The local government of Quilpie in Queensland, Australia, which offers 365 days of sunshine, has pledged to donate £10,000 to any individual choosing to move to the remote town permanently.
In an effort to boost its population of only 710 people, Quilpie Shire Council has boosted its initial offer from £6,800 for people to move to their town.
The conditions are that the individuals moving to Quilpie, which is located about 590 miles west of the state’s capital Brisbane, must build on their land, and they can only receive the Home Owner Grant money after living in their new home for at least six months.
This offer has proved successful, with the council receiving 600 applications within the first month of the scheme being in place.
“We were the first council in Outback Queensland to introduce such a policy, and it was a huge success,” Justin Hancock, Quilpie Shire CEO, said in 2023.
“We had interest from all around Australia as well as globally from the US, India and Ireland.
“Two years on, we continue to grow our population and have interest from people in moving to the Outback, especially as the cost of living on the coast and metro areas is really starting to hit hard this year.
“We’ve recently sold two blocks of land to a Tokyo-based university professor who intends on moving his young family and working from Quilpie.
“It’s exciting to know that our connectivity is going to allow someone to trade the bright lights of Tokyo for the red dirt of the Outback.”
Despite the initial success of the operation, Quilpie Mayor Stuart Mackenzie has shared that more residents are needed in order to provide an adequate boost to the town.
“Housing growth is essential to support local employment and the long-term sustainability of our Shire, which is why Council has committed more than $11.8 million of its own cash funds towards additional housing since 2022,” he said.
The town of Quilpie is home to two supermarkets, a butcher, baker, newsagency, hairdresser, a hospital, medical centre and a pharmacy, as well as two schools and a learning centre, making it an ideal place for families to relocate.
