Forest Lake, QLD 4078

3.8(50 reviews)

Ranked 229th best suburb by locals in Brisbane Region, QLD

Great for

  • Schools
  • Parks and recreation
  • Gym and fitness
  • Childcare
  • Neighbourly spirit

Not great for

    No ratings yet

Who lives here?

  • Families With Kids
  • Professionals
  • Retirees
  • Singles
  • Students

Reviews of Forest Lake, QLD

Editors Choice

"Best Suburb in Brisbane!"

We have lived in Forest Lake for 5 years now and we adore it! We were inner city Dinks when we moved here almost 6 years ago, and had only lived in West End Wooloongabba and East Brisbane. Needless to say it was a change of pace! The first few nights we were shocked at how early everyone seemed to go to bed! We joked it was "lights out at 9:30 in Forest Lake!". It's very safe, very quiet, leafy, clean and so very very pretty! I love that you can drive anywhere in Forest Lake and it is manicured, green, and well maintained. There are no 'dodgy' areas, no seedy parts, no inner city crime / drug houses, no prostitutes on the corner, and no dilapidated old falling apart houses 4 doors down (thank you Delfin! ;) A LOT of familes live here, and since moving here, I guess we caught the bug, as we now have two beautiful little girls who attend the local playgroups and child focused activities that Forest Lake has to offer. The thing I love most about Forest Lake is the community spirit. It's really unlike anywhere else in Brisbane, Sydney OR Melbourne (and I've lived in all 3). It's really rare to have the kind of friendliness that occurs in Forest Lake. It's very community oriented, and everyone is really 'on the same page' in terms of acceptance and support. The general 'vibe' to the place is very relaxed and not fake and 'posey' like a lot of the inner city suburbs can be. People here aren't boring. Everyone has their story. There are heaps of people here like us, former hipsters, now in their late 20's or early / mid 30s with toddlers / young children who are still fun and go to festivals / out in the city on occasion, but most of the time, just chill out with other families and our children in the F'lake (as the local teens call it). It's a really cool, laidback but friendly place to live. Travel to work in the city is a breeze, you can take your pick of three highways. I get to South Brisbane in about 30mins in peak hour. It's a 45 min drive to the Gold Coast (we surf at the Seaway Spit and Burleigh) What I love most about Forest Lake though is how beautiful it is. You really won't find a prettier more well manicured and maintained suburb in Brisbane.

Great for

  • So pretty!
  • Lots of trees, parks, bike tracks and places to eat
  • Excellent transport services - bus and train
  • Handy to all major shopping centres

Who lives here?

  • Families with kids
  • Country Lovers
  • Beach Lovers
3
ShonaGlenWatson
ShonaGlenWatson

I have lived in Forest Lake 7 years. The local public school is not good. Prior my child had attended one in Mt Gravatt that had fantastic standards and he loved it. Crime has become an issue, my neighbours house suffered a break n enter. Another neighbour caught a window smasher. Later my car was broken into during a crime raid from from another suburb. 14 cars in all. I found various identifications in my yard. A great cost to me to change locks, replace sat.nav and phones etc. Last week an Iraq man tried to pick me up off the street, (I am 53 yrs of age walking to the shop) So not something to be expected - he pretended he knew me however it was pretty fast when I realised I did not. Drugs are in the schools. I used to be very anxious if my teenager was out late, walking w friends home. Very anxious. Now I am concerned about day walking. Lovely leafy suburb - I would say day living is good or if you work elsewhere and only return here for a few hours as mostly I have for 7 years. Stick to your yard. close friends and don't be out on the street. This street is wider than usual - gorgeous. Whilst being home now fulltime I observe a lot of 1-3am cars entering this cul-de-sac and driving out very quickly. I'm thinking of installing cameras.

PaulT1

I've been here 10 years and have never heard of these things. You are truly unfortunate, I am so sorry for your difficulties. I am sure that every suburb has issues with low life's coming into their area from time to time I am sure that it is a rare occurrence. You do seem to have an over reaction and anxiety issue going on. This probably isn't the place for you to vent. Peace!

StephJ

I must agree with the first comment, it is going down hill. There seems to be a lot more rubbish about . There are drug dealer's hanging around behind the main shopping centre. I also have relatives living on forest lake too, they have had their home broken into and so have a couple of my neighbours

MelindaW

Yes going down hill rated 2 nd for most breakins in houses.....had house for over 10 years ....love Forest Lake but now very nervous ,just was broken into during the day.....tried forcing front door then jumped fence forced laundry door cutting metal security door and forcing door open....got our cars keys ...etc....open garage remote and stole both our cars.....my sons car has been recoverd and 3 young guys arrested but haven't got my car back yet ....or my sons yet .....still waiting to be return.....criminals from Logan......they also attempted to house breakin another house with our cars but got disturbed and took off in both cars ......haven't said where or who has my car .....so I feel it's time to move to a safer suburb now..

MelissaH3

I have lived in Forest Lake for 8 years and love it. We have never been broken into ( but we do have a security system). The parks and lakes are beautiful and my children go to the local private school. Prior to living here we were in a terrace house in inner city Surry Hills in Sydney where we were broken into and drugs were everywhere! Our house in Forest Lake is on a 950m square block which is plenty of space for the pool and yard. I have lived Brisbane, Sydney and Melbourne (in Mosman, Surry Hills, Toorak, Kensington, Annerley, Forestdale) and Forest Lake is my choice for great family living.

LaurenHulseL

If you are looking for a reliable agency in the Forest Lake and surrounding suburbs area, please contact your local Professionals at Your Choice Realty. We pride ourselves in offering the very best service to all of our potential and existing clientele.

we have a fantastic offer at the moment; we will list and Rent your property in 14 days or you receive the first month absolutely FREE!!,
please contact Lauren Hulse on 0423 523 993 today to get this great offer.

Your Choice Realty
www.yourchoicerealty.com.au

diamondr

I've been living in Forest Lake for 14 years. Every time I sell a house here and look at trying to find something else more suitable in another suburb, I just can't seem to find another suburb that can compare, so I keep on coming back to Forest Lake. I am now in my 4th house since 2002 and I am still loving Forest Lake. Ideally I would love to live closer to the City, but unfortunately I cannot afford it and I'm not willing to live in an old shoe box, just to be close to the city. I love the open space, numerous parks, walk ways all linking up, beautiful lake, many restaurants/take away places, community entertainment over Summer holidays, friendly community and much much more. The friendly community spirit is outstanding; no matter what your age group is. It is just absolutely stunning that it doesn't matter where you are in Forest Lake, that there is an abundance of mature trees and wild animal life all around. The whole suburb looks so beautifully green and lush after a little bit of rain. Spring and Summer time the side walks all over the suburb are filled with the beautiful sight of mauve/purple petals from the multitude of Jacaranda trees which are found in almost every street of the suburb. Housing is very affordable with a variety of different styles to choose from in the various estates of Forest Lake. Everything is conveniently close by and within either walking, driving or public transport (bus and train). If we want to have an all night out in the City or Fortitude Valley for entertainment, it is reasonably cheap to take an Uber in and out without breaking the bank. I do have to admit that the crime rate has increased a little bit since I first moved here 14 years ago and my current house was broken into once, but I think that most established suburbs all over the world have their fair share of crime. I do believe that it doesn't matter where you live in the world today, that you have to remain vigilant and take precautions regarding your safety, whether at home or on the streets. Besides that one small negative point, I cannot complain about this suburb at all. I love living in Forest Lake!

Xaveston .
Xaveston .

Unless you are my relatives who go to sleep at midnight haha!
Sorry I had to, my relatives live in Forest Lake, anytime I am sleeping over, everyone goes to asleep by 11pm or midnight. The street they live on is fairly quiet and peaceful, they don't seem to have that much problems, so I am guessing it depends where they live (But could people learn to freaking drive slowly? Just going to say, their dog got run over a few months back.. It's a quiet street, and somehow someone managed to run him over enough to kill him. What if my cousin had been on the street? Or my grandmother? Any of my relatives, that ticks me a little, I have seen how narrow Forest Lake streets are and windy they are, there's no reason to be going fast. I may have not lived there, but I have slept at their house enough, and even for a few weeks before, to know what it is like on that street).

S Waston
S Waston

Lived here for over 2 years, don't like this place. The first weeek we moved in, a bird robed bread from the outdoor table, it happens all of suddent when I went back indoor to bring something else, realized this area has lots of animals. When you thought a place you can call a home, and animals around you thought they own these places as well. Very scary. After a few months, found mice/rats entered into house, grabbed fruit and broken rice bags, and later frogs/toads hide somewhere surprising you, making the backyard very messy, and they sung at night after rain, latter might find gecko and lizard around the yard and entered into power boxes besides, very annoying. Never seens such things before in other areas that we lived. Finally, done all the possible work to prevent invade from animals, but there might be still some left, very dangeous. some people like to pull over around drive way and say hello to you, I don't mind friendly neighbours, but those spent more than hours talking to you without even making appointment then knock you door when you might be just in the middle of something, very annoying too.

The opinions expressed within this review are those of the individual and not those of Homely.com.au.
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Looking for a home in Forest Lake?

25th April 2023

"Most affordable suburb - bang for your buck."

If you're looking for a place to call home, there's no better value than Forest Lake. Other areas that gets hyped by media/articles near inner city suburbs are all wooden houses with wooden poles running along the streets that makes the entire area looks like post world war era. Forest lake is considered a newer "development" area although built in 1995, hence you don't see any electricity wooden poles making the entire suburb look leafy, clean and well organised.

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
0
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21st September 2022

"Great suburb but prices are quickly rising"

I have lived here for about a decade and have noticed that there is a huge change in the suburb profile as investors cash in on the incredible returns and home owners are moving in. It is a very established suburb with the best walking parks and forests I have had the pleasure of experiencing in suburbia.

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
1
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1st June 2022

"Beautiful suburb in brisbane"

I'm living here for last couple if years.
Loving it.

Who lives here?

  • Families with kids
0
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Jessicca Gerretzen real estate agent
Jessicca Gerretzen
Harcourts Connections-Stafford
23rd May 2022

"Forest Lake - Really lovely to live here"

I sell properties in Forest Lake and the surrounding areas, I also teach yoga in our Forest Lake community each Wed at the Lake and I have lived here for 8 years now. Both my children attend Grand Avenue State School and can walk to school from our property. This is the type of convenience safety and community I want to live in and have my children grow up in. Also like to mention this area is so multi-cultural that my son and daughter have friends from every corner of the world!!!

Who lives here?

  • Families with kids
0
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Rentals in Forest Lake

19th May 2022

"Lots of Green Space Close to the Outdoors and City"

Nice Quiet suburb that is conveniently located between the city and Ipswich. Close to many outdoor recreational areas with lots of green space, parks, and shady trees. If you like quiet green suburbs without city noise, have a look here.

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
1
Jessicca Gerretzen real estate agent
Jessicca Gerretzen

I agree! I love our suburb and how secluded we are from the rest of our neighbouring suburbs.

Thushara Surajith
Thushara Surajith

One of the best and beautiful suburb in Brisbane

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6th April 2022

"Love it here!"

Green and leafy, everybody is friendly and we feel very safe here , never seen crime. Love our coffees at the lake and walks around it , great for kids and great place to buy and have a manageable mortgage, love our street and neighbours. Recommend this little gem before it gets more pricey down the track

Who lives here?

  • Families with kids
1
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"Great Family Friendly Suburb"

Forest Lake is a great place for kids with all the parks and families of all ages in the area. The neighbors on my street are all well educated, friendly professional types, and maintain their properties immaculately unlike other suburbs in Brisbane. Lots of community events like BBQs and kids parties as well which is fun for the family. Many of my family members are cops and they say the southwest of Brisbane has dramatically improved over the last year as patrols have increased and more first time home buyers are moving in. Also, it's great that we are not in any flight path nor in the flood zones like some suburbs closer to the CBD.

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
2
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"A beautiful suburb with a bright future"

I purchased in this suburb in late 2019. I was a bit worried at first, being 30 minuets with no traffic from the CBD and not in one of the so called "blue chip suburbs" that are shilled so much by "property experts". The truth is, this suburb is great for young families that want to own their own property and have great outdoor recreation activities around and plenty of schools to choose from. One key challenge that is actively being worked on by the Brisbane city council includes cleaning the lake which has already started taking place. Also, due to increasing property prices and rents, Forest Lake and surrounding suburbs like Inala, are attracting more higher income residents and pushing out the less desirables into places like Logan and Ipswich further out. I'm just glad I purchased in 2019 because 4 bedroom houses have gone up over 100k since Covid started and I don't see the price growth slowing anytime soon.

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
0
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"Great for those who like nature and tranquility"

I put my money down on this suburb and I don't regret buying at Forest Lake. The natural beauty of the suburb enhances the natural tranquil and peaceful atmosphere. The community cooperate with each other to keep the noise levels at a minimum. The rainbow rorikeets dominate the sky and the trees but who can blame them as its exactly why the name Forest Lake was made. Electrical wiring is underground, not hung on the streets. The greatest feature Forest Lake has is an artificial lake which is the centrepiece of its attraction. How many suburbs do you know have a Lake in the heart of the suburb? It is a superb suburb, especially to bring up children as there are lots of schools; fields to play in; a community swimming pool; a dog park; buses to the city; lots of space to run, walk and jump; a safe place to cycle; lots of takeaway venues; good oxygen from the trees; an overall relaxing and non-stress environment. It may not be relatively close to the city as New Farm but it doesn't have the traffic!

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
0
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"If you value safety, don't live here"

One month in Forest Lake and already broken into, car stolen. Heartbreaking, took a new job and moved to Brisbane and the crime in forest lake is terrible. Bottle shop broken into 4 times in one week, my home broken into, surrounded by terrible areas and insurance is a problem. Don't move here. The pretty landscaping is just a facade. No express train and train is in adjacent suburb.
Not a great commute. Wish I had spent more time researching suburbs and not been swayed by the modern, planned look of the suburb.

0
Rodman

Ive lived in Forest Lake for 17 years and never ever have we had a single problem. Its a fabulous suburb with easy access to trains, highways north - south - and west. Great shopping, good recreation parks and awesome people. Me thinks some people just love to have drama in their lives and like would jump at their own shadow

becs16

Rodman your welcome to your view but no need to minimise others. This break in will cost me 10k and really happened with much distress to the family. People can take their view based on the variety of opinions. Unless you're a real estate agent masquerading as a resident.

My Blog
My Blog

I have lived here for years and never had any problems.

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"I miss Forest Lake. I hope to move back one day soon. Hidden Gem"

I have owned 3 properties in Forest Lake. The first home I built and lived in while I WAS IN MY early 20’s in Centennial Park. My neighbours were fantastic. No loud parties, just people who were friendly and helpful. I made good money when I sold that house. The next was an established house in in Barrier Place, walking distance to primary school which I have rented out for many years. My 3rd home I built in Sanctuary Pocket and again had amazing neighbours and again made good money when I sold that house. Fantastic surburb to bring up young kids, we visited all the local parks regularly. Several of my friends ended up moving to Forest Lake after visits to my place. I was never broken into and never experienced any crime while living there. I moved to an expensive suburb on the Northside for my husbands family and would move back to Forest lake tomorrow if it was up to me. My son left Forest Lake aged 7 from a street with lots of well behaved kids to only 1 kid and not one local park in an expensive suburb Bris nth side. I work with victims of violent crime and Forest Lake isn’t a suburb On my radar. Check crime stats map with Qld Police and you will see for a suburb with a huge population it’s a lot safer than many small suburbs.

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
2
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"Invest elsewhere if you can afford it"

Forest Lake is a very nice suburb. I have been a resident for just over 10 years now. but the problem?
Forest Lake has so much potential for growth and is the next suburb to boom, but it also has been for the past 30 years!! Even Inala has seen better growth and now better ranking than FL. The House that I bought in 2010 is valued today at exactly the same value as it was 10 years ago. There has not been a single suburb in metropolitan area in QLD that has performed as poorly as FL. My forecast for the future is that when Inala continues to outperform FL, it will become the new worst suburb in Brisbane in a few years.

My advice is to go elsewhere, even an investment in Inala is not a bad idea compared to investment in FL.

Who lives here?

  • Families with kids
1
Tamer Rezk
Tamer Rezk

Paid 450K for a house in creekwood when 500K could have offered a lot of choice elsewhere 10 years ago. I wonder what 500K does today other than an affordable house in FL or Inala.

Rodman

Ive lived here since early 2000s and invested in several houses in Forest Lake and made very good money on every one of them so far.

becs16

There we go Rodman, as an investor you have a vested interest in presenting the suburb in the most positive light. No need to drag down others opinions because they don't sit your wallet.

Rodman

Not at all becs16, I've had good and bad investments in other suburbs just not in Forest Lake. And I fail to see how my comment dragged anyone down...

becs16

Well you did to my comment, making out I'm being dramatic to post on a public forum asking for reviews on Forest Lake about my experience being broken into one month in.......

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Nicole Hoare real estate agent
Nicole Hoare
Century 21 Novocastrian

"Great community"

Perfect location, we have visited here many times. Great walking/running areas, great parks. Easy accessible public transport

Who lives here?

  • Families with kids
0
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"Gorgouse area for families. Way under rated"

Such a green community. All fasilities are under ground meaning no ugly power polls. Breathtaking lake with great fasilities.

Who lives here?

  • Families with kids
0
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"A charming, green, peaceful suburb - best in Brisbane!"

Been living here for 7 years so far. A lovely, peaceful suburb perfect for young couples, families with kids/pets & retirees. Excellent bike tracks, lake, parks, public transport (train & bus), great schools, shopping plazas with everything you need. Decent amount of restaurants & takeout options. Great for people who like to stay active. Charming, modern homes. Never experienced any crime, have always felt safe. Friendly, caring neighbours. Higher up so no risk of flooding. Brisbane's best kept secret! Feels like we hit the jackpot moving here! :)

Great for

  • No flooding
  • Low to no crime
  • Best suburb in Brisbane
  • Lots of trees, parks, bike tracks and places to eat
  • Handy to all major shopping centres
  • Excellent transport services - bus and train
  • So pretty!
  • Fantastic Schools

Not great for

  • I can't think of any....

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Tourists
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Students
  • Country Lovers
  • Trendy & Stylish
  • Beach Lovers
0
LaurenHulseL

If you are looking for a reliable agency in the Forest Lake and surrounding suburbs area, please contact your local Professionals at Your Choice Realty. We pride ourselves in offering the very best service to all of our potential and existing clientele.

we have a fantastic offer at the moment; we will list and Rent your property in 14 days or you receive the first month absolutely FREE!!,
please contact Lauren Hulse on 0423 523 993 today to get this great offer.

Your Choice Realty
www.yourchoicerealty.com.au

Yvonne Lafferty
Yvonne Lafferty

Look at the stats. Very few professionals! Next to Inala - 3rd worst crime rates In Brisbane

Yvonne Lafferty
Yvonne Lafferty

Completely inaccurate

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"Excellent for families and fitness gurus"

Beautiful parks, lakes, schools, houses and shopping facilities. Bus or 30 min train ride to city.

Great for

  • Lots of trees, parks, bike tracks and places to eat
  • Handy to all major shopping centres
  • Excellent transport services - bus and train
  • So pretty!
  • Fantastic Schools

Not great for

  • I can't think of any....

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • LGBT+
  • Students
  • Trendy & Stylish
0
nursez

Hi, I'm from Melbourne and my husband & I are considering moving up to Brisbane, but are unsure of which suburbs are appropriate. We're in our 30's, no kids (but planning to!), I'm a nurse & studying to be paramedic & hubby is in logistics. We are sick of the constant lockdowns, the weather, traffic, growing population & lifestyle (or lack thereof). We want a new change involving a relaxed lifestyle in a hot/humid climate with lots to do! Big bugs and animals don't worry me, it's people that do :|
Hubby's brothers also live in Brisbane and I know that Parkinson, Calamvale are nice, but what are some other suburbs close-by that don't contain society's "undesirables", low crime, nice parks etc?

Yvonne Lafferty
Yvonne Lafferty

Forest lake rates in the top 5 for break-ins home invasions and car thefts and damage

The opinions expressed within this review are those of the individual and not those of Homely.com.au.
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"a lovely new suburb-where not many people know about"

We have moved from Kenmore to Forest Lake(creekwood) last year. We absolutely love living here. Houses in Forest Lake are new and clean with beautiful and easily maintained gardens. Most important thing is that there are no powerlines across the sky. There are no big trees blocking the sunlight.

Before I moved here, people told me about the termite problems in Forest Lake. But I dont think it is a big deal. Australia is a home to termite anyway! As long as you do the termite inspection every year you will be fine

it is said that Forest Lake has the no.2 breakins in qld. However,when i search properties history on crimemap website,most of the records were several years ago. I also did the search about Kenmore, it appears that kenmore and surrounding western suburbs have the similar amount of crime history,even though it is not considered that way in peoples mind.
Most of the houses now have security system. I feel safe living in Forest Lake.

Forest lake is very multicutural , and that is the best part of it. Every one is open to other culture.Every one is polite.

Forest Lake has a really healthy living environment.Every afternoon, the local go to the lake to do exercise.

Great for

  • Lots of trees, parks, bike tracks and places to eat
  • Handy to all major shopping centres
  • Excellent transport services - bus and train
  • So pretty!

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Tourists
  • LGBT+
  • Students
  • Country Lovers
0
LaurenHulseL

If you are looking for a reliable agency in the Forest Lake and surrounding suburbs area, please contact your local Professionals at Your Choice Realty. We pride ourselves in offering the very best service to all of our potential and existing clientele.

we have a fantastic offer at the moment; we will list and Rent your property in 14 days or you receive the first month absolutely FREE!!,
please contact Lauren Hulse on 0423 523 993 today to get this great offer.

Your Choice Realty
www.yourchoicerealty.com.au

Yvonne Lafferty
Yvonne Lafferty

Professionals make up less than 5% of people there. Top 5 for break-ins home invasions and car thefts

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"Forest Lake"

It is a great area to live in, but bad for investors, capital growth is bad and getting tenant for rental is hard, Average time for rental turnaround 120 days, to many house are vacant and too many rental adverts.

Great for

  • Lots of trees, parks, bike tracks and places to eat
  • Handy to all major shopping centres
  • So pretty!
  • Fantastic Schools

Not great for

  • Streets are rabbit warrens

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
0
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"Cheap rent and cheap people. The trees are nice though."

I've lived here a few years and the place seems to be going down hill. With Inala next door, the criminals don't have far to go to do their 'shopping'. Yes the rent is cheap and that has been great for me, but there seem to be more and more bogans moving in lately to take advantage of this. Nice trees and paths but I'm not sure Forest Lake is going places.

Not great for

  • Break and Enters
  • Houses too close together

Who lives here?

  • Students
1
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"Checked out all suburbs to live. Forest Lake won hands down"

I picked Forest Lake out of all suburbs when we cam e over from the U.K. That was 10 years ago. And we're still here! Lots of property choice, from units to lakeside macmansions!
There is so much to do in and around Forest Lake yet it is so easy to jump on the freeway and get down to the Gold Coast. Now with the new train station getting into the city is only a 30 min peaceful ride. Very relaxing not having to sit in a car.
My kids went to the local schools and have progressed on to uni so totally happy there too! Lots of restaurants, a pub and fitness centres. Plus a pool!
All round, very happy with our choice!

Great for

  • Great fitness choices
  • Loads of walks
  • Plenty of restaurants
  • Lots of trees, parks, bike tracks and places to eat
  • Excellent transport services - bus and train
  • Handy to all major shopping centres
  • So pretty!
  • Fantastic Schools

Not great for

  • I can't think of any....

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Students
0
Yvonne Lafferty
Yvonne Lafferty

Check actual stats. Virtually no professionals but high for crime break Ins, home invasions and car thefts

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Alanna Ngo real estate agent
Alanna Ngo
Ray White Forest Lake

"Great family community"

The lake is wonderful for taking the kids to feed the ducks and play at the variety of playgrounds.

Great for

  • Lots of trees, parks, bike tracks and places to eat
  • Excellent transport services - bus and train
  • Handy to all major shopping centres
  • So pretty!
  • Fantastic Schools

Not great for

  • Houses too close together

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
0
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"Forest Lake is really a lovely place to live"

We have returned to Forest Lake after relocating back to Brisbane from Melbourne, having lived here years ago. We find it is very central to Brisbane & Ipswich, with great shopping facilities in Forest Lake & Mount Ommaney only 10 minutes away. I cannot understand the former comments about crime in the area as I have gone to work from 6:30am to 4 or 5:00pm & left windows open & even accidentally left my back sliding door unlocked a couple of times with absolutely no issues. There is a very friendly community spirit here & I would recommend the area to anyone I know. I have lived in 27 different houses since moving out of home as a teen & lived in Toowoomba, Melbourne & Tassie & I have to say I feel very comfortable living in Forest Lake & I am very very particular about where I live, bordering on being a snob. There is crime everywhere, no matter how highly priced an area is & of course unless you want to live in a fortress type estate under electronic key entry, you cannot keep bad elements at bay because they generally come in from outside areas anyway.

Great for

  • Lots of trees, parks, bike tracks and places to eat
  • Excellent transport services - bus and train
  • Handy to all major shopping centres
  • So pretty!
  • Fantastic Schools

Not great for

  • I can't think of any....

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • LGBT+
  • Students
  • Trendy & Stylish
0
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"Great Suburb"

Moved here from the inner city - we wanted to buy a house as opposed to a unit. Very surprised with the suburb. It is great to feel away from the city on weekends yet still close enough.

Great for

  • Lots of trees, parks, bike tracks and places to eat
  • Excellent transport services - bus and train
  • Handy to all major shopping centres
  • So pretty!
  • Fantastic Schools

Who lives here?

  • Families with kids
0
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"Rated 209th best suburb in Brisbane??"

How can this be when Brisbane has only 188 suburbs in total?
Anyway, Forest lake is very beautiful and green. very quiet suburb and family friendly. very carefully designed (apart from the snake like streets) but forget about inviting anyone to your house as there will be no room on the street for any cars. can be very highly valued if it wasn't for the close proximity to Inala and Durrak and the very high crime rate (well, related to the aforementioned most probably). I have lived there for a few years and love it. I'm moving out of the suburb soon due to the increased crime rate and the ethnic change that's affecting the area (also because some of the surrounding suburbs are pulling it down with them).

Great for

  • Very peaceful and quiet
  • Picturesque
  • So pretty!

Not great for

  • Break and Enters
  • Streets are rabbit warrens

Who lives here?

  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
1
Kat Wood
Kat Wood

Um yeah, this is highly racist?? The normalising and acceptance of this type of attitude is disturbing. "Ethnic change that's affecting the area". I'd suggest that the "increased crime rate" exists soley in your own mind because of your perception of the ethnic shift in the population being linked to crime, which it is not.

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"Way too much crime"

The crime rate in Forest Lake is out of control. My house has been broken into twice and so many of my neighbours have been affected too. I do not feel safe living here and raising my family. This suburb has gone to the dogs. I have noticed in the past 4 years how much it has deteriorated - break ins, car break ins and thefts, and the amount of dodgy people hanging around. The expansion of the shopping centre to include Target and Coles seems to have attracted some real low life's to the area. Schools are average, the parks are secluded, not many decent places to eat, small yards and termites like the houses.

I rented here to begin with but got fed up dealing with the real estate so we bought a house. We are now considering selling up so we can raise our children in a safer environment.

Not great for

  • Break and Enters
  • Houses too close together
  • Streets are rabbit warrens
2
Yvonne Lafferty
Yvonne Lafferty

Finally an accurate account. Thank you!

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"Mixed Feelings!"

My daughter lives in the east end of Forest Lake in Centennial Park (12 years); I now live in the west at The Woods (1 year). In her tiny 5-house street alone, both her and my car have been broken into, as has her immediate neighbour's cars twice. Three doors down, their car was stolen. There have been two attempted break-ins and one successful theft at my daughter's property. Her Christmas decorations have also been taken from the yard and trashed down the street and my grandson's scooter was stolen from behind trees and under my daughter's bedroom window at night and this occurred even when the security light was activated. Five months ago another neighbour, his friend and his dog were attacked by a gang of about 12 youths (male and female) when they pulled in at an after hours FL shopping complex...they were dragged from the car and beaten resulting in the neighbour being hopitalised overnight. He was unable to work for a week. The car was dented and his dog was severely kicked. Where I presently live, my housemate's car has also been broken into.

Reflecting on what others have said, my daughter's home has also had a termite problem. Yes the yards are small in most cases and you can practically touch the homes next door. Street parking is a nightmare and getting lost around the 'rabbit warrens' is commonplace.

While this is a grim view of the seedier side of Forest Lake, the suburb also offers many fantastic resources such as parklands, some excellent, sought-after schools and all the usual amenities...it is also culturally diverse and I have met some wonderful people here. In many respects it is a tight-knit community; on the one hand there is always someone to offer assistance; on the other, not much gets unnoticed! Forest Lake is close enough to the city while similarly being tucked away in it's own leafy little niche...and the lake precinct is a wonderment itself. Crime in the area is well known now but whether you ever actually experience it or not is another thing. I, and many others, have no hesitation in calling Forest Lake 'home', but just to be on the safe side, it helps to have eyes in the back of your head.

Great for

  • Lots of trees, parks, bike tracks and places to eat
  • Excellent transport services - bus and train
  • Fantastic Schools
  • So pretty!

Not great for

  • Gangs
  • Break and Enters
  • Houses too close together
  • Streets are rabbit warrens
1
emjane

what do you mean seedier side? What are the better places in forest lake?

SuziFirth

Hi, you mentioned the East side, what about the west? What is crime like there? Do you still live in Forest Lake?

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"Great place, ruined by a minority"

The Good - Generally a nice quiet suburb, the shopping centre is good and the parklands are very well maintained. The lake is beautiful and makes for a nice walk, you can see fish, large eels and turtles in the lake. Forest Lake has been designed very well with nice parks and open spaces and the houses are not all packed together. People in our street are very friendly. The local pub is ok if a bit drab, but the food is excellent. Easy access to motorways.

The bad - In the last year the amount of break and enters has escalated. 6 homes in our street have been burgled (including ours), one house has been broken into twice. We have also had an attempt to break into our car. Some of the streets have poor lighting at night.

When we first moved here from Perth in WA it was great, the houses are not overly expensive and the local amenities are very good (dentist, doctor, shops etc.) But the recent rise in crime in the area has put us off and we have decided to move elsewhere.

Great for

  • Easy motorway access
  • Lots of trees, parks, bike tracks and places to eat
  • So pretty!

Not great for

  • Break and Enters
1
Kwan1988

Hi Julian,

I was wondering if you know much about how the area was affected by flooding in recent times? I'm looking to buy here.

Also what do you think of the nearby Foodworks? is it worth-while? what is the shopping like in the area? such as groceries and bare necessities and so on; where would you shop from here?

I live in NSW and am thinking of moving to Brisbane; would love to hear from existing residents in the area on this!

Sharonjr
Sharonjr

Forest Lake is high, so unaffected by floods. Areas to the north and west were flooded. The local shopping centre has 3 supermarkets and a range of specialty shops. Lots of cafes in the area. Within 20 mins drive to several major shopping centres. Lots of public transport. State and private schools. I've live in Forest Lake since 1992.

Yvonne Lafferty
Yvonne Lafferty

Pity about the overcrowded streets and break Ins, home invasions and car thefts

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"Cheap place to live"

I didnt like living here at all. The houses are cheap but the suburb is just full to the brim, way too many houses packed in so close together. Most of the houses are small and have hardly any backyards. Its easy to get lost here as the streets snake around and are so narrow, forget parking on the street. Crime is rife with lots of breakins. This is just a housing development where the developers built as many houses as possible to make as much money as they possibly could. And the lake is a mouldy swamp.

Great for

  • Handy to all major shopping centres

Not great for

  • Break and Enters
  • Houses too close together
  • Streets are rabbit warrens

Who lives here?

  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
1
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"Only lived here for a year, that was enough."

We rented a house in Forest Lake for a year with our small children to see if we liked it enough to buy here.

Firstly, the real estate agents need to work on their customer service skills.

Secondly, we found we were always traveling away to go out for dinner and to go shopping.

Thirdly, we couldn't find a decent house with a big back yard. Most of the houses have tiny yards which is no good for small children.

Lastly, our house got broken into once and there were also two attempted break-ins in the early evenings when we were at home. I got the creeps living here. I googled break-ins in Forest Lake and wish I had done this earlier as they are very high. We now live in Mt Ommaney and love it.

Great for

  • Lots of trees, parks, bike tracks and places to eat

Not great for

  • So far away from civilisation
  • Break and Enters
  • Houses too close together

Who lives here?

  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
2
Yvonne Lafferty
Yvonne Lafferty

Finally a true story. Mt Ommaney is heaven by comparison

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"Resort Style Living"

I have been staying for the past 9 years in forest lake.I feel like heaven.One of the best suburbs to live in brisbane.

Great for

  • Lots of trees, parks, bike tracks and places to eat
  • Excellent transport services - bus and train
  • Handy to all major shopping centres
  • Fantastic Schools
  • So pretty!

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Tourists
  • Country Lovers
0
Yvonne Lafferty
Yvonne Lafferty

You must be deluded. It's horribly overcrowded and high rate of break Ins home invasions and car thefts

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"Got robbed twice in one year"

Moved here a few years back as bought a bargain house. House broken into twice in one year. Got fed up with the low life neighbours down the street who would hoon up and down the street at 3am. Other neighbour had a termite problem and seeming he didn't bother to have regular inspections done, had to rebuild half his house. Apparently termites are a big problem here. I also don't like the lane ways behind many of the houses - drunks walking home at 2am yahooing is annoying as are the trail bikes and occasional car that hoons along them. Yep, cars and trial bikes would hoon along behind my house. Also, council has to waste a lot of money maintaining this leafy suburb. Moved to Heathwood? House cost more but was worth it.

Not great for

  • Termites
  • Hoons
  • Break and Enters
  • Dog poo in parks
1
net

strange i was under the impression heathwood had a bigger problem with robberies than forest lake.

Yvonne Lafferty
Yvonne Lafferty

They're both poor choices

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"Great place to live"

Having lived in 3 different parts of forest lake over the past 6 years i think i am well qualified to comment. Having moved from the UK 6 years ago and after a lot of searching we decided to live in Forest Lake. Why? Because of the greenness the cleanliness and its amenities. Yes it may have the odd bit graffiti but don't most suburbs and to be fair it is cleaned off pretty quickly when it does appear. Yes there are breaking and entering in Forest Lake but tell me a suburb that is crime free? However may I point out we have never been broken in to. Yes some parts of Forest Lake are a bit shabby looking however the vast majority of the estates are very well kept. Just look round the lake estates or creekwood estate parklands estate to name but a few with its beautiful gardens and big blocks the woods another lovely part of Forest Lake the list goes on. There are nearly 20 thousand people living in Forest Lake so to live there without any social problems would be no mean feat. It has great shopping facilities and excellent transport, both public and private education on you doorstep and affordable housing with a lovely lake with bbq facilities and parks for children to play in. What more could you ask for? Thats why so many people choose to live in Forest Lake.

Great for

  • Lots of trees, parks, bike tracks and places to eat
  • Excellent transport services - bus and train
  • Handy to all major shopping centres
  • Fantastic Schools
  • So pretty!

Not great for

  • I can't think of any....

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • LGBT+
0
Yvonne Lafferty
Yvonne Lafferty

Virtually no professionals live there. Check out statistics!!

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"Lacks character"

My family and I lived in Forest Lake for 8 years. We recently moved away because of the high crime rate and the claustrophobic feel the suburb has. I noticed over the past few years more and more undesirable people moving into the suburb as well. The amenities are average - major supermarkets and Target and the usual chain restaurants. Thre are a number of bulk billing doctors but I wouldn't go to them if I had a serious illness. Forest Lake is a massive suburb which lacks character.

Not great for

  • Suburb lacks character
  • Break and Enters
  • Houses too close together

Who lives here?

  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
1
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"Forest Lake - affordable but there's better out there"

I lived in Forest Lake for 4 years. The houses are too close together with small yards. The crime rate is high - had the second highest rate for break-ins in Qld (after Southport). We lived in the middle part of Forest Lake (not too close to Inala) and had 4 attempted break-ins while we were at home. The police told us that the break-in rate is really high. They also told us that drug addicts from Inala come to Forest Lake to rob houses for their next hit.

The streets are too small, too many lane ways behind houses which are perfect for crims. The shopping centre is average but ok for grocery shopping. House prices and rents are lower than many other suburbs but this is a reflection of the quality of the houses - small yards, in need of renovation, and too many trees blocking any sunlight.

I am able to give such a review because I lived in Forest Lake for 4 years. We moved away as we wanted a bigger yard and a newer house in a quiet suburb with less crime.

Also, is a terrible suburb for dog crap. Too many owners don't pick up after their dogs in parks and around the lake. Too many dogs off leads - owners refuse to use dog parks.

Not great for

  • Streets are rabbit warrens
  • Houses too close together
  • Break and Enters
  • Mould is a problem

Who lives here?

  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
1
Penni

I read the same stats on break ins. Pretty scary thought to live in a suburb with such a high break in rate.

randlac

That data is from the Courier Mail and is 5 years old, maybe worth finding some more credible up to date info.

Ethz

AAMI conducted the survey. Exact info like this is hard to find. I can't imagine Forest Lake would have improved much. They had the second highest break in rate in Queensland, I doubt it's any better. It would be a huge task to improve these statistics. I have a hunch real estate agents in Forest Lake and home sellers in Forest Lake troll these reviews and offset each negative review with a positive review and defend Forest Lake in the comments section. Why else would people be so eager to defend/downplay its high crime rate?

Sharonjr
Sharonjr

I've lived in Forest Lake since 1992 and have never been broken into and I've lived in 5 different areas. I do know people who have been broken into, but the crime rate n Brisbane as a whole has increased in recent years. NOT a real Estate Agent

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"Forest lake is fantastic, except the local Maccas"

I went through the McDonald's Forest Lake Drive-Thru (postcode 4078) this morning at 10:23am to be told the breakfast menu had stopped. The sign right in front of me said it stopped at 10:30am and so I told them that. They then said It's the lunch menu now" so I checked my watch and told them it wasn't 10:30 yet. There was a pause and they said It's 10:30 here." At first I thought my watch had stopped, then realized my mobile and the clock in my car all said either 10:23 or 10:24. There was no care from the service operator and they seemed to enjoy being difficult. If you are looking for service, go elsewhere as it won't be found at McDonald's Forest Lake.

Great for

  • Lots of trees, parks, bike tracks and places to eat
  • Excellent transport services - bus and train
  • Handy to all major shopping centres
  • Fantastic Schools

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
0
Yvonne Lafferty
Yvonne Lafferty

Virtually no professionals live there. Check your statistics

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"Beautiful Forest Lake"

I've lived in Forest Lake since 2003. I am raising four children here. Our local school - Forest Lake State School is excellent. I have heard that St Johns Anglican College is very good, as is Grand Ave State School. There are two highschools to choose from also. Childcare in the area is great with options of day care centres and family day carers (my personal favourite). Forest Lake is a great place for everyone of every age and lifestyle to live. The people are friendly, the shopping is handy (and now with Coles and Target - even better).

I love Forest Lake for the family friendly parks, walking tracks and playgrounds. The lake is a beautiful place to picnic and spend time with friends and family.

Internet is great - I get ADSL2 and the speed is excellent.

The only downside that I will list is the crime. Depending on where you live in Forest Lake you may be affected differently. Whilst living in Homestead Village, my house was burgled 3 times and my car twice (once the window was completely smashed). In Creekwood, where I lived for 4 years, we were not burgled once (however a neighbour was). In Centennial Park, my car was broken into twice.

People jokingly call Forest Lake - Forest Break (or Inala Heights). I don't know what crime statistics are like in other suburbs, but we did take a bit of a beating for a while there.

I love Forest Lake. Rental prices are getting a little less affordable, but I'd love to stay here as long as I can. Just a note, renters take just as good care of the homes they rent as home owners. We all have the capacity to take pride in our homes (or to be slovenly) so please don't judge people just because they rent.

Great for

  • Fantastic Schools
  • Lots of trees, parks, bike tracks and places to eat
  • Excellent transport services - bus and train
  • Handy to all major shopping centres

Not great for

  • Break and Enters

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • LGBT+
  • Students
0
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"Very underrated"

A great place for families, great community spirit. Lots of parks, bikeways, playgrounds etc. The Shopping Centre is excellent with a Woolworths, Coles, Aldi & Target. Schools are good and have good reputations. Great range of housing options

Great for

  • Lots of trees, parks, bike tracks and places to eat

Not great for

  • I can't think of any....

Who lives here?

  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
0
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"good place to live but boring nothing happening"

forest lake good tidy quite area very green and quite nice homes good schools and decent people the homes are compact and easy maintenance, newish but transport is not very good to city shops boring people are boring also a bit to far from any interesting action ultimately I dont think it will reach any great heights in the property market nothing stands out to give it a point of difference. something got to change somewhere along the line over the years for that to happen.

Great for

  • Lots of trees, parks, bike tracks and places to eat

Who lives here?

  • Families with kids
0
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"Trees, parks, lake, shopping, eating out. Forest Lake has everything one needs"

I lived in the suburb of St. Lucia for many years, and now I don't know how I did it for so long. Traffic, noise, crowds, fast pace, but no more. Forest Lake is peaceful, easy going with everything one needs. The Village for shopping, meeting friends for coffee or dinning out. The lake is a relaxing place to either walk, have a picnic/bbq, or just unwind. There are plenty of places to walk the dog, ride the bike, and parks for the kids to play. Schools, medical centers, dentist, and lots more. Mt. Ommaney, Browns Plains, Redbank and Indooroopilly shopping centers are all a short drive away. The bus service is excellent or you can park and ride at the Richland train station. The Logan Motorway is nearby for travel to the airport or to the Gold/Sunshine Coast. I would not want to live any where else but Forest Lake.

Great for

  • Excellent transport services - bus and train
  • Lots of trees, parks, bike tracks and places to eat
  • Handy to all major shopping centres

Not great for

  • I can't think of any....

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Tourists
  • LGBT+
  • Hipsters
  • Students
  • Country Lovers
  • Trendy & Stylish
  • Beach Lovers
0
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"Lakeside Living!"

Form $250,000 to $1m plus Forest Lake offers the best of both worlds, the opportunity for the first home buyer to enter the market at an affordable price right up to luxury properties on the lake.
We intend to post some photographs of the local area so you can see firsthand what I am describing if you are thinking of making a move to Forest Lake please give me a call Robert Crane 0422 927 671 I would love to help.
The size of Forest Lake is approximately 7 square kilometres. It has 6 parks covering nearly 1% of total area.
The population of Forest Lake in 2001 was 12,902 people. By 2006 the population was 21,005 showing a population growth of 62% in the

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"Great place to start!"

Forest Lake is one of the best places to buy for first home buyers, you get a newish property that doesn't require a lot of work for an affordable price. Properties are not very big, but are functional and have what you need. Forest Lake is very leafy and quiet. The bus services from my area are ok, the 460 and 461 do take a long time in peak hour traffic, but the train station at Richlands have just opened, so that's a great option for many. Otherwise, you can cycle in to the city on the bikeway.

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
0
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Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
  • Students
0
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"One of the success stories of south brisbane"

but it still suffers from the plainess that comes with low-cost urban sprawl.

1
Jaryd

An obviously biased opinion from a probable Petrie resident? You need to live in the suburb and know a little more before giving it one star and low ratings on everything. Uninformed and misleading.

FLliving

As a Forest Lake resident, I totally disagree with your comments. You obviously don't live in FL.

FLliving

As a Forest Lake resident, I totally disagree with your comments. You obviously don't live in FL.

DanAlvarez
DanAlvarez

all his reviews are uninformed and poor.... this person likes stirring others into anger..... the only "good"places according to him are inner city suburbs ....

jjjjjjjjj
jjjjjjjjj

yeah he is a bit of a troll lol

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"long term resident"

I've lived in Forest Lake since 1992 and have seen it develop into the family-oriented suburb it is today. We've raised a family here and have moved around the suburb as our life-style changes. We love being able to walk up to the cafes and restaurants at Forest Lake Village, as well as down to the lake. Our grand-daughter enjoys feeding the ducks and watching for turtles when she visits.

Public transport to the city is pretty good. I have the choice of a number of bus routes. The 100 bus comes every 10 minutes during peak hours morning and afternoon. Plus there are buses along the toll road/busway and the Centenary Highway. There will be a train service to Richlands next year, which will be a welcome addition. My husband travels to the Gold Coast each day for work and is at his desk in 50 minutes.

We've always had friendly neighbours wherever we live in Forest Lake. It's a multi-cultural suburb and caters for people at different stages of their lives. For some years, my mother-in-law lived in the nursing home in Forest Lake and there is a retirement village too. Forest Lake was known for many years as baby-central - lots of babies being born! So therefore child care and schools are well supplied - great state schools and a private primary and high school.

There is also lots to keep you fit - a weekend walk around the lake is the must-do for many people. There are gyms and a swimming centre, plus personal trainers to keep you fit. Lots of bike paths wind through the suburb, making it safe for children to ride around. Of course, there are many parks, including the lake parklands, where you will often see wedding parties.

The only thing missing is our own library, though there are two not far away at Inala and Mt Ommaney. We wouldn't live anywhere else.

Who lives here?

  • Families with kids
0
LeeL2

Hi Sharon, I'm thinking of moving to Forest Lake could you tell me the best part to choose that has bigger blocks (around 500 square metres and over) and is close to walking tracks. Thanks Lee

Yvonne Lafferty
Yvonne Lafferty

Beware of the high crime rates. Break Ins home invasions and car thefts - 3rd highest.

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"Great place to live"

Been living in Forest Lake for 5 years, nice quiet place to live, close enough to major Motorways and City!

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
0
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"For first home Buyers!"

Looking for Property under 400K? There are Queenslander cottage type homes on 180m2 to 300m2, not very big blocks but very easy to maintain and are great investment properties, also they are relatively young, around 5-15 years old in a good location. Forest Lake also provides for all wants and needs and that of families, a number of schools and shopping complexes make for Comfortable living.

this particular suburb is a great way to break into the market.

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Singles
  • Families with kids
0
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Who lives here?

  • Families with kids
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"A review from young eyes"

I have lived in Forest Lake since I was 7, I'm now 23.

The shops are good and still growing, lots of paths for walking, a dog park, two public ovals, fireworks on most major events, both private and public primary and high schools, markets every sunday, public transport is constantly improving, easy enough to drive anywhere (have a choice of 2 highways) and the list goes on...

Getting to the city takes about 30 - 60 minutes to drive depending on your route and the traffic and public transport takes just over 1hr unless your on the express/rocket.

The one down side to Forest Lake - though it is great for families and the elderly, but there is nothing really here for teenagers unless they have friends also living in Forest Lake. I usually had to travelled to Indooroopilly to meet friends, go to the movies, go shopping for clothes; or to the Jindalee skate park to play; or Inala's library for researching school assignments.

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
0
YOrulz

The only thing that has changed since I wrote this back in 2010 was that there are no longer markets thanks to "Coles" & "Target" :(

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"Cascade Drive, Forest Lake"

Forest Lake is a great place to raise a family with so many parks, playgrounds and walking tracks to choose from. It is close to a vast array of infrastructure and the local shopping centre is a great size for a neighbourhood centre. There's also a house type to suit anyone from the million dollar houses by the lake to 2-bedroom cottages and townhouses.

The only downsides to Forest Lake is appalling public transport options and the high-density living.

Who lives here?

  • Families with kids
  • Retirees
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