Ferny Hills sits in the Hills District about 16 kilometres north-west of the Brisbane CBD, along Samford Road. It is part of the City of Moreton Bay rather than Brisbane City, although it reads as part of Brisbane's north-west. Investors own here for the family housing, bushland setting and a renter pool that values space and quiet streets.
Ferny Hills at a glance
Housing subdivisions in Ferny Hills began in 1960, and the suburb grew through the 1960s and 1970s once water and sewerage were connected. The result is a suburb made up mostly of detached family homes on suburban blocks, many on sloping land. The western part of the suburb falls within Samford Conservation Park, so plenty of streets back onto or look across to bushland. A newer residential estate, Woolshed Grove, now stands on the site of the former Australian Woolshed.
Who rents in Ferny Hills
Census data shown on Domain puts Ferny Hills at roughly 86% owners and 14% renters, so rental homes here sit among long-term owner-occupiers and tenants often stay for years rather than months. Demand comes from:
- Schools: Ferny Hills State School and Patricks Road State School are both in the suburb, with Ferny Grove State High School in neighbouring Ferny Grove.
- Transport: Ferny Grove station, the terminus of the Ferny Grove line, is next door and has a large commuter car park.
- Lifestyle: families who want a yard, bushland walks and a quieter street while staying within commuting distance of the city.
The Ferny Hills rental market
Ferny Hills shares postcode 4055 with Ferny Grove and nearby suburbs. SQM Research's weekly asking rents index for 4055 was about $871 a week for all houses and about $750 for three-bedroom houses in the week ending 20 October 2026, with units averaging about $590. Because houses dominate the local stock, the house figures are the more useful guide, and we test them against recent comparable leasings in Ferny Hills itself.
In Queensland rent can only be increased once every 12 months for a property, and rent bidding is banned, so getting the starting rent right at each new lease matters more than it used to.
Where the opportunity is
Ferny Hills homes are typically solid, family-sized and sitting on blocks with room to work with. Realistic ideas include:
- Use the space underneath: many homes on sloping blocks have usable undercroft space that can become a rumpus, study or extra bedroom, broadening appeal to larger families.
- A secondary dwelling: on a suitable block, a granny flat can add a second income. Queensland has allowed these to be rented to anyone since September 2022, though approvals still apply. Our granny flat cash flow guide explains the numbers.
- Updates that suit families: air conditioning, a refreshed kitchen or bathroom, secure fencing and an easy-care yard. See increasing yield without overcapitalising.
Managing a property in Ferny Hills
Homes on sloping, treed blocks reward regular attention to gutters, drainage, retaining walls and trees near the house, particularly ahead of storm season. Lease terms should be clear about who looks after lawns and gardens on larger yards. For properties close to bushland, it is worth checking City of Moreton Bay's planning scheme overlays before planning any building work, and using Council's Flood Check property report to understand any creek or overland flow risk and confirm insurance matches. Our Annual Property Performance Review is where we bring these items together with lease dates and cash flow.
Rentwell manages properties in Ferny Hills, and if you own here, or are weighing up a purchase, we are happy to talk it through. You can read more about our approach to property management in Brisbane, or run your numbers through our cashflow calculator first.
General information only, current as at October 2026.
Ferny Hills FAQs
Is Ferny Hills in Brisbane City or Moreton Bay?
Ferny Hills is in the City of Moreton Bay, although it sits about 16 kilometres from the Brisbane CBD and neighbours Brisbane suburbs such as Ferny Grove. Council rates, planning rules and flood information come from City of Moreton Bay.
What do houses rent for in Ferny Hills?
SQM Research's asking rents index for postcode 4055, which also covers Ferny Grove and nearby suburbs, was about $871 a week for all houses and about $750 for three-bedroom houses in the week ending 20 October 2026.