Lexi Webster
Australia is a country with a vast expanse of land, and while it is hard to come by, there are some opportunities to acquire free land in certain parts of the country. The availability of free land in Australia is often driven by the need to attract new residents and stimulate economic growth in remote or less populated areas. In recent years, various initiatives and incentives have been introduced to encourage people to relocate and establish themselves in these communities. One notable example is the town of Quilpie in Queensland, which gained attention for its offer of free residential land to address a housing shortage and promote economic development.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Location | Tasmania, Quilpie, Grenfern, Quairading, Mount Atkinson, Brown Hill, Millmerran Woods, and more |
| Cost | Free, or very cheap (e.g. 21 cents per square meter in Quairading) |
| Conditions | Must build a home, live there for a minimum period, etc. |
| Purpose | To attract new residents, homebuyers, and professionals to the area |
| Legal process | "Squatter's rights", or adverse possession |
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What You'll Learn
Tasmania's free land
Tasmania, an island state of Australia, has a lot of free land and cheap property. In the past, Tasmania did not experience as much development as mainland Australia. However, with the rising population in the mainland's coastal areas, Tasmania is witnessing a revamp in its housing and settlement real estate sector.
The Grenfern region in Tasmania offers land at a price of about 50 cents per square meter, which is much cheaper compared to cities like Sydney or Perth. Many companies are doing full-time renovation and home-building work, which is increasing the value of the properties. Towns in Tasmania are now well-equipped with good roads, schools, and medical care, and there are many promising projects underway.
The Tasmanian Land Conservancy (TLC) purchases land with significant natural values, places a Conservation Covenant on the title, and returns the property to the market for sale. The TLC's activities are funded by the Australian Government's Forest Conservation Fund and other sources, including the King Island Natural Resource Management Group and the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water, and Environment.
The state of Tasmania has a lot of potential for growth and development, and it is witnessing an influx of people looking for cheaper accommodation options and more spacious homes. Tasmania was once a penal colony, and free settlers began arriving in large numbers from 1820, attracted by the promise of land grants and free convict labour. By 1830, one-third of Australia's non-Indigenous population lived in what was then known as Van Diemen's Land, and the island accounted for about half of all land under cultivation and exports.
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Quilpie's free land offer
In 2021, the remote community of Quilpie in the Australian Outback offered free residential land to anyone who would make it their home. The Quilpie (Quill-Pea) Shire Council came up with this idea to address the housing shortage and the difficulty in filling jobs in the cattle and sheep ranching region of western Queensland state. The offer was for a maximum of five homes, with the hope of attracting five new families to the community of 800 people.
The council offered grants of up to $12,500, which was the equivalent of the price of a new block of land in the area. The grant was available to those who bought a block of land, built a house on it for less than $560,000, and lived in it for at least six months. The council also offered fully serviced 1,000-square-metre blocks, which sold for the same amount as the grant, effectively giving the land away for free.
The response to the offer was overwhelming, with more than 250 inquiries from around Australia and internationally, including from as far away as Hong Kong, India, Britain, and New Zealand. The interest came from a variety of groups, both in terms of demographics and motivations for wanting to move to Quilpie. Many young families and retirees from cities like Brisbane, Melbourne, and Newcastle considered the move to Quilpie to escape the soaring real estate prices and extended lockdowns in larger cities during the pandemic.
However, as of August 2023, only 11 blocks of land have been sold under the "free land" scheme, and no new houses have been constructed in the estate. The main barriers to construction have been the high cost of building in remote Queensland and alleged lending restrictions from banks. Despite the challenges, some families remain committed to their plans to build their dream homes in Quilpie.
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Free land in Grenfern, Tasmania
While it is unclear whether there is any land being given away for free in Grenfern, Tasmania, there are certainly some very affordable opportunities for investment in the area.
Tasmania is an island state of Australia that has seen less development than the mainland. However, this is changing, with the Tasmanian province witnessing a revamp in its housing and settlement real estate sector. Towns in Tasmania are now well-equipped with good roads, schools, and medical care, and there are many promising projects underway. As a result, people are already flocking to the state. Tasmania has tons of free land and cheap property if you are willing to invest now.
The piece of land in question in the Grenfern region of Tasmania costs about 50 cents per square meter, which is very cheap compared to somewhere like Sydney ($1000 per square meter) or Perth ($700 per square meter). Many of the new Australian cities started in a similar fashion, with little to nothing at first, and then people flocking in to get cheaper accommodation.
The land in Grenfern is about 50 kilometers away from the Hobart CBD and is envisioned as a development project by building companies. The land has a graveled driveway and a cleared house site. The pricing is expected to rise soon as there are a significant number of prospective buyers.
The Tasmanian Land Conservancy also offers properties for sale across the island, funded by the Australian Government's Forest Conservation Fund, the King Island Natural Resource Management Group, and the Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment. These properties are purchased with the protection of natural values in mind, with Conservation Covenants placed on the title to protect and manage the land for future generations.
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Free land in Millmerran Woods, Queensland
While it is not possible to get land for free in Millmerran Woods, Queensland, there are a few properties for sale in the area. Millmerran Woods is a serene location with natural bushland, native gum trees, and native wildlife. It is conveniently located just minutes off the Gore Highway via Ayers Rock Road, with bitumen road frontage and access to your front gate.
There are a variety of properties available in Millmerran Woods, ranging from rural land to houses with multiple bedrooms and bathrooms. For example, there is a 19.27-acre lifestyle block offering tranquility and opportunity, as well as a 20.08-acre property with native gum trees and the opportunity to spot wallabies. In addition, there is a 3-bedroom property rich with history, as it once served as the Queensland ambulance station in 1948. This property has been lovingly restored and features vibrant colour schemes.
Another option is a 4-bedroom family home on a 2.031-hectare plot, offering a contemporary take on the quintessential country lifestyle. This residence features a sleek, modern kitchen with a walk-in butler's pantry. For those interested in a smaller town lifestyle, there is also a 2-bedroom, 1-bathroom property available in Millmerran Woods. Additionally, there are properties in nearby suburbs, such as Bellbird Park, which has a 4-bedroom, 2-bathroom house for sale.
It is important to note that these properties are not free, and interested individuals will need to purchase them through a real estate agency. While there may be some opportunities to claim land for free in Australia through "Squatter's rights" or adverse possession, this typically requires occupying the land without the owner's permission or knowledge for a period of 12 years, which is not feasible for land in Millmerran Woods, Queensland.
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Mt Atkinson's land for sale
While there is no such thing as a free lunch, there are certainly deals to be found on land in Australia. In 2021, the town of Quilpie in the Australian Outback offered free residential land to anyone who would make it their home. The remote community of 800 hoped to attract five new families but received over 250 enquiries in less than two weeks.
Another area to consider is Tasmania, which has witnessed a recent surge in its housing and settlement real estate sector. The Grenfern region in Tasmania, for example, offers land for as little as 50 cents per square meter.
If you're looking for a more developed area, Mt Atkinson in Truganina, Victoria, is a stylish community just 25km west of Melbourne's CBD. Mt Atkinson offers a range of lot sizes to suit families of all sizes and budgets, with easy access to employment, education, shopping, health services, and parklands. The community features a mix of house and land packages, quality townhomes, and vacant land, with prices starting at $10,000 for a reduced deposit. The development includes three parks, with a future Primary school and Children's & Community Centre planned.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, there is. The town of Quilpie in the Australian Outback has offered free residential blocks of land to anyone who would make it their home. Tasmania also has a lot of free land and cheap property.
There usually isn't a catch, but in some cases, there are conditions attached to the offer of free land. For example, in the case of Quilpie, the land was offered for free to anyone who would make it their home, in a bid to attract five new families to the remote community of 800.
The cheapest land in Australia can be found in Tasmania, which has tons of free land and cheap property. The Grenfern region in Tasmania costs about 50 cents per square meter, compared to $1000 per square meter in Sydney or $700 per square meter in Perth.
Yes, claiming land by adverse possession, or "squatter's rights", is possible in Australia. Generally, in private land, the original owner will lose their legal right to evict the squatter if the squatter has been occupying the land in question for longer than 12 years.
The most expensive land in Australia is in Sydney, which costs around $1000 per square meter, followed by Perth, which costs around $700 per square meter.
