Even with rising property prices and a shift towards smaller lots, the Australian dream of owning an affordable freestanding house on a quarter-acre block is still achievable—though you may need to search in more distant areas to find it.
Affordable suburbs with quarter-acre blocks
According to the latest data from PropTrack, buyers looking for an affordable property with around a quarter-acre of land in one of the capital cities will have the best chance of finding it on the urban fringe.
Analysis of sales data reveals that while there are many suburbs where a quarter-acre is the standard block size, the most affordable options—generally with median house prices under $1 million—are located on the outskirts of the capitals.
This is partly because a quarter-acre block, which is just over 1,000 square meters, is considered large by today’s standards. As a result, city buyers are unlikely to find one at a low price close to the CBD.
A quarter-acre block is more than twice the size of the average 432 square meter block for new homes. This average has decreased over the past decade, according to the ABS, even though Australians are building larger homes.
With the nation experiencing a housing shortage, high demand for homes means that large lots near city centers can fetch millions due to their potential for subdivision and development.
As larger properties are divided into smaller lots, quarter-acre blocks have become increasingly rare. Consequently, buyers pursuing the suburban dream will likely need to venture well beyond the traditional suburbs.
The most budget-friendly suburbs where you can find a quarter-acre block
PropTrack Senior Economist Eleanor Creagh explained that high property prices and the limited availability of large blocks near the capitals mean buyers should look to the outer suburbs to find an affordable quarter-acre block.
“Larger lots in desirable inner-city areas are rare and usually retained by their owners, leading to intense competition and much higher prices,” she said.
“More affordable houses with larger lots are generally found in the outer suburbs of our capital cities, further from the city centers.”
| Capital city | Suburb | State | Median land size | Median sale price | |
| 1 | Canberra | Fraser | ACT | 1136sqm | $940,000 |
| 2 | Canberra | Torrens | ACT | 1024sqm | $1,052,500 |
| 3 | Canberra | Chapman | ACT | 1017sqm | $1,317,500 |
| 4 | Canberra | Turner | ACT | 1186sqm | $1,690,000 |
| 5 | Canberra | Reid | ACT | 1077sqm | $2,350,000 |
| 1 | Sydney | Spencer | NSW | 1734sqm | $490,000 |
| 2 | Sydney | Mount Victoria | NSW | 1031sqm | $652,000 |
| 3 | Sydney | Woodford | NSW | 1137sqm | $799,000 |
| 4 | Sydney | Bullaburra | NSW | 1480sqm | $842,500 |
| 5 | Sydney | Faulconbridge | NSW | 1037sqm | $916,000 |
| 1 | Darwin | Humpty Doo | NT | 20,100sqm | $623,500 |
| 2 | Darwin | Herbert | NT | 20,100sqm | $625,000 |
| 3 | Darwin | Acacia Hills | NT | 80,300sqm | $725,000 |
| 4 | Darwin | Berry Springs | NT | 82,400sqm | $737,500 |
| 5 | Darwin | Howard Springs | NT | 20,000sqm | $745,000 |
| 1 | Brisbane | Forest Hill | QLD | 1351sqm | $430,000 |
| 2 | Brisbane | Toogoolawah | QLD | 1012sqm | $480,000 |
| 3 | Brisbane | Lockrose | QLD | 5663sqm | $489,000 |
| 4 | Brisbane | Esk | QLD | 1334sqm | $540,000 |
| 5 | Brisbane | Coominya | QLD | 20,000sqm | $600,000 |
| 1 | Adelaide | Lobethal | SA | 1011sqm | $645,000 |
| 2 | Adelaide | Meadows | SA | 1126sqm | $710,000 |
| 3 | Adelaide | Two Wells | SA | 1000sqm | $748,725 |
| 4 | Adelaide | Lewiston | SA | 10000sqm | $785,000 |
| 5 | Adelaide | Hawthorndene | SA | 1111sqm | $860,000 |
| 1 | Hobart | Magra | TAS | 7165sqm | $510,000 |
| 2 | Hobart | Carlton | TAS | 1500sqm | $635,000 |
| 3 | Hobart | Granton | TAS | 1200sqm | $760,000 |
| 4 | Hobart | Opossum Bay | TAS | 1005sqm | $780,000 |
| 5 | Hobart | Richmond | TAS | 1000sqm | $850,000 |
| 1 | Melbourne | Warburton | VIC | 1301sqm | $640,000 |
| 2 | Melbourne | Lancefield | VIC | 1107sqm | $660,000 |
| 3 | Melbourne | Launching Place | VIC | 2008sqm | $680,000 |
| 4 | Melbourne | Yarra Junction | VIC | 1169sqm | $690,000 |
| 5 | Melbourne | East Warburton | VIC | 1541sqm | $712,500 |
| 1 | Perth | Furnissdale | WA | 2023sqm | $644,000 |
| 2 | Perth | Walliston | WA | 1786sqm | $660,000 |
| 3 | Perth | Mount Richon | WA | 1012sqm | $681,500 |
| 4 | Perth | North Yunderup | WA | 1012sqm | $720,000 |
| 5 | Perth | Chidlow | WA | 2195sqm | $737,500 |
Sydney buyers are most likely to find a 1,000 sqm property for under $1 million in the Blue Mountains—a region located more than 50km west of the CBD but still within Greater Sydney.
Sales data indicates that suburbs such as Faulconbridge, Woodford, and Bullaburra offer quarter-acre properties priced around $800,000 to $900,000.
Local real estate agent Helen Harris from Chapman Real Estate noted that the appeal of large properties in the area is largely due to their connection to nature.
“There has always been significant demand for spacious blocks. The main attraction that draws people to the mountains is the bush outlook or having the property back onto natural bushland,” she explained.
She noted that while most buyers in the area are families, affordable prices, hybrid working options, improved transport, and a village atmosphere have also attracted more young couples moving from the inner city.
“First-home buyers are coming in large numbers because they are drawn to the lifestyle,” she said.
Melbourne buyers looking for an affordable quarter-acre block might consider Yarra Junction and Warburton in the Yarra Valley, where median prices are around $600,000 to $700,000.
In Perth, the most budget-friendly properties over 1,000 sqm can be found in outer western suburbs such as Mount Richon, Walliston, and Chidlow, or in the Mandurah region, including Furnissdale and North Yunderup.
Brisbane buyers seeking the most affordable quarter-acre blocks will need to look between an hour and 90 minutes from the CBD. Sales data shows that the cheapest options are located on the outskirts of the Greater Brisbane region in areas such as Forest Hill, Esk, and Toogoolawah.
With median prices around $500,000, these areas are among the most budget-friendly places to purchase a quarter-acre block in any major capital city area.
In one capital city, buyers don’t have to travel far from the city center to find a quarter-acre block.
Canberra’s smaller geographical size and generally larger lot sizes provide more opportunities for quarter-acre blocks that are not situated on the city’s outskirts.
In the northwest, Fraser offers blocks larger than 1,000 sqm with median prices under $1 million. In the south, a typical quarter-acre property in Torrens costs around $1.05 million, while in Chapman, the median price is $1.31 million.
In Turner, a quarter-acre block is priced at just under $1.7 million due to its proximity, less than 2km from Canberra’s CBD.
Canberra real estate agent Jonny Warren noted that the city offers some of the largest blocks among all the capitals.
“However, in the newer suburbs, this is changing. There’s a high demand for larger blocks in the older suburbs,” he said.
“Growing families need big blocks for their kids to play, to host gatherings, or even to purchase a smaller home on a larger block with the intention of demolishing and rebuilding.”
Despite the potential for subdivision of larger properties, Mr. Warren indicated that quarter-acre blocks will continue to be highly sought-after by families, especially as more older homeowners downsize.
“I expect to see more of these properties coming onto the market and increased demand from growing families seeking extra space,” he added.
