David Campbell
Updated 20 Mar 2026, 9:24am
First published 20 Mar 2026, 5:00am
An Australian woman has revealed the best way to quickly save that pesky house deposit is to move to paradise and bask in the sun … literally.
Aerial Marina, Hamilton Island Scenery - Photo Kara Rosenlund
Lynsie Hammond has been living and working on Hamilton Island in Australia’s Whitsundays where she enjoys the tropical lifestyle on offer while also saving money at the same time.
Hamilton Island is the largest inhabited island in the Whitsundays off the coast of Queensland and his hugely popular with tourists due to his proximity to the Great Barrier Reef.
While a holiday to ‘Hammo’ will set tourists back thousands of dollars, the workers who live on the 7.5sq km island can be surprisingly adept at saving their hard-earned cash.
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Lynsie Hammond says it’s easy to “accidentally” save money. Picture: TikTok
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Ms Hammond uses her TikTok channel to break down the pros and cons of living on Hamilton Island as a worker and said the ability to save money was a definite perk.
“You do accidentally end up saving money. There’s no mall, there’s limited fashion places … you tend spend less money but that is fully up to you,” she said.
“If you are going to go out drinking all the time and you want to eat out you are going to spend money but because you are locked away on this little island the chances of you saving more are insane.
“Someone said they saved for a house deposit, another person said they saved $15,000 in three months.”
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Lynsie Hammond is back for her second stint on the island. Picture: Instagram
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Ms Hammond’s revelation would likely appeal to masses of Aussies struggling to get a foot onto the property ladder amid skyrocketing prices and huge demand.
PropTrack data reveals it can take the average Aussie five to 10 years to save a house deposit – a prospect that might by slightly more palatable if they were doing so from the white sand beaches of Hamilton Island.
Outside the tourists Hamilton Island is home to about 1000-2000 workers, depending on the season, covering more than 350 career opportunities.
Ms Hammond workers are usually in discounted share accommodation that isn’t for everyone but those who embrace it can win big.
Lynsie Hammond has been living and working on Hamilton Island in Australia's Whitsundays. Picture: Instagram
“Obviously all the inclusions … You get the accommodation, you get your free meal at work, discounts on all the tours that includes visiting the Great Barrier Reef and skydiving,” she said.
“It is this beautiful tropical island surrounded by nature so you’ve got hikes, private beaches, you can swim all year round.
“It is one of the most beautiful places I’ve ever been – people pay thousands of dollars for a three-day holiday and you can live there.
“Hamilton Island is the opportunity to live a holiday lifestyle as your entire life. I would recommend it to literally everyone. The pros outweigh the cons.”
The one downside from a money point of view, Ms Hammond said, can be grocery costs.
The reality of being on an island means all groceries are imported by air or sea and that cost is ultimately passed onto the customer.
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