A Queensland town is booming following a campaign offering potential residential blocks for just $1. Wambo Shire Council chief executive Lee Vohland said the council sold about 48 blocks of land in Jandowae, 260km west of Brisbane, during the deal that began in 2001 and finished in September this year. Mr Vohland said the town's population had risen from around 750 to 1,000 while jobs and economic activity also have increased. "It is booming ... (the $1 land campaign) has revitalised the town during a time when seasonally it hasn't been that good - this is against the trend in other rural areas," Mr Vohland said. "The campaign improved the outlook of the community and lifted its spirit ... there are about 30 to 35 new houses as well a couple of businesses and people feel proud of their places." He said the town, which had largely relied on sheep, cattle and grain industries, had been under pressure for about 15 years from falling prices and residents moving to the coast before the innovative scheme arrested the decline. "There was a fairly depressed economy and vacant houses in the town but people have moved into them too," Mr Vohland said. He said the bargain blocks - a mix of 1000sqm residential lots as well as industrial one acre blocks - had generated inquiries globally from countries including Britain and the United States. And while the dirt-cheap land came with a catch - purchasers had to move to the town within six months or the contract was void - only three contracts had defaulted, Mr Vohland said. "We will put them to auction in December and see what we get - but they won't be going for $1," he laughed. "It's hard to say how much they will be but 60km down the road in Dalby blocks are selling for between $60,000 and $75,000." He said the scheme attracted a mix of people from as far away as Adelaide as well as country areas who "could bring something to the town". "We've had to knock a lot of applicants back - in the last round we gave away six or seven blocks and we had about 30 applicants," Mr Vohland said. He said the $1 industrial blocks accommodated businesses including one that offered a national livestock identification system and employed about 20 people. Source:AAP