Southeast Queensland has emerged as Australia’s long-term property powerhouse, with numerous sunshine state suburbs posting the strongest home price growth nationwide over the past 30 years.
New PropTrack data has revealed the best performing capital city locations for property over the past 30 years, with some suburbs seeing home values soar by 18 times their 1995 prices.
Eight of the 10 suburbs with the strongest home price growth over the past three decades were located in southeast Queensland.
The analysis measured how much higher home prices are today compared to where they were 30 years ago, with a factor of 10 meaning prices are 10 times higher than three decades ago.
Queensland’s superstar suburbs were located across the booming southeast corridor, stretching from the Logan Beaudesert region through to the Ipswich hinterland and Brisbane’s eastern islands.
Canberra also delivered an outsized presence in the top 10, with the suburbs of Amaroo and Nicholls both included in the national ranking.
Top 10 best performing capital city suburbs over the past 30 years
| Suburb | SA4 region | 30-year price growth factor | Current dwelling AVM |
| New Beith | Logan - Beaudesert | 18.1 | $1,268,000 |
| Flagstone | Logan - Beaudesert | 17.2 | $880,000 |
| Russell Island | Brisbane - East | 17.1 | $436,000 |
| Regency Downs | Ipswich | 17.1 | $802,000 |
| Amaroo | Australian Capital Territory | 16.8 | $901,000 |
| Plainland | Ipswich | 16.3 | $764,000 |
| Warner | Moreton Bay - South | 16.0 | $1,060,000 |
| Nicholls | Australian Capital Territory | 15.6 | $1,021,000 |
| Macleay Island | Brisbane - East | 15.6 | $537,000 |
| Mount Cotton | Brisbane - East | 15.4 | $1,109,000 |
REA Group executive manager of economics Angus Moore said the results highlighted the scale of long-term appreciation across the country and how dramatically suburbs could evolve over three decades.
“Brisbane and the wider southeast Queensland region have been strong performers,” Mr Moore said.
“Prices have doubled in Brisbane in the past five-and-a-half years, and more than doubled in many popular parts of southeast Queensland."
Jump ahead to see the top performing suburbs in:
Mr Moore said the nationwide uplift also reflected a structural shift in borrowing power.
“Home prices have increased faster than incomes,” he said.
“Mortgage rates are just structurally lower today than they were three decades ago, which means people can borrow more against their income than used to be the case.”
This five-bedroom house at 309 Bidyan Boulevard, New Beith recently sold for $1.55 million. New Beith has recorded the strongest home price growth in Australia over the past 30 years. Picture: realestate.com.au/sold
He said the rankings were a reminder of how much a suburb can change.
“A lot can change in a suburb over three decades, and so it is important to understand how it might change and whether that fits what you are looking for.”
Sydney's best performing suburbs over the past 30 years:
| Suburb | SA4 region | 30-year price growth factor | Current dwelling AVM |
| Glenwood | Sydney - Blacktown | 15.0 | $1,694,000 |
| Cecil Hills | Sydney - South West | 14.7 | $1,270,000 |
| Mount Annan | Sydney - Outer South West | 14.1 | $1,163,000 |
| Bronte | Sydney - Eastern Suburbs | 13.4 | $2,645,000 |
| Wattle Grove | Sydney - South West | 12.8 | $1,335,000 |
| Narellan Vale | Sydney - Outer South West | 12.5 | $1,121,000 |
| Clovelly | Sydney - Eastern Suburbs | 12.1 | $3,540,000 |
| Prestons | Sydney - South West | 11.9 | $1,221,000 |
| Bellevue Hill | Sydney - Eastern Suburbs | 11.3 | $3,117,000 |
| Green Valley | Sydney - South West | 11.3 | $1,136,000 |
New Beith leads the nation
New Beith, located about 40km southwest of the Brisbane CBD, was the top suburb in the country, with home prices growing a staggering 18.1 times over 30 years.
The median home price for the semi-rural community, situated in the city of Logan, was $1.27 million in October.
Local real estate agent Kylie Reid from Re/Max Property Professionals said buyers were drawn to New Beith for lifestyle, space and improving infrastructure.
“You've got acreage living and rural lifestyle, with Springfield city and all of its amenities nearby,” Ms Reid said.
Melbourne's best performing suburbs over the past 30 years:
| Suburb | SA4 region | 30-year price growth factor | Current dwelling AVM |
| Blairgowrie | Mornington Peninsula | 13.2 | $1,279,000 |
| Portsea | Mornington Peninsula | 13.1 | $1,928,000 |
| Sorrento | Mornington Peninsula | 13.0 | $1,632,000 |
| Ashburton | Melbourne - Inner East | 12.4 | $2,110,000 |
| Rye | Mornington Peninsula | 11.6 | $943,000 |
| Deepdene | Melbourne - Inner East | 11.6 | $2,915,000 |
| Seddon | Melbourne - West | 11.5 | $1,085,000 |
| Aspendale | Melbourne - Inner South | 11.3 | $1,373,000 |
| Somers | Mornington Peninsula | 11.2 | $1,232,000 |
| Kingsville | Melbourne - West | 11.2 | $1,035,000 |
She said the transformation of nearby Springfield, which she described as “a big city without an airport”, now offered hospitals, schools and major services just a short drive away.
Ms Reid said the profile of home buyers looking at New Beith had shifted over time.
“We have younger families with primary school-age kids wanting them to be outside a little bit more,” she said.
“They might want to purchase something with a little bit more acreage so they could get either a motorbike or a horse.”
Brisbane's best performing suburbs over the past 30 years:
| Suburb | SA4 region | 30-year price growth factor | Current dwelling AVM |
| New Beith | Logan - Beaudesert | 18.1 | $1,268,000 |
| Flagstone | Logan - Beaudesert | 17.2 | $880,000 |
| Russell Island | Brisbane - East | 17.1 | $436,000 |
| Regency Downs | Ipswich | 17.1 | $802,000 |
| Plainland | Ipswich | 16.3 | $764,000 |
| Warner | Moreton Bay - South | 16.0 | $1,060,000 |
| Macleay Island | Brisbane - East | 15.6 | $537,000 |
| Mount Cotton | Brisbane - East | 15.4 | $1,109,000 |
| Eatons Hill | Moreton Bay - South | 15.4 | $1,254,000 |
| Springfield (Ipswich - Qld) | Ipswich | 15.3 | $884,000 |
The suburb has also become popular with trades and construction workers.
“They need that storage for trucks, trailers and equipment. They are using their home as their office or workspace as well,” she said.
Ms Reid expected the demand for New Beith homes to continue, pointing to new local developments, improved access to the Gold Coast via inland roads, and a growing number of buyers relocating from coastal suburbs.
The four-bedroom house at 3 Bemm Place, Amaroo in Canberra sold for $1.01 million last month. Picture: realestate.com.au/sold
“With the amount of development in infrastructure going in, I do not see it stopping anytime soon,” she said.
“People are sick of travelling up and down the M1. They would rather go inland, use rural roads, enjoy the scenic drive and spend the same amount of time on the road without sitting in traffic.”
Adelaide's best performing suburbs over the past 30 years:
| Suburb | SA4 region | 30-year price growth factor | Current dwelling AVM |
| Elizabeth South | Adelaide - North | 11.7 | $583,000 |
| Davoren Park | Adelaide - North | 11.4 | $532,000 |
| Smithfield Plains | Adelaide - North | 11.3 | $558,000 |
| Henley Beach South | Adelaide - West | 11.2 | $1,526,000 |
| Elizabeth Vale | Adelaide - North | 11.1 | $652,000 |
| Elizabeth Grove | Adelaide - North | 11.1 | $593,000 |
| Henley Beach | Adelaide - West | 10.8 | $1,507,000 |
| Greenacres | Adelaide - North | 10.8 | $892,000 |
| O'Sullivan Beach | Adelaide - South | 10.7 | $748,000 |
| Christies Beach | Adelaide - South | 10.7 | $797,000 |
Canberra suburbs surge
Amaroo was the strongest performing suburb outside Queensland, with its median home price of $901,000 16.8 times higher than three decades ago.
Jess Doolan, local real estate agent and partner at Stone Gungahlin, said Amaroo’s appeal was its convenience, schools and community character.
In the Canberra suburb of Nicholls, the five-bedroom home at 1 Hattersley Court sold for $1.25 million earlier this month. Picture: realestate.com.au/sold
“It is very centrally located to the Gungahlin Town Centre, the main epicentre of the district,” she said.
“There are two schools there that generate or attract families to that area. People want to get into that school catchment zone.
Perth's best performing suburbs over the past 30 years:
| Suburb | SA4 region | 30-year price growth factor | Current dwelling AVM |
| Leda | Perth - South West | 12.0 | $690,000 |
| Bullsbrook | Perth - North East | 11.7 | $892,000 |
| Brookdale | Perth - South East | 11.6 | $630,000 |
| City Beach | Perth - Inner | 11.2 | $2,977,000 |
| Mount Hawthorn | Perth - Inner | 10.5 | $1,659,000 |
| Ascot | Perth - South East | 10.5 | $1,015,000 |
| Trigg | Perth - North West | 10.4 | $2,368,000 |
| Karrinyup | Perth - North West | 10.2 | $1,557,000 |
| Gwelup | Perth - North West | 10.2 | $1,631,000 |
| Girrawheen | Perth - North West | 10.2 | $707,000 |
“The homes are well built, full of character and great block sizes. Whether they are renovated or not, people are still attracted to them because of their appeal.”
Families with children have dominated the Amaroo property market, but the buyer pool has been getting broader.
The four-bedroom house at 1 Horton Place, Regency Downs in Ipswich was purchased for $1.185 million in September. Picture: realestate.com.au/sold
“We are starting to see an influx of executive couples who are about to start their family journey,” Ms Doolan said.
“Downsizers who have lived in Amaroo since it was established are also staying in the suburb and moving into single-level townhouses.”
Hobart's best performing suburbs over the past 30 years
| Suburb | SA4 region | 30-year price growth factor | Current dwelling AVM |
| Bridgewater | Hobart | 11.7 | $421,000 |
| Dodges Ferry | Hobart | 10.8 | $567,000 |
| Richmond | Hobart | 8.6 | $760,000 |
| West Hobart | Hobart | 8.3 | $948,000 |
| Sorell | Hobart | 7.9 | $617,000 |
| Kingston Beach | Hobart | 7.9 | $989,000 |
| Blackmans Bay | Hobart | 7.9 | $960,000 |
| Warrane | Hobart | 7.8 | $616,000 |
| Risdon Vale | Hobart | 7.8 | $588,000 |
| North Hobart | Hobart | 7.7 | $1,034,000 |
Nearby Nicholls also ranked among the top performers nationally, with a growth factor of 15.6.
Island neighbourhoods make their mark
Two island communities off the Brisbane coast also appeared in the country’s top 10.
This four-bedroom Macleay Island house at 28 Alexander St sold for $570,000 recently. Picture: realestate.com.au/sold
Russell Island ranked third nationally with a median home price of $436,000, which had soared an eye-watering 17.1 times over the past 30 years.
Nearby Macleay Island also made the list, with a median home price of $537,000 that was 15.6 times higher.
Simon Gordon, Russell Island real estate agent and principal at Island Life Property, said the island had undergone a profound transformation since they arrived about 12 years ago.
“When we arrived, the island had low rents and poorly maintained homes,” he said.
“Our focus was on lifting rental standards, better tenants, higher yields and ultimately higher property values.”
“Then Covid changed everything. People saw the island’s affordable prices and lifestyle, and suddenly land that once sold for $10,000 or $20,000 was in huge demand.”
In the Moreton Bay region, this four-bedroom home at 2 Muir Court, Warner fetched $1.225 million last month. Picture: realestate.com.au/sold
Mr Gordon said that surge shifted the local market into a construction phase that was still underway.
“People stopped land banking and started building,” he said.
“Now we have six or seven spec builders on the island and record numbers of new homes going up.
“Russell Island offers an affordable and simpler lifestyle with good connectivity. Fast ferries, NBN and new businesses are drawing younger couples, remote workers and trades in big numbers.”
Supply and demand accounted for much of the price growth in Australia, with the country building far fewer homes relative to population growth than in the past, Mr Moore said.
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