Launceston smiles as the most family-friendly city in Australia
Tasmania's Launceston has beaten Canberra as Australia’s most family-friendly city, according to a Suncorp Bank study.
Suncorp listed the nation’s 30 most family-friendly cities, with the three mainland east coast capitals failing to rate highly.
On worldwide surveys, Melbourne has been ranked as the most livable city in the world two years in a row but was ranked 14th on the Suncorp family-friendly survey.
Sydney was further down the ladder – ranked 23rd – and Brisbane was ranked 24th.
Although Launceston has a low average income, it trumped the three major cities with its low crime rate, less crowded schools and its lower average cost of housing.
The median house price is $335,000, according to RP Data, and the median unit price is $305,000.The quiet town of Launceston is rich with historical buildings but there are prices to suit all.
In the middle range, a five-bedroom, two-bathroom home (pictured below) located on Brisbane Street comes with an asking price of $620,000.
Tara built circa 1890 for Richard Gee, who went onto be the 39th mayor of Launceston in 1914.
On the higher end of the scale, a five-bedroom, three-bathroom home (pictured below) on French Street is listed with offers over $1.75 million.
Offering views across Launceston City and down to the Tamar River, this home offers a self contained one-bedroom apartment downstairs, accessible from a private entrance or internal lift.
On the cheaper end of the spectrum is a classic cottage on Balfour Street (pictured below) with an asking price of $270,000.
The three-bedroom, two-bathroom home boasts tin lining, high ceilings and multi-paned windows.
The full Suncorp report can be read here.
Launceston picture courtesy of Flickr.