Queensland · Locations to watch
7 Queensland Locations Worth a Closer Look in 2026
New stock is turning up beyond the markets we already cover. Here are seven council areas our builders and developers are now sending us, what is driving them, and what we would check before recommending any of them.
Why these seven
Beyond Our Core Locations
Our Queensland research concentrates on the locations on our Locations page, from Ipswich, Logan and Moreton Bay to Hervey Bay, Bundaberg and Townsville. When we sorted the 662 listings our suppliers sent us between July and October 2026 by council area, seven more areas kept appearing: Gympie, the Scenic Rim, the Lockyer Valley, Somerset, the Southern Downs, Cairns and Redland.
None of them is on our recommended list yet, and appearing in a builder’s stock list is not a reason to buy. But three are among Queensland’s ten fastest-growing councils, two have large State Government growth areas declared, and all of them now have new house and land or dual income stock on offer. That makes them worth a closer look.
We cross-check our location research against Hotspotting (Terry Ryder) and government, council and market data.
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New listings across the seven
3 of 10
Among QLD’s fastest-growing councils, 2024–25
18,500
Homes planned at Mount Peter, Cairns
8,000
Homes planned at Southern Thornlands, Redland
Sources: properT network supplier stock lists, July–October 2026; Queensland Government Statistician’s Office (2024–25); Economic Development Queensland.
01 · Wide Bay
Gympie
Gympie grew 2.0% in 2024–25, the ninth-fastest rate of any Queensland council. The 26-kilometre Gympie bypass, the final $1.16 billion section of the Bruce Highway upgrade from Cooroy to Curra, opened in October 2024. It takes highway traffic out of town and puts the Sunshine Coast within easier reach.
Our lists include house and land at Dawn and Southside, and a release of dual key homes at Banks Pocket Heights. None of our Gympie suppliers gave a rent estimate, so rental evidence is the first thing we would test.
Growth
2.0% in 2024–25 (QGSO), ninth-fastest in Queensland
Driving it
Bruce Highway bypass (opened Oct 2024), Sunshine Coast spillover, lifestyle movers
Stock in our lists
10 listings, $822k–$998k: dual key at Banks Pocket Heights, house and land at Dawn and Southside
What we’d check
Rents and vacancy for new dual key homes, and how much new supply is planned
Related
02 · South East Queensland fringe
Scenic Rim: Beaudesert and Boonah
The Scenic Rim grew 2.2% in 2024–25, the fourth-fastest council in Queensland. Beaudesert sits at the end of the Mount Lindesay Highway corridor, just beyond Logan’s growth front at Flagstone and Jimboomba. About six kilometres west of town is the Bromelton State Development Area, 15,610 hectares set aside for rail-served industry and logistics on the Sydney–Brisbane line.
Our lists include house and land at Beaumoor, townhouses and dual key homes in Beaudesert, and duplexes at Boonah. Supplier rent estimates put most of them around 4% gross.
Growth
2.2% in 2024–25 (QGSO), fourth-fastest in Queensland
Driving it
Bromelton State Development Area, Logan’s southern growth corridor, lifestyle demand
Stock in our lists
7 listings, $600k–$1.37m, median rent estimate $780/wk
What we’d check
Local jobs actually created at Bromelton, and the depth of the Beaudesert rental market
Related
Logan research
03 · Between Ipswich and Toowoomba
Lockyer Valley: Gatton
The Lockyer Valley was Queensland’s third-fastest-growing council in 2024–25, up 2.4%. Gatton sits on the Warrego Highway between Ipswich and Toowoomba, with the University of Queensland’s Gatton campus and one of the country’s most productive farming districts on its doorstep.
Our stock is concentrated at Woodchester in Gatton: four- and five-bedroom house and land and a dual income design, priced around $945,000 to $1.12 million. That is close to Ipswich pricing, so the question is whether Gatton rents keep up.
Growth
2.4% in 2024–25 (QGSO), third-fastest in Queensland
Driving it
Agriculture and food processing, UQ Gatton, Warrego Highway access to Ipswich and Toowoomba
Stock in our lists
6 listings, $945k–$1.12m, mainly at Woodchester
What we’d check
Rent appraisals against Ipswich and Toowoomba alternatives at the same price
04 · Brisbane Valley
Somerset: Fernvale, Lowood and Kilcoy
Somerset is a smaller council of about 26,000 people, but its Lowood and Fernvale area grew 2.5% in a year, according to the council’s own figures. Fernvale is about 25 minutes from Ipswich along the Brisbane Valley Highway, which makes it a lifestyle option for people working in Ipswich and Brisbane’s west.
Our lists include duplexes and dual key homes at Fernvale (from about $700,000), house and land at Lowood and a dual key home at Kilcoy with a rent estimate of about $833 a week.
Growth
About 26,250 residents; Lowood/Fernvale up 2.5% (Somerset Regional Council, 2022–23)
Driving it
Ipswich and western Brisbane commuters, lifestyle demand, lower land prices
Stock in our lists
6 listings, $700k–$1.07m: duplex and dual key at Fernvale and Kilcoy, house and land at Lowood
What we’d check
Tenant demand in a small rental market, and resale depth for duplexes
Related
Ipswich research
05 · Darling Downs
Southern Downs: Warwick
Warwick is the Southern Downs’ main centre, about an hour south of Toowoomba. It doesn’t have the big infrastructure story of the other six, so we treat it as an affordability and yield market rather than a growth market.
Our lists include four-bedroom house and land at Scarlet Rise from about $760,000 and turnkey duplexes up to about $1 million. One supplier estimates rent at about $738 a week, close to 5% gross, the highest of the seven.
Growth
Slower than South East Queensland; we would want council and QGSO trends before committing
Driving it
Affordability, agriculture, health and education services for the wider Southern Downs
Stock in our lists
5 listings, $760k–$1m, rent estimate about $738/wk
What we’d check
Whether the yield holds once vacancy, insurance and slower capital growth are factored in
Related
Toowoomba research
06 · Far North Queensland
Cairns: Gordonvale and White Rock
Cairns is Queensland’s ninth-largest council, with 179,334 residents in June 2025. In October 2025 Economic Development Queensland announced the Mount Peter Priority Development Area near Gordonvale: about 3,300 hectares planned for more than 18,500 homes and 42,000 residents, one of the last large greenfield areas in the region.
Our lists include house and land at Pyramid Creek in Gordonvale from about $753,000 and completed four-bedroom homes at White Rock from $845,000. No rent estimates were supplied, and Far North Queensland insurance costs need to be in the numbers from day one.
Size
179,334 residents, June 2025 (QGSO)
Driving it
Mount Peter Priority Development Area, tourism, health, defence and the port
Stock in our lists
5 listings, $753k–$860k, at Gordonvale and White Rock
What we’d check
Insurance and cyclone-rated building costs, rents, and how fast Mount Peter supply arrives
Related
Townsville research
07 · Brisbane bayside
Redland: Thornlands
Redland City has 172,831 residents and is forecast to grow to about 211,500 by 2046. The Southern Thornlands Priority Development Area took effect in April 2025: 890 hectares planned for about 8,000 homes, starting with an early release of about 900, plus a new employment area.
Our lists include a small number of three-bedroom house and land packages at Thornlands at about $1.06 million. Redland is the most established of the seven, closer to Brisbane, with a bayside lifestyle and a higher entry price.
Size
172,831 residents, June 2025 (QGSO); forecast about 211,500 by 2046
Driving it
Southern Thornlands Priority Development Area, proximity to Brisbane, bayside lifestyle
Stock in our lists
3 listings at Thornlands, about $1.06m
What we’d check
How much PDA supply lands at once, and rent against the higher purchase price
What’s on the market
The Seven at a Glance
The same supplier listings, side by side. Rents are only shown where a supplier or agent gave one.
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Listings received
$600k–$1.37m
Price range
$906k
Median package
$760/wk
Median rent estimate
| Council area | Listings | Main types | Price range | Rent est. | Gross yield |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gympie Banks Pocket Heights, Sorensen Rise | 10 | Dual/duplex, H&L | $822k–$998k | – | – |
| Scenic Rim Beaumoor | 7 | Dual/duplex, H&L | $600k–$1.37m | $780/wk | 4.1% |
| Lockyer Valley Woodchester, Lakeview | 6 | H&L, Dual/duplex | $945k–$1.12m | – | – |
| Somerset Treetops, Timbertop | 6 | Dual/duplex, H&L | $700k–$1.07m | $833/wk | 4.0% |
| Cairns Pyramid Creek | 5 | H&L | $753k–$860k | – | – |
| Southern Downs Scarlet Rise | 5 | Dual/duplex, H&L | $760k–$1m | $738/wk | 5.0% |
| Redland | 3 | H&L | $1.06m | – | – |
Indicative prices and rents from builder and developer stock lists sent to properT network between July and October 2026. Rents are supplier or agent estimates, not guarantees, and gross yield is rent × 52 ÷ total price. Stock changes weekly, so ask us for what’s available now.
Our filter
What It Takes to Make Our List
A location earns a place on our Locations page when several growth drivers line up, not just one. Before we would recommend any of these seven, we would want to see:
- Population growth that is sustained, not a one-year spike
- Jobs and infrastructure that are funded and under way, not just announced
- Rental evidence from local agents for the exact property type, not just a supplier estimate
- Supply that will not swamp the rental market when big estates release
- A price that stacks up against the alternatives in our core locations
Compare all council areas in our Queensland property matrix, and read why we favour new builds over established homes and what makes property investment grade.
“Whenever you apply emotion to any decision, especially when it comes to investing, you’re guaranteeing yourself a lower return on investment, but only 100% of the time.”
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Queensland councils are growing fastest?
In 2024–25 the fastest-growing councils were Ipswich (3.5%), Logan (3.1%) and the Lockyer Valley (2.4%), followed by the Scenic Rim (2.2%), according to the Queensland Government Statistician’s Office. Gympie (2.0%) was ninth.
Are Gympie, Gatton and Beaudesert good places to invest?
They have growth behind them and new stock available, but they are not yet on our recommended list. Smaller rental markets and fewer local jobs mean the property, the rent and the supply pipeline need more checking than in larger centres.
What is the Mount Peter Priority Development Area?
A State Government growth area near Gordonvale in Cairns’ southern corridor, announced by Economic Development Queensland in October 2025, planned for more than 18,500 homes and 42,000 residents.
What is the Southern Thornlands Priority Development Area?
An 890-hectare growth area in Redland City that took effect in April 2025, planned for about 8,000 homes, starting with an early release of about 900, plus a new employment area.
Can properT network find stock in these areas?
Yes. These listings come from the builders and developers we work with, and we can go to market for more. Tell us your budget and strategy and we’ll tell you honestly whether any of these locations fits.
Strategy Before Property
Talk to Us About These Locations
Book a complimentary strategy call with Stephen Lazar. We’ll talk about your goals and whether any of these locations fits your strategy.
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