The Quilpie Shire Council, located 1,000km west of Brisbane, has increased its Home Owner Grant scheme from $12,500 to $20,000, representing the largest grant on offer in Queensland. The original grant, introduced in 2021, matched the price of land blocks the Council was selling at the time. The new grant recognizes the rise in land valuations, the increase in cost of living and interest rates, and will cover most of the price of land if a home is built and lived on for at least six months.

The Quilpie Shire Council aims to increase its population to 1,000 residents, a target dubbed Q1000, and to this end, the original Home Owners Grant saw seven blocks of land sold and new businesses opening up and existing businesses expanding. The increased grant will continue to support this objective, as well as the upcoming arrival of four modular homes, two of which are expected within the month, and plans for six 2-3 bed townhouse villas to be developed in 2023.

The houses are being built by Brisbane-based Hoek Modular Homes and will arrive in sections. The Council has already awarded a tender for demolition on the site, with the tender for construction to be released this quarter. The Shire also has a $2 million grant from the Queensland Government to re-develop the Old Works Depot into the townhouse villas.

Justin Hancock, Quilpie Shire CEO, expressed his pride in being the first council in Outback Queensland to introduce a Home Owners Grant scheme and to secure new housing. He acknowledged the struggle with material and builder shortages and recognized that Quilpie is a friendly community that welcomes new residents.

Mayor Stuart Mackenzie stated that the Council’s objective is to attract new residents to help support the Q1000 target. He praised the connectivity and easy access to Brisbane and emphasized that Quilpie is a great spot to be based and do business all over the world.

In addition to the benefits of the grant, the Shire is a popular tourist destination with amenities including supermarkets, a butchery, bakery, newsagent, hairdressers, retail shops, a hospital, Medical Centre, Pharmacy, two schools (Prep to Year 10), Early Learning Centre, Community Gym, Sporting ovals, tennis and basketball courts, free swimming pools, weekly flights and an abundance of open space. The Shire also offers scenic locations such as Hell Hole Gorge, the Eromanga Natural History Museum featuring Australia’s largest dinosaur, Opal fossicking, yabbying, and more.

Overall, the increase in the Home Owner Grant scheme and the arrival of new housing will attract new residents to the area, support existing businesses, and promote the economic growth of the Quilpie Shire.

Written by: Don Power

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