Peninsula
West End, Hill End, South Brisbane, and Highgate Hill nestle in a loop of the Brisbane River close to the CBD, and are some of Brisbane’s oldest, most densely populated, and most interesting suburbs. Traditionally home to indigenous people, the working class, migrants, students and activists, it is characterised by:

Cultural diversity
The West End Peninsula’s largest cultural communities are from Aboriginal, Greek, Italian, Lebanese and Vietnamese backgrounds. Almost one quarter of residents speak a language other than English at home, and West End State School has pupils from 48 language backgrounds

Socio - economic diversity
2 in 5 residents of West End are from a low-income bracket, and approximately 45% of the peninsula’s population lives in rental accommodation.

Structural diversity
The West End Peninsula mixes residential, industrial, commercial, educational, cultural and recreational facilities and activities in a compact area. This urban form encourages and supports residents to live, work and play in the neighbourhood, and contributes to the peninsula’s strong social fabric and village feel.

The built environment extensively features “tin and timber” houses, significant to Brisbane’s architectural heritage.

Lifestyle diversity
The area has a history, particularly since the 1970s, of community-based and self-managed initiatives in community learning, community arts and culture and local production.

The area also features a high level of innovative and alternative commercial activity: Reverse Garbage, Bicycle Revolution, Zapata’s Bookshop, Bent Books, Green Grocer, True Foods, Mondo Organics, Trash Video, Green Flea Markets, Justice Products, West End Housing Co-op, MECU Ltd.

Links
This lively mix has contributed to a flair not found elsewhere in the city, and has made the area attractive to potential homebuyers, as well as developers capitalizing on the recent property boom.