Living at Gardens Riverside has never looked so good…
When my partner and I relocated from the Gold Coast, we searched for a place to live that felt safe and friendly, where we could walk our dog, walk to a local café, and enjoy the convenience of inner city living.
This turned out to be a tough ask. We searched high and low, hoping to find what felt like a needle in a haystack at the time. Woolloongabba, Kangaroo Point, Newstead, Cannon Hill, Camp Hill, Windsor. Any suburb, you name it, we tried it.
With our efforts fairly exhausted, we stumbled upon West End. We went to our first open home at Gardens Riverside in West End on a Saturday morning three years ago. Arriving early, we ordered two cappuccinos and two croissants from Table 26 on the corner of Duncan and Roger’s street and briefly set out to explore to pass the time.
Crossing the road, we meandered through green space and followed the path to the top of a set of stairs that led down to the spacious riverside walkway/bikeway/everything way. We couldn’t believe our eyes as we took in the gorgeous jacarandas in full bloom, bright purple and perfectly framing the Brisbane River and park, a picture-perfect moment with views out to Mt Coot-tha and the Regatta. We were in awe.
We continued our way down the stairs, intrigued by the charm of West End. As we walked, we noticed a friendly, healthy, vibrant neighbourhood going about their Saturday morning routines. We quickly realised there must have been a fresh fruit and veggie market nearby as we witnessed people walking back by the river with carts and shopping bags full of fresh produce. The atmosphere was so relaxed and wholesome. It is hard to describe in words, but we felt it then, and we still feel it now.
As a suburb, the people of West End seem to have their priorities right. It’s a neighbourhood that relishes getting out and about in fresh air, exercising along the riverbank, taking children out with their bikes and tricycles, catching up with neighbours, and hosting picnics in the park. We were sold before we even entered Gardens; the atmosphere was enough, and we knew then and there that West End was the right fit for us.
Entering Gardens Riverside, we were pleasantly surprised by the size and scope of the green communal area. The four buildings are beautifully centred around a private green heart, offering 5,500m2 of open landscaped green space. We fell in love with the complex’s Palm Lagoon resort pool, the 25m lap pool, the waterside cabanas, the two separate BBQ areas, the exclusive function room and the fully equipped gymnasium with shower facilities.
The complex offered us everything we could want, lifestyle-oriented living at its finest and security. Gardens Riverside ticked all our boxes. We set foot in the apartment and hypothetically signed on the dotted line. Acting somewhat nonchalant to the agent, my partner and I locked eyes as if to say telepathically; THIS IS IT.
The modern fixtures and finishes, the cross breeze from the open hallway, the courtyard at the front, the views from the balcony and the amount of light were all big draw cards for us. We loved how both bedrooms opened out, allowing fresh air and natural light to flood in. We loved the spaciousness of the kitchen, something hard to come by in apartment living, and the well-considered storage throughout.
The main selling point for us had to be the view. Two Waters Edge buildings perfectly framed the Brisbane River and its shimmery reflection from the moment we walked in the front door.
Now, three years on, we have grown accustomed to that beautiful view, yet it never ceases to surprise us. From the breathtaking sunsets over Mt Coot-tha to watching the CityCats silently glide by, we have gladly lost so much time sitting on that balcony observing the world go by. From our morning coffee, summer tanning, and evening wine, that balcony has become one of our favourite spots.
They say you never get a second chance to make a good impression, and I’m so glad our first impression of West End hasn’t wavered. In fact, West End has exceeded our expectations in more ways than one.
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Having lived and breathed this suburb for three years, we can confidently say West End represents an alternative take on urban living. There is nothing like it that we’ve experienced in Australia and potentially few places like it in the world. Imagine. A place where your neighbours are your friends, and your friends are artists, builders, students, doctors, musicians, lawyers, yoga instructors, academics, bloggers, local business owners, and entrepreneurs.
You walk, skate or ride to work or study – just a 10-minute drive to the city or to Queensland’s major universities (unless you choose to laze it on the City Cat as it hums along the river). Then, in another 10 minutes, you can walk to Brisbane’s best food, coffee and nightlife.
On Saturday, you venture to the farmers market, catch up with your neighbours, listen to talented and emerging musicians, and purchase fresh fruit and veg. The residential streets are quiet and safe, and neighbours still say hello to one another. In the morning, you wake up to the sound of kookaburras, bush turkeys, and lorikeets. You meet your friends at the gym, the indoor climbing centre, yoga, pilates or Latin Dance school. You know all the locals through their dogs’ names, whilst the business owners know you by your regular coffee order. West End, to us, is a suburb where people care, local businesses flourish, and the community is there for one another when things get tough.
This became evident during the Covid lockdowns and crazy weather events of the past few years. It was in these moments that the true spirit of West End shone through. From friendly waves and chats between balconies and food and coffee deliveries when isolating to musical performances to ease the boredom of lockdowns, West End’s community spirit always came through when it mattered.
We have been so fortunate to have met some of our now closest friends living in this suburb. From chance encounters with the dogs to coffee bump-ins at our local cafes, we feel lucky to have met some of the kindest and most generous people we know. The ease of walking to a dinner party, cheese platter in hand, and wine in the other, is hard to beat. This suburb has gifted us more than we could have imagined regarding lifelong friendships and lifestyle.
In terms of lifestyle, I love the rituals I have developed while living in West End. Most weekends, I wake to wide-spanning views of the Brisbane River, walk 200m to the Montague markets, pop into pilates at Revive on level 1, meet my friends after class and grab a coffee from Cheeky Bean Espresso.
From here, we slowly meander to the Davies Park markets, where we take a spot on the grass and listen to the local musical talent. I love the ease of picking up my local organic produce at the markets, rummaging through the unique local stalls and grabbing a croissant from the French Patisserie. In a world that can be so fast-paced, I look forward to my fulfilling yet leisurely Saturday mornings, and I know that without West End, it would have been considerably harder to develop such a healthy routine.
Being surrounded by so many like-minded people who enjoy the simplicity of taking the dog for a walk or relishing in a good cup of coffee, I have felt grounded by the community of West End. Come the evenings, and you can’t go past a good glass of wine at Red Bowler, a beer at the local distillery Parched, or even venturing further into the centre of West End, with the trivia nights at The Boundary or the paint and sips at The Montague Hotel.
There are too many favourite dinner spots to mention, with some of our most frequented being: Birds Nest, Pasta Club, Lefkas Taverna, Gala Thai, La Lupa and Caravanserai.
All that to say, I feel incredibly grateful to have come across the West End community. I know this suburb and its people are to thank for such a fulfilling past three years. From that chance encounter to a suburb we now call home. West End has so much to offer to all different types of people.
If you are after a suburb to ground you, shift the way you think, open up your mind and inspire you to live healthily. West End maybe for you. It was the best decision we’ve made yet. Thank you, West End.
Looking to Buy or Sell? Please contact Luke O’Kelly on 0477 227 020 or Contact us.
