Brisbane

Brisbane is the state capital of Queensland with over 1,857,600 people calling it home. The city is located on the Brisbane River in the south eastern corner of the state of Queensland, 930 kilometers north of Sydney. Brisbane is a vibrant city with a cosmopolitan feel and a diverse mix of people. , Brisbane is the 3rd largest city in Australia. It is one of the fastest growing cities as a high percentage of immigrants from overseas and around Australia decides to call Brisbane home.

Brisbane is divided into 26 wards but unlike other cities in the country it is largely controlled by a single local government called Brisbane City Council.

The 26 local wards that make up Brisbane include:
Bracken Ridge, Chandler, Central, Deagan, Doboy, Enoggera, Hamilton, Holland Park, Jamboree, Karawatha, Macgregor, Marchant, McDowell, Moorooka, Morningside, Northgate, Parkinson, Pullenvale, Richlands, Tennyson, The Gabba, The Gap, Toowong, Walter Taylor, Wishart and Wynnum.

Education:

There are a number of private and public schools in the city as well as a selection of universities. The schools in Brisbane are run by a Queensland government organisation called Education Queensland. Numerous special needs schools are also available.

Universities include:
University of Brisbane, Griffith University, Central Queensland University, Queensland University of Technology, Australian Catholic University, James Cook University, University of Southern Queensland and the University of the sunshine coast.

Independent Tertiary education and TAFE campuses include:
QANTM, Australian college of natural medicine, Brisbane College of Theology, Metropolitan South Institute of TAFE, Brisbane North Institute of TAFE and Southbank institute of TAFE.

Infrastructure:

There is an extensive public transport system in Brisbane however the main form of transport is still private car. Modes of transport include train, ferry, bus and taxi. It is managed by the Government of Queensland and Brisbane City Council.

Brisbane trains are operated by Queensland Rail. A map can be found at www.citytrain.com.au

For information on buses go to www.transinfo.qld.gov.au

For information on ferries got to www.metrolinkqueensland.com.au

Brisbane’s road system is a substantial network built and planned around the city’s expansive suburbs. Logan Rd, Gympie Rd, Old Cleveland Rd and Moggill Road are some of the main thoroughfares that connect Brisbane CBD with the suburbs around it. The Pacific Motorway, Gateway Freeway, Western Freeway and Centenary Freeway are some of the other major roads that connect suburbs and help divert traffic from going through the centre of Brisbane.

There are many projects in the planning at the moment to constantly better the cities transport network and cater for its fast growing population.

Things to do:

Brisbane offers and endless amount of options to keep you entertained. It has everything you would expect from a cosmopolitan city plus some extra unique activities that set it apart.

The Southbank area includes the parklands, the man-made beaches and lagoons as well as the markets and museums. The botanical gardens are world class and Queen Street mall can keep you occupied for hours. Brisbane is also well known for its nightlife. There are a selection of hot spots including the city centre, Fortitude Valley and Southbank where there are several bars, pubs, restaurants and live music.

Brisbane is host to a number of events throughout the year which include the moonlight cinema, cricket, Rugby, garden expo, band championships, craft shows, Brisbane Festival, V8 supercar, Wine festival, Film Festival, River Festival and Riverlife to name a few.

Other attractions include:
• Movies, theatre, fishing, golf, extreme sports, scuba diving, bush walks, national parks, whale watching, beach and numerous scenic drives.

Brisbane is a city that does not disappoint. It has a tropical climate and is a short drive to some of the best beaches in Australia and the world. It is on the doorstep of many tropical islands and the famous Great Barrier Reef. Living in Brisbane gives you a cosmopolitan city life with a laid back tropical twist. Whether you live in central Brisbane or one of its beautiful suburbs you will never be far from the action.