Josephine Riley

Josephine Riley

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Reviews

Russell Island

"Someone spreading untruths about certain areas of Russell Island"

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

Who lives here?

  • Professionals
  • Families with kids
1
eoinz

Dear Josephine Riley,
May I respectfully ask: Are there in fact any koalas living on Russell Island? ... and if there is, has anyone ever taken a pic of one (that made it onto the internet)? It seems odd that huge areas of Russell Island are constrained by 'koala habitat'-based regulations, yet I am unable to locate any evidence that any koalas actually live on the Russell island.

bobb29

You clearly have an intention to make money from selling houses You build, therefore I deem Your opinion as biased. Is it true the police station is manned for 3hours a week after Qld government spent over a million dollars on the building?

bobb29

Ps will our rate payers have to pay for this building when the police could have used an existing community building? & if someone is attacked outside these hours will community members come to their aid?

bobb29

Is medical assistance 24/7?

Does frequent aerial pest sprays potentially affect human health, ie breathing?

Does frequent aerial pest spray affect ecosystem which would naturally consume mosquitos?

fringedweller

Not seen any koalas bobb29, maybe I dont know where to look.
I understand the police station is manned for longer hours than you mention but are contactable by phone if not. I cant believe the current police station cost $1m, seems an awful lot for a small building.

juliav6

The Maclaey Island Police station is manned 24/7 now I beleive. Its just a short ferry or tinny ride away.

meggst

Umm do you expect people to be attacked on the island bobbs29. does this happen often

caroled3

@juliav6 well thats be a vast improvement on listening to the police barge approach as the locals disappear back into their little holes - seriously unimpressed with the time my sons and I spent living there!

douglasgardiner
douglasgardiner

Ho Josephine, is your block with part kit ho e still for sale?

tracysanderson
tracysanderson

Could I enquire about the block of land for sale please?

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Timothy Street

"A very quiet and peaceful street. Neighbours are not intrusive. Sometimes have a chat as someone walks their dog or simply a wave. I've driven around the etire island and apart from Beelong Street Timothy is beautiful and well situated to everything."

I have felt very safe and my surrounding neighbourhood is just perfect.

0
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Macleay Island

"As Private and Peaceful as you desire"

I've only lived on Macleay for 18 months. It's been a big adjustment from Surfers Paradise. The longer I'm here the more I'm loving it. I personally wouldn't live in the middle of the island. I'm enjoying my tidal property on the eastern side. It takes time to adjust to having to use a ferry but it's only 18 minutes. People in Brisbane use ferries into the City which takes a lot longer than 18 minutes. Then if you live in Sydney using the ferry system - well, I shall say no more about that. I just don't know or understand why the travel to the islands has to be such a drama. I'm on a pension so it's quite cheap. Then if you hop on a bus you pay no more for the remainder of your travel.

Yes, I too look at some of the people on the ferries and think to myself, oooh, do they live on my island!!! However, I never see them once I'm on my island paradise.. I live in a nice area where I only see my neighbours when walking their dogs. Albeit that houses and is cheap one does need to be observant of the neighbourhood you are looking to buy in. Very very cheap is for a reason. First agent I used never took me to the home I bought on the rim - probably because it was actually cheaper than others inside the island. I didn't want anything he showed me so tried another agent. To my surprise she brought me to my home outside which were three real estate signs, one of which was the agency I'd gone around with the previous day. So if you are planning to buy, either use all the agents or stay at an Air Bnb for a week and drive all around the island by yourself.

My friends so love to visit when they can. They still work but don't whinge at all at the cost of the ferry because they have a Gocard. So it would be advisable to tell your friends and family to get one. It's not a problem unless you want to make it a problem. Perhaps buy them yourself with some money on them and give them as Xmas gifts.

As for mossies and midgies. Anywhere there's water you'll get them. Yes, worse inside the island. The breeze at the back of my property which is on wetland does keep them at bay However, go into my front garden I'm eaten alive. Live on the canals on the Gold Coast you will be very bothered by them. Live in Brisbane along any of the creeks or iver and you'll get them. Have a friend living in an upmarket suburb backing on parkland with a creek and she's just bought a mosquito holder at the island health shop. She spent up big on the island on her first visit at the health shop which she loves, the case at Emerald Isle, she even went berserk at the pharmacy because being Xmas coming up they had her favourite skin product at a great price. The pharmacy on Macleay is as good as any on the mainland.
I've recently been desperately sick enough to go the doctor next to said pharmacy and was surprised that the Indian doctor I saw was quite thorough. My GP is just across at Redland Bay shopping village. This doc was happy to make sure my GP received a copy of my X-ray results. I'd be more than happy to see him again. I'd change doctors except that I spend a lot of time on the mainland and just don't want to change again. Redland Bay Surgery is close enough. 18 min enjoyable ferry ride and a couple of minutes on the bus.
Translink have a bus station at the marina. The services take you to the City, Loganholme, Garden City or Carindale Shopping centres as well as to the train station and shops, Centrelink, X-ray centres and specialists at Cleveland. There's a bus to the Mater Private and Redlands hospitals and specialist centres. If you want to go to the business hub at Capalaba then the buses go there. There's two shopping centres in Capalaba.
oria Point is only 12-15 minutes on the bus - free if you've come from the ferry. There is good grocery shopping and lovely restaurants on a lake setting and a cinema whuch would have to be the cheapest in South-east Qld.
So, there are ways to get around if you choose not to have another vehicle on the mainland.
Should you choose to have a car on the mainland rather than the island you can use the SMBI bus which, if you buy their form of a Gocard only $5 to anywhere on the island or $6 with no card. However, should you have friends come to visit them the taxi may work out cheaper as the SMBI service charges per person because it's a little bus not a taxi although it's still a pick-up service. Unfortunately the taxis aren't the best but a necessary evil in circumstances outlined above.
The cost of land and homes far outweighs the costs of living. Rates are half of what it cost me on the Gold Coast. That would well and truly cover the cost of running two cars. Yes, parking on the mainland can be very stressful, however, if I do t get one I park a lot further away and catch a bus. Problem solved. It would probably be just as safe, if not safer, parked in a street in Redland Bay near a bus stop.
As a former Court Reporter having worked and lived in a very fast-paced environment I loved it on Macleay at first but then hated it. I missed Surfers and the closeness of amenities and loved the tram, but persevered and am now very settled and happy but it has taken me 18 months to fully appreciate my surroundings. I go back to Cavill Avenue often to look after a former neighbour's cat. So that's my free holiday without the cost of living in high rise and crippling rates. There are lots of house sits available around the Gold Coast. House sitting is what I do whenever I want time on the mainland.
Life is what you make it. Discard the negatives. You don't have to have anything to do with ferals that one reads about. It's just rubbish and should be treated with total disregard. I feel very safe living on my own. As a former Court Reporter I can assure you crime is far less than on the mainland, and in fact Gold Coast would beat Macleay hands down. Logan is a crime hot-spot as is Caboolture, and more to the point, affluent suburbs are the targets not the Bay Islands. So heed not any adverse comments re the crime situation. I've certainly observed police presence on Macleay.

So, do come and try before you buy but you will love it. There are slums but there are also beautiful upmarket homes on Macleay. You just need to familiarise yourself as to where those enclaves are.

Cheers
Josie

Who lives here?

  • Families with kids
10
bretts22

Thank you for a great review. I spent a number of years living in Cleveland. I am now looking at returning to Australia and have been searching the properties in this area. Am I right in thinking theres a disparity between Russell and Mcleay?
Nice to see you talk about rates as they seem to be one of two major issues when you retire. Rates and Power will always go up. Are there any issues with putting in tanks on you property for extra water. Are there any other hidden costs, you mentioned the ferry. $100 to the mainland for a vehicle and/or passengers as well or is that extra.
Living on a small island is a psychological step/leap of faith, leaving all that ease of access and availability behind I suppose.
We have five years left before my son finishes college and then he can go do whatever he likes, if Uni tickles his fancy then so be it. But well be gone. Means testing at retirement? Im Australian/New Zealand so complicated as Government would not pay when I move back, which means we must fend for ourselves over there I suppose. Anyway nice review, Cheers.

helenc32

great and very helpful Josephine. Please could you advise which is best for sea breezes..East or West side and north south or central? Thank you so much Helen

georgid1

What agent did you use please?

al4

The East side of the island gets the best breezes, and doesn't get the burning hot afternoon sun like the West side.

al4

More facilities and social things to do on Macleay than Russell Island. Macleay costs a bit more to buy on, but it has more cultured people. Woolworths delivers to Macleay. Ambulance is very prompt. Lots of activities and social groups to choose from and work if you really look for it. Lots of people with their own small businesses

al4

Eating and drinking out is cheaper than the mainland. Bowls, Golf and Boat Clubs have courtesy buses. Dan Murphy's deliver to Macleay also. There are community markets.

lisa-nicholsonl

I currently live in Victoria and am interested in buying land on Macleay Island to live on in approx 10years time. Are you able to shed light more specifically on what areas of the island are occupied by rough/feral residents? I am not able to afford waterfront land but would like something in the nicer neighbourhoods of Macleay Island. Thanks Lisa

wsheppard
wsheppard

Im looking at buying a property on the island, are you permitted to have any chickens for free range eggs.

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