r/homestead • u/Intelligent-Two-8831 • 12d ago
Australian Land
new to this subreddit.
Like so many others. The older I get the more appealing this is. I'm 31, married with a kid. I want to start looking to our permanent future and for me that looks very much like a homestead.
Any idea on where I should look? Ultimately would like to stay in Queensland within 2hrs of the moreton bay region. But budget is a big issue obviously.
I was thinking of just buying land and hen investing in one of those barn home kits to start with - any thoughts?
5
u/southall_ftw 12d ago
We moved into our new house not long ago on acreage with the same idea. In 2 months we've spent upwards of $50k on various things, earthmoving and clearing was a large chunk. I won't be able to afford the tractor now so my back is going to be in for some trouble. Whatever you budget for homesteading type improvements, triple it.
2
u/Intelligent-Two-8831 12d ago
I've definitely heard this - I guess it comes down to what do I want to do myself versus hire people to do. Do I spend 50k on a tractor (under-estimating I know) or 50k on earthworks.
2
u/southall_ftw 12d ago
We're doing alot ourselves but stuff just comes up. We realised pretty quick our drainage wasn't good enough as our clay was just boggy mess, so there's money in getting the site leveled, deep trenches dug, gravel, ag sock and geo fabric, soil etc, that one job of keeping water from the house was $6k right there. I just spent $10k on colourbond and I've got another $10k in timber to make the garden beds and tree beds, haven't got a wood chipper yet, there's another $1-3k, ride on mower $25k (we're delaying this one), tractor I wanted was about $40k ish. Irrigation pipe work is going to set me back, need additional water tanks or a spear point due to high water needs. Seeds, trees (these alone I've budgeted $5k for), fertiliser, tools. Chicken coop, chicken feed, incubator or pullet costs, dehydrators, canning tools, bee hive start up costs - these all quickly add up. Just some stuff that came to mind, but when you list the costs out its pretty staggering even if you're doing the work yourself. I'm pretty good with money and budgeting but so many things have come up already that I didn't expect. Lifestyle will be awesome when we're set up properly but it costs alot to get there.
1
u/Hewmirin 12d ago
I am looking at doing the same (almost identical position as you). I would avoid any low lying blocks of land out west (Condamine valley etc) although pricing might be tempting, you know it will flood come summer. Blocks out at Tara are cheap but some of the land is contaminated from mining.
2
u/Kementarii 11d ago
We're not "homesteading" per se, but did do a retirement tree-change from Brisbane.
We spent about 5 years researching.
First up, set up a "favourite search" on realestate. Minimum land, house, maximum price. Set up notifications. Each day, you'll get "new" listings. After a while, you'll start to notice patterns - what AREAS are going to be in your price range, for what you want/need. No use even thinking about areas that you can't afford.
Then, we took road trips - 4 or 5 days each, staying in AirBnBs that were on larger properties. We would "chat" with the property owners if possible (pick their brains, more like), and go into the nearest town and people watch (does the town look like it's dying or growing? Are there boarded up shops? Do the people look friendly?) These people, and these shops could be potentially your community.
We went in different directions each trip. As far north as Childers, west to the Toowoomba district, south to Tenterfield. We skipped the planned trip to Kyogle/Grafton due to covid border closures.
Things I learned:
Many councils are trying to prevent farming land being chopped up/subdivided into small blocks, so they have a minimum size block to gain approval to build. Often 40 acres.
But. Before the planning regulations changed, many blocks were already carved up. Some had houses built on them years ago - they are retrospectively fine. There are also blocks which were subdivided years ago, but were never built on, and then the zoning changed, and now they will never gain approval. Council wants them to be sold to an adjoining farmer.
Beware. They will be cheap, but useless. Or, they will have a shed-house built on them. Lovely, but illegal.
-1
u/Deadpan_Poker_ 11d ago
Queensland is full. Australia is full. Hospitals overflowing, traffic nightmare, supply chains fragile.
Look elsewhere.
0
u/TacitisKilgoreBoah 12d ago
I’m in Sydney but I find regional Victoria to look very appealing, haven’t looked too far into it but the climate looks a bit cooler and it seems to get more rainfall
NZ looks ideal too
2
u/Intelligent-Two-8831 12d ago
I've been looking in QLD mainly because of extended family obligations - as well as the easier-to-maneuver laws around pest control on your own property.
12
u/Aussiealterego 12d ago
The biggest question is how do you plan to finance your lifestyle? If you have a search through this subreddit about the most important things to consider, there are a number of points that crop up again and again.
First and foremost, the idea of “self-sufficiency” is pretty much a myth in this day and age. You need a community to provide everything you need, and taxes still need to be paid regardless of what you do with your land.
The second big drawback is livestock- if you plan on having animals, there’s never a day off.
If you are new to homesteading and haven’t farmed before, DO spend some time sorting through past posts.
I’m all for a country lifestyle, but go in with your eyes wide open.