Service Area

Jenny Best Prestige services the following areas:

New Farm

Previously Brisbane's Italian quarter, New Farm has seen an influx of professionals and trendsetters who have transformed the area into one of Brisbane's most desirable suburbs.

Much of this transformation has been driven by the urban renewal process, particularly in James Street and the old Powerhouse and CSR Refinery sites.

These changes have helped to cement New Farm as part of the cosmopolitan heart of Brisbane.

Despite its increasing popularity with young singles and couples, there is still a wide variety of houses available, ranging from historic workers' cottages and colonials through to art deco blocks of flats and modern contemporary homes and apartments, reflecting the equally eclectic nature of its residents.

There is a wide variety of bars, restaurants and cafes, located along Brunswick Street, the James Street precinct and Merthyr Road, giving residents an almost endless array of options.

Cinemas are also located on James Street and the historic Village Twin on Brunswick Street is undergoing renovation.

New Farm is serviced by good public transport -- buses run down Brunswick Street regularly and there are CityCat stops at New Farm Park and Sydney Street.

The nearest train station is in Fortitude Valley.

The suburb is also home to the Brisbane Powerhouse, which hosts some of Brisbane's most avant-garde theatre, historic New Farm Park, and is almost entirely surrounded by boardwalks and walking paths along the edge of the Brisbane River, giving people the opportunity to see Brisbane at its best.

With strong demand for inner-city living, New Farm is expected to maintain its popularity with renters and buyers looking for proximity to the city and an excellent cafe lifestyle.

Newstead / Teneriffe

Like its neighbouring suburbs of New Farm and Fortitude Valley, Newstead has undergone huge transformations over the last decade; it's now one of Brisbane's most expensive suburbs.

The suburb is also home to the landmark Newstead House, which is located at the mouth of Breakfast Creek on the Hamilton Reach of the Brisbane River.

Its beautiful gardens form the basis of Newstead Park and attract visitors from around Brisbane.

In keeping up with the demand for housing in the area, Newstead's community facilities have developed accordingly and now include cafes, restaurants, and small retail complexes.

Formerly an inner precinct of Newstead, Teneriffe was officially classified as a suburb in its own right in January this year. Once known for its light commercial activity, Teneriffe has developed a trendy, cafe character with the sale and redesign of the old Woolsheds into upmarket apartments and older homes in the area being renovated.

Also close by is the Powerhouse Theatre in New Farm.

Newstead has excellent public transport facilities including the CityCat ferry service at the end of Commercial Road and two other terminals, in neighbouring New Farm. This ferry service, introduced by the Brisbane City Council in late 1996, has proved enormously beneficial for local residents.

Residents are close to other recreational areas including New Farm Park, which is a popular Sunday afternoon destination for many inner Brisbane residents and the Perry Park sports ground in Bowen Hills.

The suburb is popular with young professionals, who are happy to rent in order to be close to the great dining and entertainment the suburb and surrounding areas have to offer. This large rental population has also encouraged property investors to buy into the suburb.

Fortitude Valley

Only about two kilometres from the Brisbane CBD, Fortitude Valley has developed into a business district in its own right.

As with its neighbouring suburbs, Fortitude Valley has undergone extensive redevelopment and rejuvenation over the last decade.

A mix of commercial and residential, much of the business activity around the Valley happens between St Pauls Terrace and McLachlan Street.

Of the residential housing available in the area, new unit and apartment complexes make up the majority, attracting many young singles and couples to the area.

The Valley has a hub of entertainment venues, cafes, night clubs, galleries and restaurants and draws residents and visitors from around Brisbane every weekend.

Traffic congestion along Ann, Brunswick and Wickham Streets is often a problem on weekends as revellers spill out of clubs onto the streets.

Shopping around the Valley is always an adventure with the variety of food outlets in the Chinatown and Brunswick Street Malls complemented by fashion boutique stores along Ann Street.

The Valley Markets on Saturdays also provide a fun alternative to retail shopping.

The Valley's public transport services are excellent with a train station and regular bus services heading into and out of the City centre.

In recent years, old warehouses and commercial sites have been redeveloped into mixed-use buildings catering for apartment living and retail or office space.

Bowen Hills

Located approximately 4km from the Brisbane CBD, Bowen Hills is a mix of light industrial, commercial and residential lots.

The suburb has undergone a considerable revival over the last few years and is becoming popular with professionals who are keen to exploit its close proximity to the CBD.

Currently home to Queensland Newspapers, Bowen Hills provides residents with good public transport and easy access to the Royal Brisbane Hospital, RNA Showgrounds, Fortitude Valley and Brisbane City.

Surrounding suburbs such as Herston, Wilston and Albion provide services such as schools and shopping facilities.

The local retail stores in the area are supplemented by larger retail chains in Lutwyche Shopping Centre and slightly further away in the Stafford City and Nundah Village Shopping Centres.

A feature of the area is the large railway workshop situated in the northern sector of the suburb and crossing Breakfast Creek.

Apart from Perry Park, residents looking for recreational areas travel to neighbouring suburbs for a variety of walk and bikeways along Breakfast Creek.

Private and public schools in surrounding suburbs catering to primary and secondary-aged children, service the families living in and around Bowen Hills.

Hamilton

Bordering the Brisbane River and surrounded by the suburbs of Ascot, Albion and Newstead, Hamilton is one of Brisbane's most prestigious suburbs for owner-occupiers and investors alike.

Only about six kilometres from the Brisbane CBD, Hamilton is within easy reach of local landmarks like the Breakfast Creek Wharf and the Eagle Farm Racecourse, as well as the Brisbane River.

The nearby racecourse comes alive during the Winter and Spring Racing Carnivals and the Racecourse Road has a large range of restaurants and cafes to choose from.

Local parks, river walkways and water activities are popular all year round.

The mix of houses and townhouse / units are mainly occupied by young and established families.

Excellent bus services in the area make getting to and from schools located in Hamilton and the neighbouring suburbs convenient.

Schools include Ascot State School, St Rita's College and St Margaret's Anglican Girls' School.

For residents heading into the city, bus routes and the City Cat ferry service make the daily commute relatively convenient.

Getting away for the weekend is also a possibility easy access to the Gateway Motorway for coastal day trips, and the Brisbane Domestic and International Airports for interstate and international travel.

Revamping of the infrastructure around the suburb has only added to Hamilton's appeal.

Like the neighbouring suburbs of Ascot, Hamilton has developed a cafe precinct, which entices both locals and visitors to the area.

Local street stores and cafes supplement Toombul Shopping Centre and Westfield Chermside, which are only 10 minutes away.

Chermside is home to a Megaplex, although there are also cinemas at the new Portside Wharf development.

Portside also has a number of shops and restaurants, as well as a viewing platform to see the cruise boats that dock at the wharf.

Hamilton has experienced very strong growth in median house prices during the past five years; however, the median house price does not reflect the diversity of pricing available within the suburb.

Ascot

Widely regarded as one Brisbane's most prestigious suburbs, Ascot has maintained its popularity, offering easy access to the city and excellent local amenities and infrastructure.

With a reputation for expensive property, Ascot's high median price doesn't reflect the diversity of housing prices on offer.

Attracting families and couples, Ascot has everything from prestige homes and old Queenslanders to modern townhouses and units.

Ascot has also developed a reputation for its local events and retail and dining precinct.

Famous for the Spring and Winter Racing Carnivals held at the Eagle Farm Racecourse, Ascot's residents are also well positioned to take advantage of the restaurants and cafes lining Racecourse Road.

Public transport is relatively frequent, with the Ascot train station and regular buses servicing the CBD and surrounding suburbs, as well as the CityCat less than five minutes away at Bretts Wharf.

Looking ahead, Ascot's location, facilities and variety of housing will, no doubt, continue to attract buyers.

Bulimba

About nine kilometres from the CBD, Bulimba is one of Brisbane's most popular riverside suburbs and has undergone a significant transformation since the mid to late 1990s.

Many couples and families have bought and renovated in the area, which has had a positive impact on house prices.

A leafy suburb, Bulimba offers residents the choice of Bulimba Memorial Park, and Vic Lucas Park on the Brisbane River for picnic spots and outdoor activities. Also in close proximity is Hawthorne Park.

For water lovers, Colmslie Reserve in Morningside offers boat access to the Brisbane River.

A feature is the Bulimba Army Barracks located along the Hamilton Reach of the Brisbane River.

Services in the area have adapted to accommodate the strong demand for property.

There is a thriving cafe and restaurant scene along Oxford Street, which also has a very popular cinema complex.

Cannon Hill Shopping Plaza offers the closest major retailers and complements local stores in the suburb.

Bulimba is well serviced by rail (the closest are Cannon Hill and Morningside), regular bus services and the CityCat departing from the end of Oxford Street and Apollo Road, all ensuring residents can access the city and other major centres easily.

Residents are also close to the Gateway Motorway and the Southeast Freeway making weekend trips to the Gold and Sunshine coasts a possibility.

Schools in and around Bulimba are Bulimba Primary School, Lourdes Hill College, Balmoral High School, and Cannon Hill Anglican College.

University students are also within 20 minutes of the Griffith University campus at South Bank and a ferry or bus ride from QUT Gardens Point and the University of Queensland.

Hawthorne

About seven kilometres from Brisbane's CBD, Hawthorne is one of Brisbane's popular riverside suburbs that has undergone a huge transformation over the last 10 years.

Many older homes have been renovated by couples and families moving into the area.

The renovation of these older homes has had a positive impact on median sales prices in the suburb.

Situated along Brisbane River, Hawthorne offers buyers near-city living with a suburban atmosphere.

Hawthorne Park is popular with sports enthusiasts, while boat owners only have to travel to Colmslie Reserve in Morningside to launch their crafts onto the Brisbane River.

Services in the area have adapted to accommodate the strong demand for property.

Hawthorne has a small cinema complex, and residents are a short walk from the hustle and bustle of Bulimba's Oxford Street, which has a range of cafes and restaurants to choose from.

City shopping and Cannon Hill Shopping Centre offer the closest major retailers and complement local stores in the suburb.

Hawthorne doesn't have its own rail station (the closest is Morningside), however regular bus services and CityCat ferry services ensure residents can access the City and other major centres easily.

Residents are also reasonably close to the Gateway Motorway and the Southeast Freeway.

Schools in neighbouring suburbs, including Bulimba State School, Balmoral State High School, and Cannon Hill Anglican College, as well as Lourdes Hill College situated on the river and within the suburb's boundaries.

University students are also within 15 minutes of the Griffith University Campus at South Bank.

Hawthorne has recorded one of the strongest rises in median sale price over recent years as buyers have taken advantage of its proximity to the city, its local amenities and once affordable prices.

Norman Park

About six kilometres from the heart of Brisbane, Norman Park offers residents numerous parks and recreational areas close to the central business district.

Bordered by East Brisbane, Coorparoo, Camp Hill, Morningside and Hawthorne, Norman Park offers limited housing along the Brisbane River.

Buyers will find a diverse range of properties available and some excellent examples of renovated Queenslanders and post-war workers' cottages.

The neighbouring suburbs service the needs of school-aged residents and also offer a variety of larger supermarket and retail outlets to complement Norman Park's local stores.

The Coorparoo retail precinct in particular offers easy access to Coles, banking and some smaller street stores.

For those commuters opting to leave the car at home, the Norman Park railway station is available as are regular bus services to both the City and Westfield Carindale.

C.P. Bottomley Park and other parkland reserves offer residents a variety of walk and bikeways, barbeque and picnic spots.

The scouts also meet at the reserve situated alongside the Norman Park Bowls Club.

Norman Park has benefited from the continuing trend towards near-city living.

Coupled with its good public transport and local facilities Norman Park has experienced strong growth over the last five years.

South Brisbane

South Brisbane's history extends back to the initial settlement of Brisbane, when the river caused a physical barrier to the town, creating a separate township.

The magnificent South Brisbane Town Hall is still a vivid reminder of this bygone era.

These days, the William Jolly Bridge, the Victoria Bridge, the Riverside Expressway and the new Goodwill Pedestrian Bridge mean the CBD is easily accessible to South Brisbane residents.

Originally the majority of land in South Brisbane was used for general industry purposes, however, most of the land has been converted back to residential to satisfy the renewed increase in demand for near-city living.

Commercial developments have also been completed, as the suburb is an easily accessible extension of the central business district.

The type and quality of residential properties in South Brisbane varies considerably, with homes ranging from older weatherboard dwellings situated on relatively small allotments, to expansive penthouse apartments with river views.

The rejuvenation of the South Bank parklands coupled with the increasing profile of neighbouring West End is attracting an increasing number of visitors and residents.

South Brisbane also represents the central hub for arts activity in Brisbane, housing the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, Maritime Museum, Queensland Art Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art, and the Queensland Museum.

Also located in the suburb are the Mater Hospital, the State Library, and the Queensland College of TAFE and Hospitality.

The services and facilities have adapted well to the increasing demand for housing in the area.

Public transport in the area is excellent with two rail stations (South Brisbane and South Bank Stations) and regular bus routes to and from the City and surrounding suburbs.

The introduction of the Southeast Busway tunnel and priority road lanes have made the bus network more efficient in recent years.

Schools in South Brisbane are Brisbane State High School, Somerville House and St Laurence's College.

The West End Markets and retail shopping in the City complement local stores and supermarkets.

Balmoral

The small suburb of Balmoral, only 8.5km from Brisbane's CBD, is another area that has benefited from growing consumer interest in living close to the city.

For a suburb so close to the city, Balmoral offers several parks, is within five minutes of Colmslie Reserve, and corners onto Hawthorne Park.

For water lovers, Colmslie Reserve also provides boat access to the Brisbane River.

The suburb has a lively cafe and local cinema precinct and Cannon Hill Shopping Centre complements local stores in the suburb.

Although Balmoral doesn't have its own rail station (the closest are Cannon Hill and Morningside), regular bus services, as well as the CityCat, ensure residents can access the city and other major centres easily.

Residents are also close enough to the Gateway Motorway and the Southeast Freeway to make weekend trips to the Gold and Sunshine Coasts.

Schools in and around Balmoral are Bulimba State School, Lourdes Hill College, Balmoral High School, and Cannon Hill Anglican College.

University students are also within 15 minutes of the Griffith University campus at South Brisbane and a short ferry or bus ride from the QUT Gardens Point campus.

Morningside

Approximately eight kilometres drive east of the Brisbane CBD, Morningside residents enjoy its close proximity to the city while taking advantage of the community atmosphere the suburb affords.

The fact that the area is close to the more prestigious suburbs of Bulimba and Hawthorne has attracted a large number of younger couples who have moved into Morningside to capitalise on its relative affordability.

The majority of housing in Morningside was constructed during the 1950s and 1960s, including numerous weatherboard three or four-bedroom houses supported by wooden stumps.

However, in recent years the suburb has experienced an increase in the number of semi-detached houses and duplexes, units and townhouses.

Like many older suburbs in Brisbane, Morningside has seen a great deal of renovation activity as workers’ cottages and Queenslanders are modernised or renovated.

Morningside boasts many facilities and services including a major shopping centre, railway station, schools and numerous parks and recreational reserves. The suburb is also home to a number of restaurants and cafes.

Considering its close proximity to the city, plus the wide variety of facilities and services in the vicinity, Morningside is a suburb with a lot to offer.

Morningside is one Brisbane suburb where prestige property is abundant as well as affordably priced homes. The size of blocks varies in Morningside, with the most prestigious homes often situated on blocks in excess of 2000 square metres, while the most affordable are typically under 500 square metres.

Spring Hill

Brisbane's oldest suburb and right next door to the CBD, Spring Hill continues to attract buyers with its unique appeal.

Benefiting from the enormous interest in near and inner-city living, Spring Hill sits north of the CBD bounded by a railway line next to Gregory Terrace, Wickham Terrace, parts of Ann Street and St Pauls Terrace, and Warry and Kennigo Streets.

Being directly north of the CBD and its adjoining suburb, it is only minutes away from services and facilities, as well as the nightspots of Fortitude Valley.

Spring Hill is continuing with the makeover that started more than 10 years ago.

Many older homes have been immaculately restored or new, architecturally designed homes have been built in their place.

The area attracts renters who want proximity to the city and this assures the area of continuing investment potential.

The suburb is particularly popular with Brisbane's professionals and attracts strong interest from those who want the benefits of near-city living.

Clayfield

One of Brisbane's more prestigious suburbs, Clayfield is located about 7km north-east of the CBD, near Ascot and Albion, and is home to many superbly restored Queenslanders.

The suburb has seen the growth of medium density units, resulting in a strong rental market capitalising on the close proximity to the CBD, the airport and major transport routes.

Despite this, housing still makes up the majority of accommodation in the area.

A progression from older residents and retirees to young families and couples has seen residential development slowing with people opting for renovation of older housing.

Clayfield residents have access to a wide variety of transport, services and retail facilities, either in the suburb itself or a short distance away.

The Royal Brisbane Hospital is approximately 15 minutes away and there are a number of state and private schools in the area catering for both primary and secondary school children, including the private girls' school Clayfield College.

Toombul Shopping Centre and Nundah Village are the closest major shopping centres, with Westfield Chermside -- the largest regional shopping centre in Queensland -- a 20 minute drive away.

Residents are also well catered for in the outdoor recreational stakes with parks, bike and walkways.

The suburb has a lively cafe lifestyle and is close to Racecourse Road and the Eagle Farm and Doomben Race Courses.

The revitalised restaurant district at Albion also offers residents a good choice of cuisine.

Public transport includes the train line with stops at Clayfield, Albion, Wooloowin, Eagle Junction, and Toombul.

Bus routes are also available and residents also have easy access to the airport and Gateway Arterial.

Source: REIQ