Gladstone property values nearly 80 percent down from residential peak: HTW
Any local will tell you that Gladstone has always been a boom and bust town, according to Herron Todd White.
Investment in the town soars when a new project begins as demonstrated over the past 50 years, the valuation firm advised.
"This is always followed by a bust during which the town re-gathers itself and gets back to normal.
"Presently we are in the fourth year of Gladstone’s latest downward cycle.
"Established housing has declined as much as 50% and units as much as 80% from values achieved in the peak of the market."
It advised in its September report the vacancy rate peaked in the first quarter of 2016 at just over 10% and has been steadily falling since.
"It may indicate we have seen the worst of this bust.
"Only time will tell," HTW advised.
The traditional property types in Gladstone have all been established on the back of major booms in the industrial sector, according to Herron Todd White's latest monthly market indicator.
The property advisory firm says that prior to the 1960s Gladstone remained a relatively small port city serving the local cattle industry.
In 1963 Queensland Alumina Refinery (QAL) was announced, beginning over a decade long boom during which Gladstone’s population doubled.
The first, second and third stages of the refinery were built along with the first stage of the Gladstone Power Station.
Most of Gladstone’s central suburbs including South and West Gladstone and Barney Point were well established.
Homes in these suburbs are popular in today’s market given their close proximity to the CBD and the varying views available from the low and high set style homes. These suburbs also offer good opportunities to renovate older style homes in central locations.
The entry level price point for homes in West Gladstone and South Gladstone is around $200,000 in the current market.
The early 1980s saw the next wave of industrial development with the commencement of the Boyne Aluminium Smelter. Much of the established parts of Boyne Island and adjoining Tannum Sands were developed during this time. Construction ranged between on ground and high set homes.
Price points for this style of housing in Boyne Island and Tannum Sands ranges between $300,000 and $350,000 in the current market. Gladstone suburbs such as Kin Kora, Sun Valley and parts of Clinton and New Auckland were also established during this time. Kin Kora and Sun Valley comprise mostly high set homes and are popular well established suburbs in today’s market. Prices in these suburbs range typically between $250,000 and $350,000.
In the 1990s the coal industry boomed giving Gladstone another boom in property prices and demand. New housing estates in Clinton, New Auckland, Glen Eden and Telina were developed comprising mostly 3-bedroom on ground brick houses. New Auckland and Clinton were further established in the early 2000s when Rio Tinto announced the Yarwun Alumina Refinery was to proceed.
The most recent construction boom (2010 to 2012) commenced when construction started on three LNG plants being built on Curtis Island off the coast of Gladstone.
This boom saw fringe suburbs including Glen Eden, New Auckland and Kirkwood being extensively developed with modern housing.
It noted a transformation also occurred in Gladstone City with multiple high rise apartment buildings going up in the CBD and extensive townhouse developments taking place in the suburbs. Over 1,000 units have been built in the past five years alone.
