Russell Island, QLD 4184

What I’ve found living at the top of the island is: 1. RI really does have a mixed bag of people. Not just retirees, but people from all walks of life. 2. Noise. Each to their own, but when we moved we weren’t expecting it to be so lively. I’d say subwoofers feature as much as boats. You will find quieter areas than others. 3. NBN! Working from home is a breeze. 4. Transport. Hard right now to find a car spot at Redland Bay, but they are building a big waterfront complex which will include more.

My partner has lived on Russell for 10 years, built three homes in totally different locations. He has never had a problem with druggies. He is selling a block of land with a container in it which is housing some of a new kit home in it. The land is a lovely cleared block near to where he built his previous home at the end of this Street. He is selling this block with all tests done, was ready to build when he decided he wants to travel around Australia so bought a caravan. He listed the property with an agent and has had interested buyers but they've pulled out because they heard a"rumour" there were druggies in the area. What total rubbish. He wouldn't have bought this block if that was the case, knowing this area having actually lived there for some time. It could be a rival agent, but who knows. It's just not true. The island has been cleaned up a lot. Lots of building going on and quality tenants due to scarce rental availability has driven out many of the undesirables. The area is in and around Port Street, Moreton Outlook, Cook Street. It's a very quiet neighbourhood. Whoever is doing this is ruining the island's.good reputation.
Jo54

Yep, Russell Island is booming on the Brisbane Bayside. Checkout these amazing news items

The Great Day Out http://bit.ly/RedlandCoastSouthernIslands
https://facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=1640870036016883&id=103832643053971

"Buy land for the price of a holiday:
https://m.gladstoneobserver.com.au/news/buy-land-for-the-price-of-a-holiday/3837053/

"Four islands in southern Moreton Bay set to receive ferry terminal upgrades in government deal"
http://www.couriermail.com.au/questnews/redlands/news-story/3af6e77afdc58e84edc802b758803aff

7 News Brisbane https://facebook.com/story.php?story_fbid=2596083143737855&id=130736376939223

Brisbane Property Investor https://qldpropertyinvestor.com.au/queensland-to-rank-among-best-state-markets-in-2019/

"It is cheaper to buy than rent in this south east Queensland island paradise"
https://www.realestate.com.au/news/it-is-cheaper-to-buy-than-rent-in-this-south-east-queensland-island-paradise/

Get Inspired at https://www.instagram.com/russellisland.qld/

And from last year "Best bargain suburbs for buyers in 2018"
https://www.realestate.com.au/news/best-bargain-suburbs-for-buyers-2018/

So island life is not for everyone, like CBD high rise living is not for everyone.
Where else can you enjoy a Seachange & Treechange in one location with an affordable price tag and easy access to a capital city like Brisbane? Russell Island is unique and more people are starting to realize its unique charm.

Russell Island has a police station, IGA supermarket, butcher, post office, service station, Ambulance station (also with a dedicated ambulance ferry) bottle shop, veteranarian, a medical practice, pathologist, chemist, computer repair services, web-designers, hairdresser, bakery, newsagency, landscape/hire centre, Uber, Taxi, storage sheds, video hire, lawyer, library, two licensed clubs, large aquatic public pool, and four real estate offices.

The two licensed clubs, an RSL and the Russell Island Bowling Club, provide entertainment and bistro facilities most nights of the week.
A multi purpose community hall near the main wharf is available. The Bay Islands Community Centre on Jackson Rd is also a hub for community activities The Russell Island Community Resilience Centre includes sporting facilities, tennis and basketball courts, soccer field, emergency evacuation building and a community farm.

Telecommunications
Landline access to North Stradbroke Island and SMBI is via a microwave link from the mainland to exchanges on the islands. The exchanges are located on Russell and Macleay Islands.
NBN fibre optic cable currently being laid all over Russell island as we speak January 14th 2020. FTTN and FTTC super fast internet being installed by NBN contractors and Visionstream contractors. Did u also know that Russell island is currently having a SECOND mobile phone tower installed at 23 Moreton Outlook Dr, Russell Island ? It is also currently being installed with the foundations already poured.
Should be finished and operational in the next few months.

GARBAGE COLLECTION:
There are eight waste transfer stations in the Redlands:

Mainland: Birkdale and Redland Bay
Islands: Coochiemudlo, Karragarra, Lamb, Macleay, North Stradbroke and Russell Island.

Redland City Council provides a waste and recycling collection service to all domestic premises on Russell Island.
General waste - weekly collection
Recycled waste - fortnightly collection

Water
The water supply for SMBI is piped across from North Stradbroke Island to north eastern tip of Russell Island. The supply is then piped via Karragarra Island to Lamb Island and then onto Macleay Island. The mainland water supply is connected to the SEQ water grid and therefore the risk of the water supply failing is extremely low.

Electricity
The electricity supply provided by Energex to the SMBI group and North Stradbroke Island comes via Russell Island. The supply originates on the mainland north of Cabbage Tree Point and crosses the Western Boating Channel, connecting to the southern end of Russell Island at Rocky Point, then continues north through the centre of Russell Island before branching off to service North Stradbroke Island and Karragarra Island.

This sequence of connections highlights the importance of Russell Island to the electricity supply for SMBI and North Stradbroke Island. A new substation has been built on Russell Island to assist in ensuring the power supply to Russell Island is more robust and with less power fluctuations.

MAINLAND PARKING
(Source: https://www.redland.qld.gov.au/info/20152/parking_in_the_redlands/278/parking_at_weinam_creek )
In June 2018, Council confirmed its commitment to the rejuvenation of the Weinam Creek Transport Hub, announcing plans to develop the site to provide the community infrastructure that the area requires. Council's proposed master plan which will be delivered in stages, will transform the waterfront of Redland Bay, improve the usability of the transport hub, attract visitors, create jobs and drive economic development in the area.

The master plan will include:

More open space
New pedestrian and cycle ways
Rejuvenation of existing parkland
More car parks
Improved drop off and storage facilities for island residents and visitors
A new boat ramp to separate emergency and public access
A mix of residential and retail spaces including cafes, restaurants and potential for a medical precinct.


Find out more:
https://www.instagram.com/russellisland.qld/
https://www.bayislandsinfo.com/the-bay-islands/russell-island/
http://www.redlandsdisasterplan.com.au/russell-island/
https://www.russellisland.com.au/dir

We moved here four years or so ago. Peace and quiet, sheltered waterways, great fishing, and I mean great. Have met some great new friends and joined a really good sporting club. All this rubbish about people seeing ice addicts, drug pushers, hoons, drunks evrywhere they turn, what a load of complete BS. Either they are in with a mob of losers or they are a part of the problem. We have not had a single issue since moving here and I feel safer here than anywhere I have ever lived. The cops here do a great job keeping the dross at manageable levels and moving on misfits when they need to. There are a few mozzies and midges in warmer months, shock, horror! This is coastal Australia after all. I see some people mentioning domestic disputes, yep, they happen here, nowhere else in the country has them of course, they are purely a Russell Island phenomenon. Overall, a great, peaceful place that doesnt experience the temperature extremes of Brisbane and really is an undiscovered paradise.
FD

This would have to be the most affordable place in Australia with blocks of land for under $20k and still well within commuting distance to a capital city. Nowhere else even comes close on affordability and to top it off lovely community minded locals in a natural wonderland. We love it!

Shopping On Russell island .
Next time you catch public transport to the shopping centre to get it all in one place and shop at Coles or Woolworth for its fresh bread,cakes,donuts or a family pac of crispy creams or Mr Donuts fresh donuts and fresh meat with friendly butcher service , vegetables, dairy and work drink for the morning and looking for organic gluten fresh Bread and the go to the coffee shop for a double espresso skinny caramel latte with nutmeg and some window shopping get your hair cut and pick up some spring water Perrier San pellegrino for the BBQ
No public transport so we will catch a Cab it only 5.2 km OK lets go shopping on Russell Island.
waiting for the cab up-to 45 min and now we are on our way after we picking up to ten other passengers on the way that 8 min car ride took 35 min and cost $20.00.
Now let shop first thing you will not see is the words fresh shopping at our IGA you will soon learn to write two list one we call the wish list. the other the probable IGA got list be prepared for staff to tell you someone forgot to order them will have them next week coming tomorrow sold out on Wednesday( the first day of catalogue ) only got frozen ones left.
No fresh baked store brand bread if you go in the morning you can get day old defrosted bread or wait till lunch and it should be that days bread Check the dates no fresh meat it is all vacuumed sealed and prepackage look out for OUT OF Date stock. Now the cake and donuts we can get a frozen chocolate cake in date till 2019 or a freshly defrosted chocolate cake still in date for a month (how old is it rely). Donuts a 4 pac freshly defrosted chocolate Mr donuts or the stale defrosted IGA brand. Ok some sandwich meats the daily ham that was kept in the fridge over night or get some fresh cut from the log ask to see the date first. out of 2 Lt milks again get three Lt instead. Work drinks no Double espresso no Dare raw he will have to get it in his way to work no Perrier San water filtered let get dinner order a frozen reheated Eagle boys pizza limited selection. finished shopping lets get a skinny double latte caramel shot with nutmeg sorry no coffee shop. get my hair cut the hair dresser closed call for appointment with the hair dresser closing at the end of the lease. fresh bread at the bakery and day old cakes. home again taxi wait 30 min stop at ten other homes with 15 passenger you are the 11th as for other passengers continue their journey. lets take the car next time.

Russell is definitely not a place for everyone. The people who can handle the conditions if living here are rewarded with the amazing island atmosphere. People who come just for the cheap rent/sale price of the houses will be thoroughly disappointed to find out that the cost of transport, rates, parking fines on the mainland or paid parking space (if you were lucky enough to secure one) definitely offset the savings. Retirees who like fishing, and are not worried about relatively high rates and who don't need shops other than the essentials would be the type of people who would benefit the most from island life. Single income families do ok as well, especially if you own a boat to really enjoy the island passages. The schools hours are 8:45 to 2:45, which does not leave you much time to ferry over to the mainland to work.
The ferry is a lovely experience, taking approximately 25 minutes for a direct and 35 for an indirect. Paid with a go card the tickets become about 30% cheaper than a cash ticket (which you can only purchase one way). There is an office where you can charge a go card or purchase tickets on the mainland but no go card stations at any of the island jetties. You can recharge your go card at the post office however it is not open on weekends and the ferries themselves don't have eftpos on board but will let you purchase a cash ticket. Once on the mainland you can catch the 250 or 280 translink bus to the city, both take approximately an hour. If you are driving you need to get back well before the last ferry leaves so you can find a parking spot (if you are lucky) and have enough time to walk from wherever you had to park your car to the jetty. If you Park your car in a spot not designated for your type of parking, or if you stay for too long in a timed Park (almost all of them are timed) you will get a fine from the diligent parking officers. If you miss the last ferry you will be sleeping in your car (parked in a place other than the jetty) or crashing at a friends house for the night. Basically you need to be organised and have a fair bit of time otherwise you are not going to have a good time with the ferries. Most large items are not allowed on the ferries and you will need to use a barge instead, these run only during daylight hours and take just over an hour each way. The Cafe has lovely food relatively cheap, and the bowls club has delicious Chinese food. There are a few lovely parks with equipment for children, like parks anywhere they sometimes have undesirables hanging out in them, but I've seen no more than anywhere else. There is no high school on the islands but the school buses meet the ferries on the mainland. There are mosquitos, no more than I have experienced in the Northern suburbs of Brisbane but the closer you get to the water the more migies there are.

ONE DAY, people from Sydney and Melbourne will discover Russell Island and then suddenly the idiots in Brisbane who've been dissing the place for the last twenty years will go blue with envy. But by then it'll be too late. Try getting a waterfront block of land in the southern cities for $200,000 or less. It's ridiculous!

Russell island is not for those that want the hustle and bustle of city life. Indeed, if you are considering working on the mainland you would be advised to consider the high cost of travelling via the ferry service.
HOWEVER, if you are looking for a small island atmosphere with a growing community spirit, with beautiful views and gorgeous open plains, then most certainly look into Russell island. I would make the note that the islands are best appreciated when one own their own boat, allowing them to explore the beauty that is the Southern Mortern Bay Islands and Stradbroke.
On the whole retirees and families (if they can afford private high school) will adore Russell and hopefully engage with and give back to the community.