Wilston, QLD 4051
Ranked 169th best suburb by locals in Brisbane Region, QLD
Great for
- Schools
- Childcare
- Resale or rental value
- Internet access
- Parking
Not great for
- No ratings yet
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Families With Kids
- Retirees
- Singles
- Fashion Conscious
Reviews of Wilston, QLD
"Great location, so close to the city"
Wilston is a lovely suburb with lots of character Queenslander houses. It's quiet yet so close to the city that if you want to go somewhere more lively it's easy. The airport is also within easy reach as is access to the Sunshine Coast. It's a friendly suburb filled mostly with working families, so there are lots of kids (which makes the place feel like a community). There are a couple of very average restaurants that seem surprisingly popular (greasy pasta and/or revolting pizzas). But there are some fantastic restaurants too. For example Citron, which is lovely and has won awards - one of my favourite restaurants ever! Tomato Brothers has a nice atmosphere and is good for a cheap night out. Thai Kitchen which is probably the best Thai restaurant in Brisbane - though a little pricey which is annoying. And then there's Serendipity - fantastic breakfasts!! The other shops are lovely - nice clothes, housewares and gifts etc. All in all a lovely little village.
I drive to work every day during peak hour and it takes me 25 minutes at the most - usually it takes 15 to 20 minutes (including dropping my son off at school). The traffic on the major roads seems to be getting worse but that is general Brisbane traffic, not related to Wilston. I really like living in Wilston - it really is a lovely place to be.
Great for
- Great public transport
- Cheap taxi to the city
- Mostly nice down to earth people living here
- Close to city but not in it!
- Ideal location
- Wilston Village
Not great for
- Shame about those awful 70s apartments!
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Families with kids
- Trendy & Stylish
"Ideal location just minutes from the city"
Great location for families and professionals who work in or near the CBD.
Great for
- Ideal location
- Wilston Village
- Close to city but not in it!
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
- Trendy & Stylish
"Great Area & A Great Comminity"
Convienent to the city with great transport via the Train & Buses. Vibrant cafe' strip
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Families with kids
- Trendy & Stylish
"Great Place to Live"
My husband and I found Wilston accidently when attending an interview, we explored and loved it! At the time we were living in Strathpine but wanted to live closer to work in the City, being a 1920's suburb at has lots of character and very nice cafes to eat, also a lovely fish & chip cafe which we use often.
The transport links are really good, the train stops at Windsor and Wilston so you are nver far away from a stop, the buses (well they are there - and as reliable as buses go!!) You are also very close (within walking/cycling distance) to the Royal Brisbane Hospital over the river, (yes there is a bridge!!)
We moved to our townhouse and have been happy there, its a lovely place to live close to all transport links for roads, Wilston is quiet and not really well known, which is surprising - I think we all know when we are on to a good thing and keep quiet about it!!
Great for
- Close to city but not in it!
Not great for
- Do you know - I can't think of anything!
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Singles
- Retirees
- Tourists
- LGBT+
- Hipsters
- Trendy & Stylish
Rentals in Wilston
Find real estate agents in Wilston
"Central to city and easy living"
This suburb is a bit of an enigma to some in Brisbane as it is located in a pocket between several well known suburbs, yet some the most influential people live in it. It is easy to get to the city by train and as you return home, why not stop at the end of the train station street (Macgregor St) and grab your paper/magazine from the Post Office, and go and have a bite to eat from one of the few restaurants established in the area. The airport is this side of the city and the links to go to Sunshine Coast or Gold Coast are easy to connect to. Hospitals, parks and schools are also near by. Newmarket shops and WIndsor Shops provide for most of your everyday shopping. With the city being only 15mins away you will still be able to get regular shopping trips done with ease.
We've never had any security problems living in Wilston and feel that it is quite a safe suburb to live in. Plenty of parking in the area to for any visitors that may pop by to say 'hello' or even meet up for coffee down in the Village, or go for a walk to the Parks surrounding the area (Herston Parke, Newmarket Park or Wilston Park)
I hope this review has given you more insight into why living in Wilston is basically a lifestyle choice - close to CBD, transport on door, restaurants, Post Office, Gift Shop all located in Wilston. More shops and medical care, are within a very short radius being at Windsor Home Zone and Newmarket. Also at Windsor Home Zone there is a Terry White Pharmacy (staff are very helpful) which connects with a Family Medical Practice, which has attached to it a Pathology facility and QSCAN. So any immediate health issue is certainly well covered, and only a 10 minute walk (3 mins by car) form the Village of Wilston.
Great place to live and would prefer to live in this 'well kept secret' pocket of Brisbane than in many other surburbs not even as close to the city.
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
"Convenience & Lifestyle"
This suburb, in my view is a gem. There are a load of positives about the area. The train station is accessible to most people by foot and the suburb is extremely quiet (unless you are on a main road). Wilston Village has Newmarket shops and Windsor Shops located on either side of it which will easily supply you with your weekly needs. WIthin a small radius you can access supermarkets, hair salons, cinemas, a well stocked bike shop, a gym, a fantastic deli (Home Zone Shopping Centre on Newmarket Rd), furniture stores on Lutwyche Rd, Office Works in Windsor and quite a reasonable selection (variety and quality) of restaurants around Wilston, Newmarket and the Grange.
The post office owners are wonderful and very helpful. The one thing I would complain about would be the lack of a really decent, 'late night' corner store! The CBD is not far from Wilston, about 15 mins in good traffic and the airport is also located this side of Brisbane. There are parks within walking distance of Wiltson: Herston Park, Newmarket Park and Wilston Park. All the side streets are quiet and should you wish to drive, parking is not a problem. This suburb is not suited to those that want pubs and nightlife but it has most things around it and feels safe and friendly.
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Singles
- Families with kids
- Retirees
"Convenience & peace without the traffic hassles."
Wilston is located with in sight of the inner city. It has several hills which allow the majority of the area to have elevated streets that seem to always catch the summer breezes. The railway line runs conveniently by the suburb, as well as having several bus routes heading into the city. My teenagers are very independent, catching the train to and from their inner city school as well as to socialise. The local State School is well respected and resourced, with many parents willing to pay a premium to live here so their children can attend the school. The previous Premier of Qlds children, all went to school here! Although we are so close to the city I still hand feed magpies and kookaburras on our deck. I live in a particularly quiet street as is most of Wilston. The topography prevents the area from rat running car traffic and was the reason we moved from an adjoining suburb to the peace and quiet we now enjoy. The new supermarket complex is just 2 minutes drive away on Newmarket Rd in one direction and the Homezone shops about the same in the other direction. Wilston Village is a great place for a catch up with friends due to its variety of award winning restaurants and cafes. My husband loves the upmarket gift shop there also so that he doesnt have to go far for mothers day & birthday gifts. We often walk down to the cafes for celebratory breakfast's. I also love to walk my dog around the scenic streets and admire the beautiful Queenslander architecture. When my kids were younger they also played sport on one of the many sportsfield nearby at Newmarket - a convenience my friends who lived on acreage were quite envious of.
When my elderly parents visit we have unfortunately had to visit the Royal Brisbane Hospital only a few minutes away. My father has dementia and when he got lost recently on a "short walk around the block" a local realestate agent brought him home by his description of our street, so people are certainly friendly and helpful. I cant say enough positive things about our lovely lifestyle here in beautiful Wilston.
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Families with kids
"Wilston - Australias most boring suburb"
What a waste of a great suburb. 5km to the City, clean, leafy, wide streets, train and bus, great schools BUT what else, nothing. Having lived there for many years, Wilston village is just a great big
white elephant. Why is this so? Will someone please open a decent cafe and restaurant in the area!!!!! The cafes and restaurants are so average it's not funny. The quality is disgusting, there are no decent shops and about as happening as a graveyard. Everybody who lives there seems to eat at 6pm and leave by 7pm and the entire village is closed by 9pm. If you're looking for Australia's most boring suburb...............Wilston is it.
Will someone please do something to pump it up and give it a heartbeat.........what about a nice wine bar and activity after dark......now there's a thought!!
Who lives here?
- Retirees
I'm glad the newmarket pub is 10min from you, it's a good 20min for me and who would want to go
to the newmarket pub anyway. The last 2 times we were there brawls broke out......charming.
I know the city is very close however I don't want nightclubs in Wilston, you are totally missing my point. I do however know that Wilston is the most boring suburb I have ever lived in and that is why
I now live elsewhere although we still have property there. I also beg to differ......I love going to nice
wine bars and jazz clubs and I most certainly am not a drunk and if you think that putting a pub in
Wilston village or a wine bar would attract a lot of drunks then that says to me that the people who live there are totally unsophisticated. Comon, you must be joking.
Let's make Wilston a nice adult suburb shall we and put in some decent restaurants and wine bars.
There must be others on this who share this view surely.
Australia's most boring suburb? Pretty misleading as I doubt you have lived in every suburb in Australia hey! :p.
Don't listen to this twits review.
I've lived in many suburbs in Brisbane. Wilston is anything but boring. Just because a suburb doesn't have a "wine bar" doesn't mean it's boring. If that's the type of lifestyle you are after, then I suggest you move to West End, South Bank, Paddington or Fortitude Valley.
Wilston offers a great lifestyle with many things to do in comparison to many other Brisbane suburbs. There are heaps of great shops, cafes and restaurants in Wilston. I have eaten out many nights in Wilston Village and have no complaints about the quality of these establishments other than perhaps the prices! There are also great parks, walking and cycling paths.
I think majority of people who actually live in Wilston do not share your view at all.
Actually I'm not a twit, far from it. I guess your rudeness sums up your comment, unfounded!!
I actually lived in Wilston for 30 years so I think I know what I'm talking about. I think Wilston has a lot
going for it. My comments if you had bother to read them basically said that the area needs some life in it. I would like to know what you consider great shops, cafes and restaurants??????. Having lived there for so long I have seen approx 20 restaurants come and go and if you talk to the owners they
will actually tell you the same thing........very few people in Wilston have a Melbourne or Sydney attitude to dining ie. go out through the week at 9pm for a meal on way home or duck down for a meal on a Wednesday night after 8pm. In fact I was up in Wilston over Christmas as my family still live there and for the two weeks I was there, the restaurants were empty after 9pm and in fact closed at 10pm. The village was a ghost town by 10pm every night. If you call that living then there is a graveyard at toowong you may be interested in. All I'm saying is that it has the infrastructure in place to be an amazing vibrant village however sadly delivers. I know about 20 families who live in the area that say the same the thing, it is after all 2011 and perhaps Wilston should drag itself into
the 21st century and modern urban living. It's approx 5km from the city and as such one would expect some sort of urban living standard. It's a great location, good schools etc, why can't the people who live there get out and enjoy it. I'm 50yrs old and I would love a wine bar there, not a pub, not a nightclub but a great little wine bar, that's called being sophisticated.
Ditto... I agree with London's comments. Was there last night and vowed never to go back there. I only live up the road and would love to be able to walk down and dine there more often but it is means sitting in a restuarant at 7pm waiting for a friend and sitting on my own because there is no one elese there! then that it not providing me with a nice atmosphere to sit and enjoy a drink ! What is wrong with people here in Wilston. Every couple of years I give it a go to try it again because I'd love to support my local community alas, I find myself totally disappointed with restuarants closing by 9pm. One year the restaurant I frequented in Wilston said they would be open for New Year's Eve and by 11 pm we were made to leave and the restuarant shut down! What a great way spend a New Year's Eve ! and I'm not talking about going to a pub and getting drunk here. Grow-up people and live with the times... and let's strive to make Brisbane a liveable city again !
I agree with the original comment! This suburb is lovely enough. It has has well maintained period homes and leafy streets. But these are material things. What is sadly lacking is a heartbeat and a soul. It has no sense of community. The area really needs Kedron Brook Road to grow up and become a functional high street for the area. A high street is the glue that holds a community together. At the moment, Wilston is simply an area with a collection of homes with nothing to connect its residents.
Oh I totally agree with whln17. Well said! I was in Wilston at Christmas time and we noticed that a new bar/restaurant had emerged on Kedron Brook Rd. We decided to give the bar our support and we had a lovely afternoon drinking and eating there. I only hope that the rest of Wilston's community supports it as we did. Wilston has the perfect strip to really offer something special. I would love a lot more of these establishments to pop up because the above comments are so true.......a suburb needs a soul and more places like this will indeed inject life and laughter into a somewhat lifeless area. Let us hope this is the re-birth of a wonderful, vibrant Wilston.
Many suburbs in Australia don't have cafe's and restaurants let alone a "high street". Go live in a modern suburb full of identical mcmansions where you have to drive to the local westfields for a bite to eat and then say Wilston is the most boring suburb in Australia, Jackass.
"Traffic gridlock makes this suburb a problem choice"
Wilston has some lovely old homes, but if you want/need to go to the city or southern suburbs getting there is becoming increasingly time consuming. Traffic is in total meltdown at peak hours - public transport is the only option. Clem 7 is no help and a bit expensive.
Soon this area and the surrounds will be thick with tiny units, as people subdivide and sell up for the quick profit.
This is a safe area for kids, but I would not recommend it for city commuters.
Nice restaurants. Good cafes. You would have to ask where is the next tunnel/bypass/busway etc going?
Who lives here?
- Retirees
Of course this person does not live in Wilston. The local Brisbane City Council regulations mean that most of the area is designated Heritage and so houses post 1945 cannot be demolished, or have units built over 2 stories! The existing units are remnant ''6 packs" left over from the 70's. As for the traffic, I regularly take my children to their inner city schools via Kelvin Grove Rd and am there in 8 minutes most mornings and afternoons (& I am not speeding with 3 lanes at least one is generally moving smoothly). As for the tunnels they are completed and come nowhere near our suburb! However we can acce3ss the tunnels via Windsor and across to the south side via the Clem 07 if needed. My husband worked at 8 Mile Plains for some years (South side suburb) and he could be at work in 20 minutes depending on what time he left - usually around 6.30-7.00am. Certainly there are infill developments everywhere in the inner 5km suburbs, however Wilston is a dream compared to suburbs such as Paddington and Red Hill where a lot of houses can open their windows & touch the neighbours windows!
"A nice quiet suburb that's close to the city"
The above reviewer must've lived on either Newmarket or Kedron Brook Road for it to be noisy, anywhere other than facing onto these streets and you'll find peace and quiet. Wilston village has some great places to eat, locals fill the cafes on the weekends. The place has a great atmosphere. There's some good restaurants as well as some cheaper options for takeout.
Access is fine if you are going down Newmarket Road towards Enoggera Rd, but going in and out of Lutwyche Rd has always been pretty bad in peak hour (could always try some shortcuts though). Lot's of choices for public transport, the train is only a 100m from Wilston village.
All in all it's a great place to live, much quieter and safer than the city without being more than 10min away.
Who lives here?
- Professionals
- Families with kids
"Great for stay at homes - getting out of here is a nightmare!"
A pocket of some old - some new - traffic is appalling - noisy - might as well live in the sticks if you want to get out of this suburb. Clem7/ICB a complete dud.
Ranks up there for capital gain because of the huge renovation market. Termites.
Would be if they could bes hate anyone not PROFESSIONAL. OK for lawyers and doctors - plumbers stay away! Snob paradise.
Dogs, dogs, dogs - all alone all day.
Who lives here?
- Professionals
Am I living in the same suburb?? Hate is a strong word - the house I am living in was bought from a plumber! Yes I do have doctors and lawyers as street neighbours (always good if the kids fall off their bikes!) however there are engineers, pensioners, Council worker, shop owner, teachers also living in my street. I always take the time to say hello to my neighbours and know all their names - make an effort and you will be rewarded by neighbours who will bring in your bins if you are away. Personally I hardly ever need to leave the suburb for day to day business as the 2 local shopping precincts on Newmarket Road take care of 99% of what I need. For retail therapy I drive to Chermside Shopping Centre 15 minutes away.
I like our suburb the way it is. My uni student daughter can go to the local pub at Newmarket (10 minutes walk away) or catch the train or bus into The Valley for clubbing. The city is so close with all the night life you could want, why clutter up our suburb with all the negatives that go with drunks and late night venues. When I lived in the country years ago as a young teacher, we made our own fun at home - invite some friends over and save a stack of money on drinks!! I often walk my dog through Wilston village and am envious of the people at the restaurants having a quiet drink, especially on a friday. I think the majority of people in the area work very hard so can't afford to stay up late!