Suburb Profile: Sunshine Beach

Many years ago, Sunshine Beach was a sleepy outpost of Noosa with fibro shacks, fishermen and surfers. It always had a following, particularly with the Brisbane professional and business set for a cheap weekender.

Geographically bounded by the National Park to the north, the ocean to the east and the David Low Way to the west and south, land supply was always going to be a determining factor.

As recently as 1995 it was still possible to buy absolute beachfront for just over a half million dollars.

There are only 70 beachfront properties in total, which has helped these prices to treble in 10 years.

The suburb really came of age in the mid 90's. Developers, with the supply of unit sites drying up, built on Sunshine sites previously regarded as economically unviable and a new price tier was established in the Sunshine Beach holiday apartment market.

The "village" shopping centre was established and the takeaway and convenience store image lifted to destination dining and boutique shopping. Behind the shops are rows of quiet leafy streets. Again an active renovation of these basic houses on small blocks has seen a less spectacular but nevertheless strong capital growth.

Sunshine remains one of the locals most desired areas to live in, both for owners and tenants.

Median house price: $705,000 (Sunshine Beach)

All real estate pricing data is taken from Domain.com.au and is correct at May 2012. Pricing data is subject to change, so for the latest statistics please visit the site directly. These pages are updated yearly.