CAIRNS SUBURB GUIDE
Brinsmead
Elevated family living on the western ridge, with Mt Whitfield Conservation Park as a backyard.
Median house price
12-mo growth
Median days on market
Median rent (house)
Gross yield (house)
Houses sold (12 mo)
Source: realestate.com.au suburb profile, 12 months to July 2026 (PropTrack modelled medians). Figures are suburb-wide; your specific property may differ.
Brinsmead sits on rising ground north-west of central Cairns, catching the breeze and overlooking the city. It is a strongly family-oriented suburb, around 78% owner-occupied, where four-bedroom homes on 700 to 900 sqm blocks are the norm and the north-eastern edge runs into the bushland of Mount Whitfield Conservation Park. The median house sale price is $900,000, up 17.3% over the past 12 months (realestate.com.au, to July 2026), with a median of 29 days on market.
What defines Brinsmead
The suburb sits on rising ground north-west of the city, which gives many homes an elevated aspect and better airflow than the flatlands below. The north-eastern edge runs into Mount Whitfield Conservation Park, so the bushland of the Whitfield Range is close at hand. Around 78% of Brinsmead's homes are owner-occupied, one of the strongest shares in Cairns, which shows up as tidy streets, long tenures and low turnover. It is quieter and more residential than the inner suburbs, about 12 minutes to the CBD via Brinsmead Road.
Homes, streets & price ranges
Brinsmead runs from solid family stock to genuine prestige. The Peak Road holds the suburb's premium: recorded sales there run from $1.25M to the $2.62M that currently tops the suburb's 12-month record. The elevated pockets around Greendale Close, Springmeadow Close and Fallon Close trade between roughly $900K and $1.3M. The family heartland, East and West Parkridge Drive, Benn Street, Wills Street and Sun Street among them, carries the volume at $780K to $1.1M for a 4-bed, with a recorded-sales 4-bed median of $960,000 over the 12 months to July 2026 and 3-bed homes at a recorded median of $732,500. A compact-block subset (450 to 500 sqm, streets like Chesterfield Close) offers the suburb's entry point around $700K to $780K.
Schools and daily life
Three strong school options sit within two kilometres: Whitfield State School (1.7 km), Redlynch State College (1.8 km) and St Andrew's Catholic College in the Redlynch Valley (1.6 km), with James Cook University a short drive north. Redlynch Central is the closest shopping centre, with Stockland Earlville about eight minutes away. Day-to-day shopping is manageable without going into the CBD, though a car is essential for most trips.
The Brinsmead market
realestate.com.au recorded 81 Brinsmead sales in the 12 months to July 2026, about 1.6 a week, with a recorded-sales median of $881,500 across all property types and a top sale of $2.62M. The REA suburb profile puts the modelled house median at $900,000, up 17.3% year on year, with a median of just 29 days on market, so Brinsmead moves faster than many of its neighbours. Rental demand is solid, with houses at a median $743/wk and a 4.8% gross yield. Always verify current data before any pricing decision.
Recent Brinsmead sales
| Address | Sold | Property | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2 Fallon Close | $1,317,000 | 4 bed house | Nov 2025 |
| 17 Sun Street | $1,125,000 | 4 bed on 3,680 sqm | Apr 2026 |
| 9 Springmeadow Close | $1,100,000 | 5 bed house | Oct 2025 |
| 12 Wills Street | $910,000 | 5 bed house | Mar 2026 |
| 17 West Parkridge Drive | $900,000 | 4 bed house | May 2026 |
| 31 Dungarvan Drive | $842,500 | 3 bed house | Apr 2026 |
| 16 Smoko Close | $810,000 | 4 bed house | Jun 2026 |
| 6 Chesterfield Close | $705,000 | 3 bed house | Aug 2025 |
Recorded sales from realestate.com.au public sold results, 12 months to July 2026, all sold by TS Property Group (13 of the suburb's 81 recorded sales in that period, six of them by Alexie personally). Prices are the published sold figures.
What buyers love
Elevated position with natural airflow above the city heat
Mount Whitfield Conservation Park bushland along the suburb's edge
Around 78% owner-occupied, tidy streets and long tenures
Three strong schools within 2 km, including two Prep–12 campuses
Strong 17.3% price growth over 12 months (realestate.com.au, July 2026)
Fast-selling, 29 days median on market
Things to consider
Car-dependent, limited public transport options
No walkable retail strip; relies on Redlynch Central or other nearby centres
Frequently asked questions
What is the median house price in Brinsmead?
The median house sale price in Brinsmead is $900,000 as at July 2026, up 17.3% over the prior 12 months (realestate.com.au modelled median). Across the 81 REA-recorded sales in the same period the recorded median was $881,500, with 4-bed houses at $960,000 and 3-bed houses at $732,500. For a property-specific assessment, request a local appraisal. No online figure replaces a walk-through.
Which Brinsmead streets and pockets are most sought after?
The Peak Road holds the premium, with recorded sales from $1.25M to $2.62M. The elevated pockets around Greendale Close, Springmeadow Close and Fallon Close trade at roughly $900K to $1.3M. East and West Parkridge Drive, Benn Street, Wills Street and Sun Street are the family heartland at $780K to $1.1M for a 4-bed, and the compact-block streets like Chesterfield Close offer the entry point around $700K to $780K.
Why do families choose Brinsmead?
The elevated position means better breezes and a cooler feel than the city flatlands. Three strong schools sit within two kilometres, including the Redlynch State College and St Andrew's Catholic College Prep to Year 12 campuses. Add generous block sizes, Mount Whitfield Conservation Park bushland along the edge of the suburb, and a quiet, largely owner-occupied character and you have a suburb that suits families with kids and dogs well.
Is Brinsmead a good suburb to sell in?
Median days on market is 29 (realestate.com.au, to July 2026) and the suburb saw 17.3% price growth over the past 12 months, which tells you buyers are active and competition is strong. The dry-season window from May to October typically sees additional interstate interest. Get a local appraisal for your specific property before pricing.
Thinking of selling?
Ask about selling in Brinsmead.
Selling resources
Nearby suburb guides
Thinking of selling in Brinsmead?
Get an honest, no-obligation appraisal from a specialist who knows this suburb inside-out.
What's My Home Worth?By Alexie Aristides, Your Cairns Selling Specialist