Plenty of jobs but no housing: Could 'flat-pack' homes help save this town?

Quilpie locals say a housing shortage is limiting the town's ability to grow. (ABC Western Queensland: Jay Carstens)

Quilpie locals say a housing shortage is affecting businesses in town as the only childcare centre reopens at limited capacity due to difficulty housing staff.

A trade shortage and high freight costs mean private construction in the outback town is rare.

Local builders are assembling the first "flat-pack home" in a bid to reduce costs and boost construction.

An outback Queensland town is turning to "flat-pack" homes in the hope of solving a local housing crisis, as the high cost of building risks paralysing the community.

When the only childcare provider unexpectedly left Quilpie, a town of about 500 people, in December last year, families were left in limbo because there was nowhere for new childcare staff to live.

The centre reopened in May in a limited capacity, with residents growing frustrated by the "domino effect" of the housing shortage affecting other parts of the regional centre, 1,000 kilometres west of Brisbane.

Quilpie real estate agent Dannielle Stevenson said even with the centre reopening, places and times were limited due to the continued lack of housing.

Dannielle Stevenson says she had to stay on maternity leave for an extra six months. (ABC Western Queensland: Jay Carstens)

"They've got educators willing to relocate, but no housing for the educators. That impacts how many children they can have at the day care," Ms Stevenson said.

"It's a real domino effect. If there's no housing, you don't have any of that [essential services].

Dannielle Stevenson's children began attending child care last month after the centre reopened with a new provider. (ABC Western Queensland: Jay Carstens)

Ms Stevenson said the market had become incredibly tight in the past five years.

"For a young person, Quilpie is awesome. You can buy a house a lot cheaper than renting a room in a house in Brisbane. There are plenty of jobs out [here], there's flexibility," Ms Stevenson said.

"[But] as soon as a house comes onto the market, it's gone."

Locals blame high freight costs and a trade shortage for the lack of private builds in Quilpie. (ABC Western Queensland: Jay Carstens)

Heather and Matt Stennett first moved to Quilpie in 2023 from Brisbane, after the town's council offered a free-land scheme for new arrivals.

Heather Stennett says the extended time and cost to build her "traditional" home in Quilpie inspired her to explore flat-pack builds for clients. (ABC Western Queensland: Jay Carstens)

They experienced the barriers and hi