15 Things You Should Know Before Moving to Brisbane

Brisbane is the capital of Queensland and sits on the Brisbane River about an hour’s drive from both the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast. People move there for work, for the climate and for housing that has generally cost less than Sydney or Melbourne. The fifteen points below are the ones that change how you plan the move.

1. The climate is subtropical

Summers are hot and humid with afternoon storms, and winters are mild, dry and sunny. Air conditioning is standard in most homes and a real cost in the summer power bill. If you are moving from a southern state, plan the move for the cooler months if you can, and pack water and a change of shirt for the crew and yourself if you cannot.

2. Queensland does not have daylight saving

Clocks in Queensland stay on standard time all year, so from October to April Brisbane is an hour behind Sydney and Melbourne. It catches out anyone who works with interstate colleagues, and it means a summer sunrise before five in the morning.

3. Summer storms and floods are part of life

The river and the creeks that feed it have flooded parts of the city more than once, including in 2011 and 2022. Check the Brisbane City Council flood maps for any property you are considering, and ask about the flood history before you rent or buy in a low-lying suburb.

4. Many homes are Queenslanders

The traditional Brisbane house is a timber Queenslander raised on stumps, with a verandah and a set of external stairs. They are lovely to live in, but every piece of furniture goes up those stairs on moving day, and the rooms under the house often have low ceilings. Tell your removalist if the house is high-set so they bring the right crew.

5. The river shapes the city

The Brisbane River winds through the suburbs, so two places that look close on the map can be a long drive apart if there is no bridge between them. It also gives the city the Riverwalk, the CityCat ferries and a run of riverside parks from New Farm to Toowong.

6. Public transport runs on TransLink

Buses, trains and the CityCat and CityHopper ferries all run under TransLink with a single fare system. The busways give buses their own roads into the city, and the train lines reach Ipswich, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast, so plenty of people commute from well outside Brisbane.

7. The motorways are tolled

The Gateway Motorway, the Clem7, Legacy Way and Airport Link tunnels and the Go Between Bridge all charge tolls. There is no cash payment, so set up a tag or account before you arrive if you are bringing a car. The M1 south to the Gold Coast is free but slow at peak times.

8. Housing has cost less than the southern capitals

Brisbane has been the more affordable of the big east-coast cities for houses in particular, although prices have risen with the population. Inner suburbs such as Paddington, New Farm and West End are priced accordingly, and the northside and the southern suburbs along the train lines are where most buyers and renters find value.

9. The city is growing quickly

Brisbane is growing and building towards the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games. That brings jobs in construction and infrastructure, and it also means competition for rentals, so start your housing search before you move rather than after.

10. The job market is broad

The Queensland Government, hospitals, universities and schools are large employers, alongside construction, mining and resources head offices, logistics around the port and airport, and tourism. Compare any offer against the cost of housing in the suburb you plan to live in rather than against your current salary alone.

11. South Bank is the cultural centre

South Bank, across the river from the CBD, holds the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art, the Queensland Museum, the State Library and the Queensland Performing Arts Centre, plus a public swimming lagoon in the parklands. It is where most of the city’s festivals and outdoor events happen.

12. Sport is a big part of life

Suncorp Stadium hosts the Broncos, the Reds and the Roar, and the Gabba hosts the Lions and cricket. Tickets to a home game are an easy way to meet people in your first months.

13. The outdoors is close

Mount Coot-tha, with its lookout and botanic gardens, is a short drive from the city, Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary is at Fig Tree Pocket, and Moreton Bay and its islands are a short drive or ferry east. The Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast are each about an hour away, which is why weekend traffic on the M1 and the Bruce Highway is heavy.

14. The food scene is spread out

Fortitude Valley and James Street, West End, Howard Smith Wharves under the Story Bridge, and the cafes of Paddington and New Farm are the main eating precincts. Coffee is taken seriously and most suburbs have a good local.

15. The pace is relaxed

Brisbane is a big city that runs at a slower pace than Sydney or Melbourne. Dress is casual and outdoor life carries on year round, which is worth knowing when you pick a suburb for the verandah rather than the heating.

How to make moving to Brisbane easy

Visit before you commit

Spend a weekend in the suburbs on your shortlist. Check the drive to work at peak hour, look at the flood map, and see how the summer heat feels in a high-set house compared with an apartment.

Line up housing and work first

Rental applications move fast, so have your documents ready and apply from interstate if you can. If you need a job, use Seek and the Queensland Government jobs board, and speak to a recruiter in your field before you arrive.

Sort the move early

Interstate trucks book out ahead of school holidays and the end of each month. Get quotes with a proper furniture list, decide what you are selling rather than moving, and confirm the delivery window before you sign a lease that starts on a fixed day.

Learn the neighbourhood

Once you are in, walk the local shops, find your nearest CityCat stop or train station, and go to a home game or a market. The city is easy to settle into once you know your patch.

Moving to Brisbane with Careful Hands Movers

We run interstate removals into Brisbane from Melbourne, Sydney and Adelaide, with the choice of a whole truck or a backload that charges you for the space your goods use on a shared truck. Our crews dismantle and reassemble furniture, wrap it in blankets and plastic and strap it in the truck, and a supervisor leads every job, which matters on the stairs of a high-set Queenslander. Quotes are free and obligation-free. Start with our interstate removals page, or our Brisbane removalists page if you need a local crew once you are there.