The opening of Stage 1 of the Quilpie Townhouse Development. Picture: Supplied
The first six townhouses of a 30-lot development have been completed in the outback town of Quilpie in a bid to boost housing supply.
New residents have begun moving into the completed Stage 1 of Quilpie’s newest development, which features six freestanding, two-storey homes.
The Townhouse Development is built on the former Shire Works Depot, which was left vacant after Quilpie Shire Council relocated to a modern depot facility in 2016.
The site will feature 30 homes on completion and include a green space, providing a relaxing communal area for both residents and locals.
The development is near the heart of Quilpie with easy access to essential amenities, including the local swimming pool, hospital and schools.
Quilpie Shire Council secured State Government funding through the 2024-28 Local Government Grants and Subsidies Program to help bring the project to life.
Six new townhouses have been completed in the outback township of Quilpie. Picture: Supplied
Mayor Ben Hall said Quilpie Shire Council was committed to ongoing investment to help ease the housing shortage in their region as housing demand remained high in Outback Queensland due to rising property prices in metro and coastal regions.
“We introduced a unique Home Owner Grant Scheme that resulted in 13 blocks of land sold since 2021,” he said.
“Then Quilpie was the first region to bring modular homes to Outback Queensland.
“Now we’ve bought Stage 1 of another housing development to fruition.”
Mr Hall said Quilpie was focused on addressing the issue of housing availability impacting nearly every town in Outback Queensland.
“We’ve been ahead of the curve in coming up with solutions that have attracted new residents to our Shire and resulted in new home builds.
“It’s a legacy that I’ve been very happy to take the baton on – and this new townhouse development will help meet the growing demand for accommodation in the region.”
Inspecting the new townhouses in Quilpie. Picture: Supplied
Quilpie Shire Council CEO, Justin Hancock said when he arrived in Quilpie in 2021 the town was facing a housing shortage.
“At 29 years-old I had to live in the retirement village as the housing shortage was so extreme,” he said.
“We have definitely made inroads into that, and have plans afoot to do even more.
“The completion of this new Townhouse Development is the most immediate phase in achieving this.”
Quilpie has a population of about 800 and sits 1000km west of Brisbane.
It has a range of amenities including shops, a hospital, two schools, a child care centre and free swimming pools.
The small town is a popular Outback tourist destination renowned for Hell Hole Gorge, the Eromanga Natural History Museum, opal fossicking, sand dune surfing and seasonal desert wildflowers.
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