House relocation across Townsville and North Queensland

Townsville city suburbs

Aitkenvale, Annandale, Belgian Gardens, Cranbrook, Currajong, Douglas, Garbutt, Gulliver, Heatley, Hermit Park, Hyde Park, Idalia, Mundingburra, Mysterton, North Ward, Oonoonba, Pimlico, Railway Estate, Rosslea, South Townsville, Vincent, West End and Wulguru.

Parts of Townsville's older suburbs fall within the Character residential zone (12 precincts, from workers' cottages to grand Queenslanders) or the Cultural heritage overlay. Check your property's zoning on Council's planning scheme mapping. If the house is coming out of, or going into, one of those areas, Council planning approval may be needed on top of the building permit. Council charges an application fee for that kind of development permit.

Thuringowa and the western suburbs

Thuringowa Central, Kirwan, Condon, Rasmussen, Kelso, Bohle Plains, Burdell, Shaw, Mount Louisa, Mount Low and Deeragun. The former City of Thuringowa merged with Townsville in 2008, but the name lives on for this side of the city. Expect plenty of standard suburban blocks here. The soil test still matters, because highly reactive clay is the norm around Townsville.

Northern beaches and acreage

Bushland Beach, Jensen, Black River, Bluewater, Bluewater Park, Toolakea, Saunders Beach, Rollingstone, Balgal Beach, Toomulla and Purono Park. These are reached via the Bruce Highway north. On acreage, check access for a long trailer, and remember that coastal and elevated blocks can rate C3 or C4 for wind, which affects tie-down cost.

Western acreage: Hervey Range Road

Alice River, Rangewood and Hervey Range sit on Townsville's western and south-western edge, along the Hervey Range Developmental Road rather than the Bruce Highway. Alice River is an outer south-western suburb with that road on its northern boundary, Rangewood has it on its southern boundary, and Hervey Range is about 37 km by road west-south-west of the CBD. Hervey Range is split between two councils along the ridge line: the lower, eastern side is in the City of Townsville, while the range-top, western side is in the Charters Towers Region, so approvals there go through Charters Towers Regional Council, not Townsville. As on the northern acreage, check access for a long trailer, and expect elevated or exposed blocks to rate higher for wind (C3 or C4 in some cases), which affects tie-down cost.

Southern outskirts

Stuart, Alligator Creek, Julago (including Elliot Springs), Nome, Cluden, Woodstock, Calcium and Majors Creek. If you're buying in a newer estate, check its building covenants to see whether a relocated house is allowed before you buy one.

The Burdekin: Ayr, Home Hill and Giru

Ayr is about 88 km south of Townsville on the Bruce Highway, with Home Hill just across the Burdekin River. Burdekin Shire Council needs:

• A relocation permit to move a house from its existing site, whether it's leaving the shire or going elsewhere in it
• A development permit for building work plus plumbing and drainage approval to put a relocated house onto an allotment there
• Final building and plumbing certificates before anyone moves in

A longer trip adds transport and escort cost, as haulage beyond a standard local radius is priced per kilometre.

Charters Towers

Charters Towers is about 135 km south-west of Townsville on the Flinders Highway. A house going there still needs a building permit through a certifier (DA Form 2, plans and a soil test). Being inland, the wind classification is different from coastal Townsville, so your certifier will confirm the right rating for your block. Some Queensland councils take a security bond on relocated houses, so ask Charters Towers Regional Council or your certifier whether one applies.

Magnetic Island

Moving a house to or from Magnetic Island means a barge. Barging adds a significant cost on top of the road move. Send through the details to check barge access, dimensions and feasibility for your block.

Why the location matters

• Distance and route change the transport cost and the permits. Every route is checked against power-line heights (Ergon authorisation for anything over 4.6 m), bridges and trees.
• Wind classification changes the tie-down work.
• Soil changes the footings.
• Council changes the approvals.

Services across the whole area

All six whole-house services are available across Townsville and these surrounding North Queensland areas:

• House RelocationMoving a whole house to a new block.
• House Raising & LoweringLifting a house higher, or bringing it down.
• Restumping & Re-levellingNew stumps and level floors.
• On-site House MovesMoving a house on its own block.
• Selling Your House for RemovalRemoval instead of demolition.
• Buying a Removal HomeBuying a house to move onto your land.

Not on the list?

If your house or new block is further afield in North Queensland — such as Ingham, Bowen or further west along the Flinders Highway — send the details through to check route clearances and haulage feasibility.