A beach box no bigger than a garden shed has ignited outrage after appearing on the market in Mount Eliza, on Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula, for a staggering price.
The ‘pretty-in-pink’ box, advertised on Australian property site Domain, has an asking price of $275,000 to $300,000.
The listing quickly prompted hundreds of incredulous comments from Aussies who could scarcely believe the price tag attached to what is essentially a storage hut by the sand.
The structure, officially known as Beach Box 15 at Earimil North Beach, has no bedrooms, no bathroom, no kitchen and no plumbing, yet is being marketed as a ‘perfect summer sanctuary.’
Situated just one hour’s drive from Melbourne’s CBD, the coastal find is described online as a ‘rare opportunity’ to secure a slice of seaside exclusivity in the coveted location.
Purchased by its current owners back in 2010, when the property market looked vastly different, the beach box’s original sale price remains unknown – but locals and online commentators say it’s emblematic of just how detached Australian housing has become from reality.
‘That’s it – a perfect house for first home buyers – bring a mattress to sleep on, a shovel to dig a hole in the sand and you’re good to go,’ one person joked.
‘Who’s buying this for $300,000? Are you joking me?’ another said, laughing in disbelief.
A ‘pretty-in-pink’ beach box no bigger than a garden shed has stunned Australians after being listed in Mount Eliza on Melbourne’s Mornington Peninsula for up to $300,000
‘It’s not a property, it’s a garden shed!’ one added bluntly.
‘It’s not even air conditioned. What are you going to use this for that’s worth $300,000?’ they added.
While others pointed out how dramatically prices have ballooned over the past two decades, with one commenter noting: ‘These were $35,000-$40,000 back in the early 2000s.’
‘No bedrooms or bathrooms?’ another wrote.
‘I’d rather just park a caravan on the beach at Rosebud or Rye – that has everything we need.’
Despite the backlash, the listing description paints a far more idyllic picture, describing ‘slow, sun-drenched days by the sea’ and ‘carefree Peninsula summers’, complete with bay and city views.
The box is positioned just steps from the shoreline, offering wind protection and space to store paddleboards, kayaks, beach chairs and picnic essentials, meaning easy access for holidaymakers all year round.
For many Australians struggling to scrape together a deposit for an actual home, that caveat felt like salt in the wound.
The structure, officially known as Beach Box 15 at Earimil North Beach, has no bedrooms, no bathroom, no kitchen and no plumbing, yet is being marketed as a ‘perfect summer sanctuary’ on property site Domain
While critics have slammed the price, the listing paints a dreamy picture of ‘slow, sun-drenched days’ and ‘carefree Peninsula summers’, with the beach box positioned just metres from the water
The uproar comes as fresh data confirms that housing affordability in Australia is at its worst level on record.
According to a new Housing Affordability Report from property analytics firm Cotality, home values have surged 47.3 per cent since March 2020, pushing the median dwelling price up by $280,000 to $872,500.
Over the same period, median household incomes rose just 15 per cent, highlighting what experts describe as a ‘dire’ and widening gap between wages and property prices.
Three out of four key affordability measures – including the price-to-income ratio and the number of years required to save a deposit – have now hit record highs.
‘For first home buyers, the metrics are pretty disappointing,’ Cotality head of research Eliza Owen said.
‘There’s this real disparity between where incomes are and where property prices are that shows a kind of structural shift in who can access the market.’
The listing quickly prompted hundreds of incredulous comments from Aussies who could scarcely believe the price tag attached to what is essentially a storage hut by the sand
The backlash comes as new data shows housing affordability in Australia is at its worst on record, with home values jumping 47.3 per cent since 2020 while household incomes rose just 15 per cent
While Melbourne has offered pockets of relative relief compared to Sydney, thanks to higher investment taxes and more apartments entering the market, the beach box listing suggests affordability pressures are creeping into even the smallest corners of the property ladder.
In Melbourne, the median dwelling value is now 7.1 times the average income, compared to a multiple of 10 in Sydney, but even that ‘affordable’ label is wearing thin for many.
Since 2020, more than one million new households have formed nationwide, while just 880,000 new dwellings were completed, creating a massive supply shortfall that continues to drive prices higher.
‘There’s been this extraordinary separation between property prices and income,’ Ms Owen said.
For frustrated Australians watching a glorified shed fetch the price of a regional home, the Mount Eliza beach box has become a lightning rod for deeper anxieties about where the housing market is heading.
What was once a humble seaside convenience has now been transformed into a quarter-million-dollar status symbol, and for many, it raises an uncomfortable question about what hope is left for first-time buyers chasing the so-called Great Australian Dream.
