The queensland ‘gold rush’

Queensland’s Gold Coast looks set to continue its recent growth…

The announcement of a $100 million airport facelift will be coping with the ever-increasing demand for tourism, business and investment into the area.  Experts predict the population will grow by over 50% in the next 15 years and, along with a shortage of quality real estate in the area, prices can only be going one way…

Propertyshowrooms.com Business and Media Manager, Peter Mindenhall, said, “Interest in Australia has increased dramatically:  enquiries for January were up by over 125% on the monthly average for last year, with most of the enquiries coming in for Queensland´s Gold Coast and Sydney.”

“The main focus however appears to be on The Gold Coast which is currently enjoying a $42 Billion wave of new development - up from $23 Billion in 2002! The Gold Coast experiences 277 days of sunshine with an average of 27°C. As more people discover this great lifestyle and the massive new development currently underway, valuable investment opportunities are presenting themselves in such an environment of continued growth and real stability.

Lack of supply

Luxury agent Pacific Lifestyle Property said recently “The Gold Coast beachfront apartment market is very strong and a lack of supply is driving prices skywards. Demand for such luxury property is compounding beachfront growth rates much faster than their surrounding areas”. 

Tim Holmes of Colliers International’s Gold Coast office, commented: “The Gold Coast remains one of Australia’s favourite boating destinations, however owning a boat and having it moored in a Marina over the next decade could prove a lifestyle for a fortunate few,” says

“Price may not be a problem for some people, but availability certainly is.  Already we have seen how the lack of supply is driving prices up, particularly in major cities like Sydney and Brisbane, where waterfront house and land is diminishing and people are being placed on long waiting lists for public Marina berths. 

“With current legislation banning further canal developments in Queensland, we can only expect this trend to continue,” say Colliers.  In fact, Queensland Transport figures suggest boat ownership in Queensland is growing at a rate of 6% per annum — faster than the State’s population growth. Boat registrations topped 200,000 in January 2006, and a further 100,000 Queensland boat registrations is expected in the next eight years, in line with a trend towards larger and more luxurious watercraft.