From Brisbane to the Gold Coast: The nine new prestige suburbs you should know in Queensland

An influx of interstate migrants to Queensland as well as a rise in its fortunes from record gas exports, infrastructure spending and tourism has boosted the prestige property markets in its major centres, Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

With the latest Deloitte Access Economics report, Sunshine State Shadows Southern States, saying that the public and private sectors have driven the expansion of Queensland’s economy at a faster rate than the rest of Australia, its top-end housing is also spreading over a larger area.

In Brisbane, the usual prestige areas – Hamilton, Ascot, New Farm, Teneriffe, Clayfield, Hawthorne and Bulimba – are now being joined by newly rising suburbs such as Paddington, Hendra, the Chandler-Gumdale acreage precinct, Indooroopilly and Ashgrove.

“Paddington is very much a prestige suburb now with a lot of sales around $3 million and up to $3.5 million from before Christmas,” says Place West agent Simon Wheelans.

“There are a lot of very high quality buildings going up here now and with traffic congestion, its location so close to the city is in even stronger demand, while it’s also so close to the inner-city bypass to the airport, north coast and Gold Coast,” he says.

Judi O’Dea, of Ray White Paddington, sees another huge driver in the quality schools in all these new rising prestige suburbs.

“Families are moving up from the south because they see they get so much more value for their money in Brisbane, knowing it’s such
a liveable city, and looking for good schools for their children,” O’Dea says.

“All these areas have good schools and they each have their own character, too. Paddington is like an inner-city village, for instance, while you have larger family blocks in Ashgrove and Hendra.”

On the Gold Coast, prestige buyers similarly have more options, these days checking out beautiful homes in Broadbeach Waters, Coolangatta, Bundall, Clear Island Waters and Paradise Point.

“There’s now so much more demand for high quality homes from successful businesspeople moving here from Sydney, Melbourne and Hong Kong, and international expats wanting to return home,” says Tony Coughran, of Gold Coast Property Advisors, who recently bought a home in Broadbeach Waters for $2.25 million.

“We’re a young city and the demand is for high spec and very prestige homes, so there’s a lot of knockdown and rebuild going on in prime beachfront locations.

“There’s also plenty of opportunity to rent them out as holiday homes too, until the owners are ready to live in them,” Coughran says.

Michael Kollosche, of Kollosche Prestige Agents, feels there are pockets in each of these suburbs that are now prestige – on the beach front or beach side, on canals and rivers or with wider streets – while other parts still have a way to go.

“But we’re now seeing a lot of people migrating up from the southern states that we hadn’t seen for a while,” he says.

“They’re relocating their families here, or retirees or people are buying so they’ll live here eventually. We’re now seeing a lot of demand
for higher quality homes.”

Three homes in new prestige pockets

This four-bedroom home has panoramic views from the city to Mount Coot-tha and also boasts a saltwater pool and fountains.

Designed by architect Kevin Hayes, the property has a chef’s kitchen with a butler’s pantry, a 500-bottle wine cellar and a lift that services all levels.

Place West agent Simon Wheelans is seeking offers of more than $2.95 million.

Indooroopilly

This sprawling residence has an absolute riverfront position and is within six kilometres of Brisbane CBD.

Landscaped gardens lead down to the river’s edge, where there’s a private jetty and a pontoon.

Adcock Prestige agent Jason Adcock is selling the property by negotiation.

Broadbeach Waters

It’s difficult to decide which spot has the best view in this chic five-bedder, with the pool, covered terrace and main bedroom vying for the title.

The interiors are filled with natural light, where you’ll find a Ceasarstone kitchen, stone bathrooms and a large media room.

You’ll need to pay over $2.5 million for the Hamptons-style home through Jesse Willcox, of Lambert Willcox.