The prospect of securing a block of land in outback Queensland for a paltry price tag is attracting buyers from across Australia eager to snag a bargain.
The Flinders Shire Council in the state's north-west is preparing to auction off 48 vacant lots to address the region's housing shortage.
While the reserve price of each block has not been made public, some are speculating land could be snapped up for amounts in the low five figures, with Mayor Jane McNamara saying the residential blocks would be "very affordable".
"If you could buy a block of land for — I'll just put it [out] there — a four-figure amount, how exciting would that be?" she said.
"It's really important that the younger generation can actually have a chance at buying a block of land and developing it."
Like much of the outback, housing is in short supply in the Flinders Shire.
The region is experiencing a tourism and business boom, but Aaron Zammit from the Hughenden Chamber of Commerce said a lack of available properties was stifling growth.
"You see people through social media platforms, through phone calls, calling to enquire, 'So how do we move to Hughenden? How do we bring our family out?'," he said.
"There's just no options at the moment … so there's no doubt that it has impacted population numbers."
Mr Zammit hopes the cheap land — available in the towns of Hughenden, Prairie and Torrens Creek — will help to attract and retain workers.
"We would love people to move out west, bring new families, bring new trades, bring new investment opportunities," he said.
The blocks range in size from 809 square metres to 1.303 hectares.
About 100 people from across the country have so far registered for the auctions, which will take place later this month.
The Flinders Shire Council is also offering $5,000 grants as an incentive to get people building new homes on the land.
Cr McNamara said each sale would come with construction conditions to ensure the blocks did not sit idle.
"We're not envisaging people to be investing and putting it in their back pocket to pass on to their grandchildren — we want them to actually be providing a home on these blocks of land," she said.
Newlyweds see opportunity
Newlyweds Tenielle and David Reaston are among those eyeing off a plot.
The pair moved from Townsville to Hughenden a year ago to manage the local caravan park and enjoy an easier pace of life.
They live onsite but are searching for a property to call their own in the outback town.
"We can see its potential and we'd like stay out here to raise our family," Ms Reaston said.
The Flinders Shire has a population of about 1,500 people, but that number is expected to grow as initiatives like Copper String 2.0 and new wind farms get off the ground.
"There are a lot of projects going ahead [in the region] and a lot of people interested in coming out to work them, but you definitely need some more housing to make it all happen," Ms Reaston said.
Mr Reaston said the cost of purchasing a vacant block in Hughenden was just a fraction of what it would cost in his home city of Townsville.
"I think there'll be some definite bargains," he said.
