Building Plots in Australia For $1

Desperate for skilled workers, Richmond Shire Council is offering building plots for just $1. The town, in Northwest Queensland, is selling seven 600 sq. metre blocks of land in Simpson Street on October 6 by raffle.

The town of Richmond is situated in central Queensland, halfway between Townsville on the coast and Mt Isa and has a population of about 800. Council CEO Michelle Clarke said she hoped the move would benefit the town by addressing a local skills shortage.

“We’ve decided that we want to help people out for $1 in the hope that in return they will build a home and move to Richmond and maybe offer some skills in the town,” she said to the Couriermail.

“Ideally it would be good to get some people with some skills – we don’t have a vet, we don’t have a hairdresser, and we’re always looking for truck drivers and people with trades.”

However, she said locals looking to break into the property market for the first time and retirees were also welcome to apply.

Ms Clarke said the town boasted Lake Fred Tritton – popular for swimming, fishing and waterskiing – and a relaxed lifestyle.

To apply for the land grab raffle, interested parties must have less than $500,000 in combined assets and pre-approval from a bank to build a home. They must complete the dwelling within two years and occupy the home for at least a year.

Applicants will go into a raffle for the seven Simpson Street seven building plots, which will be drawn at noon on October 6.

All building plots have sealed road frontages, with power, water and sewerage connections available.