Northern Rivers $300 ‘swag-in-donga’ rental slammed as deplorable

A NORTHERN Rivers property owner’s listing of a swag under a tin roof in their backyard for $300 a week and a $500 bond has gone viral.

The home near Brunswick Heads is offering a small raised wooden platform in the garden, with access to facilities shared with the owner and other campers, including an outdoor camp kitchen, shower amenities and a TV room.

Tenants would need to bring their own sleeping bags and doonas, but very little else, as there appears to be no room or storage for belongings.

The listing stated the rental is aimed at people aged 20 to 40, who are “true nature lovers” and suggests activities such as mindfulness and “walking meditation up and down steps”.

It also advised that renters should not “bring too much clutter, whether physical belongings or thoughts of the past or future. Just be present in the moment.”

In a region already hit hard by soaring rents and homelessness, the ad quickly became a lightning rod for outrage.

“Three hundred bucks a week for a swag in a donga? That’s deplorable,” one commenter wrote.

“Near Brunswick Heads?… where else would someone get away with that sort of shit? Over-priced, pretentious place full of over-sized, sensitive egos,” one said.

“A week in a backpackers can run up $450+ per week, and they’ve always been like that,” they said.

“Sadly, if national parks go ahead with their proposed camp fee increases, then this tent is cheaper than what it will cost to pitch your own tent in our national parks,” another said.

Others called it “sheer exploitation” at a time when many are struggling to find a roof over their heads.

“It’s sick that after the flood, everyone has put their prices up for rent,” one commenter said.

“No wonder we have so many homeless in the area, plus that dumb politician up the Gold Coast wanting to send the homeless from that town down our way.

“Look what people are trying to rent out? Where is people’s sense of community and charity? It’s a money-hungry, sad state of affairs.”

At the time of writing, the original post is no longer live, and the property owner has not responded to questions.

People seeking emergency shelter can call Link2Home on 1800 152 152, or for information on accommodation programs, visit socialfutures.org.au/service-category/housing-and-homelessness