If you are contemplating moving to Brisbane then you have certainly come to the right place. This comprehensive guide will help you to find out everything you’ve ever wanted to know! To start with, there are so many reasons why Brisbane is a fantastic place to live. The food scene alone has exploded in recent years. The confidence in the culinary scene is unlike anywhere else in the world, and this has attracted some of the best chefs in the country. You’ll be spoilt for choice, and this alone is enough to make anyone want to take that next big step. Another reason why you should think about moving to Brisbane is for the sport. Sport is a huge part of Australian culture and the rugby league is often talked about amongst the locals. Cricket, tennis and football are also popular options, and if you want to participate then you’ll certainly be interested in the Riverwalk, which is 20km of walking, rollerblading, running or cycling. Lastly, the beaches in Brisbane are breath-taking. They’re truly world-class, so it doesn’t matter whether you’re going south to Byron Bay or whether you’re going to the Gold Coast because you’ll be able to put your feet up and soak up some rays without any difficulty at all.
Finding a Home
Do you want to rent or buy? The rental prices in Brisbane are amongst some of the cheapest in the entire country. The median price is $390 per week for a unit, and if you want a house then you’ll be paying $450. South Queensland has been attracting investors for years now, but the housing there is still very affordable. You’ll be looking at $665,000 for a property. If you’re only after a one-bedroomed apartment though, the price drops to around $300,000. Once you have settled on the option you believe is best for you, it’s then time for you to narrow down your choice by choosing a suburb. You can find some of the most popular ones listed below.
New Farm
New Farm is one of the oldest neighbourhoods in the area. It’s full of natural features, such as tree-lined streets, riverfront properties and even cafes too. If you are looking for a location that is relaxed without being short of amenities, then this is the location for you. It’s got a fantastic work infrastructure too, so even though you’ll be in a nice quiet neighbourhood, you won’t need to travel hours on end to get to where you need to be.
Northern Suburbs
If you were to buy or rent a property in the northern suburbs, then this would put you closer to the Sunshine Coast. It’s a very family-friendly area and it provides the perfect mix of city and relaxation. You’ll be close to the bright lights without having to experience all the hustle and bustle. Great if you have kids.
Shipwreck Brisbane
Kelvin Grove
Are you a student? Then Kelvin Grove is the ideal location for you. It’s home to a campus and the whole area provides the perfect environment for those who are still in education. It’s vibrant and eclectic, while also being well-established. It’s also a great location for families, as you have modern apartment blocks and tree-lined streets that are full of maintained greenery. There are also a lot of markets, restaurants and cafes, which help to provide you with all of the local amenities you could ever need.
Finding Work
Brisbane is absolutely full of thriving industries. Some of them include education, manufacturing, health, finance, construction, transport and even mining. In fact, education, government, health, retail and construction account for half of the employment in the area. If you want to move to Brisbane, then you need to give yourself the highest chance of being able to find a job. The best way for you to do this would be for you to set up a LinkedIn page in advance. Searching for positions on seek.com.au can also be very helpful, as it will give you the head-start you need to scope out new jobs in advance.
The Cost of Living
Consumer prices in Brisbane are just 0.24% higher than in Melbourne. Brisbane however is way cheaper in terms of property prices. Housing prices are 4.62% higher in Melbourne, and rental prices are 15.66% higher. Brisbane is also 0.56% cheaper for groceries, making it an affordable yet luxurious location for anyone who wants to make a great investment without the high cost of living. In fact, if you were to buy a beer in Brisbane, it would only cost you on average of $8, whereas in Melbourne it would cost $9- a whole 12.5% more!
Education
Kindergarten is the best way for you to try and prepare your child for the world of primary school. Your child must be 4 years’ old by the 30th of June, for them to start that school year. If you are new to the concept of kindergarten schools, then you should know that they mix learning through play quite a lot of the time. Most of the time, you will also have qualified teachers looking after your children. The fees that you pay can vary greatly in Brisbane because it really depends on the type of qualification that is being offered. There are tons of great resources out there that can help you to pinpoint the right school for your child, but a general rule is the more you pay, the more access your child will have to upscale resources. School is compulsory between the age of 6 and 16. Your child will also need to attend Prep before they get to Year 1. Your child needs to be 5 years of age before they do this, but it’s possible for you to delay by a year if you’re not quite sure if your child is ready. Prep will usually be held at your primary school. If you have any questions, then don’t be afraid to ask the teachers who work at the school to see if they can provide any kind of support. Choosing a school can be a very difficult decision and sometimes you might not end up with the choice you wanted because of availability, so you need to look in advance and make your decision as early as possible.
If you have an older student then Queensland is implementing the Australian Curriculum. This includes Science, Math and English from Prep- all the way to Year 10. Depending on the country you’re moving from, you may find that the transition is really simple in terms of subjects so there shouldn’t be any problems. Students who have finished Year 12 are given the Queensland Certificate, which basically proves that they have completed their educational period. Private schools in Brisbane have been continually voted as being some of the most affordable around, meaning that they are between $9,000 and $25,000.
Transport
The public transportation options in Brisbane are in abundance. There are ferries, buses and trains. It’s highly recommended that you buy a TransLink Go Card. You can actually buy this at the airport, or from any convenience store. The train stations throughout the city also have them, and if you are a tourist or visitor you will be able to take advantage of specific offers too. You will need to load up your Go Card with some money before you take any trips. You can easily add your money at the fare machine or even at any Go Card retailers that are dotted across the city. Using your card is very easy to do. If you want to travel, then simply tap your card on the reader when you board your method of transportation. The whole thing is very similar to the Oyster cards in London. The same concept applies with tapping out as well. When you get off, simply tap your card so that the system can document the journey you took. You will then be charged for it, and as you can see, the whole thing is super easy and convenient. If public transportation isn’t your idea of fun, then it’s very easy for you to drive around Brisbane. The parking fees tend to be based on zones, and they do vary from $2 to $10, depending on how long you’d like to stay for. Uber operates in Brisbane as well. They are available for pick-ups at Brisbane airport and there are also rideshare zones that are suitable for pick-ups around the airport too. Ride booking services such as Uber do need to be licensed and they have to pay a licensing fee too. A State Parliament law was passed to make this happen, but Uber believe that this law is going to make Queensland one of the most expensive places in Australia to operate. That being said, Uber have a huge presence and it’s very easy for you to catch a ride. If you plan on becoming an Uber driver however then you may run into some difficulty starting up. The best thing about Brisbane is that it’s known as the 20-minute city. You can get almost anywhere you want in that amount of time or less in most instances, and this is really great for those who don’t actually own their own car.
Weather
The weather in Brisbane is usually great, especially if you are coming from somewhere as rainy as the UK. In January, you can expect highs of 29°. Brisbane usually stays at this temperature all the way until March, so there’s plenty of rays to catch. It tends to rain around 9 days out of the month. The coldest drops in temperature tend to happen around April and June, with lows of around 10°.
Entertainment
If you want to stay entertained when you move to Brisbane then you’ll be glad to know that there are shopping districts galore. There’s the Queen Street Mall, and they have over 700 shops. It can be a challenge to navigate this area if you are not a local, but luckily there are plenty of maps that you can download on the official website. Sure, the mall might be overwhelming but at the same time, you can find just about everything you need when you know where you’re going. If homeware is your thing then go north of Brisbane’s business district and find the hottest furniture. There’s even a walking trail that you can take and when you do, you will find something to suit every price range. That’s one of the best things about Brisbane in general- that you can find anything you want regardless of your budget. Souvenirs are also in abundance. The diverse city has a huge range of gift ideas that everyone can enjoy and the markets are bustling with locals. If you prefer to focus on the local aspects of Brisbane then why not visit some of the famous farmers’ markets? The Brisbane region covers absolutely stunning farmland and if you want to appreciate this then there really is no better way than to introduce yourself to some of the great fresh produce that is there. The goods come from the Scenic Rim and Lockyer Valley, so you’ll never be cut short if you pay this location a visit. Paddington is another shopping area, where you’ll find gifts, jewels, antiques, homeware and other amazing boutiques. Lastly, Brisbane City has a great shopping area that’s full of smaller shops. You’ll find a new coffee table, antiques and even quirky gifts there, so make sure that you pay this area a visit if you want to stay central.
Dining and Bars
If you want to dine at the finest restaurants in Australia, then Brisbane should certainly be your stop. Howard Smith Wharves is certainly turning heads. It’s two storeys and it’s got a stunning interior. The menu is delectable and there’s an LA chef working behind the scenes. When you visit this location, you can have Cantonese duck, lobster and even Mongolian ribs. It really doesn’t get better than that. There’s also the Longtime restaurant. This has closed its doors in Fortitude Valley but it has opened up on James Street. It’s actually just outside the Calile. You can get the same vibe as before with great food. The restaurant is now called sAme sAme, which is very appropriate. If Italian food is up your street then Il Gancio is certainly the place you want to be visiting. They bring modern Italian food to the northern side of Brisbane. They have a mouth-watering menu that is full of antipasti, cocktails and even pizza. They have the cheese wheel pasta which goes down a treat with the locals, with Fridays being devoted entirely to Prosecco. This is the ultimate after-work joint. Have kids? No problem, Bender’s Bar is the place to go. The burgers there taste fantastic and the menu is extended so that it can provide you with some cheap and cheerful bites. It’s a casual neighbourhood bar that has plenty of entertainment for those who want to have a quick meal out at night.
Healthcare in Brisbane
Health insurance is super important if you are planning on moving to Brisbane. You’ll be glad to know that Australia have a fantastic healthcare system but before you start your hunt for a good doctor and dentist, you need to make sure that you have a health insurance plan. Australia actually has a sponsored healthcare system which is known as Medicare. If you do have a permanent visa, or if you are a skilled migrant who’s settled in Australia then you and any dependents that come with you will have access to this scheme automatically. If you don’t fit into this category, then only visitors who come from selected areas will be entitled to this care in the event of a medical emergency. This includes those who come from the UK, Belgium, Ireland, France, Italy, New Zealand and more. If you are a visa holder and you have come from one of these countries, then you will need to take out a private insurance policy first. You can then claim that you are exempt as soon as you land in Australia. When you’ve done this, you will then have access to coverage. Of course, it’s super important that you know that your Medicare plan will not actually pay for your health-related costs. Dental care and even glasses are actually excluded, so you may need to take out additional insurance from a private company. If you feel as though you need some kind of specialist referral then go to your GP first as they will be able to make you an appointment with a specialist or they can even send you to an outpatient clinic if you want. If you should ever require any kind of hospital care when you are in Brisbane, then you need to make yourself aware of any medical facilities. Queensland is divided up into various districts, so if you’re interested in finding out more about this then visit the Queensland Department of Health. If you are a resident of Brisbane and you need urgent healthcare, then dial 000 if you have a very serious case. 13 43 25 84 can be dialled if you have a minor ailment or if you need advice. Dial 13 12 33 if you require an ambulance for a non-urgent service, and 13 11 14 if you need a lifeline for mental health issues. In the area of Queensland, all ambulances are free. The ambulance levy has been scrapped, so when you move there, you will soon find that this is one less thing that you have to worry about. If you have any questions upon arrival then contact the Brisbane healthcare numbers mentioned above.
Moving to Brisbane
So as you can see, Brisbane is a paradise for anyone who is looking for the ultimate life experience. There are an abundance of restaurants and shops, not to mention that you will also be able to take advantage of the cheap cost of living as well. If you have never even thought about moving to Brisbane before then now is certainly the best time. Certain industries are thriving, and you may also find that job opportunities are in abundance. It’s also very easy for you to enrol your child in a school if you follow the right protocol. Sure, moving to Brisbane might feel scary at first but if you take your time and really make sure that it’s the right choice for you, then there is no reason why you can’t have the very best experience.
If you plan on moving to Brisbane then you’ll find that this is very easy to do, especially when you have the help and support of a very reliable moving company, like Chess Moving. They have over 100 years of experience when it comes to moving people to and from Brisbane. In fact, they even have an office in the area, so if you need someone local who can support you when you are in the area then you will have no problem counting on them for absolutely everything you need. They are able to serve regional locations and they have offices in other capitals too, so it’s safe to say that their experience cannot be compared. Of course, Chess Moving can also provide you with tailored door-to-door services, furniture removal services and pet transport too. This is ideal if you are moving into a city that you just don’t know a lot about, or if you are nervous about transporting them overseas.
If you want to find out more about Chess Moving and how they can help you then make sure that you give them a call. When you do, you will soon find that they can give you a quote for your move while also making sure that you are more than happy with the service that you have been given. You can contact them by phone or by email.