ANNUAL REPORT 2014-2015
on administration of the
Foreign Ownership of Land Register Act 1988
This report is provided in accordance with Section 16( 1) of the Foreign Ownership of Land Register
Act 1988 (the Act) and covers titles registry operations for the period 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2015.
The Act provides for the disclosure of foreign ownership of land in Queensland. All foreigners, as
defined in the Act, are required to notify the Registrar of Titles of any acquisition or disposal of land
or a relevant interest in land. An interest in land is as defined in the Act and can include an interest
in freehold land (including a lot within a community titles scheme), State leasehold land and other
specific types of interests. The Act does not require the separate identification of different land
uses.
Notifications given in compliance with the requirements of the Act are maintained in the Foreign
Ownership of Land Register. Foreign ownership of land in the state is monitored to the extent of
the notifications received.
Titles registry statistics compiled from notifications of acquisition and disposal reveal that, as at
30 June 2015, foreign owned interests in land in Queensland (all land uses) totalled 5,881,300
hectares, representing just over three per cent of the state's land area (3.4%). This compares to
3.2% in 2013-2014 and 2.9% in 2012-2013.
There were 133 countries of origin recorded in the register as at 30 June 2015.
Page 1 of 8
1.
Value of annual acquisitions
2012/13
Country
Value (A$)
China
Singapore
USA
Malaysia
Japan
UAE
Others
Total
323,098,008
317,090,525
269,320,598
205,197,353
164,042,059
122,454,000
498,322,025
1,899,524,568
2013/14
2014/15
Country
China
USA
United Kingdom
Singapore
Malaysia
New Zealand
Others
Total
Value (A$)
463,056,414
361,277,469
178,912,895
157,976,713
67,739,317
58,890,111
400,032,572
1,687,885,491
Country
Value (A$)
China
Singapore
USA
Hong Kong
United Kingdom
Malaysia
Others
Total
872,519,760
421,554,777
119,697,996
111,991,864
110,506,246
68,367,946
433,816,912
2,138,455,501
Table 1 shows the six countries with the highest recorded value of annual acquisitions of land during each of the last three financial years.
2.
Total land area owned (by nationality) as at 30 June*
2013
2014
Country
Area (ha)
United Kingdom
USA
Switzerland
Netherlands
FRG
Japan
Other
Total
2,055,600
405,950
366,320
292,730
274,800
214,760
1,474,040
5,084,200
Country
United Kingdom
USA
Switzerland
Netherlands
Denmark
FRG
Other
Total
2015
Area (ha)
2,120,060
513,940
420,720
292,890
285,020
275,090
1,692,260
5,599,980
Country
United Kingdom
USA
Switzerland
Netherlands
FRG
China
Other
Total
Area (ha)
2,229,850
548,070
427,900
293,990
252,570
237,490
1,891,430
5,881,300
Table 2 shows the six countries with the highest recorded land ownership by area as at 30 June for each of the last three years.
*Approximate areas only.
3.
Total land parcels with some level of foreign ownership (by nationality) as at 30 June
2013
2014
2015
Country
Number
United Kingdom
New Zealand
Japan
USA
China
Singapore
Others
Total
5,849
2,654
2,344
2,205
1,649
1,648
11,448
27,797
Country
United Kingdom
New Zealand
Japan
USA
China
Singapore
Others
Total
Number
6,096
2,654
2,382
2,369
2,326
1,716
12,243
29,786
Country
United Kingdom
China
New Zealand
Japan
USA
Singapore
Others
Total
Table 3 shows the six countries with the highest recorded ownership of land parcels as at 30 June for each of the last three years.
Code
FRG
USA
UAE
Number
5,904
3,585
2,617
2,451
2,396
1,848
12,332
31,133
Country
Federal Republic of Germany
United States of America
United Arab Emirates
Page 2 of 8
Foreign Ownership of Land Register
(Categories ranked by top 10 local government areas)
1.
Value of annual acquisitions in 2014/15
ranked by local government area (top 10)
Local Government
Brisbane City
Gold Coast
Ipswich
Moreton Bay
Logan
Cairns
Sunshine Coast
Western Downs
Noosa
Toowoomba
2.
Value (A$)
1,023,373,040
592,217,610
78,175,508
59,402,337
43,857,811
40,378,567
38,182,912
37,803,620
31,690,890
26,258,346
*Approximate areas only
Total area foreign owned - ranked by local
government area (top 10) as at 30/6/15 *
Local Government
Area (ha)
Bulloo
Mareeba
Diamantina
Barcoo
Isaac
Cloncurry
Burke
Longreach
Central Highlands
Quilpie
806,520
571,970
535,340
521,690
360,830
311,480
295,170
284,920
270,390
194,910
3.
Total land parcels with some level of
foreign ownership - ranked by local
government area (top 10) as at 30/6/15
Local Government
Gold Coast
Brisbane City
Isaac
Cassowary Coast
Central Highlands
Moreton Bay
Cairns
Sunshine Coast
Gladstone
Bundaberg
Number
7,094
5,173
3,496
2,076
1,710
1,021
993
930
688
628
Page 3 of 8
Foreign Ownership of Land Register – Supplementary Report
Value of annual acquisitions during 2014/15
Brisbane City Council
Country
China
Singapore
Hong Kong
United Kingdom
USA
Malaysia
Brunei Darussalam
TWN
India
Others
Total
Gold Coast City Council
Value (A$)
382,975,545
337,318,050
78,347,050
52,464,525
44,196,802
29,388,430
17,500,000
11,340,940
7,827,300
62,014,398
1,023,373,040
Country
China
Singapore
Malaysia
New Zealand
TWN
Indonesia
Hong Kong
Brunei Darussalam
Korea, Republic of
Others
Total
Value (A$)
372,664,656
41,428,532
32,635,866
18,215,050
17,025,900
13,611,450
12,961,967
11,500,000
8,681,833
63,492,356
592,217,610
*Approximate areas only
Total land area owned (by nationality) as at 30 June 2015*
Brisbane City Council
Country
United Kingdom
Mexico
USA
Singapore
China
Japan
Malaysia
Canada
Netherlands
Others
Gold Coast City Council
Area (ha)
626
209
146
73
65
46
44
43
36
180
Total
1468
Country
Japan
FRG
Mexico
Malaysia
United Kingdom
New Zealand
Hong Kong
USA
China
Others
Area (ha)
665
450
450
295
217
208
207
191
184
677
Total
3544
Total land parcels with some level of foreign ownership (by nationality)
as at 30 June 2015
Brisbane City Council
Country
China
United Kingdom
Singapore
New Zealand
Hong Kong
Malaysia
USA
TWN
South Africa
Others
Total
Code
USA
TWN
Gold Coast City Council
Number
1443
477
474
334
319
273
218
145
133
1,357
Country
China
New Zealand
Singapore
Japan
United Kingdom
New Caledonia
Malaysia
South Africa
Korea, Republic of
Others
5,173
Total
Country
United States of America
Republic of China (Taiwan)
Number
1320
991
643
546
388
373
350
325
235
1,923
7,094
Code
FRG
Country
Federal Republic of Germany
Page 4 of 8
Value of annual acquisitions during 2014/15
Redland City Council
Country
China
Canada
New Zealand
Malaysia
TWN
France
Philippines
Hong Kong
United Kingdom
New Caledonia
Total
Logan City Council
Value (A$)
1,166,000
710,000
680,750
510,000
362,000
292,500
156,500
52,000
19,500
18,500
3,967,750
Country
China
South Africa
Singapore
United Kingdom
USA
Malaysia
Hong Kong
New Zealand
Korea, Republic of
Indonesia
Others
Total
Value (A$)
14,399,466
8,529,400
6,899,699
2,847,883
2,541,000
2,292,900
1,726,000
1,251,000
1,003,000
379,000
1,988,463
43,857,811
*Approximate areas only
Total land area owned (by nationality) as at 30 June 2015*
Redland City Council
Country
Singapore
United Kingdom
New Zealand
Canada
South Africa
FRG
China
Hong Kong
China
Others
Logan City Council
Area (ha)
16
8
6
4
2
2
2
1
1
7
49
Total
Country
Philippines
Japan
Bermuda
United Kingdom
TWN
Malaysia
China
USA
New Zealand
Others
Area (ha)
1444
167
66
54
38
33
29
23
17
67
Total
1938
Total land parcels with some level of foreign ownership (by nationality)
as at 30 June 2015
Redland City Council
Country
United Kingdom
New Zealand
South Africa
FRG
China
Singapore
USA
Hong Kong
Malaysia
Others
Total
Code
TWN
USA
Logan City Council
Number
81
62
20
16
16
15
12
9
8
75
314
Country
Republic of China (Taiwan)
United States of America
Country
China
Singapore
New Zealand
United Kingdom
Hong Kong
Malaysia
Japan
USA
South Africa
Others
Total
Number
127
65
65
59
35
31
27
23
20
150
602
Code
FRG
Country
Federal Republic of Germany
Page 5 of 8
Value of annual acquisitions during 2014/15
Moreton Bay Regional Council
Country
Singapore
China
Japan
USA
United Kingdom
Cayman Islands
South Africa
France
India
Sunshine Coast Regional Council
Other
Value (A$)
26,459,507
12,830,250
4,127,385
3,878,346
2,749,610
1,194,102
1,174,300
1,147,500
977,000
4,864,337
Country
United Kingdom
South Africa
USA
China
New Zealand
Japan
Cayman Islands
Canada
PNG
Others
Value (A$)
12,350,100
6,748,025
6,063,860
3,245,000
2,757,500
2,298,827
1,516,320
1,248,390
644,900
1,309,990
Total
59,402,337
Total
38,182,912
*Approximate areas only
Total land area owned (by nationality) as at 30 June 2015*
Moreton Bay Regional Council
Country
United Kingdom
USA
Singapore
Denmark
Mexico
Italy
TWN
FRG
China
Others
Area (ha)
567
488
434
423
234
30
25
22
19
82
2,324
Total
Sunshine Coast Regional Council
Country
United Kingdom
Belgium
New Zealand
USA
UAE
Denmark
Mexico
FRG
South Africa
Others
Total
Area (ha)
768
349
335
270
239
191
149
98
72
193
2,664
Total land parcels with some level of foreign ownership (by nationality)
as at 30 June 2015
Moreton Bay Regional Council
Country
New Zealand
China
United Kingdom
Canada
Singapore
USA
Japan
South Africa
Malaysia
Others
Total
Code
FRG
TWN
PNG
Number
179
149
141
119
68
52
39
35
18
221
1021
Country
Federal Republic of Germany
Republic of China (Taiwan)
Papua New Guinea
Sunshine Coast Regional Council
Country
United Kingdom
Japan
New Zealand
USA
South Africa
Canada
FRG
China
Netherlands
Others
Total
Number
210
161
157
87
46
32
21
20
17
179
930
Code
USA
UAE
Country
United States of America
United Arab Emirates
Page 6 of 8
Value of annual acquisitions during 2014/15
Ipswich City Council
Toowoomba Regional Council
Country
China
USVI
Netherlands
Canada
Singapore
New Zealand
Japan
United Kingdom
Indonesia
Others
Value (A$)
31,026,638
12,841,675
12,669,796
12,669,796
4,004,645
1,499,000
1,470,858
568,250
535,000
889,850
Country
USA
Hong Kong
Indonesia
United Kingdom
Canada
Switzerland
New Zealand
Korea, Republic of
Total
78,175,508
Total
Value (A$)
14,586,799
6,575,000
2,194,047
875,000
750,000
750,000
470,000
57,500
26,258,346
*Approximate areas only
Total land area owned (by nationality) as at 30 June 2015*
Ipswich City Council
Country
USA
France
Malaysia
China
Canada
FRG
Mexico
Netherlands
Japan
Others
Toowoomba Regional Council
Area (ha)
258
141
119
111
50
47
43
40
21
61
891
Total
Country
Japan
FRG
USA
Malta
United Kingdom
Malaysia
Indonesia
Hong Kong
China
Others
Total
Area (ha)
7,929
5,320
4,256
4,136
2,999
2,318
1,075
773
370
509
29,685
Total land parcels with some level of foreign ownership (by nationality)
as at 30 June 2015
Ipswich City Council
Country
Japan
China
New Zealand
Malaysia
United Kingdom
South Africa
USA
Singapore
Canada
Others
Total
Code
USA
FRG
Toowoomba Regional Council
Number
143
130
79
54
36
27
26
19
12
94
620
Country
United States of America
Federal Republic of Germany
Country
United Kingdom
Malaysia
Malta
USA
Japan
FRG
Netherlands
Indonesia
New Zealand
Others
Total
Number
85
77
68
67
47
38
23
13
13
91
522
Code
PNG
USVI
Country
Papua New Guinea
United States Virgin Islands
Page 7 of 8
Value of annual acquisitions during 2014/15
Townsville City Council
Country
United Kingdom
New Zealand
Korea, Republic of
USA
Singapore
Norway
China
South Africa
PNG
Others
Total
Cairns Regional Council
Value (A$)
Country
Value (A$)
1,098,500
884,000
873,039
825,000
761,103
700,000
470,000
405,000
369,000
422,200
PNG
China
Israel
United Kingdom
Sri Lanka
India
New Zealand
United Arab Emirates
Germany
Others
18,056,002
9,293,000
7,261,065
2,735,500
755,000
700,000
437,000
435,000
239,000
467,000
6,807,842
Total
40,378,567
*Approximate areas only
Total land area owned (by nationality) as at 30 June 2015*
Townsville City Council
Country
USA
United Kingdom
Mexico
Korea, Republic of
Cyprus
New Zealand
Thailand
Netherlands
India
Cairns Regional Council
Area (ha)
878
447
213
134
52
26
15
12
2
Others
11
Total
1,790
Country
Area (ha)
Thailand
Japan
Hong Kong
China
Switzerland
USA
United Kingdom
PNG
Singapore
Others
168
161
154
120
35
20
19
11
11
35
Total
734
Total land parcels with some level of foreign ownership (by nationality)
as at 30 June 2015
Townsville City Council
Country
Thailand
United Kingdom
New Zealand
Cyprus
South Africa
Canada
Netherlands
Singapore
Ireland
Others
Total
Code
FRG
USA
Cairns Regional Council
Number
55
52
43
15
14
13
11
10
9
105
327
Country
Federal Republic of Germany
United States of America
Country
PNG
United Kingdom
Japan
New Zealand
USA
Singapore
Hong Kong
China
South Africa
Others
Total
Number
218
173
121
65
50
50
36
31
30
219
993
Code
PNG
Country
Papua New Guinea
Page 8 of 8