An outback town in regional Queensland is offering aspiring homebuyers $20,000 to a establish a new home in the Shire, in hopes of boosting the small town’s population and economy.
The financial boost is part of a council scheme in the rural town of Quilpie, 1,000 km west of Brisbane, that has been extended for another year.
The town’s Homeowner Grant, first introduced in 2021, offers Aussies the chance to secure land of up to 20,000 square metres if they build and live on the property for at least 12 months.
A Quilpie Shire Council spokesperson told Yahoo News Australia the scheme has received significant interest, as more Aussies look for affordable small-towns to live in.
“For people who are open to a regional lifestyle, Quilpie offers a very different proposition to the major cities. Housing affordability is obviously an important part of that,” the spokesperson said.
“It is also about the lifestyle, employment and business opportunities, community connection and space that comes with living in a regional community”.
Quilpie currently has a population of less than 1,000.
The grant provides eligible applications up to $20,000 towards establishing a new home in the Shire, which is an increase from the previous $12,500.
According to the local council, this covers most of the land’s cost, with Quilpie providing “the biggest on offer in Queensland”.
Quilpie has the second cheapest median housing prices in Queensland at $162,500, according to PropTrack.
“Quilpie’s housing value has increased in line with the national average of 60 per cent over the past five years. So the opportunity for entry-level pricing and return is a real possibility,” a council spokesperson told Yahoo.
There are 60 residential blocks of land available, with sizes ranging from 400 square metres to 20,000 square metres. They will be available from the second half of 2027.
“We want people to seriously consider Quilpie, particularly those who are looking for a more affordable regional lifestyle and are interested in becoming part of a smaller community,” the council said.
“But it is about more than simply attracting people here. Council is working to create the conditions that allow the community to grow sustainably, and increasing housing supply is an important part of that.”
Image: Quilpie Shire Council Instagram
