News Corp Australia
Updated 9 Jan 2026, 9:29am
First published 9 Jan 2026, 5:00am
A desperate shortage of worker accommodation is set to spark fierce competition among tourist operators for a tiny house on wheels on Kangaroo Island.
The 25sqm, two-bedroom home, currently at 14b Wheelton St, Kingscote, is seeking relocation to a new address and is on the market with a price guide of $124,000 to $134,000.
Selling agent Julia Smith, of Elders Kangaroo Island – Kingscote, said the tiny home had attracted more than 20 inquiries in its first 24 hours of listing, predominantly from tourist operators in urgent need of quality, affordable housing for workers during the busy summer period.
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The tiny home is currently at 14b Wheelton St, Kingscote.
It’s modern inside and out with all the features you’d expect of a regular house.
It has two bedrooms – one on each level.
“There’s a critical shortage of housing on Kangaroo Island for workers who come over here for the peak holiday season and it happens every year, unfortunately,’’ Ms Smith said.
“I’ve been absolutely knocked over with interest for this, mainly (from) tourism operators or business operators who need somewhere for their workers to live.’’
Ms Smith said there had also been interest from tourist accommodation providers looking to add to their offerings and a small number of downsizers.
She said the home had significant income potential as short term rental accommodation, with the current owner previously letting it out for about $550 for a three-night stay.
The tiny home, which is split over two levels and can sleep up to six people, comes with a full kitchen with stone benchtops, a dishwasher and full-size fridge.
There is also a full-size shower, a washing machine and a composting toilet.
A six-wheel, reinforced steel trailer with a 70mm tow ball allows the four-tonne home to be moved with a large ute.
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The kitchen has a servery window.
The bathroom looks luxurious in comparison to those in many other tiny homes.
Kangaroo Island is one of SA’s most popular tourism destinations.
As part of the sale, Ms Smith said the house would be required to be towed to a new location by mid-January.
She said council approval was needed before the new owner could use the home as accommodation.
“You can park it wherever you like if no one is staying in it but once you have started putting people in there (and using it for accommodation) then you do have to meet the council’s requirements – but anyone can park it in their shed or their backyard in the meantime,’’ she said.
“It’s immaculate. It’s triple-insulated and it’s quite affordable.
“It’s a custom build. There’s a lot of Atco-type and cheap (tiny homes) around but this is a two-bedroom, not a studio, so it does offer a few more opportunities (for buyers).’’
Kangaroo Island, which has a population of just 5000 residents, is one of South Australia’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting about 180,000 visitors each year, mostly during the summer.
Ms Smith said the vendor, who lived in a traditional bricks-and-mortar home alongside the tiny house but was seeking to move elsewhere, intended to sell the remainder of the Wheelton St property later.
– by Lauren Ahwan
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