Auchenflower (Post Code 4066)

Nestled between Milton and Toowong, Auchenflower Qld is an old but quietly affluent and popular inner Brisbane city suburb around 3 kilometres west of the CBD. Covering 1.5 square kms, it is located on elevated terrain (so enjoys great views) on the southern side of the Brisbane River, and has a rich history to go with its many amenities. It’s also known for its beautiful Queenslanders, parks, gardens, and open spaces.

For Brisbane investment property owners, you can discover plenty of opportunities in this suburb, particularly in the apartment and unit sector of the market. These types of dwellings now make up well over half the housing in Auchenflower. As property managment experts for over 20 years, Position One Property specialises in managing property in this area.

For tenants, the suburb is close to the CBD with excellent transport options both into the CBD and Brisbane’s western suburbs. This provides a range of work, entertainment, and shopping choices.  

Suburb History

The land Brisbane now sits on, including Auchenflower, is the traditional home of the Turrbal and Jagera First Nations people. The first European settlers – convicts and prison guards – arrived there in 1824 to establish the infamous Moreton Bay Penal Settlement (1824 – 1842).

When the settlement opened to free settlers in 1841, many of the new arrivals ‘set up camp’ on the fertile river flats between Milton and Toowong – southwest of what is now the CBD. The area was then surveyed and divided up into a series of rural estates. In 1876, local ironmonger John Ward purchased an elevated block in this area that stretched from the riverbank northwest to Milton Road.

Ward built a large home on the highest part of his block and then sold it to state premier Thomas McIllwraith in 1880. McIllwraith subsequently called the estate ‘Auchenflower’ in honour of his family estate back in Ayrshire, Scotland. The name is Gaelic, and means ‘field of flowers’. Like McIllwraith, many of the early settlers in this area were Scottish.

The Auchenflower estate was subdivided in 1903. It and the surrounding estates, similarly subdivided between 1900 and 1913, rapidly became a popular commuter area after the development of the electric tramway along Milton Road.

Auchenflower remained a mix of houses, vacant land, dairy cattle agistments, and market gardens right up until the mid 1900’s. Today, though, the suburb is an eclectic mix of beautiful parks, high-rise apartments and office buildings, and traditional Queenslanders.

Transport Options for Residents

Being so close to the CBD, Auchenflower Qld residents have access to excellent transport options. This makes investment properties here an attractive addition to any property portfolio.

Notably, the suburb is a mere ‘3 train stations’ from the CBD, which is great for commuters who work there. Furthermore, the Auchenflower train station has the added advantage of being part of both the Ipswich and Caboolture train lines. That makes for easy, convenient train travel to the north, east, and west of the city for work, school, and recreation.

Additionally, two major City roadways – Coronation Drive and Milton Road – run through Auchenflower. There is also a good bus service. However, this close to the CBD, these roads do suffer from congestion during peak hour.

Bicycle-owning residents have a 4th option in the Bicentennial Bikeway from Toowong to the CBD. The bikeway runs alongside the Brisbane River and is a convenient, picturesque, and economical way to get in and out of the CBD.

Housing Styles In Auchenflower Qld

From its bucolic beginnings, modern Auchenflower has morphed into a classy, modern suburb with a diverse range of housing styles. From apartments and units for those who want a modern, urban lifestyle, to the lovely historic Queenslanders dotted throughout the suburb… this suburb offers up something for every type of property owner. And tenant who wants to rent here.

Many of the historic homes are on spacious blocks, with lovely gardens and outdoor areas, and are ideal investment opportunities. The most prestigious blocks are located on higher land with stunning views of the Brisbane River and city skyline.

Amenities

If you are thinking about investing in property, there’s no shortage of amenities for residents of Auchenflower. This makes it an excellent place for owning rental properties. Some of the major items to tick off your rental property amenities list include:

Shopping:

Not only is CBD shopping just a convenient train, bus, car, or bike ride away, but residents also don’t have to leave Auchenflower, or go very far, to find other great shopping options. Nearby Toowong Village has everything from large retailers to boutique businesses. Milton Markets is also handy with its superb artisanal stalls and fresh local produce. There are also local corner stores like the imaginatively named Frog N Toad Corner Store and many other small businesses providing a range of products and services.

Dining:

Auchenflower is a great destination for foodies so those who live there are definitely spoilt for local dining out options. There are a number of charming restaurants, cafes, and bistros offering ethnic cuisines from around the world.

Healthcare Facilities and Services:

Having easy access to healthcare facilities and services is very important to tenants, particularly those with young families. And Auchenflower delivers…in spades! The state of the art private Wesley Hospital and the Wesley Medical Centre are located close to the Auchenflower train station. The Toowong Private Hospital is also close by.

In addition to these, Auchenflower residents have easy, quick access to many other surrounding healthcare facilities. This includes all the major public, private, women and children’s hospitals, medical centres, and other healthcare facilities in and around the CBD.

Parks and Outdoor Facilities:

Often living so close to the CBD means sacrificing an outdoor lifestyle but not in Auchenflower! It has its own local parks and playgrounds plus easy access to the beautiful Brisbane Botanic Gardens in next-door Toowong. Picturesque Mount Coot-tha Lookout also isn’t far away.

Sports fans will love the fact that both the NAB (Auchenflower) Stadium (basketball) and Suncorp Stadium in Milton are a very short drive away. For tennis players, the Milton Tennis Centre has tennis courts available for recreational games. Fancy a game of croquet? The McIlwraith Croquet Club is based in Auchenflower in a lovely elegant Queenslander. There are also local fitness and community centres, and that Bicentennial Bikeway along the river.

Schools

Auchenflower is a popular choice for families courtesy of its proximity to several prestigious schools. There are also a number of childcare centres in the district along with the Montessori Children’s House kindergarten, all of which are perfect for tenants with young families.

Primary Education:

The heritage listed Milton and Toowong State Schools, Brisbane Boys College (Toowong), and St Ignatius School (Toowong) all offer excellent primary schooling for children in Auchenflower

Secondary Education:         

For secondary education, there are 2 top private schools close to Auchenflower – Brisbane Boys College (Milton), and Stuartholme School for girls (Toowong). Unfortunately though the closest state high schools are Brisbane State High School in South Brisbane and The Gap State High School at The Gap. However, with Auchenflower’s public transport system being what it is, getting to and from these schools is straightforward.

Position One Property – Auchenflower Property Management

Auchenflower definitely delivers on all fronts that are important for those investing in property and looking to attract tenants. There are numerous local business opportunities, excellent healthcare and education facilities for young families, and a range of other amenities.

It’s a great place to invest, and Position One is a great choice to manage your Auchenflower investment property. We’ve been in this industry for over 20 years so we know what it takes to manage your property properly. Our clients love us, and we certainly appreciate them in return.

So…if you’re on the hunt for a property manager who are local experts at Auchenflower property management, then give Position One Property a call today.