Shirlz Russell has sold a DA-approved development site at 56 Nelson Street, Mackay, for $320,000 after navigating two collapsed contracts to secure an unconditional cash buyer.
Six offers, three contracts, two setbacks
Shirlz Russell has sold a DA-approved development site at 56 Nelson Street, Mackay, for $320,000 after navigating two collapsed contracts to secure an unconditional cash buyer. The 797-square-metre vacant land parcel attracted six written offers within the first week of the campaign — then fell over twice before Shirlz delivered a result her vendors were thrilled with.
“I certainly didn’t expect that it would fall over twice with such strong interest,” Shirlz said.
“What we actually needed to do was just regroup and get on with it. We reconvened without losing any leverage — not once, but twice.”
DA approval and drone photography drove early competition
Shirlz positioned the flat, rectangular block around its existing development approval for three two-bedroom units. She invested in drone photography to showcase the CBD location and ran a premium realestate.com.au listing — unusual for vacant land, but critical to the campaign’s success.
“Having DA approval already in place makes the decision comfortable for buyers,” Shirlz said.
“We saw a lot of interest early on and that produced six written offers within the first week. We went under contract very quickly.”
The first contract fell over. The second followed soon after. Lesser campaigns would have stalled. Shirlz went back to the buyers who had already made offers, relaunched to market, and received even more interest in the second phase.
Vendor confidence through calm control
With three vendors on title, Shirlz kept everyone aligned by remaining calm under pressure and providing strategic updates at every turn.
“We methodically kept them updated every step of the way,” Shirlz said
The third contract came from a local buyer planning to build on the site themselves. They knew the area well and understood the value of the location. Crucially, they offered cash and unconditional terms — eliminating the finance risk that had derailed the previous two deals.
“The vendors were delighted,” Shirlz said.
“We couldn’t have been happier to receive a cash unconditional offer.”
The forward view for Mackay development sites
Shirlz’s advice for anyone listing a development site in Mackay is clear: be realistic with pricing, offer complete transparency in negotiations, and don’t skimp on marketing.
“Don’t skimp on the photos and don’t skimp on your marketing campaign,” she said.
“We went with a full realestate.com.au listing, which for a piece of vacant land some people might balk at — but that is ultimately why we had such strong inquiry on this particular block.”
The property sold via private treaty after 39 days on market. The campaign is a case study in deal recovery — proof that the right agent doesn’t panic when contracts collapse, but regroups and delivers.
About the Agent
Shirlz Russell is a dedicated real estate professional with Area Specialist Property Hub in Mackay, known for achieving results above market value and delivering exceptional client care. A well-connected local, she combines strategic marketing, skilled negotiation, and a hands-on approach to ensure every client feels supported, informed, and confident throughout their property journey. Visit Shirlz’s website for more information or call Shirlz on 0419786414.