HandyAndy

Toowoomba is a place of contradictions.

It is known as the "Garden City" as it's green and, being flood free, has beautiful established gardens, but there is a very public issue with water capacity.

The outer suburbs are sprawling away with a mix of high class McMansions (read Highfield) and lower cost, older developments (read Kingsthorpe).

There are excellent shopping facilities, yet only one medium sized shopping mall.

It's in good vicinity of Brisbane, but it is a 90min "hassle" drive, including the Range.

There are numerous beautiful parks that are great for kids and families, but there are clusters that are off limits during the night (why you would be in a park with family at night puzzles me though).

The bounty of education at Toowoomba is probably unmatched anywhere in Australia, however, school results are mixed.

Entry prices are relatively lower, yet it's due for a boom in the next 5 years of so to "catch up" to Brisbane.

Overall, it is a great place. It's a central hub for South West Queensland and the sheer space surrounding it will ensure growth for years to come, albeit, it has been steady and slow for a few years now. Speaking with a real estate agent and having heard this many times, it's important to note that Toowoomba's prices follow a "stead flat, followed by spike" house value pattern. It happened a few years ago and it will happen again soon...

Ciao.

Yes, it's cold, yes, there isn't much to do and it's hard to find a job, but Queenstown has a certain small town charm. In summer when I visited, there was a drizzle of rain and as you wind your way down the dangerous twisty road into the town, you could squint a little and imagine you're somewhere in a remote European mountain range.

The main draw car here is cheap properties. The town is of a significant size to start being self sufficient (i.e. will not disappear in a hurry) and over the years, houses are slowly being renovated and a new hospital confirms that it's a place of "some" growth. Jobs is the key..tourism seems to be the main draw card, perhaps a few more attractions would augment the railway.

I could live here...

Condamine is a great little character town. The community spirit is very strong and it's a town it seems that will always have friendly faces at the pub. The Condamine Cods Rugby Union team and the great timber pub adds to th eoutback community feel of this place. Out of nowhere, the pub is full and supporters turn out in the hundreds to support the Cods. A small town, it has limited opportunities to purchase, so when one comes up, you've got to be quick. Unfortunately, Miles is the nearest place for shopping, or it's a drive to Chinchilla, Dalby or Toowoomba for anything decent. It's also a thoroughfare for trucks heading west, or south,north on the Leichardt.

It is possible to find a cash flow positive investment property here. Only a short distance from the CBD, Invermay, although an older suburb with overall low quality houses, is in a prime location. This area, I feel, will leap ahead once discovered. The levy banks will soon be upgraded, then there will be no reason not to live here. I can see it becoming a boutique, leaft cafe suburb, a bit like Wooloongabba/West End in Brissie, with the stadium and art precinct within the suburb. Rental returns are currently strong and entry prices relatively low.

A small town with no infrastructure to speak of, Abergowrie is a beautiful green and often wet place. The township itself is but a shadow of the past, all shops converted to houses. There is a mix of nice and neat, as well as dilapidated. Surprisingly, broadband internet is available within a certain radius of the exchange, otherwise it's satellite. The place is at the end of a 42km no through road, but a small community is still keeping the place alive. Sugar cane is the main industry, with the Abergowrie College and Abergowrie State School servicing the area. Unfortunately, a lot of fibro houses have been left to rot, and this has meant limited options to re-populate the area back to it's heyday in the 50s and 70s. If you like peace and quiet, it's a great place, wildlife everywhere (even the bad variety), but people here love fishing and there is plenty to do if you "get out there"...

"Maryhole", as the young people affectionately call Maryborough, is a largish town 2.5 hours north of Brisbane. It is a mostly quiet, pub filled, sleepy place, with a mix of old and new. All the facilities are there and its a bit of a sleeper in terms of prices. Maryborough seems like a perfect place t retire...filled with lots of little shops, a large regional hospital, easy access to Hervey Bay and Fraser Island, the cheap entry costs are almost worth having a bit more of a next egg. Hervey Bay is ridiculously over prices, and in reality, is only about a 30min drive. The Tilt Train also stops at Maryborough, so visiting relatives anywhere up or down the coast is a quick trip.

Miles is a great little town, friendly outback people and a growing community. The town itself has limited services and facilities, but there is enough to get by. Unfortunately, for anything decent, it's a 2.5 hour drive to Toowoomba, or about 1.5hrs to Roma. The town is going ahead, a few of the shops have received upgrades and the houses are being renovated. There are a few new developments, namely near thee racecourse end of town and up north. Prices are a mixed bag, but you can pick up a renovator quite cheap, new houses are on par with everywhere else. The town is serviced by a weir, which means water can be an issue now and again, although overall, it seems OK. The town has three hotels/pubs which offer different experiences for different people, but there is something for everyone. "Nightlife" as such is virtually non-existent, unless you like to bash people over the head with pool cues, then Miles is your town. Saying this, the town has developed a bit of a name as a cultural hotspot and some nights, gallery openings and plays make the place a bit more bearable.

The people are great. Lots of friendly, supportive and vibrant people and personalities. In particular, you can really notice the difference when rain comes.

Miles has been earmarked for a transport link upgrade, with coal infrastructure "seeming" (ha ha) to go ahead. This should bring extra jobs and further money to the community.

Beerwah is my home town and it's finally starting to develop into a somewhat reasonable place to live. We all know Australia Zoo is just down the road at Landsborough, and the traffic that it has created is starting to have an impact. Going west too has created problems and the new bypass is a welcomed sight. Shopping is still developing and for something a bit more serious, it's a trip to Caloundra, Caboolture/Morayfield, or even Maroochydore down the fast freeways. House prices have gone berserk over the years, and jsut now they are coming back a little, but still expensive considering the lack of infrastructure and retail. The town could really use a few more shops, not little boutique ones, but more established larger businesses, such as MacDonald's and Bunnings. It will soon happen, but where the township's CBD will expand to, is a bit of a mystery...

Lachlan is only a 40-45 minutes drive to the Hobart CBD and in 20-25 minutes, you could be at the northern suburbs. New Norfolk, it's nearest service town, is fast becoming a satellite "city" and prices are on the up. Woolworths is a good sign of things to come and Lachlan is only 5-8 minutes away. Rolling hills, mountain, valley and river views from most spots, it's an undervalued bargain. Saying this, the council needs to start developing roads, as many are still only all weather dirt/gravel. Power is spreading and most acreages now have access, but be sure to check. Houses are older non reno-ed, or 80s brick or very new, a mix if you will.

The suburb drew us in due to it's easy access to the city, via train if needed. The houses are brick, or highset weatherboard and are kept clean and neat, most better on the inside. All the conveniences are very close, gym at the end of Patricks, shopping centre (K Mart etc.) also at the end of Patricks. Small shopping complex at corner of Wandearah has mini supermarket, take away, real estate and pharmacy. Could this be the most convenient place to live???? Possibly...

Tree covered streets, with some undulation...keeps things interesting and, excellent access to Mount Glorious and greener pastures out west.

The only downer for me, is the location of the nearest Bunnings. It is quite far and I resort to going to the local Mitre 10 instead. Also, there is no "shopping mall" real close and the one that is near is dodgy. Chermside isn't too far...

I'm a bit biased since I live here now, but Ingham is a nice multicultural town with a heavy Italian influence, leaving some to call it "little Italy". The town has decent amenities and a significant number of small boutique shops. You basically do not have to leave town for services, but Townsville is only about an hour away. House prices are relatively cheap and rental demand quite strong. Infrastructure continuing with new Woolworths building/complex, TYTO wetlands, housing and light industrial all going ahead. Talk of another mill to be built soon, to service the outlying sugar cane farms.

The town has an element of charm about it. Some Italian influences in the architecture, quite a few functioning pubs and friendly (although fiery and proud) people. Unfortunately, Ingham thrives when sugar prices are high, and is in the dumps a little when prices are low.

I think it would be an ideal place to bring up a family, as you really are spoiled for educational choice. It is in the tropics and the summer months are hot, but from April through to October, there is nowhere else I would rather be....perfect motorcycle weather.....