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Momentum Remains High for Seventeen Mile Rocks Property Market

Seventeen Mile Rocks maintains its momentum in the Brisbane property market with a steadily rising median house price that rose almost 12% in the last 12 months, amidst growing demand for properties on large blocks of land.

Highlights

Seventeen Mile Rocks experienced an 11.87 per cent growth in house values for the period of October 2020 to September 2021, whilst its unit market had a 7.59 per cent growth.
This outer ring suburb currently has a median house price of $749,500 and a median unit price of $432,500.
Seventeen Mile Rocks mostly offer investors detached houses that are less than 20 years old, in a community where less than 10 per cent of the properties are townhouses or apartments.

House Price Growth

Data for the period of October 2020 to September 2021 from Property Market Updates shows that the Seventeen Mile Rocks property market has performed quite well with a median house price increase of 11.87 per cent. This outer ring suburb is among those with the fastest appreciating property values in the state, with the median house price now at $749,500, up from $670,000 for the same time period last year.

Houses in Seventeen Mile Rocks are selling briskly, at an average of 22 days on market. There were 50 properties sold for this period with most investors competing for three-bedroom dwellings.

At least 91 per cent of properties in this suburb are detached low-set brick homes which are not more than 20 years old, whilst the rest are contemporary semi-detached, townhouses, or apartments. Nearly 46 per cent of the residents own their mortgaged homes, while almost 35 per cent are outright owners and 12 per cent are renters.

Unit Price Growth

During the same period, Seventeen Mile Rocks’ unit market also went up by 7.59 per cent, putting the unit median price at $432,5000 from $402,000 last year. There were, however, only 10 apartments sold during this period within an average of 59 days on the market. Apartment stocks for this suburb have not changed, producing almost no yield for investors.

About Seventeen Mile Rocks

Seventeen Mile Rocks is a picturesque, family-friendly suburb sitting next to the Brisbane River. Some 16 kilometres south of the CBD, this community with close to 3,000 residents used to be part of Sinnamon Park until its segregation and renaming in the late 1980s.

This area was predominantly an industrial district until its redevelopment in the mid-1970s. Now, it’s a thriving suburb with a lot of family appeal, because it’s accessible to upmarket schools, dining precincts, and retail stores at the Indooroopilly Shopping Centre, DFO Jindalee, and the Mt Ommaney Centre. Its most attractive drawcard is the Rocks Riverside Park, a beautiful recreational outdoor space where families and their dogs play, have BBQ parties, go biking or walking, or tend to the community garden.

Residents of Seventeen Mile Rocks, however, need a car to get around and more than half to drive to get to essential places or neighbouring suburbs.

“Edenbrooke – Seventeen Mile Rocks is, without doubt, one of the greatest estates in the Centenary area. Been living here since 2005 and wouldn’t change it for the world. Great Parks, walkways and great neighbours.”
Steven Peto

“Grew up around Oxley and recently moved back to 17 Mile Rocks in 2007 after building a house… It is close to the City and is a fantastic place to live…..”
Big Jenko

“17 Mile Rocks is one of the last few suburbs where you can forget to lock the car at night. It has a family feel to it, with quiet cul de sacs and streets where children play with one another. Neighbours are friendly and are often seen talking across fences or across roads with each other. This is an area that is set to boom in the near future. Bordering Windermere, Edenbrook, The Verandahs and Oxley this pocket of real estate has remained a hidden gem but is gaining more popularity. If you seek a home that is safe to raise your children, has good aesthetic qualities and will enjoy strong growth I suggest you look into the pockets of 17 Mile Rocks.”
Winmalee

Strong Fundamentals Drive Double-Digit Growth in Jindalee Property Market

Jindalee house prices continue to climb, with the median increasing by double-digit percentages for the period covering October 2020 to September 2021, as strong fundamentals and interstate migration continue to drive the property market boom in suburbs all across the River City.

Highlights

Jindalee’s property market climbed by 13.27 per cent from October 2020 to September 2021 compared to the same period in the previous year.
The median house price has risen to $700,000 from $618,000 with most market listings racking up sales after 28 days in the market.
105 houses sold for this period with most buyers opting for three-bedroom homes in a tightly-held market.

House Price Growth

For the 12-month period ending September 2021, Jindalee experienced a 13.27 per cent growth compared to last year, with the median house price pegged at $700,000, per figures from Property Market Updates. Interest in the market has been brisk with house listings staying at an average of 28 days on market.

More buyers are discovering that they’re getting their money’s worth by investing in properties on Brisbane’s western corridor, where the houses stand on bigger blocks of land for a more affordable price compared to other locations, including the inner cities.

There were 105 properties sold from October 2020 to September 2021 with most buyers picking out three-bedroom properties (56), while eight five-bedroom houses with a median house price of $895,500 found new owners, who are mostly upsizers on to their second or third home.

About Jindalee

The riverside suburb 15 kilometres southwest of Brisbane City is part of six new suburbs developed for the Centenary estates. Jindalee came from the aboriginal word that means “bare hills.”

Due to its proximity to the Brisbane River, Jindalee has been through some of the worst floodings in Brisbane. Yet the suburb is still one of the most desirable residential locations for families who want their children to grow in a peaceful environment with the earth’s natural beauty as their main playground.

Because Jindalee is close to good and reputable schools, parents with school-aged kids prefer to live in this suburb as it’s nicely tucked within the catchment areas. Most families who buy a property here tend to stay longer thus competition among investors is tight. However, due to its uneven high and flat grounds, the houses in the low-lying areas are more at risk for flood damage.

For recreation, dining and shopping, Jindalee has the revitalised DFO (Direct Factory Outlet) and the nine-hole Jindalee Golf Club where many community events take place.

“Very accessible to both schools for my kids, has very good shops and has many sports clubs for all the different sports my kids have wanted to try out.”
jimb23

“You’ve got a very nice set of shops on the west, endless shopping on the east, and a very long bikeway/path for those inclined to exercise. It’s very safe as is evidenced by dry neighbourhood watch report that comes out quarterly and rarely reports anything apart from some low level break-ins with little stolen. There’s a police station, plenty of parkland, good cafes, restaurants, doctors, pharmacies, swimming pools, fuel stations, and of course the highway going north and south. Superb spot.”
Benpower

“This is without doubt the best suburb in Brisbane, considering I have rented and lived in ten + over the years. Just brilliant in so many ways.”
Mazta

Inside Icarus, Where You’ll Find Traditional Greek Food

Photo credit: Icarus Restaurant/Facebook

Icarus Greek Restaurant, located on Goggs Rd in Sinnamon Park, is best known for its traditional Greek dishes, with a menu loaded with must-try, feel-good classics such as lamb moussaka (ground meat cooked in tomato sauce) and pastitsio to Keftedes (lamb meatballs with house-made tomato sauce) and haloumi salad.

Read: Complete Your Jindalee Boat Ramp Visit With Coffee And Sweet Treats From Licketysplit Cafe

The standout on the menu is their souvlaki, a Greek specialty made with tender cuts of meat. At Icarus, a souvlaki platter consists of chicken, beef, lamb or smoky chorizo served with “Greek salad & Pilaf” or “Fries & Tzatziki.”

Photo credit: Icarus Restaurant/Facebook

Souvlaki (Photo credit: Icarus Restaurant/Facebook

In addition to souvlaki, the place is getting a lot of raves for their house-made mezes and fresh salads. If you’re crazy for Greek food but do have dietary requirements, this restaurant is definitely your place because they do offer vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options.

As with a usual Greek meal, there are delicious dips to go with the pita bread. There’s their famous hummus, Tzatziki (Greek yoghurt, garlic, cucumber, and dill), kapoto (Greek carrot dip with walnuts, garlic & yoghurt), Skordalia dip (potatoes, garlic, lemon juice, walnuts & extra virgin olive oil), and Crete dip (grilled capsicums, eggplants, garlic & walnuts) among others.

With its simple yet cosy, Mediterranean-inspired interiors, Icarus Greek restaurant is a wonderful meeting place for family and friends. They are child-friendly and do offer outdoor dining, too.

Icarus is open for both dine-in and takeaway seven days a week. You can follow them on Facebook or on Instagram @icarusmygreek for updates.

Mount Ommaney Property Market Shows Over 30% Median House Price Growth

The median house price in Mount Ommaney rose by over 30 per cent during the 12-month period ending September 2021. Mt Ommaney, dubbed the “unofficial retirement community for the moderately wealthy” by locals, is benefiting from strong demand and low inventory, as people spend more time at home and look for larger properties and a suburb offering a more laid-back lifestyle.

Highlights

The median house price in Mount Ommaney showed a 32.96 per cent uptick between the period of October 2020 to September 2021, at $1,250,000 with only 31 properties sold within the period.
The unit market, however, is down by 1.83 per cent with just 14 properties sold during the 12-month period.

House Price Growth

According to Property Market Updates, Mount Ommaney experienced a 32.98 per cent growth from October 2020 to September 2021, resulting in a remarkable median house price uptick to $1,250,000, up from $940,000 in the previous period. Thirty-one homes were sold during this period within an average of 48 days on market. Among these houses sold, 17 of them were five-bedroom properties in the million-dollar range.

Off an elevated section on Becker Place, a five-bedroom house standing on an expansive 1,348-square metre lot pulled the highest sale, changing hands for $1,850,000.

Designed as a modern Tuscan villa, this house has the Mount Ommaney Bushland Reserve in its backyard, the home to kangaroos and many of Australia’s rich wildlife.

The family residence also boasts spectacular views of the city and the McLeod Country Golf Club. Its location is within two kilometres of the Mount Ommaney Special School and Mount Ommaney Centre.

Buyers are seeing the value of houses in the western corridor, where the homes set on larger blocks of land are now more desirable, as buyers look towards more spacious homes outside Brisbane’s inner-ring area.

Unit Price Growth

Mount Ommaney’s unit market, however, has gone down by 1.83 per cent for the period October 2020 to September 2021. Both stock and demand are down, as the median year-on-year remains largely flat. Only 14 properties were sold during this 12-month period with listings going for an average of 79 days.

Granted, the majority of dwelling options in Mount Ommaney are detached homes while townhouses and serviced apartments, mostly for occupancy by downsizers and retirees, make up just under one per cent of the stocks.

About Mount Ommaney

Mount Ommaney is located 13 kilometres southwest of Brisbane CBD. Developed as a part of the Centenary Suburbs residential project in the 1960s, Mount Ommaney has attracted residents who love the area’s natural diversity with the Brisbane River by its doorstep.

Dubbed the “unofficial retirement community for the moderately wealthy” by the locals, this suburb has a large, protected forest and stone quarry that both lend a unique beauty to the surroundings. The air and atmosphere around Mount Ommaney’s neighbourhoods deliver the countryside vibe, where residents live in solitude and have much more space to work, live, and play.

However, Mount Ommaney locals also have everything they need within their reach as its sole, massive shopping centre has over 170 specialty shops and some of Australia’s largest chain stores.

“I have lived in Mount Ommaney for 7 years now. I chose it because the homes were on larger blocks and it has a medium sized shopping centre close by with the major department stores. It’s a short drive to Indooroopilly if you are looking for more upmarket shops. The CBD is within 15km. There are good playgrounds, three closeby primary schools including an excellent Lutheran private school.”
Fionaw15

“I moved here when new houses were still being constructed, there was no high school, no police station and Mount Ommaney Centre was a strip mall basically with a small Coles. It’s grown up since then. It’s safe, kids still walk to school and ride bikes. The trees have grown to form an impressive canopy which supports an ever expanding assortment of wildlife and birdlife. I’ve seen echnidna in my yard a few times. It is important to identify the streets with traffic noise though. One end of Mount Ommaney Drive is quite busy, the other end towards Jindalee is very quiet. I live in one of the private Courts, it’s so quiet at night that the only thing that disturbs my sleep are the possums running across the roof. Be warned though, lots of trees and vegetation means lots of gardening tasks. If you’d rather not be in the garden, there are other suburbs that might better suit.”
NancyM

Staverton Kindy Honours Teacher Judy Ford for Two Decades of Service

Staverton Kindergarten is proud to have a dedicated and passionate teacher in Judy Ford, who is celebrating 20 years of service to the Chelmer kindy.

Ms Ford, who has spent 33 years in early childhood education, will commemorate her anniversary with Staverton Kindergarten on Friday, 5 November 2021. As someone who strives to make a difference every day, Ms Ford has shaped hundreds of young thinkers and doers to create, discover, problem-solve, and explore what’s around them.

Whilst well-loved by the students, Ms Ford has also built strong ties with local families. As a testament to her influence and impact on her students, some of the kids she used to guide and mould have returned to seek her advice as they become early childhood educators themselves.

“Judy is well respected by her work colleagues and the community. We are so happy to congratulate her on her dedication and love for the Staverton Community,” said Kate Beutel, Staverton Kindergarten‘s supervisor.

Ms Ford studied Bachelor of Education Studies (Early Childhood) and a Diploma of Teaching (Early Childhood) more than three decades ago and started working as a preschool teacher. In 2001, she joined Staverton Kindergarten as a pre-kindy teacher and moved up the ranks to become its co-director.

Her years of experience have given her a wealth of knowledge to help children develop and blossom as they prepare for their journey into school life and beyond. This special milestone comes after Queensland observed World Teacher’s Day.

Established in 1944, Staverton Kindergarten has achieved an “exceeding” overall rating by the ACECQA.

DFO Jindalee Completes $15-Million Redevelopment with a Master Builders Award

DFO Jindalee has plenty of reasons to celebrate the season following the end of its $15-million redevelopment. Not only has the shopping centre been recognised for a Master Builders Award, it has also achieved fully-leased site status after two years of improvements.

Master Builders Queensland named DFO Jindalee as the winner of the Brisbane Region Master Builders Association Award for Retail Facilities Over $5 Million, which was overseen by Kane Constructions Project Manager David Laycock. The project won because of its high level of finish and the complexity of the building’s design.

According to Mr Laycock, it was not common to remove the building’s massive roof structure whilst the centre remained operational. With temporary engineering solutions in place, the challenge was to finish the project on time with limited distractions to the tenants.

Mr Laycock said that the judges were quite impressed because of the level of finish delivered to the project. DFO Jindalee manager Jeff Litte is also proud of the outcome because the former outlet shopping centre could now deliver premium choices for its customers.

Construction was conducted in two stages beginning 2019 but Stage 2 of the development, with the addition of Reading Cinemas, fresh food retailer Amazons Family Fresh Markets, and more green spaces and landscaping, raised the value and prestige of the shopping centre.

In September 2021, DFO Jindalee signed up its final seven new tenants to complete the line-up of retail shops, cafes, and restaurants. Establishments like The Yiros Shop, Coco Bliss, Jindalee Cafe, Sushi Paradise, In Tea, BMT Viet, and Noodle Street are set to open in the next few months. They will join long-term tenant Coffee Club, Nike, BCF, Goodlife and more than 50 other shops.

Westlake Property Market Exhibits Stable Growth Amidst Continued Buyer Interest

Homebuyers scouting for a stable investment that won’t break the bank can look towards the tree-lined streets of Westlake within the Centenary suburbs, an understated, attractive neighbourhood that offers some peace and quiet by the riverfront.

Between the period of July 2020 to June 2021, Westlake has attracted 68 home sales with deals closed within 39 days on market, per data from Property Market Updates. Healthy buying activity has pushed Westlake’s property growth upwards by 8.62 per cent with the house median price now at $806,500.

Properties with four to five bedrooms fetched the most interest from buyers looking for a spacious house in a quiet neighbourhood to raise their kids, amidst the changing preferences of the people, post-COVID, to live in a house surrounded by nature. Since interstate or overseas travel are limited, many locals now value larger spaces and backyards and are willing to pay a premium for them.

A mansion on Westlake Drive sold the highest price for this time period at $1,850,000. Featured with modern yet practical architecture, this property comes with its own backyard pontoon perfectly fitted for a 45’ cruiser.

About Westlake

Westlake, bounded by Mount Ommaney, Middle Park and Riverhills in the western part of Brisbane, includes a mix of houses, as well as large-scale properties close to the river. Most of the houses in this peaceful locale are owner-occupied thus the vacancy rate is quite low. There are no unit constructions in town as nearly 97 per cent of the houses are detached whilst the rest are townhouses or terraces.

The majority of people living in Westlake are families with one or two children. While abundant in green spaces for the kids to use for their recreational activities, there are no schools in the suburb itself. The nearest schools are in neighbouring suburbs like Middle Park, Jamboree and Jindalee. The bus transport access in Westlake is efficient and there is a commercial precinct where they can easily buy the essentials.

“Absolutely beautiful suburb, wide tree-lined streets, big beautiful houses that are well maintained, peaceful and quiet streets, safe and friendly neighbourhood. The new restaurant and cafe precinct is lovely and once a year the jacaranda trees turn our streets the most amazing light purple colour when they drop their flowers, it’s very pretty! Absolutely love it here.”
Kyryas

“I’ve lived in Westlake for 5 years and wouldn’t dream of moving anywhere else. It’s a very quiet area and you feel quite safe here, especially with a family. Three parks are only a stone’s throw away, there are shops nearby without the noise and traffic, a scenic walking track along the river and an off-leash area for dogs. It’s only a half-hour drive to the city on a good run. If you prefer suburbia over inner-city living, then this is the place.”
PCoffey

“Westlake has an abundance of facilities available to the area which allows us to live in such a great suburb. Beautiful… 4 years ago when I first came to Australia, Brisbane I was about to get depressed but since I moved to Westlake about 2 years ago everything changed. It’s absolutely a beautiful place to leave. I am quite happy to drive 30 min each way to work every day but live in Westlake.”
Westie

Complete Your Jindalee Boat Ramp Visit With Coffee And Sweet Treats From Licketysplit Cafe

Photo credit: Licketysplit Cafe/Facebook

Located at the Jindalee Boat Ramp in an area with lots of shady trees to sit under and access to easy parking, Licketysplit Cafe is a mobile coffee van that serves delicious brew and sweet treats, with a relaxing river view.

Read: Get a First Look at These Brisbane Parks’ Improvements

Family founded and run since 2019, Licketysplit Cafe serves coffee, frappes, cold-pressed juice, fruit smoothies, fruit and acai smoothie bowls, donuts, pastries, bagels, and sorbet at the boat ramp on weekends.

Photo credit: Licketysplit Cafe/Facebook

The donuts, which are popular among kids, come in a variety of flavours such as rocky road, chocolate chip, strawberry glazed, white choc & marshmallow, salted caramel, hazelnut, and Boston cream.

They use organic coffee from Merlo, Eagle Farm’s famous roasters known for their premium coffee beans. Customers are loving the taste of the unique blend, perfect for chilling on the hill overlooking the river.

Just recently, they also started offering delivery services via Menulog. So far, the most popular items on their online menu are the classic acai bowl and the berry heaven smoothie bowl.

“Came down to the Jindalee boat ramp with my kids this morning & got myself a ‘Refresher’ juice & it’s the most satisfying drink to wake up to! Going to be making it a routine to come here. The most lovely service, a perfect way to start our morning,” shared one local.

You can also find them by the playground at the end of Curragundi Road and Mt Ommaney Drive, Jindalee. Check out their Facebook page for more information on their opening hours and daily specials.

Flexicon Moves and Expands Australian Operation in Darra

Flexicon, a global manufacturing company for bulk handling equipment, has expanded its operations in Australia with a new and bigger site in Darra.

Located on Boundary Road, the new facility spans 2,390 square metres, where more than 70 percent of the building will be dedicated to the manufacturing of conveyors, unloaders, bulk bag fillers, bulk bag conditioners, manual dumping stations, weigh batching systems, and drum/box/container tippers. The remaining spaces are for conference rooms and offices of the administrative personnel, the engineering team, and sales staff.

By the end of 2021, Flexicon in Darra will feature a test laboratory to check the quality and performance of the equipment.

David Gill, Flexicon Corporation president with its head office in Pennsylvania U.S., said that their manufacturing and sales operation more than doubled in July 2021. As demand for Flexicon equipment grew in Australia, the company made a move to a bigger site with more provisions for growth.

Tim Greene, the managing director of the Australian operation, said that the relocation to Darra will help with the company’s market expansion in Southeast Asia and the South Pacific Rim.

The news comes as the headquarters in the U.S. also completed its expansion to meet the demands for bulk handling equipment in July.

Flexicon was founded in 1974 in New Jersey and increased five-fold within a decade. In 1995, the company moved its satellite plant to Pennsylvania, which was followed by the opening of its world headquarters in 2001.

Jindalee Property Market Triples Its Growth in 12 Months

Lifestyle changes and migration from interstate or overseas have driven house prices in Brisbane to record-high numbers, with the property market in Jindalee tripling its growth from 7.11 percent to 21.4 percent within the 12-month period from July 2020 to June 2021.

Latest data from Property Market Updates shows that Jindalee’s median house price increased from $640,000 to $784,000 in 12 months, with the highest sale closing at $1.68 million.

Prior to the pandemic, Jindalee’s median house price was at $587,500 (July 2018 to June 2019) and $597,500 (July 2019 to June 2020).

Highlights

The Jindalee property market posted a 21.4 percent growth from July 2020 to June 2021.
The median house price increased from $640,000 to $784,000. The median unit price went from $505,250 to $567,500 for the same period.
Three Jindalee houses sold above the $1-million mark from April to July 2021.

About 105 properties were sold in the first quarter and 28 in the second quarter, as house listings stayed on the market for 25 to 31 days. Inventory in the $580,000 to $940,000 range moved faster, spending an average of 19 days on the market.

Unit Price Growth

Meanwhile, unit sales in Jindalee exhibited a 12.32 percent growth in the 12-month period ending June 2021. The median price for units was at $567,500 in June 2021, up from $505,250 in June 2020. Some 10 units were sold during the same period, with the highest sale closing at $735,000.

Steady Rise After the 2011 Floods

Brisbane River in flood at Jindalee at the Centenary Bridge, 2011
Photo Credit: Flickr/Martin Shaw

The years since the devastation wrought by the 2011 floods have seen Jindalee recover steadily.

Just two years after the floods, house prices in the suburb started to rise, a trend that hasn’t stopped despite the coronavirus pandemic.

An investment opportunity after the 2011 floods.
Photo Credit: https://cshsoc.org.au/2011-flood/#jp-carousel-1817

Although prices dropped by as much as 10 percent for houses with severe flood damage, many savvy and educated buyers saw an opportunity for investment, backing up their purchases with insurance premiums to cover their risk.

Kooringal Rd & Burrendah Rd during the 2011 floods.
Photo Credit: Geoff Shera

Kooringal Rd & Burrendah Rd, February 2021.
Photo Credit: Google Maps

Jindalee’s steady recovery is a strong indication of continued buyer confidence in the suburb’s liveability.

About Jindalee

Statistics from Experian Australia show that older couples and families make up the largest percentage of people living in Jindalee. The suburb is also slowly attracting a throng of professionals who want to set their roots in a place with plenty of parklands, dog off-leash areas, public swimming pools, and a very long bikeway, all for less the cost it would take to buy a house or unit in Paddington or Indooroopilly.

Photo Credit: Facebook/Jindalee Neighbourhood Watch

Though lacking in bars or nightlife, Jindalee has a growing cafe culture for professionals and adults, as well as a good number of good primary and secondary schools. A reliable Neighbourhood Watch group also helps keep the community safe.

The boat ramp and the shopping centres are popular neighbourhood hubs, along with the newly-opened DFO Jindalee within the Reading Cinemas complex.