Learn the everything you need to know about hundreds of projects from throughout Australia. We’ve got the insider information to ensure that you choose the apartment, townhouse or house and land project that suits you and your lifestyle.
This is independent editorial content written by a PropertyMash Journalist. While we try to ensure all information is as accurate as possible, please double check with the developer or real estate agent directly before making a purchasing decision. The information contained within this article may be incorrect or out of date.
Serenity was completed in late 2015. Photos taken 03/02/16
Whether you are looking to rent or occupy your new home, convenience is a strong draw card for potential buyers and a key feature of Serenity.
Just 300m from both the Brisbane River and Toowong Village in the suburb of Toowong (Postcode 4066) , Serenity Apartments are conveniently located and appeal to professionals looking for quick access to the CBD.
The development is now complete, with 26 of the 32 two-bedroom apartments sold. If this sounds like your new home or investment, the apartments are ready to move into now!
Serenity Toowong Apartments backing onto train line
Serenity is on Bennett Street, a backstreet of Toowong running alongside the train line and up to Toowong Village. Being so close to the Caboolture train line means train noise is something that potential residents will have to consider.
On the other hand, this makes for a super-convenient location with Toowong train station and the major shopping centre just metres from your door.
Zip over to Toowong Village to grab your groceries or board a train into the city within minutes.
The shopping centre has David Jones and Kmart department stores, a Coles supermarket and restaurants Grill’d and San Churro among many others. The Toowong Library and Toowong train station are located within the complex.
View of Toowong Village from outside Serenity.
Bennett Street also adjoins Sylvan Road, where you will find Toowong Memorial Park’s lush parklands and sporting ovals. The large, heritage-listed park is home to the Western Districts Rugby Football Club as well as war memorials, honouring the 101 locals who enlisted in WWI. Dawn Services are held here every Anzac Day.
Toowong borders the Brisbane River about 4.5km southwest of Brisbane’s CBD. The suburb has many parks and pathways as well as an extensive retail precinct.
Because of the suburb’s close proximity to The University of Queensland, many students and young professionals live here, with 20-somethings making up around 36 per cent of the population.
Serenity was completed in late 2015. Sales consultant Tim Davis says he has seen a fairly even split between investors, owner occupiers and overseas purchasers “buying for family members to live in while studying in Australia”.
There are 32 two-bedroom, two-bathroom apartments across four levels. Among these are four courtyard apartments, one of which has already sold for more than $600,000.
The apartments have allocated car spaces in the secure, basement car park and you can opt to upgrade with a second car space or a secure storage cage. This is, however, dependant on availability.
Ground level has a foyer opening onto Standring Street with an intercom linked to each apartment. A lift services all levels and the building is wheelchair-friendly.
Every open plan apartment has floor to ceiling glass doors which open onto a balcony.
The developer is Image Developments, a privately owned, Brisbane-based company. Image has recently completed a few small to medium size developments in Toowong, St Lucia, and Indooroopilly.
For the six apartments still on offer, prices range between $519,000 and $588,000.
The estimated rental yield is estimated to be between 5.2% and 6% . The rental demand from the local university, hospital and Toowong Village has created a tight vacancy rate of around 2%.
Body corporate fees will be low in comparison to surrounding developments, at around $2400 per year.
These apartments qualify for the current First Home Buyer Grant of $15,000.
Excellent ceiling height of 2.7m, and full-height, wide glass doors opening onto the balcony create a sense of space and allow plenty of natural light.
The living areas and kitchens have large porcelain tiles and the bedrooms have high quality carpet.
Kitchens have stone benchtops, wood-look feature cabinetry and Bosch appliances, including an electric cooktop, slide-out range hood, dishwasher and 60cm oven with an electronic display. They feature an instantaneous hot water system (good for power consumption) and a Fisher and Paykel dryer.
Bathrooms have a bath with an overhead shower as well as a hand shower attached to the rail.
As expected in this subtropical Queensland climate, the apartments are air-conditioned.
Toowong is often dubbed a “student suburb” as the University of Queensland’s St Lucia campus is about 2.5 km away and the Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in the city is only 4.4 km away.
Many schools are also located in and around Toowong. Just a 10-minute walk away you can find Toowong State School, a small co-ed primary school of 230 students. Brisbane Boys College, located 1km away at Kensington Terrace, runs from Prep to Year 12 and also offers boarding school facilities. St Peters Lutheran College in Indooroopilly is a Christian co-ed school of Prep to Year 12 students which also offers boarding. Ironside State School, at Indooroopilly, is a diverse primary school of almost 1000 students. Toowong also has four childcare centres including Toowong Child Care Centre, Milton Road Children’s Centre, Marcia’s Family Childcare and Jahjumbeen Occasional Child Care Centre.
The Caboolture train line runs through Toowong train station, located inside Toowong Village, within five minutes’ walk. The train from Toowong takes nine minutes to arrive at Central station in the city.
You can catch the train from Toowong Village.
For a more scenic ride into the city, the CityCat ferry docks in front of the Regatta Hotel, on Coronation Drive, and takes 10 minutes to arrive at the North Quay terminal.
CityCats also travel to The University of Queensland in about 15 minutes.
Just 3km towards the city is Suncorp Stadium, a sporting stadium with a capacity of 52,500 people. The stadium hosts major events – such as music concerts – and is the leading venue for State of Origin matches.
The Wesley Hospital is a private hospital with a 24-hour emergency centre, just 700 metres from White Dawn. Toowong Private hospital is only 1km away and major public hospitals, the Royal Brisbane and Women’s Hospital and Mater Hospital Brisbane, are both about 6km away.
This project is finished and there are open inspections every Saturday afternoon. Alternatively you can arrange a more convenient time with a sales consultant to take a look through apartments you are interested in. Because the development is complete, you can really get a feel of the living space before making a commitment, which isn’t common when buying a brand new apartment.
We would love to hear your thoughts on this project.
Have you visited this project recently, or perhaps you live nearby or bought in a neighbouring building? Tell us what you love about this project, or perhaps what you don't.