I
n the tiny farming town of Ultima, four hours north-west of Melbourne, life is simple. The main attractions are a historic pub, a general store, and a massive grain silo next to an old train line. When Suellen Tomamichel moved there in 1981 with her new husband, she was shocked by the stark contrast to city life. However, after settling in, she discovered the beauty of the flat farmland and its people.

    Tomamichel joined the local progress association and devised a plan to boost the town's population by selling abandoned plots of land for just $1. The goal was to increase the population from 127 to at least 161 within two years. The plan required buyers to start building on the land within 12 months, with no intention of reselling.

    The idea was inspired by similar initiatives in Italy and Europe, where towns sold homes for a song to reverse declining populations. Eleven out of 12 available blocks were snapped up, attracting both locals returning home and newcomers from as far away as Kalgoorlie. However, the results fell short of expectations.

    In hindsight, Tomamichel regrets her decision, stating that it changed the town's socio-economic status and feel irreparably. Local farmers continued to leave, and only a few houses were built on the sold land. The population plateaued, and by 2021, it had reached just 176 residents. The primary school closed due to dwindling student numbers.

    Experts agree that offering cheap land is not enough to attract people to a town. Adrian Lee from Deakin University emphasizes the need for work opportunities or enticing aspects for retirees. Piyush Tiwari suggests that out-of-the-box thinking, like Ultima's real estate sale, could be applied to address Australia's housing crisis.