Cheap residential land is still available in Australia, but you might have to travel for it. Photo: Supplied
Skyrocketing prices in Australia’s capital cities are pushing buyers to the fringes in search of an affordable plot of dirt to built a house.
In the nation’s most expensive city, Sydney, the median price for a square metre of vacant land is nudging $1000, while in the next most expensive city, Perth, it’s a tick over $700, according to research by the Housing Industry Association.
But if you’re prepared to live outside the big cities you can buy a block for far less – in some regional areas land per square metre is being sold for less than the price of a postage stamp. A 12-hectare block near the central Queensland town of Tara is on the market for about 18 cents a square metre.
Sure, this land might not be on the doorstep of the CBD, but they are within driving distance of amenities such as schools, supermarkets and medical facilities.
And rather than a skinny suburban block, some of them have room not only for a house, but maybe even an agricultural business, too.
Here are some affordable blocks within striking distance of the big smoke.
Glenfern, Tasmania
Offers over $59,000 (or about 47 cents a square metre)
The bock has a cleared house site and gravel access road. Photo: Supplied
Located just 44.8 kilometres from the Hobart CBD, and with the township of New Norfolk just down the road for basic supplies, this block of land at Glenfern offers the ideal blank canvas for those seeking a tree-change.
At 12.52 hectares there’s plenty of room to spread out.
With a gravel driveway and cleared house site, the property is ready to build on.
Tara, Queensland
$21,999 (or 18 cents a square metre)
The area around Tara is well known for its lifestyle blocks. Photo: Supplied
While this property is a little further out from the big smoke it’s also much cheaper.
This 12-hectare block close to the small town of Tara, a two-hour drive from Toowoomba, is for sale at $21,999.
Phone and power lines are in the street, according to the listing.
Tara has a population of 855, and yes, there is a pub: The Commercial Hotel.
There’s also a hospital and a train station.
Quairading, WA
$70,000 (or about 21 cents a square metre)
Channel your inner-miner and head west to this block near Quairading. Photo: Supplied
Over in Western Australia, you can buy a plot within a two-hour drive of Perth.
In the locality of Badjaling, you’re near to the town of Quairading, with its library, public swimming pool and supermarket.
The land, all 34 hectares of it, is a mixture of heavy soil and salt bush country.
Cape Clear, Victoria
$79,000 to $89,000 (or $1.96 to $2.20 a square metre)
This block is Cape Clear is located on the Ballarat side of town. Photo: Supplied
This 4.04 hectare corner allotment is on the outskirts of the sleepy farming village of Cape Clear, in Victoria.
Fenced, with sealed road frontage and power nearby, the block is ready for a country farmhouse, and perhaps a couple of horses.
You’ll enjoy all of the peace and solitude of a rural life, but Cape Clear is a 30-minute drive to Ballarat and an hour and 15 minutes to Geelong.
