Described by locals as the best kept secret in Brisbane, the seaside enclave of Deception Bay to the north of the city belies its unusual moniker.
The suburb, commonly referred to these days as simply ‘The Bay’, was given its name by colonial figure Lieutenant John Oxley in 1823, who upon seeing it for the first time mistook it as a river due to its shallowness.
The area has undergone a renewed popularity among buyers in recent years, with investors and owner-occupiers from Sydney and Melbourne making the move during the pandemic.
And Deception Bay features in the recent inaugural realestate.com.au Hot 100, nominated as an area on the rise with good future growth prospects.
“It has been a privilege to welcome all the young families and many retirees to our progressive town,” Clare Robins from Ray White Deception Bay said.
“With an average sales price of $600,000 and large home sites ranging from 400sqm to 1200sqm, I don’t know any other suburb that offers acreage properties so close to the ocean.
“Deception Bay provides without doubt the most lucrative close-to-water property investment opportunities in southeast Queensland.”
While the enclave once had the stigma of being a less than favourable place to live, Raine & Horne Burpengary/Narangba principal Gina Wells said all suburbs have their good and bad areas.
“Deception Bay, I just think it might be the name – deception,” Ms Wells said.
“It’s a sweet little coastal town where prices aren’t as high as your average coastal areas, like Redcliffe.”
Ms Robins agreed that Deception Bay is a fantastic place to live and said that had always been the case.
“When people talk about its past, it’s usually those who have never lived here making the judgements,” she said.
“If you have lived in Deception Bay you know the people are down to earth, loyal and community driven.”
In recent times, many families have been purchasing older homes and demolishing them to make way for their brand-new forever dream homes, she said.
“The Deception Bay market has experienced outstanding growth over the past two years. It has been an exciting ride to watch the growth of our town as I’ve lived here my whole life.
“First-home buyers have recently re-entered the market at full speed. There have been many buyers from surrounding suburbs and closer to the city choosing to move here for our relaxed lifestyle by the sea.”
The Moreton Bay Regional Council’s recent $2.3 million redevelopment of a leisure precinct on Joseph Crescent is breathing new life into the locale, in addition to a community hall renovation and a new skate park.
“The natural beauty of the area is the main attraction though,” Ms Robbins said.
“Whether it be hiking through Freshwater National Park or stand-up paddleboarding in Moreton Bay, there are plenty of activities for the outdoor enthusiasts.”
Craig Rohse and wife Vanessa and their children moved to Deception Bay from Sydney 4.5 years ago and opened the Zesty Lemon Café.
“I was in the army,” Mr Rohse said. “We got recommended Deception Bay by somebody I met in Hobart while I was stationed down there. She just suggested to come up here and have a look around and we did.”
Describing Deception Bay as a hidden gem, he said the area has grown and changed in the seven years he has lived there.
“What’s not to love? It’s right on the bay,” he said.
“And we just loved that it’s within driving distance to Brisbane and all the surrounding suburbs have got everything to offer that we needed.
“I think Deception Bay is slowly getting to where it should be. We saw the potential obviously earlier on. A lot of people don’t realise how beautiful it actually is.”
Article source: www.realestate.com.au