Find your place at West End's Gun Shop Cafe.
West End Suburb Profile
Developers are zoning in on West End as property prices continue to boom. The vibrant atmosphere in West End continues to attract buyers.
Location
West End is only 3km from Brisbane's CBD, making it extremely popular with young professionals and couples looking for lifestyle close to the city's amenities. As with other capital cities, property values close to the CBD have increased dramatically. And that's certainly the case with West End.
Bounded by Highgate Hill to the east and South Brisbane to the northeast, West End is situated alongside the Brisbane River.
Community Vibe
West End is an eclectic and dynamic suburb. It was once a working class area, with a number of factories located along the river and Montague Road. As these factories began to shut down the suburb increasingly became home to university students, alternative types and international migrants due to its affordable housing and rents, and its proximity to the CBD.
"The suburb has recently seen extensive unit development, hoping to capitalise on the strong rental market," REIQ managing director Dan Molloy said.
"In the past 10 years, West End has developed into a lively area for nightlife. The main street precinct rejuvenation has attracted an array of multicultural restaurants and coffee houses. It has become a popular alternative nightspot for people all over Brisbane.
"It is expected West End will see strong growth in median house prices as buyers continue to purchase property close to the city."
Lifestyle
Centred on Boundary Road, on the southern side of the river, bohemian West End has many ethnic restaurants, some interesting bookshops and multicultural food shops. This new mix of residents has created a community vibe that is unmatched anywhere else in Brisbane. The West End market is a weekend highlight for locals and visitors alike.
Small restaurants, cafes, coffee houses, shops, bars and bakeries have evolved along Boundary Street, and have added to the vibrant high street atmosphere, day and night, over the years.
Infrastructure
West End will also benefit from the proposed Brisbane $14 billion underground rail network with variations including possible underground rail stations at Park Road, Woolloongabba, Brisbane's CBD, West End, South Bank, Spring Hill and Newstead to cope with 80,000 peak hour commuters by 2016.
By 2026, it is expected the number of peak hour commuters will jump from 60,000 to about 130,000 with commuters possibly going underground from Toowong through West End to South Brisbane near the Performing Arts Complex before alighting at a new underground station in central Brisbane.
Property Development
As urban renewal projects in areas such as Newstead and New Farm begin to wind down, the Council and developers are increasingly looking towards the old industrial areas of West End to help house the future growth of Brisbane. This has been progressing slowly in recent years down by the river and in the areas between Boundary Street and the Convention Centre.
New developments in these former industrial areas have experienced a significant number of sales over the past year. These have included three sales between about $550,000 and $650,000, and two for more than $700,000 in the new Tempo development on Donkin Street; and nine $1 million-plus sales in the Koko development in Pidgeon Close.
It is hoped the urban renewal program will improve the area without detracting from the eclectic vibe that so many residents of West End and Brisbane value.
Living by the river
Bulimba, St Lucia and New Farm each have the Brisbane River wrapping around them, and each is known for its strong local identity, high street cafes and proud local communities. In this same way West End's 'containment' on its sprawling peninsula has fashioned a sought-after neighbourhood. Buyers and tenants alike seek out its distinctive lifestyle... Read the full West End - Living by the Brisbane River article.
