Rebecca Statton and three of her children, James, 10, Jack, 16, Lucia, 13, and their dogs, Billy and Henry, at their home in East Toowoomba — a suburb that recorded staggering house price growth over the past 20 years. Picture: David Martinelli.
IT’S the surprise growth star shining brightly amid a sea of trendy coastal hubs and city slicker suburbs.
East Toowoomba has emerged as the quiet achiever over the past two decades, recording an impressive 375 per cent growth in house prices since the year 2000 — one of the highest growth rates in the state, research from Realestate.com.au reveals.
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The regional suburb’s median house price has jumped from $119,000 20 years ago to $565,000 in June of this year, outperforming the likes of Broadbeach Waters on the Gold Coast and Golden Beach on the Sunshine Coast.
This four-bedroom house at 37 Kitchener St, East Toowoomba, is for sale for offers over $549,000.
The growth in East Toowoomba, 125km west of Brisbane, is no surprise to mother-of-four
Rebecca Statton, who has lived in the suburb for 16 years.
Mrs Statton and her husband, Grant, bought their first house in the suburb in 2004 for $299,000, renovated it and sold it in 2015 for $1 million.
“It was the classic worst house in a really lovely street,” Mrs Statton said.
“But the trend I could see is that our street had lots of older people living there and gradually they would sell.”
This circa 1880s Queenslander in East Toowoomba is one of many character homes in the suburb. Image supplied.
The Stattons then bought their current house in Campbell Street — a classic 1880s Queenslander on a massive 2500 sqm block.
“We thought we’d paid too much at the time, but since then, houses on smaller blocks have sold for as much,” Mrs Statton said.
TOP REGIONAL QLD SUBURBS FOR HOUSE PRICE GROWTH OVER 20 YEARS
Suburb Median house price June 2000 Median house price June 2020 Growth
Palm Beach $167,750 $900,000 437%
Warana $140,000 $740,000 429%
Buddina $170,000 $855,000 403%
Miami $165,000 $828,500 402%
Noosa Heads $231,500 $1,142,500 394%
Burleigh Heads $186,000 $910,000 389%
Sunshine Beach $315,000 $1,540,000 389%
Sunrise Beach $183,000 $890,000 386%
Noosaville $205,000 $995,000 385%
Mooloolaba $189,000 $905,000 379%
Minyama $250,000 $1,187,500 375%
East Toowoomba $119,000 $565,000 375%
Tugun $161,400 $760,000 371%
Yaroomba $165,000 $775,000 370%
Broadbeach Waters $260,000 $1,217,500 368%
Wurtulla $140,000 $649,400 364%
Doonan $197,500 $915,000 363%
Worongary $163,500 $752,500 360%
Golden Beach $138,000 $635,000 360%
Jacobs Well $121,500 $556,000 358%
(Source: Realestate.com.au)
* This data is provided by licence from realestate.com.au Pty Ltd and is current at the time of publication. realestate.com.au Pty Ltd does not make any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or reliability of the data nor accept any liability arising in any way from omissions or errors
“Now, I think we would easily recover what we’ve put in to it, and a little bit more, just because it’s so sought-after.
“In Toowoomba, liveability is really important, and East Toowoomba is close to all the lovely parks, the CBD, St Vinnie’s hospital, which is a major employer, private schools.
“It’s very central, but still very quiet.”
This property at 25 Margaret St, East Toowoomba, is for sale.
Mrs Statton said the suburb also had lots of large blocks, which was rare so close to the CBD.
“That’s become a real lifestyle thing,” she said.
“You can still get a big block, a basic house, do a bit to it, and it seems there’s always a lot of room for growth and improvement.
“A lot of houses in the higher price brackets don’t ever go on the market — most are sold offmarket.”
Mark Costello of Toowoomba real estate agency, iThink Property, said East Toowoomba was regarded as the most in-demand suburb in the region.
“This is due to a number of factors; its proximity to the Toowoomba City and beautiful Queens Park, as well as some of the popular private schools also located in the suburb,” Mr Costello said.
“East Toowoomba is quintessentially ‘Toowoomba of old’ with its wide, tree-lined streets and 19th century character homes.”
This three-bedroom house at 9 Argyle St, East Toowoomba, is on the market for offers over $795,000.
Mr Costello said the suburb had also become quite a cultural hub, with new cafes popping up.
“Some of the homes are truly magnificent,” he said.
“From the heritage-listed ‘Fernside’, built in 1876, to the charming ‘Whyemnbah’ Queenslander overlooking Queens Park, built in the late 1800s.
“Just a drive up Campbell Street and you automatically get a sense of nostalgia of days gone by, but this is also mixed with culturally-tasteful restorations and renovations.”
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