A Victorian couple who accidentally constructed their retirement home on the wrong parcel of land have finally relocated it to their correct block after a costly and stressful three-year ordeal, spending an estimated $500,000 in total. David and Melanie Moor purchased a five-acre block in Camperdown, south-west Victoria, for $300,000 in 2021, envisioning a peaceful retirement there.
The Costly Construction Error
After securing the necessary permits, the Moors invested heavily in developing the site. They installed a driveway and moved a relocatable house onto the land, complete with fully connected power, water, and a septic system. However, in a devastating turn of events three years later, they discovered their home was situated on the neighbouring property, not their own.
The previous landowner had subdivided the original block into two separate lots. While the Moors had purchased lot one, their construction had mistakenly taken place on lot two, which had been sold to another buyer entirely. This critical error went unnoticed by all parties involved until it was too late.
The Legal Battle and Relocation
In August 2025, the landowner issued the couple with a 14-day notice to remove their house and vacate the property, threatening that the structure might be sold if they failed to comply. Following negotiations, the deadline was extended, and by February, the Moors agreed to clear the block by May 2nd.
The house has now been physically moved approximately 100 metres from their neighbour's land onto their own correct block. Currently, the home rests precariously on empty oil drums while awaiting restumping, with the septic system and electrical wiring already excavated and removed.
The couple faces additional substantial work: they must dig up 160 stumps that previously supported their home on the neighbour's property, remove planted trees, and restore that block to its original condition.
Emotional and Financial Toll
'It was a weight lifted off our shoulders when we did see the truck transferring the house onto the correct block, but in the meantime, we've got a lot more work to do,' Ms Moor told ABC. 'We don't know what damage is inside at the moment because it did look a bit wobbly coming over on the truck. We're not game enough to go inside yet because the house isn't stable enough on the drums.'
The couple estimates the relocation process alone will cost approximately $100,000, covering moving expenses, restumping, and reconnecting essential services like electricity. When they initially built on the incorrect block, the Moors had trusted the council, contractors, real estate agent, and conveyancers to ensure all regulatory boxes were ticked and the project proceeded smoothly.
'We didn't think it was true, because the council signed off on everything, so we thought it was a scam,' Ms Moor revealed to A Current Affair.
Accountability and Warnings
A spokesman for the involved real estate agency stated they had not made any false or misleading claims, emphasising that it was the Moors' responsibility to verify which specific block they owned before commencing construction works. Remarkably, the Corangamite Shire Council had approved the Moors' building permit in April 2024.
The Moors argue the council should have identified the error during their permit document review. In August 2024, Mr Moor received a call from council staff instructing him to halt all work and seek legal advice after they realised construction was occurring on the wrong subdivided lot.
Mr Moor expressed hope that sharing their story would alert other Australians to the potential dangers of building on incorrectly identified subdivided land. The couple will now live in a caravan, possibly for up to a year, while their relocated home is made habitable again.
Despite the significant mental health toll this saga has exacted, the couple says they do not regret moving to Camperdown with their 20-year-old daughter, who has flourished within the small, supportive community.
