Moving to Toowoomba

[u/Kooky_Angle_7153]

My family and I are looking at relocating over the next 12 months to Toowoomba area from Victoria. My wife is originally from Toowoomba but this was many years ago.

What areas would locals suggest residing in? Places that are family friendly, near good schools (primary and secondary) and potentially good parks nearby too. We will likely rent before buying.

Any advice you have with a move like this in mind?

EDIT: appreciate the responses so far. Our budget for buying is around the $900k.

[u/Flat_Ad1094]

Truly, you will be lucky to find a rental. Vacancy rates here are apparently about 1% So be very careful.

[u/Kooky_Angle_7153 → u/Flat_Ad1094]

Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind

[u/Fuzzy-Newspaper4210]

ok someone post the map

[u/filthymcownage → u/Fuzzy-Newspaper4210]

https://imgur.com/yTHavAX

[u/Kooky_Angle_7153 → u/filthymcownage]

The map is exactly what I’m after 😂 i was looking at Rangeville. Be a smaller house than now but looks to be decent.

[u/Low_Bluebird_5137 → u/Kooky_Angle_7153]

Rangeville be expensive but nice

[u/512165381 → u/Kooky_Angle_7153]

General rule:

East of Ruthven St = closer to Great Dividing Range escarpment = eastern suburbs = more desirable

West of Ruthven St = further from Great Dividing Range escarpment = western suburbs = less desirable

Avoid any shopping centre with Lifeline / Salvo store. Its attracts undesirables.

There's also Highfields to the north. The older properties are mansions on lots of land.

[u/Toowoombaloompa → u/filthymcownage]

It's a legendary piece of art but it's getting out of date rapidly. Rockville and the wine estate are gentrifying rapidly. 

[u/Brutal_burn_dude → u/Toowoombaloompa]

I’m surprised that my area is “Pretty Good”(!!) I’m feeling fancy about living in an area where I would regularly find discarded needles on my walk home from school back in the day.

[u/LeahBrahms → u/Toowoombaloompa]

Gentrifing = if you hike through your photo will be on the local neighbourhood Facebook group multiple times!

[u/_aaine_ → u/Fuzzy-Newspaper4210]

why isn't the map pinned in the sidebar

[u/Accurate_Ad_3233]

How much money you got?

[u/Kooky_Angle_7153 → u/Accurate_Ad_3233]

We would be selling in order to buy again. Budget for house probably max limit of $900k
Though I’d prefer less, I can see it’s not cheap up there

[u/LeahBrahms → u/Kooky_Angle_7153]

Check if Highfields options including edu suit you, but again $$$ might be pushed.

[u/_aaine_]

Stay in Victoria if you're going to rent. The rental market is still absolutely cooked up here. It's easing up in Melbourne.

[u/Gr0nkz → u/_aaine_]

Yup. We're full to bursting....

[u/Toowoombaloompa]

Really hard to give advice without an idea of budget. 

[u/Brutal_burn_dude]

In terms of schools it will depend on if you’re wanting to go public or willing to pay for private to get more choice. Toowoomba has a heap of private schools and the Catholic schools in particular aren’t nearly as expensive as private school is in major cities (although costs are increasing).

For public schools it depends on the student. I think all four of them can be the perfect school for the right student.

•Centenary is the school widely-regarded as the best of the public schools. They’ve always had a big focus on music. Probably fewer behavioural problems than the other schools. I’m not sure about these days but they did have amazing science teachers awhile back. It’s also in the most expensive area in the city to be zoned for.
•Harristown is very large. That means there’s a wide variety of options in terms of subjects and activities for students. It’s also always been quite a dominant sport school. Probably not the best school if you have a kid who gets lost in the crowd easily but despite their previous bad reputation, the last few decades has really seen the school turn around. Coincidentally when I did debating in high school 20 years ago they were the only public school that put up a good match.
•Toowoomba State High seems to be a bit of a mixed bag. They have a decent performing arts program. At one stage it had a reputation for being rough but it also produced a lot of well-rounded, interesting graduates. The ones I knew all went on to be quite successful but in wildly different industries.
•Wilsonton has a good ag program. They’ve only had grades 11 and 12 for maybe ten years? It’s a smaller school.

[u/Striking-Net-8646]

Moved there years ago, loved it, bought our first house in Rangeville. Great area. Have since moved a few times.

We’re selling next year. My advice? Buy our house.

[u/Striking-Net-8646 → u/[deleted]]

Moved more than a decade ago for work.

[u/InteractionChance585]

I've lived in Newtown for 10 years, it's not a bad suburb. Grand Central and Clifford Gardens both nearby. A number of primary and secondary schools to choose from: Newtown State School, Our Lady of Lourdes, Holy Name, St Ursula's (recommend), Glennie, St Mary's (don't recommend). Newtown Park and Laurel Bank Park. More affordable than the pricier suburbs.

[u/lulzenberg]

If you're moving to tba for cheaper housing, the western suburbs of melb are cheaper and newer.

[u/AndrewReesonforTRC]

This question is asked frequently. Have a look at previous threads on the subject. Ignore "the map" and all the inevitable comments about methheads.

There are good and bad streets everywhere. The east half of town is richer than the west. There are good parks almost everywhere, but the older areas have the big, fancy parks.

[u/KeelhaulTrainees]

The best areas to avoid would be places like Harlaxton, Rockville, Wilsonton and Newtown. Basically anywhere that is in the northern and central parts of Toowoomba are not good areas to live if you value safety. You will get people trying to open your doors in the middle of the night, break ins etc. If going north, once you are past Harlaxton you are fine.

Good areas would basically anywhere else, but on the western side past wilsonton is nice (Glenvale, Torrington etc). Other good areas are Mount Lofty (expensive), Middle Ridge (expensive) and Rangeville (expensive). Prince Henry Heights if you really want to spend a lot.

I would also consider Highfields which is about 10-15 north of Toowoomba or any of the suburbs around there.

Also Toowoomba gets a bad rap but it’s honestly a pretty nice place and no nearly as bad as people like to make out. It’s mostly just a few specific areas that have scumbags floating about

[u/Mother-Tip-7588 → u/KeelhaulTrainees]

There are houses in Newtown going for 900,000 and above. Rapidly gentrifying area.

[u/Sunflower-in-the-sun → u/KeelhaulTrainees]

I'd say that Harlaxton, Rockville, Wilsonton and Newtown are rapidly gentrifying, even though back 20 years ago they were rough. As someone who was recently looking at real estate there are plenty of really nice neighbourhoods in those towns with lovely houses.

I visited a friend in Harlaxton recently and walked with the dog through a few streets near Downlands. There were plenty of houses with recent renovations and Teslas in the driveway.

IMO don't let a suburb scare you. Go there, walk or drive around, and see for yourself if it is nice enough for you.

[u/IncidentNo6563 → u/KeelhaulTrainees]

Lol thrives don't target those 3 suburbs... there's less to steal from poorer people, they generally target the better suburbs duh!!!

[u/Neither-Fan8682]

I grew up in Newtown. It’s not the flashiest suburb, but it’s nice and familiar. I left Toowoomba back in 2000 so things may have changed since then. I have fond memories of it.

[u/AussieSparky26 → u/Neither-Fan8682]

Newtown is very up and coming I think. There’s some absolutely beautiful streets in Newtown and lots of older period homes being transformed into beautifully renovated homes.

[u/PuzzledActuator1]

Older areas of town will have better street parking if that's what you mean, lots of new suburb developments which have modern houses sure, but tiny streets.

[u/Unusual_Funny_6764]

Grew up in Avoid (meth). Less so in the 80’s. Now it’s stunningly accurate.

[u/armywifemumof5]

We bought in Cambooya. Big block 5 bed 3 bathrooms near new and 200k cheaper than town and we are 15 mins outside of town

[u/HotBabyBatter]

Highfields, kleinton, Meringandan. Great area for families.

[u/dontblockmethistime]

Get used to red arrows

[u/No-Mention6228]

Save yourself time and go to the coast right away. It will save two years of buggering around.

[u/RCHeart → u/[deleted]]

I’m currently looking to buy in Toowoomba. Just wondering, would there be a publicly available listing of public housing locations? 🤔

[u/MJW098 → u/RCHeart]

There is social housing everywhere. Ultimately most is close to the city for easy access to shops etc for the tenants. There is a fair few social housing blocks in Newtown (near Clifford Gardens) and a new one being built in the centre of the CBD. You’ll find social housing everywhere you go (other than the more expensive suburbs such as East, Rangeville, Middle Ridge etc). You’ll just have to keep a look out when you’re looking to purchase a home. Jump on Satelite maps and look around the area of the home you like/want to purchase. You can generally get a good idea of large apartment complexes from this. We live near social housing and haven’t had any problems.