Brisbane's Elevation Above Sea Level

Low-Lying River City

Brisbane, Queensland's capital, sits at an average elevation of 15 metres (49 feet) above sea level.

Details

• CBD: ~5–20 m AHD (Australian Height Datum).
• Suburbs: Range from sea level (Moreton Bay edges) to 150+ m in western hills (e.g., Mount Coot-tha 287 m).
• River Influence: Brisbane River meanders through floodplain; tidal to ~85 km upstream.

Source

Data from City of Brisbane official resources and Geoscience Australia (ELVIS elevation service). Flood planning uses 1% AEP (1-in-100-year) levels, which can exceed 3–4 m in low areas—hence extensive flood mitigation.

Low elevation + subtropical storms = flood risk. The 2011 and 2022 floods underscored this geography.