Five Favourite Lifestyle Farms For Sale In QLD’s Fast-Growing Darling Downs

Young City Folk Drive Up Demand For Property In QLD's Darling Downs

The Western Downs – a key part of the broader Darling Downs region on the western slopes of the Great Dividing Range in southern Queensland – has ranked in the top five local government areas (LGA) by growth in capital-to-regional migration, according to new data from the Commonwealth Bank and the Regional Australia Institute’s Regional Movers Index.

The region - comprising the townships and surrounding areas around Dalby, Chinchilla, Murilla, Tara, Wambo and South Taroom – experienced a 56 per cent year-on-year (YoY) growth in migration in the 12 months to March 2022, including 14 per cent quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) growth between the December 2021 and March 2022 quarters.

Covering an area of approximately 37,937 square kilometres – slightly smaller than Switzerland, the Western Downs ranked behind the South Australian LGA’s of Ceduna (+114 per cent YoY, +59 per cent QoQ), Mt Gambier (+85 per cent YoY, +69 per cent QoQ), and Port Augusta (+74 per cent YoY, +seven per cent QoQ), and ahead of the Moorabool LGA in Victoria (+56 per cent YoY, +five per cent QoQ).

Driving the five-year high growth in regional migration (+16.6 per cent in the March quarter, almost double pre-pandemic levels) is young people – specifically Millennials (24-40 years) and Gen-Xers (40-56 years), the report found.

The average age of those who moved to the Western Downs was 30 years, with Millennials accounting for 54 per cent of people moving to the region in the 12 months to March 2022, Gen Alpha and Z (younger than 24 years) 19 per cent, and Gen X 15 per cent.

A combination of more affordable housing and employment opportunities is the key attraction, according to the report.

Commonwealth Bank Regional and Agribusiness Banking Executive General Manager Paul Fowler says regional areas are providing attractive local employment opportunities.

“Regional Australia is thriving, fuelled by strong investment across a broad range of industries including agriculture, manufacturing, retail and hospitality,” he says.

“There are labour shortages in many parts of regional Australia and local businesses are attracting skilled and unskilled workers to increase capacity and serve growing demand for products and services.”

Regional Australia Institute (RAI) CEO Liz Ritchie adds that regional living is attracting more young people and particularly younger families who are looking for bigger living spaces at a cheaper cost.

People moving from capital cities to regions in the March 2022 quarter accounted for 6.4 per cent of all relocations. This is a slightly larger share than a year earlier, up by 0.1 of a percentage point, reflecting the increase displayed in the headline Regional Movers Index.

The biggest outflows were from the major cities of Sydney and Melbourne with most people heading to regional NSW, Queensland, and Victoria.

Ritchie notes Millennials and Gen-Xers are welcome additions to any regional community as they often bring with them business skills to grow the local community, as well as families who integrate into the local school system and community sporting activities.

Not surprisingly, demand for housing in these regional areas is soaring, Fowler points out.

If you’re a capital city dweller looking to move to the Darling Downs and Granite Belt region of Queensland check out some of our favourite lifestyle farms for sale Darling Downs QLD – or click on the following link for more lifestyle farms for sale Darling Downs QLD.

Lifestyle Farms For Sale Darling Downs QLD: 737 Top Swanfels Road, Swanfels

Just over 20 minutes from Warwick and two hours from Brisbane, this lifestyle farm for sale Darling Downs QLD sits on a little more than 12 hectares (30 acres) with a kilometre of permanent creek frontage and boasts a stunning four-bedroom home with amazing 360-degree views of Swanfels Valley.

Above: The home on this farm for sale Darling Downs QLD features three separate pods of living/lifestyle areas

Designed by noted architect Des Biggs, from Noosa on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, the home features three separate pods of living/lifestyle areas, all under the one roof.

Above: The home on this farm for sale Darling Downs QLD boasts four generous-sized bedrooms 

The master suite is set entirely separate from the other bedrooms, taking up the entire width of the home, and features an ensuite, a bath and shower space open to a private garden, double vanity basins and abundant storage within the walk-in robe room.

Above: The home on this farm for sale Darling Downs QLD features a master suite with ensuite overlooking a private garden

It opens to its own deck area and generous outdoor spa. All other bedrooms are coupled with a beautiful main bathroom at the other end of the home and boast enviable views out to the trees, valley and garden.

Above: The home on this farm for sale Darling Downs QLD features a full length veranda and outdoor living area

The central hub of the home features high raked ceilings over the kitchen, dining, lounge and living area, opening to a full length veranda and outdoor living area, all fully screened.

Above: The central hub of the home on this farm for sale Darling Downs QLD boasts high raked ceilings over the dining/living areas

Outside, the property features rich prime creek flat soil and is well cultivated and highly productive, awash with deciduous trees, roses, a silver birch grove, an orchard and a poultry enclosure, all well established and irrigated.

Above: The home on this farm for sale Darling Downs QLD features a modern kitchen and dining area

Water is sourced via 14,000 gallons of rain water storage, plus permanent creek water with a pump system supplying all gardens and stock. The property boasts three-phase power, excellent fencing and shedding, including a five-bay hay/machinery shed.

Above: This farm for sale Darling Downs QLD encompasses a permanent creek water with a pump system supplying all gardens and stock

Known as ‘Chelsam Estate’, the property is an approved wedding venue, and offers enormous potential as a site for cabins, glamping or wedding/functions.

Click on the highlighted link for more information on this lifestyle farm for sale Darling Downs QLD at 737 Top Swanfels Road, Swanfels.

Lifestyle Farms For Sale Darling Downs QLD: 1911 Macalister Bell Road, Jimbour

If you’ve been looking for a country lifestyle change, this small lifestyle farm for sale Darling Downs QLD ticks all the boxes – all for under $600,000!

Above: This farm for sale Darling Downs QLD is positioned on 12.14ha of quality land in a great location

Positioned on over 30 acres (approximately 12.14 hectares) of quality land in a great location, ‘Belmont Park’ features a tastefully renovated three-bedroom home, plus office, lounge room with wood heater, sunroom, kitchen with island bench, electric stove and plenty of cupboards, and bathroom with shower over bath plus toilet.

Above: The home on this farm for sale Darling Downs QLD features a tastefully renovated three-bedroom home

The home is surrounded by established lawns and gardens and is serviced by a number of sheds, including a 30m x 15m machinery shed equipped with power and water, a 9m x 12m lock-up garage with skillion outdoor area.

Above: This farm for sale Darling Downs QLD includes established lawns and gardens and is serviced by a number of sheds

The soil is very fertile and could be used for growing crops, hay production or simply sow to improved pasture for animal production. If you want to run some cattle there is a set of cattle yards with loading ramp and cattle crush. Water is supplied by an equipped bore plus rain water storage in excess of 125,000 litres.

Above: This farm for sale Darling Downs QLD features a set of cattle yards with loading ramp and cattle crush

The property is located a few kilometres away from the township of Jimbour, around 15 minutes from Dalby and just over an hour from Toowoomba.

Click on the highlighted link for more information on this lifestyle farm for sale Darling Downs QLD at 1911 Macalister Bell Road, Jimbour.

Lifestyle Farms For Sale Darling Downs QLD: 40 Reeves Road, Gladfield

This extraordinary lifestyle farm for sale Darling Downs QLD offers a view that is extremely sought after, but rarely found. With breathtaking panoramic views of the Glengallan Creek flats, these 200 acres (80.9 hectares) of green slopes perfectly capture magnificent vistas from sunrise to sunset, showcasing the very best of the rural lifestyle and what it has to offer.

Above: This farm for sale Darling Downs QLD delivers breathtaking panoramic views of the Glengallan Creek flats

‘Coatan Grange’ consists of the main house, a hall and an iron bark hut, providing you with not only a private peaceful ambience but also incredible potential and opportunity for additional income. This elevated property also holds some history between the multiple structures and dwelling.

Above: The main home on this farm for sale Darling Downs QLD was relocated from Toowoomba around 1987

Relocated from Toowoomba around 1987, the home comprises one main bedroom suite with a stunning bright ensuite, two additional bedrooms, a sleepout, study, large kitchen with electric appliances, and a spacious living area with a wood heater.

Above: The main home on this farm for sale Darling Downs QLD boasts a spacious living area with a wood heater

Built in the early 1900’, the ironbark hut features two rooms, an outdoor kitchen and magnificent views of Glengallan Creek flats from the front veranda. This rustic style hut has great potential as a B&B. The hall – the original CWA hall used in World War II and relocated from Oxley in Brisbane – would make for a great party/meeting venue or even as storage or potential accommodation.

Above: This farm for sale Darling Downs QLD features a hall that would make for a great party/meeting venue 

Outside, the property boasts fertile black soils, stock-proof fencing, a three-bay·Colorbond shed, and approximately 10 acres of cultivation. With cattle holding yard and loading ramp, it has the capacity to run around 25-30 head of breeders.

Above: This farm for sale Darling Downs QLD includes a cattle holding yard and loading ramp and has capacity for 25-30 head of breeders

The property comes with a 12-megalitre water licence and a 3hp bore pump linked to a 20,000-litre holding tank that gravity feeds water to the main house, the hut and hall as well as two concrete cattle troughs.

Above: This farm for sale Darling Downs QLD also features an ironbark hut with two rooms and an outdoor kitchen

Located only 1.5 hours from Brisbane, two hours from the Gold Coast and just 20 minutes from Warwick, this stunning property has so much to offer and is an opportunity that won’t arise often.

Click on the highlighted link for more information on this lifestyle farm for sale Darling Downs QLD at 40 Reeves Road, Gladfield.

Lifestyle Farms For Sale Darling Downs QLD: 14255 Cunningham Highway, Warwick

This boutique lifestyle farm for sale Darling Downs QLD is ideally set up for dressage activities and other equestrian pursuits.

Above: This farm for sale Darling Downs QLD is ideally set up for dressage activities and other equestrian pursuits

Occupying an elevated position on 23 acres (9.3 hectares) close to all the equestrian facilities on offer in Warwick/Morgan Park, the property features quality fencing, an Olympic-size outdoor dressage sand arena, foaling stable and day yard, two stables with day yards, a high-clearance carport for float and truck, and two lock-up sheds for cars/workshop/tack room. The property also boasts town water, 100,000 litres of rain water storage and a stock dam.

Above: This farm for sale Darling Downs QLD features an Olympic-size outdoor dressage sand arena

Comprising three bedrooms each with built-in robes, the air-conditioned home boasts a large formal living area with wood heater and family kitchen/dining area opening on to an undercover outdoor area with pleasant outlook to Warwick and the hills beyond.

Above: This farm for sale Darling Downs QLD includes a modern three-bedroom home set amongst established gardens

The modern home for sale also features a large rumpus/family room and an undercover area partially enclosed with mud room area, single car space and second toilet.

Above: The home on this farm for sale Darling Downs QLD includes an undercover outdoor area with pleasant outlook to Warwick 

Outside, the property's house yard is safely fenced for pets and includes an enclosed chicken pen, established yard with gardens, fruit trees and even a full-size tennis court.

Above: The farm for sale Darling Downs QLD boasts a yard with established gardens and fruit trees

Equipped with a 6kw solar system, this is the ideal boutique horse property in a good position and with everything for a comfortable lifestyle.

Click on the highlighted link for more information on this lifestyle farm for sale Darling Downs QLD at 14255 Cunningham Highway, Warwick.

Lifestyle Farms For Sale Darling Downs QLD: 874 Top Swanfels Road, Yangan

This lifestyle farm for sale Darling Downs QLD sits on three titles totalling 38.8 hectares (95 acres) in the Swanfels Valley, Yangan.

Above: The farm for sale Darling Downs QLD is on three titles totalling 38.8ha in the Swanfels Valley

Known as ‘Mooroolin', the rural property boasts just under 500 metres of absolute Swan Creek frontage with a 24-megalitre water allocation out of a large water hole.

Above: The farm for sale Darling Downs QLD boasts just under 500 metres of absolute Swan Creek frontage

A grand old Queenslander sits proudly on top of the hill looking down on the valley below. Comprising four bedrooms, the home features pressed metal ceilings in two rooms and open verandas on two sides, a main lounge room with open fireplace, and a kitchen with wood and electric stove and island bench.

Above: The farm for sale Darling Downs QLD features a grand old Queenslander with four bedrooms

Located just 10 minutes to Yangan and 25 minutes to Warwick, the property boasts approximately 60 acres of cultivation, established gardens, and numerous sheds including a large machinery shed.

Above: The farm for sale Darling Downs QLD boasts approximately 60 acres of cultivation

Click on the highlighted link for more information on this lifestyle farm for sale Darling Downs QLD at 874 Top Swanfels Road, Yangan.