Why should you move to Brisbane

Moving To Brisbane

Brisbane, also known as the capital of the state of Queensland, Australia, comprises a population of over two million people. Despite its large size, Brisbane maintains an intimate feel with plenty of places to explore and things to do. Brisbane offers something for everyone, from the city's bustling downtown district to its lush parks and gardens.

The cost of living in Brisbane is also relatively low compared to other large metropolitan areas worldwide. This makes the city a desirable place to live for both families and young professionals. Read on to learn more about why it's a great idea to move to Brisbane!

Brisbane At A Glance

Brisbane city sits on either side of the Brisbane River and is home to a world-class international airport, vast public transport, bay islands, sports stadiums, stunning parks, entertainment and theatre venues, and open spaces. Brisbane is also the host of the 2032 Olympics.

Brisbane is among the major Australian business hubs, contributing over 9% of the GDP. Exports and imports flow through the port of Brisbane (the 3rd most significant in terms of products that pass through) and Brisbane airport. It has a range of tourism, transport, banking, information technology, and international education sectors.

The city's value is estimated to reach the staggering $217 billion mark in 2031. There are many job opportunities on the job market since the economy continues to grow due to the development of the biotech, IT, and diagnostics industries that produce clean energy.

History

The historical record of Brisbane goes back to 1799. Like other Australian metropolitans, Brisbane, a thriving city, began with brutality and violence. The first European settlers were British empire convicts who later became residents of the penal colony in the 19th century.

They settled near the shores of Brisbane River and Moreton Bay. The convicts squatted on land belonging to the Turrbul and Jagera clans. Unfortunately, the Aboriginal populace was devastated by diseases brought in from overseas and violent clashes with colonists.

As a result, the penal settlement became self-governing in 1859, with more people moving to Brisbane later. Currently, Brisbane is a vast urban region.

Population

Brisbane is the south-eastern part of Queensland, approximately 100km from the New South Wales border. The greater Brisbane area comprises:

• Brisbane city
• Ipswich
• Logan city
• Redland city
• Moreton Bay

As of 2021 statistics, the greater Brisbane area has over 2.5 million people. Around 1/3 of Brisbane residents were born abroad in the last few years, with their most commonly identified countries of birth in the order of New Zealand, England, China, India, and South Africa.

Many of them live a life centred around water sports due to the proximity of some of the top beaches and bay side areas throughout the country and campgrounds and dams. Also, the population growth is 2.2% a year.

Healthcare

As elsewhere in Australia, the Brisbane healthcare system is of world-class quality. The city is home to public and private health institutions with highly qualified personnel. Medicare Australia, the government agency responsible for overseeing the healthcare sector, is the largest healthcare provider for permanent residents.

Crime rate

According to Global Norms and Standards, Brisbane is a safe area to live in. However, there are certain city areas where there have been troubles with crime in the past, including Woodridge, Augustine Heights, and Bellbird Park.

Employment

In the 2016 census, the Australian Bureau of Statistics found that 93% of the population were employed. About 23% were classified as professional, with clerical employees accounting for about 15% in the first place, followed by technicians, tradespeople, managers, and people who provide personal service and community services.

Education and health care were the most populated employment areas, including cafés and restaurants. State Government administration and retail followed closely.

Top Reasons To Move To Brisbane

There is a lot to appreciate about Brisbane. It's best known for its stunning climate and the year-round summer. The proximity of numerous tourist attractions in Queensland and the fact that Brisbane is full of cultural splendour and breath-taking scenery make Brisbane an ideal destination for tourists and people looking to relocate to the city. Let's take a deep dive into the top reasons to move to Brisbane.

Affordable living costs

Brisbane can be considered the most cost-effective city with the benefits of living a healthy lifestyle. Let's look further into housing in Brisbane.

Finding a home

Overall, there are about 450 suburbs in Brisbane. If you're looking for somewhere to live, you'll have difficulty choosing. Areas such as the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast are the most popular. They have all the amenities you can ever want, including theme parks.

Some other popular and ideal Brisbane suburbs to live in include:

• South Brisbane
• Dutton Park
• Spring Hill
• New Farm
• Paddington
• Kangaroo Point
• West End
• Fortitude Valley
• Bulimba
• Indooroopilly

Neighbourhood choice

If you're looking to purchase the perfect home in Brisbane, you must consider your circumstances first. Here are some questions to help you make a better decision.

• What is your office address or your work location?
• Have you got a partner or spouse looking for an employment opportunity in the Brisbane region?
• Are you comfortable driving in foreign countries, and do you depend on public transport?
• Do you require schools or a kindergarten for your children to attend, and are there special education requirements you need to consider?

The next step is to locate the best suburb to live in. We have already highlighted some of the best. If you're worried about finding safe areas, check for crime statistics from the Queensland Police Department for your preferred locations.

Cost of housing and living

After you've decided on your preferred suburb in Brisbane, the next step is to find a home. An easy way to find a home is by contacting a real estate agent or going through classified sections of Brisbane publications. You can also do an online search to determine what you can anticipate regarding price and housing standards.

The median house prices in Brisbane range from around $550,000 to $700,000, coupled with interest rates at record lows, implying that you'll have an abundance of houses to choose from. Rent typically ranges from approximately $330p.w. for units up to $450p.w. for dwellings.

With a house, you'll also have utilities to take care of. Some of the major utility companies in Brisbane include:

• Queensland Urban Utilities (water)
• Origin Energy (gas)
• Optus (mobile phone services, internet, and pay-tv)
• Energex (electricity)

Quality education and prestigious university

Brisbane has over 500 schools, with about two-thirds being public schools, but there is only one designated international school. Greater Brisbane has many top-quality childcare facilities, including state and private elementary and secondary schools, special education, and distance-education schools.

Early learning centres offer a Montessori, Reggio Amelia learning approach and higher education options. However, several schools provide international baccalaureate. Furthermore, students with non-English speaking backgrounds are eligible for educational Queensland international programs.

Formal schooling begins in January if your child is 4.5 years old. A child must attain the minimum age of five years before June 30th of the year at which they begin preparation. Students are entitled to 13 years of formal schooling from preschool to year 12. Private and state primary schools provide education to children in the Prep stage up to Year 6. Some offer religious-based education, and others are secular.

If you've recently moved to Brisbane, be aware that the school your child attends is likely to be located in catchment areas, and you can also reside in the area that you like and opt for a private school instead. Some schools in the state will allow children from the catchment under certain conditions; however, many are managed by enrolment and are exclusively for the catchment.

Post-secondary training

For post-secondary training, Brisbane provides a range of possibilities, such as:

• Technical and community colleges
• Colleges for students in trade, hospitality, and business
• World-class universities

Best ranked universities

Brisbane boasts of some of the best-ranked universities in the world. They include:

• University of Queensland: Ranked 43, the university's specialties are Governance, Law and Governance, Science Arts, Humanities, Veterinary Science, and Public Service.
• Queensland University of Technology: Ranked 285, its specialties are Education, Health, Science, Engineering, Business, and Creative Industries.
• Griffith University: Ranked 324, the specialties are the nursing field, IT, Digital Media Commerce, International Business, Public Relations, Design, and Exercise Science.

Cost of schooling

While tuition at public schools is free, private high schools across the greater Brisbane range from about $800 to $28,000 a year. Greater Brisbane private primary schools' cost between $800 per year to over $23,500. Remember that these are tuition fees only, and you could incur any additional charges.

If your child is a star in a specific academic, sports, or cultural field, they may be considered for scholarships at private schools. Furthermore, permanent residents have access to financial assistance. It aids students enrolled in public institutions in covering tuition costs and paying back the loan after reaching the maximum repayment requirement of $46,620.

Favourable climate

If winter isn't your style, Brisbane could be your best place. Brisbane is also known as the sunshine state. It offers pleasant and sunny weather all year long. With over 300 sunshine days, it's a great location as you won't need to combat the bitter and cold winters.

Brisbane has subtropical weather; humid summers and warmer winters. Throughout the summer, temperatures exceed 30 degrees Celsius while rarely falling below 20 degrees Celsius during winter. The coldest months in Brisbane are June and July. September is the month with the lowest dryness, while January and February have the most rain.

It's an ideal place if you love summer heat all year long. You can enjoy this warm time to explore Brisbane's many attractions and sights. You can also enjoy the outdoor life in The River City. It is important to note that Brisbane is a prime zone for cyclones. However, there's usually plenty of time for people to be notified and at-risk zones to be evacuated.

Host of the 2032 Olympics

With Brisbane hosting the 2032 Olympics, you know what that means – Brisbane could become an international leader. The event will revive Brisbane because it'll impact the infrastructure and construction sector. All this will create a wealth of employment opportunities and much more.

Also, this is an opportunity for economic growth. With the city having to host a large number of visitors along with the athletes and their families and media, the economy will grow rapidly. Some of the growth areas include:

• Transport sector: The provision of public transport and policies will change.
• Construction: Many jobs will be created hence an increase in GDP.
• Tourism: The influx of many visitors is set to have both a short-term and long-term effect on the tourism sector.

Beautiful beaches

Nobody can doubt Brisbane's fascination with the sun, sand, and sea. If you've not lived in Brisbane before, as you drive toward the Sunshine Coast or Gold Coast, you'll see a secluded sanctuary waiting to be discovered amid the city streets. The Streets Beach is accessible for everyone to have fun.

Streets Beach is the only man-made beach, an inner-city one in Australia. It's a South Bank icon. This shady oasis offers an attractive and safe environment for families and those looking to cool off from the scorching heat. The beach is monitored and controlled by experienced and certified lifeguards.

Unlimited adventure

Another significant aspect of Brisbane is the blend of leisure activities offered to people of different backgrounds and preferences. While the beaches are the most preferred choice for many visitors, there are many other places to visit and have fun. For instance, the Queen Street Mall will be an ideal start if you love long-distance travelling and shopping.

If you're an adventurous person, then the Story Bridge Adventure Climb is an absolute must. It offers a stunning view of Brisbane when you climb in groups wearing safety harnesses across the Bridge that spans the cantilever of Brisbane. If you're a nature lover, you will love to visit the Scenic Rim.

It is home to the most extensive subtropical rainforest on earth. You can relax and enjoy the spectacular scenery regardless of whether you decide to walk or drive through it. You will not be able to resist feeling that you're in a truly breath-taking location.

There are various choices for lodging options, ranging from bed and breakfasts to luxurious eco-friendly accommodations. National parks and tours of the rainforest walks are an absolute highlight. There are plenty of great locations to explore in Brisbane.

These are the top places within the city which you should visit:

• Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary
• Brisbane Botanic Gardens Mount Coot-tha
• The Cultural Precinct
• South Bank
• Queensland Art Gallery & Gallery of Modern Art
• Queen Street Mall
• Story Bridge Adventure Climb
• Museum of Brisbane

Market shopping

Recently, fresh produce markets have been popping up as Brisbane residents demand locally grown gourmet food items. These markets are also a fantastic method to become involved in the local community and get to know the people there. Here are some of the markets to go shopping in.

• Rocklea Market
• Carseldine Farmers and Artisan Market
• Cleveland Market
• Northey Street Organic Market
• Milton Market
• Global Food Market
• Nundah Farmers Market

Green spaces

The inner-city suburbs of Brisbane are filled with parks with old Moreton Bay Figs, views of the flowing Brisbane River, and plenty of green spaces and lawns to enjoy picnics. From the CBD, you can walk, cycle, or even take a ferry ride to New Farm Park, the QUT Gardens Park, Roma Street Parklands, and South Bank Parklands.

There are many other options in the city, including playground equipment for kids and barbecue facilities that are operated by coins for a relaxing day out.

Amazing public transport

While Brisbane is quite large geographically, you must be prepared for a new experience when you travel using public transport. The benefit is a feeling of spaciousness and a relaxed atmosphere that you won't easily encounter anywhere else in the world.

Brisbane has integrated systems of trains, buses, and a ferry service called Translink. To enjoy the services, you'll need to recharge the go card. You can top up via phone, at the bus or train station, or in more than 1500 retail stores.

Trains in Brisbane are excellent, but there's one thing that confuses newbies: you need to hit a button within the train to be let out. You can tell the first-time train rider by the way they sit in a trance by the doors in awe of the reason they aren't opening.

Brisbane Visa Options

If you're planning on moving to Australia, you can select from different types of visas to relocate to Brisbane. Here are some of the different visas to choose from.

Temporary work (skilled) visa

This is suitable for those seeking temporary jobs in any Australian firm. The visa lasts for up to 4 years. To be successful, you must possess an official employment offer from an Australia-based firm.

Skilled independent visa

This is suitable for immigrants interested in staying for the long term. It allows you to stay for your desired duration and undertake any kind of job. You must achieve a minimum score on the points test to be eligible. Points depend on experience, age, English proficiency, occupation demand, and more.

Business innovation and investment (provisional) visa

This visa is available to entrepreneurs who want to start their own business, executives interested in managing an existing company, or investors looking to commit their money to Australia. It's a temporary visa; however, if you have lived in Brisbane for a minimum of 2 years, you can apply to make this a permanent visa.

Business talent (permanent) visa

These are permanent visas that cater to the requirements of business professionals who want to relocate to Brisbane. It is available to wealthy investors, business owners, and entrepreneurs planning to start a business with venture capital from Australia. Business owners who want to establish their business in Brisbane need to apply for the SkillSelect system as well.

Moving To Brisbane

Moving to the capital city of Queensland, Brisbane, is an excellent choice if you love beautiful scenery, great weather, and quality education. The city radiates a vibrant spirit with all its splendour. It is a city that offers a wealth of opportunities and an exciting and thrilling outdoor lifestyle. There is a sense of social cohesion, community, and dynamism that sees the city grow in significance and facilitation.

If you're sold on the idea of moving to Brisbane, the next thing you're probably worried about is how you'll move all your things to a new city. But there's no reason to worry; you can work with professional interstate moving services to help make your transition smooth and stress-free.