought I'd try and catch you before you all slope off to bed. I'm after a bit of advice if you could spare me a min.

Good friends of ours will be transferring to Brisbane very soon. They've been moving pretty much continually due to work for the past 15 years but hoping that this next move will be their final destination so want to get the suburb right. Will be renting for a couple of years and then buy. Budget for both will be circa $650pw and then $800k. 2 kids so good primary school a must.

Their 'dream' is a nice 4 bed/2 bath with kerb appeal on at least 800sqm with a decent pool and plenty of garden left over for a trampoline etc. They need to be within an hour or so of the CBD.

Wellington Point seems to tick all of these boxes, can't find anything bad said about on BE, looks great on realestate.com, primary school sounds wonderful, commute reasonable - or are we missing something? Is there a catch?

Thanks in advance guys

Tramps_mate

Best schools Iv seen are in The Gap..

Wellington point is a bit out the way from what iv been told.

Tramps_mate

http://www.realestate.com.au/buy/wit...qld+4061/map-1

Tramps_mate

Also tell them to check these sites to look at schools in areas of interest.

http://www.myschool.edu.au/SchoolSearch.aspx

http://www.couriermail.com.au/schoolsguide

Centurion

I live in Wellington Point. It is in the Redlands, not Brisbane and frankly the commute in is an hour of your time enjoying the slowest overpacked rail service ever devised. Driving is not a much better prospect. Otherwise is a quiet nice place to live by the water.

Peepster

Thanks guys. They'll be driving so perhaps an hour and a half commute might be more realistic, it's about what they're used to at the moment. They don't mind quiet as long as it's not too quiet, they've got all of their pubbing out of their system but do enjoy having people round the house for a good drink come the weekends. So it sounds like quite a good prospect for them. Cheers

datamile

Where are they driving to, what time of day, and have they got parking ? Basically cross under the gateway before 6.45am , and you're fine.

You've got manly to Wellington point on the coast there, and Birkdale slightly inland for the cheaper option.

Icecube

...and on to Ormiston with several good schools in the vicinity

Peepster

Thanks Icecube & Datamile. He'll be driving to Eagle Point. 6.45am, wowzer you guys are early risers up there! I'll let them know. I believe that Wellington Point was of interest due to the primary school; I know that Birkdale is also of interest but someone mentioned that there were sharks in the canals by the fancy houses so it put the heebie jeebies up them! (don't laugh, it's true!).

Out of interest are there sharks in the canals? I know there are down Gold Coast way but is it a Redlands thing as well?

datamile

There are bull sharks that feed off the rubbish, but the bay also has lots of them. Not a worry really, like saying the every yard is full of snakes but no one gets bit. Wouldn't swim in them to be on the safe side.

No Day light Savings so Sun is up at 4am in the Summer, and about 6.05 at the moment. Most people in QLD start early to avoid the heat, and get some after work daylight ( 7 pm ish in the summer ).

The whole area can be driven in 10 mins so the location is not that important. Wello P -> birkdale 5 mins, Cleveland maybe 12 mins etc. Depends on what you're used to but the redlands can be very quiet after 8.30 pm, and most places will be closed.

fish.01

Some people like the bayside and some don't. It's "old" brisbane reputation was bogans and retired people but over the years has jazzed up and is a pleasant family area but it is still a sleepy place considered a long way from town by Brisbane standards and somewhat disconnected. It can be difficult if working in the city centre and needing to get back home for childcare/school pickups as not many jobs in the area. Better for tradies or people who aren't tied to the city or where the second person in a couple doesn't need to work or can work locally.

With their budget they don't need to live so far away from the city to meet their criteria so I would only recommend it if being near the bay is more important to them than being near the facilities of Brisbane and more active suburbs. Govt schools are "generally" better closer into the city (particular inner west) so not particularly the very best area for schooling though has some good schools. It is great if you are into fishing and bay activities.

Peepster

Thanks Fish, really helpful. I know it's all subjective but in your opinion do you think the Redlands area is quieter than the Redcliffe/Scarborough/Clontarf areas? I know those particular areas so would be a good benchmark. Thanks again.

fish.01

Redlands is large and varied and has somewhat busy big box shopping areas etc but also lots of quiet long relatively flat roads with intermittent housing estates that feel very quiet and a long way from Brisbane so probably depends where you are. The foreshore parks around the bay are probably the best bit. As a visitor to Redcliffe I'm never very far from the water so to me Redcliffe has somewhat less of that flat, spread out, quiet, inactive suburban vibe that Redlands has and is more interesting and busy along the foreshore with the Glasshouse mountains views to add some extra geographic character - though still quiet in the main of course.

spadgersdad

Hi
We live in Thornlands just 10 minutes outside of Cleveland (Last train link into Brisbane).
As people have said previous the Bayside is a little sleepy, but we feel it still offers that village feel where people still stop and have a chat and time for one another, whereas closer to the city you may not get that familiarity.
We always say to people that have stayed with us in the past, find short term accommodation first then it will give you the opportunity to look around the area's that will be close to your employment, schools etc and meet all the requirements that you are looking for.
It always depends on your personal circumstances and what is important to you for work/life balance.
Some websites that may help you make a decision is www.more2redlands.com.au , www.redland.qld.gov.au , www.visitbrisbane.com.au , and www.lifeinqueensland.com.au
Hope this helps