68 Australian Towns Making A Big Impression

Among this list of 68 towns is a community with a population of just 1,000 people with a 7-metre tall bottle of wine as a monument and a median house value of $1.5 million.

The lifestyle offerings of each these 68 townships are incredibly diverse.

16 of the 68 townships have rental yields of 6 percent or more.

Median house values are all very different. From $190,000 in the town with the ‘big bench’, to $700,000 where the ‘big wickets’ reside and $1.3 million at the home of the ‘big pelican’.

25 of these locations have enjoyed an average annual capital growth rate over the last 20-years of 7 percent or better. For perspective, Sydney and Melbourne’s rates of growth were 5.7 percent and 5.9 percent, respectively.

From the big banana to the big milkshake, the big tucker-box and the curbside statue of Mary Poppins… the 68 Australian towns listed in this research report all have a ‘big icon’ as a landmark to symbolise something that the town is renowned for.

This report contains pleasant surprises, some fun facts, and intriguing statistics.

Propertyology’s motivation for publishing this report is to broaden people’s general knowledge about Australian property markets, to generate curiosity and to stimulate alternative thought processes for investing in Australian real estate.

No advice or opinions are expressed.

1. Alice Springs, NT

Big Books

• Population: 29,000
• Median house value: $515,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 5.2%
• Rental yield: 5.8%

2. Bacchus Marsh, VIC

Big Apple

• Population: 8,000
• Median house value: $630,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 5.8%
• Rental yield: 3.7%
• Region: 60-kilometres west of Melbourne

3. Ballarat, VIC

Big Miner

• Population: 116,000
• Median house value: $555,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 6.2%
• Rental yield: 3.8%

4. Ballina, NSW

Big Prawn

• Population: 47,000
• Median house value: $955,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 6.0%
• Rental yield: 3.5%

5. Bathurst, NSW

Big Gold Panner

• Population: 44,000
• Median house value: $650,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 6.7%
• Rental yield: 3.8%
• Fun fact: Bathurst is Australia’s 5^th oldest city

6. Bega Valley, NSW

The Big Cheese

• Population: 36,000
• Median house value: $810,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 6.6%
• Rental yield: 3.3%
• Fun fact: this inland township of 36,000 people has a higher median house value than 5 out of 8 capital cities

7. Berri, SA

Big Orange

• Population: 10,000
• Median house value: $320,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 4.9%
• Rental yield: 5.4%
• Region: 250-kilometres north-east of Adelaide

8. Bowen, QLD

Big Mango

• Population: 12,000
• Median house value: $390,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 6.0%
• Rental yield: 6.6%
• Region: Mackay

9. Bridgewater, SA

Big Watermill

• Population: 4,000
• Median house value: $870,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 6.4%
• Rental yield: 3.5%
• Region: Adelaide Hills

10. Broken Hill, NSW

Big Bench

• Population: 18,000
• Median house value: $190,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 7.4%
• Rental yield: 9.0%

11. Bunbury, WA

Big Bull

• Population: 34,000
• Median house value: $400,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 5.3%
• Rental yield: 6.4%

12. Bundaberg, QLD

Big Barrel

• Population: 102,000
• Median house value: $480,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 6.6%
• Rental yield: 5.4%
• Region: Wide Bay food bowl

INSIGHTS: Top 10 Tips for Property Investors

13. Cairns, QLD

Big Marlin

• Population: 172,000
• Median house value: $580,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 6.0%
• Rental yield: 5.2%
• Fun fact: Cairns is Australia’s 16^th largest city

14. Canberra, ACT

Big Coins

• Population: 457,000
• Median house value: $950,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 6.1%
• Rental yield: 3.7%

15. Cardwell, QLD

Big Mud Crab

• Population: 1,500
• Median house value: $370,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 5.1%
• Rental yield: 5.5%
• Region: 150-kilometres north of Townsville

16. Ceduna, SA

Big Oyster

• Population: 3,600
• Median house value: $260,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 5.1%
• Rental yield: 6.1%
• Region: Great Australian Bight

17. Chinchilla, QLD

Big Watermelon

• Population: 7,000
• Median house value: $320,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 5.6%
• Rental yield: 6.6%
• Region: 300-kilometres west of Brisbane

18. Churchill, VIC

Big Cigar

• Population: 5,000
• Median house value: $350,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 7.6%
• Rental yield: 4.9%
• Region: Latrobe VIC (Morwell, Moe, Traralgon)

19. Coffs Harbour, NSW

Big Banana

• Population: 80,000
• Median house value: $825,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 6.4%
• Rental yield: 3.9%

20. Cootamundra, NSW

Big Don Bradman’s Bat

• Population: 5,500
• Median house value: $400,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 7.4%
• Rental yield: 5.4%

21. Cowes, VIC

Big Tap

• Population: 7,000
• Median house value: $760,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 6.8%
• Rental yield: 2.9%
• Region: Phillip Island

22. Darwin, NT

Big Boxing Crocodile

• Population: 149,000
• Median house value: $580,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 5.6%
• Rental yield: 5.8%

23. Deloraine, TAS

Big Coffee Pot

• Population: 3,000
• Median house value: $480,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 8.4%
• Rental yield: 4.6%
• Region: 50-kilometres west of Launceston

24. Emerald, QLD

Big Easel

• Population: 15,000
• Median house value: $350,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 4.2%
• Rental yield: 7.1%
• Region: 270-kilometres west of Rockhampton

25. Eucla, WA

Big Whale

• Population: 50
• Median house value: $190,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): N/A
• Rental yield: N/A
• Region: coastal town on WA-SA border

26. Exmouth, WA

Big Prawn

• Population: 3,000
• Median house value: $675,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 7.1%
• Rental yield: 7.8%
• Region: 1,200-kilometres north of Perth

27. Gatton, QLD

Big Orange

• Population: 7,000
• Median house value: $420,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 6.7%
• Rental yield: 5.6%
• Region: Lockyer Valley food bowl

28. Glenrowan, VIC

Big Ned Kelly

• Population: 1,000
• Median house value: $680,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 7.5%
• Rental yield: 3.6%
• Region: 20-kilometres south of Wangaratta

29. Goondiwindi, QLD

Big Map

• Population: 10,500
• Median house value: $300,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 4.1%
• Rental yield: 6.2%

30. Goulburn, NSW

Big Merino Sheep

• Population: 32,000
• Median house value: $640,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average):6.9%
• Rental yield: 3.7%

31. Gundagai, NSW

Big Dog on a Tuckerbox

• Population: 3,000
• Median house value: $430,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 6.4%
• Rental yield: 6.2%
• Region: 200-kilometres west of Canberra

32. Guyra, NSW

Big Lamb

• Population: 2,000
• Median house value: $360,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 8.6%
• Rental yield: 5.7%
• Region: New England

33. Kangaroo Island, SA

Big Bee

• Population: 5,000
• Median house value: $430,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 5.0%
• Rental yield: 4.2%

34. Katherine, NT

Big Barramundi

• Population: 11,000
• Median house value: $460,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 6.2%
• Rental yield: 5.7%

35. Kew, NSW

Big Axe

• Population: 1,000
• Median house value: $800,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 4.3%
• Rental yield: 3.9%
• Region: Illawarra

36. Kimba, SA

Big Galah

• Population: 1,500
• Median house value: $130,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 4.9%
• Rental yield: 11.0%
• Fun fact: 460-kilometres north-west of Adelaide

37. Kingaroy, QLD

Big Peanut

• Population: 10,000
• Median house value: $380,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 5.8%
• Rental yield: 6.3%
• Region: 200-kilometres west of Caloundra

38. Kingston, SA

Big Lobster

• Population: 2,500
• Median house value: $470,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 5.8%
• Rental yield: 4.0%
• Region: 300-kilometres south-east of Adelaide

39. Latrobe, TAS

Big Cherry

• Population: 13,000
• Median house value: $640,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 9.4%
• Rental yield: 3.7%

40. Mackay, QLD

Big Banana

• Population: 125,000
• Median house value: $450,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 5.2%
• Rental yield: 5.9%

41. Maryborough, QLD

Mary Poppins

• Population: 57,000
• Median house value: $520,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 6.5%
• Rental yield: 5.0%
• Region: Wide Bay food bowl
• Fun fact: Maryborough is the origin of the world’s most famous nanny, Mary Poppins. Author, Pamela Lyndon Travers, was born in this iconic regional city. The Mary Poppins novel evolved into a popular Disney movie and musicals.

42. Meredith, VIC

Big Hens

• Population: 1,000
• Median house value: $620,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 8.0%
• Rental yield: 2.0%
• Region: 100-kilometres west of Melbourne

43. Mudgee, NSW

Big Hammer

• Population: 13,000
• Median house value: $650,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 7.8%
• Rental yield: 4.1%

44. Mundubbera, QLD

Big Mandarin

• Population: 1,500
• Median house value: $190,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 4.8%
• Rental yield: 7.0%
• Region: Wide Bay food bowl

45. Nannup, WA

Big Pendulum Clock

• Population: 1,500
• Median house value: $500,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 7.4%
• Rental yield: 4.7%
• Region: Margaret River

INSIGHTS: Intelligent investing in real estate has no borders

46. Newcastle, NSW

Big Headphones

• Population: 171,000
• Median house value: $870,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 6.2%
• Rental yield: 3.6%

47. Noosa, QLD

Big Pelican

• Population: 57,000
• Median house value: $1,300,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 6.9%
• Rental yield: 3.1%

48. Parkes, NSW

Big Dish (Radio Telescope)

• Population: 14,000
• Median house value: $390,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 6.5%
• Rental yield: 5.3%

49. Penguin, TAS

Big Penguin

• Population: 4,000
• Median house value: $570,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 8.6%
• Rental yield: 3.9%
• Region: north-west Tasmania

50. Pokolbin, NSW

Big Wine Bottle

• Population: 1,000
• Median house value: $1,500,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 9.2%
• Rental yield: 2.7%
• Region: situated within the heart of Hunter Valley wineries, this tiny town with very expensive real estate is popular for short-stay tourism

51. Port Hedland, WA

Big Wheelbarrow

• Population: 17,000
• Median house value: $540,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 5.2%
• Rental yield: 10.0%
• Fun fact: Port Hedland had a higher median house value than Sydney in 2013

52. Port Lincoln, SA

Big Lizard

• Population: 15,000
• Median house value: $420,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 4.4%
• Rental yield: 5.2%
• Fun fact: this seaside town punches well above its weight for seafood production. It is popular for South Australian tourists and its attractions include a deep-sea diving experience with great white sharks.

53. Port Macquarie, NSW

Big Koalas

• Population: 88,000
• Median house value: $830,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 5.2%
• Rental yield: 3.8%

54. Robertson, NSW

Big Potato

• Population: 2,000
• Median house value: $1,100,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 6.1%
• Rental yield: 2.9%
• Region: Illawarra

55. Rockhampton, QLD

Big Bullock

• Population: 84,000
• Median house value: $380,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 6.3%
• Rental yield: 6.3%
• Fun fact: Australia’s 29^th largest city has a median house price which is only 30 percent of Noosa, just a 5-hour drive south and population 57,000.

56. Roma, QLD

Big Nut & Bolt

• Population: 7,000
• Median house value: $285,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 5.6%
• Rental yield: 6.6%
• Fun fact: cattle and gas province, 500-kilometres west of Brisbane

57. Rutherglen, VIC

Big Wine Bottle

• Population: 4,000
• Median house value: $460,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 6.6%
• Rental yield: 4.2%
• Region: 30-minutes west of Albury-Wodonga

58. Sarina, QLD

Big Cane Toad

• Population: 6,000
• Median house value: $390,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 5.9%
• Rental yield: 6.4%
• Region: 30-minutes south of Mackay

INSIGHTS: Four (4) biggest myths about property markets

59. Singleton, NSW

Big Sundial

• Population: 25,000
• Median house value: $700,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 6.0%
• Rental yield: 4.2%

60. Swan Hill, VIC

Big Cod

• Population: 21,000
• Median house value: $410,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 5.4%
• Rental yield: 4.9%
• Fun fact: famous explorers Burke and Wills and paddle steamers hold a place in the history of this iconic regional town

61. Tamworth, NSW

Big Guitar

• Population: 64,000
• Median house value: $470,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 5.9%
• Rental yield: 4.6%

62. Taree, NSW

Big Oyster

• Population: 17,000
• Median house value: $490,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 5.8%
• Rental yield: 5.1%
• Region: 1-hour south of Port Macquarie

63. Toowoomba, QLD

Big Cow

• Population: 179,000
• Median house value: $540,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 6.5%
• Rental yield: 4.6%
• Fun fact: Toowoomba is Australia’s second largest inland city, after Canberra.

64. Warrnambool, VIC

Big Milkshake

• Population: 35,500
• Median house value: $590,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 5.5%
• Rental yield: 4.3%

65. Westbury, TAS

Big [Cricket] Wickets

• Population: 2,500
• Median house value: $700,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 10%
• Rental yield: 4.1%
• Region: rural township near Launceston

66. Wodonga, VIC

Big Rolling Pin

• Population: 47,000
• Median house value: $550,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 5.7%
• Rental yield: 4.5%

67. Woombye, QLD

Big Macadamia Nut

• Population: 5,000
• Median house value: $860,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 6.4%
• Rental yield: 4.7%
• Region: township within Sunshine Coast

68. Young, NSW

Big Cherries

• Population: 11,000
• Median house value: $470,000
• Capital growth rate (20y annual average): 6.4%
• Rental yield: 4.7%
• Fun fact: Australia’s cherry capital is located 200-kilometres north-west of Canberra

Propertyology are national buyer’s agents and Australia’s premier property market analyst. Every capital city and every non-capital city, Propertyology analyse fundamentals in every market, every day. We use this valuable research to help everyday Aussies to invest in strategically-chosen locations (literally) all over Australia. Like to know more? Contact us here.

Here’s how we combine our thought-leading research with Propertyology’s award-winning buyer’s agency services.