It took the Turner family more than a decade to get into the most held-onto suburb in all of Brisbane, and they don’t plan on moving any time soon.
Married couple Ryan and Cindy managed to snag a home in Kenmore Hills around 5 years ago: a suburb where its homeowners hold onto their homes for an average of 21 years.
“We wanted a suburb where we could raise our children,” said Mr Turner, whose work is in the CBD.
“I want that break on the weekends, and Kenmore Hills was an ideal location.”
Ryan and Cindy Turner managed to get a home for their family in Kenmore Hills five years ago, and plan to stay there at least until their daughters leave. Picture: Steve Pohlner
Ryan and Cindy managed to snag a home in the Kenmore area around five years ago: a suburb with an average block size of 652 sqm within 15km of Brisbane’s CBD.
With a median house price of $1.35m, Kenmore ranks at number five on Brisbane’s suburbs with the largest average block closest to the CBD, just 11km from the city centre.
PropTrack data reveals it is still possible to buy a quarter acre block reasonably close to Brisbane’s CBD — but prices have surged and large house lots are becoming more rare.
Knowing the area was valued for its quality and space, the Turners bought and built homes in cheaper areas to be able to upsize and afford their new house.
When they were able to move in, the family managed to snag a property 820 sqm in size.
8 Brookvale Close, Kenmore Hills, for sale with Ray White Metro West. The Kenmore area ranks #5 for Brisbane suburbs near the city with the largest average block.
“We fell in love with it,” Mr Turner said. “We know everybody. It’s one of those old school, classic ‘Australian team’ areas.”
“[Every year] we set a date, that’s either usually the first week of December … everybody just brings a plate of fruit, BYO drinks. We set up some camping tables on the cul-de-sac and we just have a great night.”
Ray White Metro West agent Jo Langstaff said after Kenmore Hills’ development surge in the 1980s, the look of the suburb barely changed.
“The street scape [of Brisbane] is changing quite rapidly,” she said. “Kenmore Hills is not doing that. It’s staying pretty much true to what it is … big blocks, big homes which do accommodate growing families.”
“It’s not so much being affected by this knockdown and rebuild that we’re seeing. The blocks are staying, the buildings are staying.”
People hold onto homes in Kenmore Hills for an average of 21 years: a record for Brisbane, and common in the Turners’ street. Picture: Steve Pohlner
Mr Turner said the family appreciated being near acreage property, with the chance to go to nearby events like the Brookfield Show.
“We plan to be there until the girls leave and go to Uni and get their own places, and we’ll see what happens,” he said. “We all live busy lives, and we all have jobs that are [high] capacity. But Kenmore Hills allows me to sit on the stairs, watch my kids on the street and just relax.”
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