Reports of a possible croc sighting in one of Australia’s most exclusive enclaves have made a big splash, but the residential property market seems unfazed.<\/p>\n
Noosa is home to some of Australia\u2019s most prestige real estate – and possibly, a 3.5 metre crocodile.<\/p>\n
Reports of a croc sighting at Noosa Spit made a splash after fisherman James Graham captured a suspicious image on his boat\u2019s depth-sounder on 20 July.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour eyes tell you immediately what you see but then you try to put logic to that and you think: \u2018There\u2019s no crocs in Noosa,\u201d he told the 7 Network.<\/p>\n
Another resident claimed a similar sighting on his morning stroll.<\/p>\n
Queensland wildlife authorities investigated but found no evidence.<\/p>\n
While about 20,000 to 30,000 saltwater crocs live in Queensland, Noosa on the Sunshine Coast is well south of their usual territory.<\/p>\n
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The median house price in Noosa Heads is $2.35m according to PropTrack, though riverfront homes can fetch many times that. Picture: Getty<\/p>\n
The world’s largest living reptiles have been seen as far south as the Mary River – about an hour north of Noosa – where rangers euthanised one in June, citing safety concerns.<\/p>\n
Community Representation of Crocodiles (CROC) co-founder Amanda French says it’s \u201cnot common\u201d but \u201cnot unlikely\u201d for a croc to visit Noosa.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cCrocodiles have always been visiting South East Queensland, and there’s records being shared around today of a crocodile in the Logan River in 1905,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
She cited previous sightings near Inskip Point and in Maryborough.<\/p>\n
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This luxury home on the Noosa River sold for $16.96m in mid-July. Picture: realestate.com.au\/sold<\/p>\n
Ms French said if the Noosa sighting was indeed a croc, it could be a case of misadventure or the reptile being pushed from its territory.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey have a territory of up to 50 kilometers so it’s certainly not crazy to think a crocodile could be in Noosa,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Despite the buzz, local real estate agents aren\u2019t worried. Property prices across the Sunshine Coast have risen 83% since March 2020, said REA Group’s executive manager of economist, Angus Moore.<\/p>\n
The Sunshine Coast median is sitting at $1 million, though price growth has started to slow down.<\/p>\n
\u201cPrices are up a little over 5% in the past year, which is still solid, but slower than what we had been seeing through 2024, and much slower than what we were seeing during the pandemic,\u201d Mr Moore said.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat slowdown this year has been even more pronounced in Noosa. In the past 12 months, prices are up just 1.7% – though Noosa saw slightly stronger growth during the pandemic than the Sunshine Coast as a whole.\u201d<\/p>\n
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REA Group executive manager of economics Angus Moore.<\/p>\n
Still, Noosa real estate agent Matt Powe<\/a> of Harcourts Property Centre said talk of a possible croc isn\u2019t spooking buyers, adding\u00a0\u201cblack snakes, brown snakes and pythons\u201d are more top of mind.<\/p>\n \u201cI used to sell property in Cairns and it wasn\u2019t really an issue there – and that\u2019s living with them on a daily basis. Plenty of people would happily line up to buy property in quays and adjacent to waterways. They’re just a bit more conscious, not swimming and being a bit more careful with launching boats,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n \u201cHere, it\u2019s something probably potentially fictitious, let alone something you\u2019d see on a daily basis.\u201d<\/p>\n