My suburb’s most popular residents have fluffy ears and, like me, they love an elevated position

June 22, 2026 — 5:00am

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Now and then, if you’re very lucky, you’ll spot it: a grey shape above you. Eyes dart and heads follow towards gum tree branches in the hope of spotting the prize – a koala!

It’s the creature that unites us all. Grey fluffy ears, black leathery noses and chubby teddy bear bodies that make you want to hold them close to your chest.

I’ve seen more than a dozen in the decade since I arrived in Carina Heights, and I almost always stop to snap a picture, or let the person coming in my direction know I’ve stumbled upon a treasure.

Love for the marsupial is strong around these parts. Posters, crucifixes and Facebook rants appear if one dies, and speed limits are sometimes changed to prevent it from happening again. In 2024, they even got their own road bridge.

It’s nice to know we share a common interest despite our differences.

When I first moved to Carina Heights, I was a teenager – brought to the leafy suburb by my parents’ divorce. But it’s been over a decade, so why am I still here?

The short........

© Brisbane Times