West End, QLD 4101

West End represents an alternative take on urban living. There is nothing like it in Australia, and few places like it in the world. Imagine. A place where your neighbours are your friends, and your friends are artists, builders, students, doctors, musicians, lawyers, yoga instructors, academics, bloggers, local business owners, and circus performers. You walk, skate or ride to work or study - just 20 minutes to the city or to Queensland's major universities (unless you choose to laze it on the CityCat as it hums along the river). You walk 10 minutes to the best food, coffee and nightlife in Brisbane. On Saturday, you walk to the farmers market, where you catch up with your neighbours, listen to upcoming musicians, and purchase fresh fruit and veg. The residential streets are quiet and safe, and neighbours still say hello to each other. In the morning, you wake up to the sound of Kookaburras, chickens, and lorikeets. You meet your friends at the gym, the indoor climbing centre, yoga, Capoeira, and/or Latin Dance school.

West End is not for everyone. The narrow-minded, bigoted, bland, and the boring will be repulsed by the colour and diversity of West End. But if you are a secure, happy and interesting person, West End might be the suburb you are looking for.

Be sure to visit. But please catch public transport - buses leave every 5 minutes from the city, and be prepared to be wowed.

We bought in to the West End to be in the catchment for Brisbane State High and to be in closer proximity to work and everything else, I always heard good things about West End, but I never imagined it would be this good. the locality, the shopping convenience, the Parks, the bars and restaurants are all great but it's all the other things that makes it even more special, like the local events, festivals, the community spirit, it makes the place feel alive and I love it!

I love the review from Giddy. Well done!

There are more parks and green spaces than most people realise.

Davies Park, home of the iconic West End markets. I get my fruit here, and a Saturday coffee.

Orliegh Park. This has seen vast improvements over that last 12 months. With a new Ferry Terminal at one end and new a kiddies play area. This is a very popular park with families of all ages.

Riverside Walk. The council has closed this road off and made it pedestrian only. It gets plenty of use with walkers and cyclists. It provides an easy walk right into the CBD.

Paradise Park, Paradise Rd. A locals secret! A very quiet park to get away.

Jane Street Community Garden. This a lovely patch of ground giving locals a place to grow their own vegies.

Working in West End and South Brisbane has been an exciting experience.
paultooze.raywhite.com.
As a real estate agent I get to see the whole area and all that is going on. I've been so impressed that we have decided to move to the area and our little one is moving school.
I don't mind answering any questions

Love living in West End. Plenty of excellent cafes, restaurants and fabulous pubs predominantly situated on Boundary Street. Great stretch of asian restaurants all serving fab food with byo on Hardgrave Road. I also love the colourful, alternative vibe here that makes other Brisbane suburbs appear bland (trust me, I've lived in other suburbs!!). Great Saturday farmers markets and Friday night markets where you can eat yummy stall food. The ONLY downside however is the level of development work going on especially down by the river where we live. There are 3 huge apartment blocks being built next to us, 6.30 am starts, bulldozers, forklift trucks etc etc. Walking from Boundary Street to our unit, we counted 9 big apartment bocks being built. If you don't mind construction work live down by the river, otherwise avoid and look for something closer to Boundary Street hub or Highgate Hill border. If I wasn't moving to Sydney mid next year I'd be giving up my lease here and doing exactly that. Even though I love the unit we're leasing the noise is forcing us out

We started renting in West End, fell in love, and within 3 months bought an apartment here. Contrary what a lot of people say, it's a wonderfully quiet place so close to the CBD. Houses in quiet leafy suburban streets (don't expect a big back yard) or sleek modern apartment complexes along the riverside. There's a real sense of community between an eclectic mix of the alternative artists and the young professionals with young families, all living in harmony.

We live in one of the riverside apartment complexes, have wonderful neighbours, and a long strip of riverside parkland with barbeques, playgrounds, exercise equipment and dedicated paths for running and cycling all the way to the City. The morning commute, for those who don't take the CityGlider bus, is a beautiful cycle (10 mins), jog (20 minutes) or 30 minute walk along the riverside on dedicated paths without encountering traffic. You walk through this beautiful peaceful area along riverside drive all the way to the city, listening to the buzz of the congested traffic on the other side of the river along Corontation Drive, feeling glad you are on the West End side. The CityGlider connects West End to the City and New Farm running every 5 minutes in peak time or 15 minutes at other times, 24x7.

And one of the sweet bonuses for those who like to live online a little - the whole 4101 postcode area has been rolled out to 100Mb Optical Fibre internet. I have run speed tests of 108Mbps at off peak times.

West End is Brisbane's Bohemian heart. It is easy to write Brisbane off as a collection of bland suburbs that stretch out forever from the city. But most locals will tell visitors that there are three exceptions: West End, New Farm and Paddington. Among those suburbs, West End is the diverse and artistic suburb. The coffee is brilliant, even if you might sit on a milk crate. The food is without par, and you won't pay too much for it. The streets range from typical inner city streets to quiet cul-de-sacs. This is the place where Brisbane's more broad-minded live (if they are lucky) and play. Some of the reviews on here criticise the town for not being Suburbsville. Fair enough. West End is not a very good Suburbsville. But if you embrace the slow and quiet demise of a quarter acre block, brick veneer home and an hour-long commute, then West End will not be you. This is Brisbane's Carlton or Newtown. Enjoy it for what it is.

Loved living here. Moved here and bought an apartment and didn't want to leave. Is so close to anything and everything you could possibly want. Great restaurants and short walk to Southbank and the city. Only moved due to starting a family.

I lived in West End for 5 years - back then it was extremely bohemian: an amazing mix of friendly people and cheap (but excellent) food. It still holds onto its boho roots but has been slowly turned more upmarket. Parking was always terrible, the nightlife and food was always amazing and the proximity to uni and the city was the main draw card.
I visit west end often - its a great place to hang out with friends and there is always plenty to do!

It's an interesting place to visit but I wouldn't like to live there.