The Hunter region holds rich and attractive opportunities for investors. With data and insights from our research team, find out why this region is booming.
The Hunter is Australia's largest regional economy, valued at over 65 billion per annum. One of Australia’s economic powerhouses, the Hunter is approximately two-hours drive north of Sydney. Its regional centre is Newcastle, which, together with Lake Macquarie is home to more than half of the region’s population.
The Hunter has seen consistent population growth over the last few decades and is projected to increase 1.3% per annum, which is a 27% increase from 786,000 to 1,000,000 by 2042. This would require 6,250 dwellings to be built in the region every year over the next two decades to meet demand.
Tourism is a big driver for the Hunter Valley Wine Country Region home to over 120 wineries and is world renowned for Semillon and Shiraz, with the region attracting an estimated 2.8 million visitors annually who generate over $560 million in business in the region.
Superb national parks and wildlife reserves abound, including the Barrington Tops National Park and Myall Lakes National Park. The Hunter’s waterways include the numerous pristine beaches along its coastline, Lake Macquarie, the Hunter River and the beautiful bays of Port Stephens.
The Hunter region has three of the features vital for any regional centre’s flourishing development: its own airport; its own university and a large hospital. The future of this region is exciting with several infrastructure projects planned or under way. $1 billion has been invested in the Sydney-Newcastle rail upgrade which will reduce the travel time by an hour. $763 million is planned for the energy infrastructure upgrade in NSW Hunter region, and the re-development of the John Hunter Health Precinct will be another $780 million. Then there's another $73 million for the Hunter Water upgrade.
A $1 billion infrastructure injection has been given to the Williamtown RAAF Base, along with the runway upgrade, state funded Astra Aerolab project (expected to deliver 5,500 jobs) and proposed Special Activation Precinct. Port Stephens Mayor, Ryan Palmer forecasts a strong economic future for the region on the back of the airport investment and the arrival of the F-35A.
According to SQM Research, houses have averaged 6.3% gains p.a. over the last 10 years, and as of January 2023 has increased 10.2% of the last 12 months. Local economic conditions will continue to strengthen as the city becomes the logistics hub for the region. Median house price for Hunter, excluding Newcastle, is $689,000 compared with Sydney’s median of $1,221,000.
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