PROPERTY

In the past year demand for properties in and around New Norfolk has grown by about 50 per cent. “I can’t hold onto properties at the moment — it’s so expensive in the city and you can buy a house for a reasonable price here and there’s a good bus service to the city,” says local agent Faye Windsor of Derwent Real Estate. Farms are getting harder to come by as land is snapped up for cherry orchards and the dairy industry. Georgian cottages are also popular with mainlanders for their character. “People from interstate are seeking a lifestyle change here,” says Faye. “Back in the 1950s and ’60s the paper mill put money into the town for employees and we’ve retained all the sporting facilities like the rowing club and tennis club. The river is a real drawcard and tourism this summer was the biggest ever.”