Specialist migration information to assist you to relocate to Australia.

Brisbane City Guide

Known as Australia's most liveable city and famous for its great weather, exciting events and cultural scene, Brisbane has a sophisticated, warm and friendly charm that attracts visitors and new migrants alike.

Whether Brisbane is your intended destination or just a brief stopover on the way to your new home, we have compiled this guide to help you get your bearings on arrival. To obtain more details about the city check out the websites listed at the end of this profile.

Population

Brisbane the capital of Queensland has a population of 1,810,943 and is Australia’s third largest city.

Geography

Brisbane city centre is situated in the southeast corner of Queensland. The greater Brisbane area is set close to the Pacific Ocean, and is situated beside the Brisbane River on plains between Moreton Bay and the Great Dividing Range in south-eastern Queensland. The CBD is about 25km upstream from Moreton Bay situated on a curve of the Brisbane River. Covering only 2.2 square kilometres, it is easily walkable.

Climate

Housing

The types of housing available across this vast region are varied, from neat, modern city dwellings (stand-alone homes and multiple dwellings) to older, traditional Queenslander homes and heritage buildings, including gracious homesteads.

Economy

Brisbane is Australia's fastest growing city and becoming a major cultural, business, sporting and scientific centre in the Asia Pacific region. It is considered one of the major business hubs in Australia with most major Australian and international companies having either a major or minor contact office in the city.

Brisbane's economy has white-collar and blue-collar industries. White-collar industries include information technology, financial services, higher education and public sector administration generally concentrated in and around the central business district and recently established office areas in the inner suburbs. Blue-collar industries include petroleum refining, paper milling, metalworking and QR railway workshops tend to be located on the lower reaches of the Brisbane River and in new industrial zones on the urban fringe.

Tourism is an important part of the Brisbane economy, both in its own right and as a gateway to other areas of Queensland.

Local Transport

The family car is considered a necessity by most and many Brisbane people commute to work or study by car.
Public transport includes suburban bus, rail and ferry services. Traffic congestion and the difficulties of parking in the city during business hours make public transport an attractive option for commuters.

Shopping

There is a huge variety of shopping experiences to be had in Brisbane from international boutiques to open air markets and everything in between. At the heart of city shopping is Queen Street Mall, a half kilometre stretch of retail outlets.  Other shopping precincts include Valley Shopping, South Bank, Chinatown, other suburban shopping and factory outlets.

Brisbane city comes alive with weekend open air markets which provide a wonderful opportunity to not only find original gifts but to mix with locals. Southbank host lantern markets on Friday nights and continue on Saturday and Sundays with day markets under colorful canopies. On Sundays, Aladdin's cave of market stalls fill the riverside terraces of Eagle Street while still more markets are held in Fortitude Valley's mall on Saturdays.

Dining Out

Brisbane offers residents and visitors some fantastic venues for various styles of dining. In Brisbane, you'll find some of the most exquisite restaurants and cafes. Brisbane's most popular restaurants are located in the city, Southbank, West End, Woolloongabba, Fortitude Valley and New Farm.

For a more relaxed atmosphere, there are numerous cafes and informal dining outlets located in the city and inner city suburbs, including West End, Paddington, New Farm and Fortitude Valley, which offer great coffee and superb cuisines.

Performing Arts

Brisbane boasts a wonderfully rich calendar of cultural events and arts, offering everything from musicals to theatre, ballet, opera, concerts and festivals. The Queensland Performing Arts Complex is the city's cultural hub with three theatres, a concert hall and the Queensland Conservatorium of Music.

The Queensland Cultural Centre adjacent to Brisbane's South Bank Parklands is home to the Queensland Art Gallery. The gallery houses extensive collections of Australian, Aboriginal, European and Asian art and attracts some of the world's best touring exhibitions. Also at South Bank are the Queensland Museum and the State Library.

Lifestyle and Outdoor Recreation

Brisbane has been designed with many open parklands and public spaces, world class sporting facilities, cosmopolitan restaurants and the great Brisbane River at its heart, it is a city that is meant to be enjoyed outdoors.From the city centre, it's a five minute stroll across the bridge past the Treasury Casino to Southbank Parklands. The 16 hectares of riverside parklands and tropical gardens is a local favorite and a hive of activity with cafes, restaurants, weekend markets, cycle paths, walkways and even a beach and crystal clear swimming lagoon.

The Gold Coast is approximately an hour's drive south of Brisbane. It has beautiful swimming beaches and lots of entertainment opportunities.

The Great Barrier Reef, the world’s largest and most complex reef system, begins off the coast, only a short drive north of Brisbane.

Education

Brisbane has multi-campus universities and colleges. Brisbane also has TAFE colleges and private institutions offering tertiary education to local and international students. Brisbane is covered under the jurisdiction of Education Queensland regarding public primary and high schools.

Brisbane on the Net

Brisbane City Council
www.brisbane.qld.gov.au

Brisbane Visitors Guide
www.ourbrisbane.com

Tourism Queensland
www.visit-queensland.com

Weather

Average maximum temperature in Summer Average maximum temperature in Winter Bright sunshine hours per year Mean annual rainfall

30 Degrees Celsius 20 Degrees Celsius 2750 1146mm

Time

Brisbane operates on Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT.