Mount Coot-Tha, part of the Taylor Range, is about 7kms west from the Brisbane CBD. It used to be called One Tree Hill, after de-forestation left a lone Eucalypt standing. The Mount has been set aside for public recreation reserve since as far back as 1880.  Lifestyle features of the area include the Brisbane Botanic Gardens and Planetarium and Mt Coot-tha Lookout, which offers great views across the city. Residents can also enjoy  1,500 hectares of protected bush land, mountain cycling tracks and nature walks in the Mt Coot-Tha Reserve, right next to the 25,000 hectare Brisbane Forest Park.

Several rather pricey, leafy and very pretty residential neighbourhoods nestle at the foot of the mountain. They offer excellent family environments. If you are thinking of moving to this area Chapel Hill is probably the most expensive, with a median price in the year to June 2010 of $650,000, compared to the region’s overall median of $437,000. Take a look at Toowong, Taringa, Kenmore, Bardon and the Gap too.  Real estate in the area is mostly detached, from large executive homes with high-end facilities, to the iconic Queenslanders and villas. More recently there have been some townhouse developments.

The major shopping centre for the district is the mall at Toowong, but there is a selection of smaller stores in other suburbs.