Removals to Brisbane, Australia
Brisbane, or ‘Brissie’ as some locals like to call it, has been the focus of many international events in the past few years. It hosted the Commonwealth Games in 1982, the World Expo 88 six years later, the 2014 G20 summit, and has also been chosen as the venue for the 2032 Summer Olympics and Paralympics. It is also an extremely popular city for tourists – and for British people looking for a vibrant, multicultural (and sunny) city to move to.
The Moving Partnership has many years of experience helping people who are interested in removals from the UK to Brisbane. Here we highlight a few of the reasons why it’s such a popular place.
History and Heritage
There is evidence of Aboriginal settlements in the area more than 20,000 years before the European settlers arrived in the early 19th century.
The modern-day city lies on the site of Moreton Bay, in Queensland. British navigator and cartographer Matthew Flinders was the first to officially explore the area, around 30 years after Captain James Cook first sailed through the region. The name of the city comes from the River Brisbane, which was named after the first governor of New South Wales.
The first major population growth came from the establishment of a British penal colony. Gradually free settlers outnumbered the convict population, thanks in part to the area’s natural resources which made it ideal for the fishing, agriculture and timber industries.
Queensland joined forces with the five other Australian states to become a federation in 1901. The following year Brisbane became a city.
Getting There and Getting Around
Brisbane Airport is around 20km (12miles) northeast of the city. For those interested in removals from the UK to Brisbane, there are currently no direct flights between the country and the city, but you should be able to get there with one stopover. The airport also has daily flights to and from all of Australia’s state capitals. A word of warning, though – the two terminals (for domestic and international flights) are 3km apart, so don’t get them mixed up.
From the airport, there are shuttle trains and buses which will get you to the city centre. These can get quite busy so it’s best to pre-book.
Although there is no underground system, the city has an integrated network of buses, trains and ferries. The ferries are a fast and convenient way of getting around, and a spectacular one too. You can choose from either high-speed catamarans or more conventional slower ferries. Tickets may be valid across different modes of transport, depending on times and what zone you are in. Increasingly, paper tickets are being phased out in favour of paperless ‘smart’ tickets.
The Central Business District or city centre is easily accessible on foot. It is worth bearing in mind though that other attractions are a bit more spread out and some areas of the city are fairly hilly.
However, there are plenty of cycle paths and a bike hire system which is not too dissimilar to London’s, providing another convenient and healthy way to get around the city. The main rental place is the city’s Botanical Gardens.
The Main Attractions
Most of the main cultural, historic and artistic buildings are concentrated on the South Bank by the river. These include the Queensland Museum and Sciencentre, the Queensland Art Gallery and Gallery of Modern Art, the State Library and the Queensland Performing Arts Centre. There’s also the Wheel of Brisbane (think of the London Eye and you won’t go far wrong) at the northern entrance to the South Bank parklands.
The Botanic Gardens, named after Mount Coot-tha, the closest mountain to the city centre, is also well worth a visit. Originally they formed part of a farm for the penal colony, now they contain many rare and unusual species, including palms, figs and bamboo trees.
If you want to cuddle a koala (above), then try the Lone Pine sanctuary at Fig Tree Pocket, around 12km from the city centre.
Shopping Around and Eating Out
The Queen Street Mall in the CBD is the main shopping area, although there are plenty of other shopping centres (including Westfields) in the suburbs too.
For something more unique and individual, try the Elizabeth Street arcade where there are plenty of artisan and independent stores (and cheap Asian food). Asia is just one of the major cuisines represented in the city’s restaurant scene - there are also plenty of European and American eateries too.
If you are looking for a traditional dish, then try the locally-sourced seafood such as the Moreton Bay bug (flathead lobster) or the bay’s rock oyster.
And, Brisbane isn’t just about drinking beer and lager anymore. Queensland, like the rest of the country, has a burgeoning wine industry. The State’s vineyards specialise in Shiraz, Chardonnay, Semillon, Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauvignon Blanc, Merlot, Verdelho and Chambourcin grapes.
Removals from the UK to Brisbane with The Moving Partnership
The Moving Partnership, thanks to our many years of experience in the international removals industry, will be able to source you a competitively priced package if you’re interested in moving to Brisbane.
We can also supply any moving to Australia quotes you might need – not just for Brisbane, but for all the major towns and cities the country. This includes Perth, Melbourne, Sydney, Adelaide and Canberra.
Follow this link and fill in the form for a free online moving quote.
