[strawberrycakes]

I posted a thread earlier in the week regarding good suburbs to live in Melbourne due to a potential move for DH's work. Looks like that opportunity isn't going to work out for us but DH has been offered a job in Toowoomba.

Anyone know much about the area?

I am after opinions about what it would be like to live there & raise a family.

DH & I so need a change & this could be it but I don't want to go if it isn't going to be a nice place to live IYKWIM.

TIA

[aliro]

I live in Toowoomba, so happy to answer any specific questions you may have.

I moved here, from Brisbane, about 7 years ago to be with my husband when we got married. I LOVE living in Toowoomba, and when anyone from Brisbane asks me how I'm liking it and if I want to move back I say a definite "no!"

I like it because it's small enough to have a slower pace of life, but big enough to have all the facilities you would want. And if not, Brisbane is only a couple of hours away to visit for the day.

There are LOTS of schools, both public and private. Parks everywhere you look.

There are some suburbs that aren't so desirable, but plenty of lovely and quite expensive suburbs too. It's also quite possible to move 'out of town' to some acreage but still only be 15-20 minutes away from the centre of town.

[Shooz]

Toowoomba is a great family town. Lots of great schools, lots of parks and play areas. Has reasonable shopping and only an hour and half fromBrisbane if you feel the need for a dose of the big smoke. Nice climate. Tends not to get too hot in summer, night times generally cool down. Can get a bit cold in winter. What else do you want to know?

[House.of.blue]

To live here and raise a family it's a great place. As your kids get older they will get bored but like most will go Brisbane/coast for outings.

Toowoomba is growing a lot and has come along way with a sushi train & gelato shop lol but it's still country in other areas like the shopping centres they are sh*t if you want to shop around. Grand Central houses Target, Coles, d*ck smith and Myer. Clifford Gardens has best and less, coles, woolies, big w and Kmart plaza has Kmart and coles.

It's quiet and housing is affordable to both buy and rent. People are friendly and the town does try and put on family events.

Schools are great ranging from smaller schools to bigger ones with great reputations. Not sure what else you want to know but happy to answer any questions that i can that you have OP.

[strawberrycakes]

thanks for the replies

May I ask for opinions on what suburbs are the best & the ones to avoid so to speak?

My DD will be going into grade 1 there, what state schools are the best?

[Guest_Dinah_Harris_*]

Suburbs like Prince Henry Heights and Middle Ridge are nice.
Don't know what the bad ones are like these days. I lived and worked in Toowoomba about fourteen years ago now, but it was a really nice place. It is really a big country town, if you can handle that, but there are some great things that go hand in hand with that.
My brother still lives there and we visit quite a lot. The climate is lovely, although the wind in winter can be a bit brutal.

[NotRocketScience]

I'd move there in a heartbeat. I'm a teacher and it's very difficult to gain a position in Toowoomba as it's a very popular destination for teachers to request.

As far as regional places to go I think it has great shopping.

[aliro]

Some of the better suburbs are Middle Ridge, Rangeville, Mount Lofty.
Middle tier suburbs would be, Centenary Heights, Darling Heights.
Bottom tier suburbs would be Rockville, Harlaxton, Harristown

However, Toowoomba can be strange in that you can have good and bad parts within the one suburb. For example, Wilsonton, Newtown, South Toowoomba, East Toowoomba, North Toowoomba. So you can't always discount an entire suburb because there are some really lovely parts within that suburb.

Can't help with schools though as I'm not at that stage yet.

[Shooz]

Generally avoid the north western suburbs. Kearney springs is growing rapidly with lots of new affordable housing. East toowoomba, Rangeville, Middle Ridge are all nicer more expensive suburbs. Highfields is about 15 mins north of town and very family orientated and more acreage type blocks.

[probyber]

It's two years today since we have lived in Toowoomba and i can't say enough how good it is here. We are expecting our first in August and we are so happy were we are in life at the moment. As people have said its a big enough place to have everything you need but still has a small town feel. We have only gone forward since moving here. We are currently renting in Darling heights and can't say a bad word about the area close to everything.