Australia

Entire Australian town up for sale, despite locals’ reluctance to leave

The potential sale of Licola, a community with a population of just five residents, has raised concerns about its long-term viability.

Deep within Victoria's rugged bushland is the small settlement of Licola, which has a population of just five residents.

Four people stand in a line in front of a green and yellow store with the sign Licola General Store above their heads. — Leanne O'Donnell, second from left, stands in front of her store in Licola

The town's infrastructure is minimal, comprising a few weatherboard structures, a general store, a caravan park, and a petrol station, all centered around a small main street, making it one of Australia's smallest towns.

The entire town, located approximately three hours from Melbourne, has been put up for sale, with a price tag of around $2 million, a development that has sparked concern among the close-knit local community.

As a privately owned entity by a local community club, Licola has traditionally served as a reliable stopover for travelers heading to the Alpine National Park, offering essential services such as fuel, food, and rest, in addition to its 50-year history of providing outreach programs for youth.

However, the local Lions Club branch, which has owned the town, has announced that it can no longer manage the town's operations and has discreetly listed it for sale online, as of late last year.

Concerns have been voiced by Licola's residents, neighboring communities, and Lions Clubs members statewide regarding the sale, citing a lack of adequate consultation and expressing worries about the town's future prospects.

Located on the banks of the Macalister River in Victoria's high country, Licola originated as a timber mill in the 1950s, comprising a small number of buildings to accommodate its workforce.

Following the mill's closure in 1968, the Lions Club took over the site and repurposed it as a camp for disadvantaged youth, children, and groups with special needs, providing them with a place to stay during school holidays.

In addition to the camp, the Lions Club also acquired adjacent land, which is now home to Licola's General Store and Caravan Park, a separate entity from the camp.

Leanne O'Donnell, the operator of the General Store, resides in Licola along with her child, as well as her close friend and the friend's two children, making them the town's sole full-time residents.

In an interview with the BBC, O'Donnell expresses her admiration for the location, recalling that when she initially moved there, locals would often visit her store and comment on the limited financial potential of the area, to which she would respond by questioning the assumption that her goal was to accumulate wealth.

After acquiring the business in 2022, O'Donnell entered into a lease agreement, which she understood would be renewable for a 15-year period, although she does not hold ownership of the buildings themselves.

Since the beginning, O'Donnell's vision for Licola has been to create a welcoming environment that feels like a "home away from home" for everyone who interacts with the town, resulting in her being readily accessible to virtually all residents, visitors, and even those just passing through, including truck drivers and emergency services like the Country Fire Authority.

A view of a river at sunset with green lush trees lining its banks and mountains in the background — Licola is located on the banks of the Macalister River in the Gippsland region

As the primary point of contact, O'Donnell is available to provide assistance at any time, whether it's during the day or in the middle of the night, highlighting her commitment to supporting the community.

Despite her dedication to the town and its surrounding area, O'Donnell is now facing the threat of eviction, which poses a challenge to her continued involvement with the community she has grown to care deeply about.

The prospect of Licola falling into the wrong hands is a distressing one, as it could lead to the town losing its unique character and charm, a outcome that would be deeply disappointing.

In January 2025, O'Donnell received word from the Lions Village Licola board that the town was being put up for sale, prompting her to take action to help determine its future.

According to O'Donnell, the board informed her that the village had been operating at a financial loss for approximately five to six years, at which point she offered her assistance, asking how she could contribute to addressing the issue.

The board reportedly responded by stating that without a significant injection of funds, estimated to be around a couple of million dollars, there would be limited options for resolving the town's financial difficulties.

Undeterred, O'Donnell proposed organizing fundraising events for the village, expressing her confidence that the wider community would be willing to lend its support to help preserve Licola.

According to O'Donnell, the board refused to reconsider, prompting her to ask, "Are you planning to purchase my business?"

The board's response, as recalled by O'Donnell, was that they had no intention of buying her out, but rather would take control of the business due to their ownership of the land and buildings, and that she would be required to vacate the premises. At the time, O'Donnell struggled to comprehend the situation.

Following a consultation with a legal expert, O'Donnell soon discovered that her lease agreement effectively granted the board the authority to take such action.

O'Donnell noted that, under normal circumstances, relocating a business to a different building would not pose a significant issue, but this was not the case in Licola.

The unique circumstances in Licola mean that there are no alternative locations available for businesses to relocate.

An online real estate listing was discovered by O'Donnell in December, with the town's sale price ranging from A$6m (£3m, $4.3m) to $10m.

The news of the sale has sparked widespread criticism from locals in nearby areas, who are unhappy with O'Donnell's treatment and fear that the town may lose its character or become overly commercialized.

A comment on the official Facebook page of the Licola Caravan Park & General Store expresses concern that the store's closure during peak season will have significant consequences, stating that it is a crucial resource for the community.

Another individual has pointed out that the sale of the town will have far-reaching effects on many Victorians who have been visiting Licola for years, highlighting the potential impact on the local community.

Some people have responded to the news by paying tribute to past leaders of the Licola village and camp, with one comment suggesting that these individuals would be dismayed by the current situation, implying a sense of disappointment and loss.

The Lions Village Licola Board has faced criticism from fellow Lions members in Victoria, who claim that the board has failed to follow proper procedures and consult with the wider membership base that it is meant to serve.

A petition has been launched online, calling for the store's lease to be renewed and for Leanne to be allowed to remain, and has garnered in excess of 8,000 signatures to date.

As the backlash intensified, the Lions Village Licola board revealed that its staff had become the target of threats, prompting the board to consider removing them from the town as a precautionary measure.

A yellow weatherboard house with a maroon roof surrounded by green grass, in a row of other houses, is pictured in front of a mountain, with trees and shade visible. — The Licola Wilderness Village, where the Lions Club has run camps for disadvantaged young people

In a statement provided to the BBC, a spokesperson for the board explained that the decision to sell was the result of a comprehensive review of the town's operations, which had been shared with all Lions members in Victoria.

Following the review, the board concluded that it was no longer viable for the Lions Club to retain ownership of the village, citing factors such as increasing costs and insurance premiums, the aging state of the accommodation, and a decline in the number of camp attendees.

According to the statement, the decision to sell was carefully considered and not taken lightly.

Denis Carruthers, Chairman of the board, emphasized that their primary responsibility is to safeguard the purpose of the Lions Village, which is to support underprivileged youth, rather than just maintaining the physical facility.

In an interview with the BBC, Carruthers noted that the Lions District Governors have been informed and are in agreement with the board's decision.

The board's statement explained that O'Donnell's lease was not renewed due to the need to consolidate revenue during a period of financial difficulty, and she has been notified that she must vacate the premises by January 31 of this year.

The statement outlined that the proceeds from the sale of the Licola properties, as well as future business profits, will be channeled into a new foundation, which will continue to fund camps for children across Victoria, run by professional organizations.

The future of camps in Licola is uncertain, according to Carruthers, who noted that a planned January camp was cancelled due to insufficient registration numbers.

The identity of the new owners and their intentions for the town remain unclear at this time.

Carruthers indicated that there are multiple parties expressing interest in the property, suggesting a high level of demand.

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Australian opposition leader faces pressure after key staff member quits

The departure of a high-ranking colleague has created an opportunity for a potential challenge to Sussan Ley, who holds the distinction of being the first female leader of the Liberal party.

Sussan Ley, the first female leader of the Liberal Party, is facing renewed scrutiny following the departure of Angus Taylor, her shadow defence minister, from the party's leadership team.

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Taylor's resignation is expected to pave the way for a potential challenge to Ley's leadership, with local media outlets suggesting he has been quietly working to unseat her for some time.

Ley's tenure has been marked by struggles, including a narrow victory over Taylor in a leadership contest last year, which was held in the aftermath of the party's worst-ever electoral performance.

The Liberal-National coalition, a partnership that dates back to the 1940s, has experienced significant instability under Ley's leadership, having split and reunited twice during her tenure.

On Wednesday, Taylor, a member of the party's conservative faction, announced his resignation from the leadership team, citing his commitment to continuing to serve the Liberal Party.

In a statement to reporters, Taylor expressed his disappointment with the party's inability to hold the current Labor government accountable, emphasizing the need to protect Australians' way of life and restore their standard of living.

Taylor stated that he does not believe Ley is capable of leading the party effectively, citing the need for a change in leadership.

It remains to be seen whether Taylor's allies within the shadow cabinet will follow his lead and resign from their positions.

Local media reports suggest that Taylor's supporters are planning to request a special party meeting to consider a spill motion, which would allow the party to reconsider its leadership.

If Taylor were to succeed in his bid for leadership, it would bring an end to the ongoing speculation surrounding Ley's tenure, which has been marred by uncertainty.

The coalition's most recent split, which occurred in January, was followed by a reunification just days ago, after a dispute over hate speech laws, which Ley had supported in the wake of the Bondi Beach attack in December.

At the time of the initial split, Nationals leader David Littleproud explicitly stated that his party could not continue to serve in a shadow cabinet under Ley's leadership.

Recent polling data has shown the One Nation party, which secured 6% of the national vote in the previous election, surpassing the Coalition to take second place behind Labor, while Ley's personal approval ratings remain low.

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Australian author guilty of creating child abuse material

In the author’s novel, which falls under the erotic genre, the main character is 18 years old and engages in role-playing as a young child.

A court in Australia has convicted an author of producing child sex abuse material, which was presented in the form of a romance novel featuring an age-gap relationship.

A statue of Greek Lady Justice holding scales — The erotic age-gap novel sexually objectifies children, a judge has said

During the trial in a New South Wales court, it was revealed that the novel revolves around the story of Lucy, an 18-year-old, and Arthur, a 45-year-old friend of her father, including descriptions of Arthur's desires that originated when Lucy was a minor, as well as scenes where Lucy pretends to be a young child.

Lauren Mastrosa, who works in marketing for a Christian charity, faced charges after her book generated widespread outrage on the internet, but she maintained in court that the protagonist, Lucy, is explicitly portrayed as an adult throughout the story.

Magistrate Bree Chisholm delivered a verdict on Tuesday, stating that the novel's content constitutes the sexual objectification of children, thus rejecting Mastrosa's defense.

Prior to the complaint filed with the police, Lauren Mastrosa, 34, had shared an advance copy of the novel, whose title has not been disclosed by the BBC, with 21 readers in March of the previous year, prompting a subsequent investigation into its contents.

After reviewing the book, published under the pseudonym Tori Woods, Chisholm concluded that a typical reader would likely find the content to be unquestionably objectionable.

The novel, whose cover features a pastel pink background and title spelled out in alphabet blocks reminiscent of children's toys, portrays its protagonist exhibiting immature behavior, dressing in childish attire, and communicating in a simplistic manner.

According to Chisholm, the occasional mentions of the character's age as 18 were not enough to counteract the overall impression that the character is a minor.

As reported by the Australian Associated Press, Chisholm noted that the book's descriptive language and character portrayals, which evoke the image of a young child, are used in sections where sexual activity is described.

Chisholm stated that the narrative ultimately creates a disturbing visual impression in the reader's mind, suggesting an adult male engaging in sexual activity with a minor.

Mastrosa has been convicted of three offenses: creating, possessing, and distributing child abuse material, and is scheduled to appear in court for sentencing on April 28.

Following Mastrosa's charges, BaptistCare informed the Daily Telegraph that she had been removed from her position temporarily, pending the outcome of an investigation.