New Farm is an established inner Brisbane suburb around 2km from the CBD, known for its character homes, apartment buildings, riverfront parks and strong local lifestyle. The suburb occupies a peninsula surrounded by the Brisbane River and has a long history dating back to Brisbane’s early settlement.

Property ranges from traditional Queenslanders, character cottages and renovated workers’ homes through to apartment buildings and newer luxury developments. Many of the suburb’s older streets feature established trees and heritage-listed homes, particularly around Moray Street, Bowen Terrace and the streets surrounding New Farm Park.

New Farm also has a strong connection to Brisbane’s cultural and dining scene, with Brisbane Powerhouse, New Farm Park, Merthyr Village and a wide range of cafes and restaurants all within the suburb. Its proximity to the CBD, Fortitude Valley, Teneriffe and Newstead also provides easy access to employment, shopping and entertainment.

New Farm had a population of 12,197 at the 2021 Census, with a median age of 39 and an average household size of 1.9 people. The suburb has a relatively high proportion of smaller households, reflecting its mix of apartments, townhouses and traditional homes.

The median weekly household income was $2,069 in 2021, while households had an average of 1.3 motor vehicles. Around 10.4% of employed residents travelled to work using public transport and 26.5% worked from home on Census day.

Health

• New Farm medical services – the suburb has a range of GPs, allied health providers, pharmacies and other healthcare services, including services around Merthyr Village.
• The Wesley Hospital – located in Auchenflower, The Wesley provides a broad range of private medical and surgical services.
• Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital – located in Herston, the major public hospital provides specialist and emergency medical services for Brisbane’s inner suburbs.
• St Vincent’s Private Hospital Brisbane – located in nearby Kangaroo Point, providing private hospital and specialist medical services.

Education

• New Farm State School – a Prep to Year 6 state school located on the corner of James and Heal Streets. The school was established in 1901 and remains an important part of the local community.
• Fortitude Valley State Secondary College – a nearby state secondary school providing education from Years 7 to 12.
• Brisbane State High School – located in South Brisbane and accessible from New Farm by public transport.
• All Hallows’ School – an independent Catholic girls’ school in nearby Fortitude Valley.
• Brisbane Grammar School – an independent boys’ school in Spring Hill.
• Queensland University of Technology – the Gardens Point campus is located close to the CBD and is easily accessible from New Farm.

School catchments and enrolment requirements can vary between properties, so buyers should confirm the current catchment for a specific address before purchasing.

New Farm has one of Brisbane’s more established local dining scenes, with cafes, restaurants, bakeries and specialty food stores concentrated around Brunswick Street, Merthyr Road and the surrounding residential streets.

• Merthyr Village – the local shopping and services hub includes more than 20 specialty stores along with cafes, restaurants, fresh food, medical services and everyday amenities.
• Brunswick Street – provides a mix of cafes, restaurants, takeaway options and local businesses running through the centre of New Farm.
• Merthyr Road – another established local dining strip with cafes, restaurants and specialty businesses.
• New Farm Deli & Cafe – an established local institution at Merthyr Village, operating in the area since 1975.
• Teneriffe and James Street – both are close by and provide further options for restaurants, cafes, bars and specialty shopping.

The suburb’s mix of local dining, shopping and entertainment means many everyday amenities are accessible without needing to travel into the CBD.

New Farm’s riverfront setting and established green spaces are central to the suburb’s lifestyle.

• New Farm Park – one of Brisbane’s oldest and best-known parks, covering 15 hectares along the Brisbane River. It includes extensive open space, riverfront areas, a rose garden, playground and historic rotunda.
• Brisbane Powerhouse – a major arts and cultural venue located beside New Farm Park, hosting theatre, comedy, music, festivals and other events throughout the year.
• Brisbane Riverwalk – provides a riverside route for walking and cycling, connecting New Farm with Teneriffe and the wider inner-city riverfront.
• New Farm Park Ferry Terminal – provides access to CityCat services along the Brisbane River and connects New Farm with destinations including the CBD, South Bank and University of Queensland.
• Merthyr Park – a local riverside park providing open space and recreational areas near the Brisbane River.

New Farm’s combination of riverfront parks, walking and cycling routes and access to Brisbane Powerhouse makes outdoor recreation and cultural activities an important part of life in the suburb.

New Farm is well connected to Brisbane’s CBD and surrounding inner suburbs by bus, ferry, bicycle routes and road.

• CityCat ferry services – the New Farm Park ferry terminal provides regular services along the Brisbane River towards the CBD, South Bank, University of Queensland and Northshore Hamilton.
• Bus services – routes including the 196 and 199 connect New Farm with the CBD, Fortitude Valley, South Brisbane, West End and other inner suburbs.
• Brunswick Street – one of the suburb’s main roads, providing connections towards Fortitude Valley and the CBD.
• Merthyr Road – provides another important connection through the suburb towards Teneriffe and surrounding areas.
• Ann Street and the Story Bridge – provide access towards Fortitude Valley, Kangaroo Point and Brisbane’s eastern suburbs.
• Bicycle routes – New Farm’s riverside paths provide connections towards Teneriffe, the CBD and the wider Brisbane River network.

With the CBD only a few kilometres away and multiple public transport options available, New Farm is particularly convenient for buyers who want to reduce their reliance on a car.

New Farm is surrounded by several established inner-city suburbs, each offering a different property and lifestyle profile.

• Teneriffe – a riverside suburb known for converted woolstores, apartment living, character homes and its dining precinct along Vernon Terrace.
• Newstead – a rapidly developed inner-city suburb with apartments, restaurants, shopping and access to the Brisbane River.
• Fortitude Valley – Brisbane’s major inner-city entertainment and dining precinct, with extensive retail, nightlife and apartment development.
• Bowen Hills – an inner-northern suburb with a mix of apartments, commercial development and access to major transport routes.
• Kangaroo Point – a riverside suburb across the Brisbane River, known for apartments, heritage homes, cliffs and views towards the CBD.
• Spring Hill – an established inner-city suburb with character homes, apartment buildings, schools and proximity to the CBD.
• East Brisbane – a residential suburb south of the river with traditional Queenslanders, newer homes and access to the wider inner south.

New Farm offers a distinct inner-city lifestyle, combining established character homes and apartments with riverfront parks, local dining and convenient access to Brisbane’s CBD.

Ready to buy in New Farm?

Our local team has extensive experience across New Farm and the wider Brisbane property market. To learn more about the surrounding suburbs and how we can help, visit our Brisbane buyers agent page.