2000 to now: 12 Coast suburbs which went into overdrive

The top 12 Sunshine Coast suburbs where the median house prices have grown at more than 300 per cent since 2000. How does your suburb stack up?

THEN AND NOW: Aerial photos of Kawana from the early 2000s until 2019. House prices in the Kawana area have grown considerably in the past two decades.

The year 2000 on the Sunshine Coast.

Bindi Irwin was just two years old, Robert an afterthought, Caloundra was called a city and you could snap up a home in Warana for about $140,000.

Much has changed in the 20 years since. The region is now the Sunshine Coast and home to more than 319,000 people.

Property has changed too with recent data from realestate.com.au revealing the 12 Coast suburbs which have growth rates of more than 300 per cent.

Warana and Buddina standout among the very best in the state with 429 and 403 per cent respectively.

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Ray White Kawana agent Adam Budd estimated for Buddina in 2000, about $150,000-$180,000 would get a home a couple of streets back from the water.

“You should then pay $250,000 on the water, for a modern-style property, but maybe not as grand as they are now,” Mr Budd said of Buddina.

He said it was a similar story for Warana, with his estimation of about $220,000 getting a block on Oceanic Dr back in 2000.

Mr Budd said the redevelopment of Kawana Shoppingworld and the Kawana Waters Hotel had been key components to attracting people to both suburbs.

But he said Buddina’s “beauty” stemmed from its canal and beaches.

“Both those waterways at Buddina have kept a special place in people’s hearts,” he said.

“Warana is only minutes from there too. A little bit sleepier but has such a beautiful stretch of coastline.

“You can still get up early and go for a walk along the beach and not see a soul. It’s classic coastal.”

Mr Budd said owners in the sought-after suburbs would hold onto properties or often change within the postcode to get closer to water.

Kawana Coast Realty principal Geoff Batten said beachside homes had always been of value in both Buddina, Warana and surrounds.

But on the western side of Nicklin Way, Mr Batten said you pay a lot less.

“People love being beachside, be it by a push bike or walking, they want it,” Mr Batten said.

“We listed a house at Buddina, a three-bed, one bath on a Wednesday and it was under contract on the Saturday.

“People were clambering over each other to get it.”

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Top 12 Sunshine Coast suburbs

Warana. In 2000: $140,000. 2020: $740,000 at a growth rate of 429 per cent

Buddina. In 2000: $170,000. 2020: $855,000 at a growth rate of 403 per cent

Noosa Heads. In 2000: $231,500. 2020: $1,142,500 at a growth rate of 394 per cent

Sunshine Beach. In 2000: $315,000. 2020: $1,540,000 at a growth rate of 389 per cent

Sunrise Beach. In 2000: $183,000. 2020: $890,000 at a growth rate of 386 per cent

Noosaville. In 2000: $205,000. 2020: $995,000 at a growth rate of 385 per cent

Mooloolaba. In 2000: $189,000. 2020: $905,000 at a growth rate of 379 per cent

Minyama. In 2000: $250,000. 2020: $1,187,500 at a growth rate of 375 per cent

Yaroomba. In 2000: $165,000. 2020: $775,000 at a growth rate of 370 per cent

Wurtulla. In 2000: $140,000. 2020: $649,000 at a growth rate of 364 per cent

Doonan. In 2000: $197,000. 2020: $915,000 at a growth rate of 363 per cent

Golden Beach. In 2000: $138,000. 2020: $635,000 at a growth rate of 360 per cent

*Source: realestate.com.au data from June 2000 to June 2020.

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