NSW property investor takes punt on Charleville shop development

When Max Jones was looking for his next place to invest in, he passed up a coastal city for Charleville.

When property investors are scouring for the next up-and-coming place to make a buck, a small outback town with empty shops down the main street is not likely to be high on their list.

But Max Jones is not your ordinary property developer.

Seven years ago, the then-farmer took a punt on swapping sheep for real estate purchasing his first commercial property in his hometown of Condobolin in central-west New South Wales.

"It was a really good news story for the town," Mr Jones says.

"The businesses that went in … really flourished."

In January this year, he embarked on a 7,000-kilometre road trip across Queensland and New South Wales to pick the next town to invest in.

Coastal tourist meccas like Cairns were on the cards but, instead, he opted for Charleville in south-west Queensland, a town eight hours' drive from Brisbane with a population of less than 3,500.

"Some people thought we were crazy," Mr Jones says.

But he is confident his investment — purchasing an almost-empty, "beautiful", 2,800 square metre building in the centre of town — will pay off.

"Risk is a gamble, and I'm willing to bet on the people of Charleville. I really like it there."

Read the full article on ABC;
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-10-05/condoblin-man-invests-in-charleville-outback-qld-shops/100451788