Tennyson is a quiet, leafy suburb sitting along the Brisbane River in Queensland's inner south, roughly 10 kilometres from the CBD. It's the kind of established neighbourhood where older brick homes share the streetscape with modern renovations — and where getting the right home insurance cover matters just as much as the price you pay for it. This article breaks down a real home and contents insurance quote for a four-bedroom semi detached property in Tennyson (postcode 4105), comparing it against local, state, and national benchmarks so you can judge whether it represents genuine value.
---
Is This Quote Fair?
The quote in question comes in at $2,715 per year (or $263 per month) for a combined home and contents policy — covering a building sum insured of $640,000 and contents valued at $50,000. The building excess is $3,000 and the contents excess is $1,000.
Based on our pricing data, this quote is rated CHEAP — meaning it sits well below the average for the Tennyson area. To put that in perspective, the suburb average premium for comparable properties is $6,938 per year, and the median sits at $5,911 per year. This quote is priced below even the 25th percentile for the suburb ($4,326/yr), meaning it's cheaper than at least three quarters of quotes we've seen in Tennyson.
That's a significant saving — potentially more than $3,000 annually compared to what many homeowners in the same suburb are paying. Of course, premiums vary based on insurer, cover inclusions, and individual risk factors, so it's always worth reading the Product Disclosure Statement carefully to ensure the policy actually meets your needs before focusing purely on price.
---
How Tennyson Compares
Understanding where Tennyson sits in the broader insurance landscape helps contextualise this quote even further. Here's a snapshot:
| Benchmark | Premium |
|---|---|
| This quote | $2,715/yr |
| Tennyson suburb average | $6,938/yr |
| Tennyson suburb median | $5,911/yr |
| QLD state average | $9,129/yr |
| QLD state median | $3,903/yr |
| National average | $5,347/yr |
| National median | $2,764/yr |
| Brisbane LGA average | $16,277/yr |
A few things stand out here. First, Queensland's state average of $9,129/yr is notably high — a reflection of the elevated natural disaster risk across much of the state, including cyclones, floods, and storms. Tennyson itself is not classified as a cyclone risk area, which helps moderate premiums compared to properties further north.
Second, the Brisbane LGA average of $16,277/yr is extraordinarily high, likely driven upward by flood-affected suburbs and high-value properties skewing the data. Tennyson's own suburb average of $6,938/yr is considerably more moderate by comparison.
At $2,715/yr, this quote sits comfortably below the national median of $2,764/yr and well under both the QLD state average and the Tennyson suburb average. For a property of this size and age, that's a compelling result.
---
Property Features That Affect Your Premium
Several characteristics of this property will have influenced the quote — some favourably, others less so.
Brick Veneer Construction Brick veneer is generally viewed positively by insurers. It offers good fire resistance and structural durability compared to lightweight cladding materials, which can translate to lower rebuild risk assessments. That said, it's not the same as full double brick, so insurers will still factor in the timber framing behind the veneer.
Steel / Colorbond Roof A Colorbond steel roof is a strong asset from an insurance perspective. It's durable, low-maintenance, and performs well in storm conditions — particularly relevant in South East Queensland, where severe hail and wind events are not uncommon. Older terracotta or concrete tile roofs can carry higher replacement costs and are more susceptible to storm damage.
Construction Year: 1965 At roughly 60 years old, this property is considered an older dwelling. Insurers often apply a degree of caution to homes of this era, particularly around ageing plumbing, electrical wiring, and foundations. A slab foundation is generally considered stable, but homes built in the 1960s may have original wiring or plumbing that hasn't been updated — something worth disclosing accurately when obtaining a quote.
Building Size: 214 sqm At 214 square metres, this is a reasonably sized semi detached home. The $640,000 sum insured equates to roughly $2,990 per square metre for rebuild costs — broadly in line with current construction cost benchmarks in South East Queensland, though it's worth reviewing this figure periodically as building costs continue to rise.
Ducted Climate Control The presence of ducted air conditioning adds to the overall contents and fixtures value of the home. This system would typically be covered under the building policy as a fixed installation, and its inclusion is likely reflected in the sum insured figure.
No Pool, No Solar The absence of a pool and solar panels simplifies the risk profile slightly. Both features can add complexity to a claim — pools due to liability considerations, and solar panels due to their vulnerability to hail and the cost of replacement.
---
Tips for Homeowners in Tennyson
1. Review your sum insured annually Construction costs in Queensland have risen sharply over recent years. A sum insured set a few years ago may no longer reflect the true cost of rebuilding your home. Underinsurance is one of the most common — and costly — mistakes homeowners make. Use a building cost calculator or speak with a quantity surveyor if you're unsure.
2. Check your flood cover status While Tennyson is not a cyclone risk area, parts of the suburb and surrounding areas have experienced flooding historically, given the proximity to the Brisbane River. Make sure you understand whether your policy includes flood cover and, if so, what the specific terms and exclusions are. Not all policies treat flood the same way.
3. Don't let your contents cover fall short At $50,000, the contents sum insured in this quote is relatively modest for a four-bedroom home. It's easy to underestimate the replacement value of furniture, appliances, clothing, and electronics. Do a room-by-room audit periodically to ensure your contents figure keeps pace with what you actually own.
4. Consider the impact of your excess on value This policy carries a $3,000 building excess and a $1,000 contents excess. A higher excess typically lowers your premium, but it means more out-of-pocket expense when you do need to claim. Make sure these excess levels are genuinely manageable for your household budget before opting for them purely to reduce the annual cost.
---
Compare Your Own Quote
Whether you're a first-time buyer in Tennyson or a long-term homeowner reviewing your existing cover, it pays to shop around. Premiums for the same property can vary significantly between insurers — as this quote clearly demonstrates. Get a home insurance quote through CoverClub and see how your current policy stacks up against the market in minutes.