Series
Life in the ’burbs
We asked Brisbane locals to write about their suburb – whether the clichés are true, how it has changed, and how their lives have been shaped by the place where they live.
- Opinion
- City life
My suburb smells like Weet-Bix – and money. But there’s a downside to riverside splendour
In this often overlooked suburban pocket, the dumps are now parks, the factories are arts centres, and large riverfront homes have made way for even larger ones.
- Brooke Maddison
- Opinion
- Opinion
Yes, the cliches about my suburb are all true. Roll your eyes if you must
High-density living is in full swing here, but there’s one positive to overdevelopment that no one ever mentions.
- Lucinda Kent
- Opinion
- For subscribers
My suburb is a bird-filled paradise next to a mighty river. There’s nothing dull about life here
Brisbane really feels like a river city around here. And the brown snake has a tendency to swallow you up.
- G.P. Shera
- Opinion
Soldier crabs and sunset walks: Why nobody wants to leave this seaside suburb
Once a sleepy haven for retirees and holiday makers, this bayside suburb’s smug secret is out.
- Kate Wild
- Opinion
My suburb has gone from daggy to desirable. But we still miss the roller disco
I used to think of it as a suburb you drove through. Now it’s all about microbreweries, specialist coffee roasters and gyms.
- Melanie Myers
- Opinion
I know my neighbour and the cafe owner in my suburb. It’s all so disgustingly wholesome
Life in the ’burbs can come as a shock to the long-time apartment dweller. And it changes you.
- Brittney Deguara
- Opinion
No, my suburb isn’t unsafe, so please stop saying it is. It’s actually charming
When I tell people where I bought my home I get sympathetic looks and assurances “it will gentrify”.
- Kate Carey
- Opinion
My suburb has a mountain on one side and high-rises on the other. And the odd python
It’s a place of contrasts: wildlife and traffic; community and commerce; the living and the dead.
- Kim Wilkins
- Opinion
My suburb’s population is booming, but business – and services – are not
The scene of a fondly remembered childhood, the population of this suburb has tripled in 25 years. But not a single new service has been added.
- Dominique Tassell
- Opinion
My suburb’s name sounds like a royal retreat. Given local house prices, that’s not misleading
This suburb has come a long way since its blue-collar days. But don’t mention the aircraft noise.
- Freya Petersen
- Opinion
My suburb is famous for things that aren’t even in it. But the reclaimed dump is a true asset
Life is sweet in my neck of the woods, if sometimes a little confusing.
- Ash Moore
- Opinion
My suburb has a street with the funniest name in Brisbane. But the joke’s on all of us
This suburb may come with increased premiums, but it also has a strong community bond.
- Alice Murphy
- Opinion
My suburb is diverse and friendly. It helped me pick up the pieces after my divorce
You never know who or what you might meet on the walking tracks of this quiet locale.
- Greg Duval
- Opinion
Residents are appalled by the plans for our suburb. We may be sentimental, but we’re not stupid
Our shabby-chic pocket of character homes is loomed over by a future stadium.
- Natalie Bochenski
- Opinion
My suburb has two train stations, but people are still surprised anyone lives here
Known for one key asset, this “million-dollar suburb” also embraces dogs and birds. Shame about the horses.
- Luke Tayler
- Opinion
No one has heard of my Brisbane suburb, but it was good enough for Elvis
After heavy rain, the cicadas and frogs make such a din, it’s hard to hear the TV. But it’s the perfect home for horses, hoons, and recluses.
- Gillian Wills
My suburb was famous for car yards. Now we have coffee, culture and big plans for the future
Known for its Magic Mile of car dealerships, this suburb now offers a lot more than a good trade-in deal.
- Evan Dean
- Opinion
My suburb has a reputation for sleaze. But now Sydney and Melbourne want to emulate it
I’ve seen things here I wouldn’t tell my mother about – but this place has an incredible history – and an exciting future.
- Matt Shea
- Opinion
I moved to my Brisbane suburb to get closer to the mountains – and further from the rats
Here, you’re only ever a horse, motorcycle, train or even tram ride away from somewhere lovely.
- Michele-Rose Boylan
- Opinion
My suburb is gentrifying quickly, but the shopping centre is still a horror show
My suburb has a strong community spirit. But while its ritziness rises, its shopping plaza remains a 1970s time capsule.
- Nick Dent
- Opinion
Kids used to ride horses to school in my Brisbane suburb. As a matter of fact, they still do
When I lived here as a kid it seemed to me like a country town. That hasn’t really changed.
- Nick Kilvert
- Opinion
My suburb is a sleepy village, but it’s secretly one of the best places to eat in Brisbane
It flies under the Instagram radar – and that’s just how the locals like it.
- Tamara Playne
- Opinion
My suburb has become a construction zone. What happened to my hilly, bohemian retreat?
The neighbourhood has gone from shabby chic to a developer’s dream.
- Olivia Stewart
- Opinion
In my suburb you hear sirens and choppers all night long. But I know my neighbours by name
I live in a locale that’s diverse, dynamic and unapologetically rough around the edges.
- Tammy Law
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