Cashmere is a leafy, semi-rural suburb nestled in the Moreton Bay region of South East Queensland — a popular choice for families seeking space, greenery, and a relaxed lifestyle within commuting distance of Brisbane. For owners of larger free standing homes in the area, understanding what you should be paying for home and contents insurance is just as important as finding the right cover. This article breaks down a real insurance quote for a five-bedroom, three-bathroom home in Cashmere, and puts the numbers in context so you can make an informed decision.
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Is This Quote Fair?
The annual premium for this property comes in at $5,319 per year (or $510 per month), covering both building and contents with a $1,000 excess on each. CoverClub's pricing engine has rated this quote as Fair — Around Average, and the data backs that up.
When you look at the suburb-level statistics for Cashmere (QLD 4500), the average premium across 36 quotes sits at $4,546 per year, with a median of $3,423. At $5,319, this quote lands above both the average and the median — but it's well within the upper half of the market. The 75th percentile for the suburb is $6,819, meaning roughly one in four Cashmere homeowners are paying more than this quote. That's a meaningful anchor point: you're not in bargain territory, but you're also nowhere near the top of the range.
Given the size and features of this property — 315 square metres, a granny flat, solar panels, ducted climate control, and a pole foundation — a premium above the suburb median is entirely expected. Larger, more complex homes simply cost more to insure, and the sum insured of $1,418,000 for the building reflects the substantial replacement cost of a home of this scale.
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How Cashmere Compares
Putting this quote into a broader context reveals just how varied home insurance pricing can be across Queensland and the country.
| Benchmark | Premium |
|---|---|
| This quote | $5,319/yr |
| Cashmere suburb average | $4,546/yr |
| Cashmere suburb median | $3,423/yr |
| Moreton Bay LGA average | $3,435/yr |
| QLD state average | $9,129/yr |
| QLD state median | $3,903/yr |
| National average | $5,347/yr |
| National median | $2,764/yr |
The Queensland state average of $9,129 per year is strikingly high — a figure heavily influenced by cyclone-prone regions in North Queensland, where premiums can be eye-watering. Cashmere is not in a cyclone risk area, which is a significant advantage and one reason local premiums are far more moderate than the state average might suggest.
Compared to the national average of $5,347 per year, this quote is essentially on par — just $28 below. For a large home with a granny flat and a building sum insured of over $1.4 million, sitting at the national average is a reasonable outcome. The Moreton Bay LGA average of $3,435 is notably lower, but that figure likely reflects a broader mix of smaller and simpler properties across the region.
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Property Features That Affect Your Premium
Several characteristics of this property have a direct bearing on what insurers charge. Understanding them helps you see why the premium lands where it does.
Weatherboard timber walls are one of the most significant rating factors. Timber is more susceptible to fire and moisture damage than brick veneer or full brick construction, and most insurers price accordingly. Homeowners with weatherboard properties should ensure their sum insured accounts for the full cost of demolition, removal, and rebuilding — which can be higher per square metre than for brick homes.
Pole (stump) foundations are common in Queensland, particularly for homes built on sloping blocks or in areas with reactive soils. While they offer excellent ventilation and are well-suited to the local climate, they can be more expensive to repair or replace if damaged, and some insurers treat them as a higher-risk foundation type.
The granny flat adds meaningful value to the property and increases the overall replacement cost — which is reflected in the $1,418,000 building sum insured. If the granny flat is rented out, it's worth confirming with your insurer whether rental income or tenant liability is included in your policy, as some standard policies may not cover these automatically.
Solar panels are increasingly common across Queensland, but they're not always adequately covered under standard home insurance. Most policies cover panels as a fixture of the building, but it's worth checking whether yours includes cover for accidental damage, storm damage, and the cost of temporary power if the system is offline during repairs.
Ducted climate control is another high-value fixture that adds to the replacement cost and can be expensive to repair. Confirm that your policy covers the full ducted system, including the compressor unit and all internal vents.
The Colorbond steel roof is actually a positive from an insurance perspective. Steel roofing is durable, resistant to ember attack, and generally well-regarded by insurers compared to older tile or asbestos roofing materials.
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Tips for Homeowners in Cashmere
1. Review your building sum insured carefully. With a replacement value of $1,418,000, it's essential this figure is accurate. Underinsurance is one of the most common — and costly — mistakes homeowners make. Use a building cost calculator or engage a quantity surveyor to verify your sum insured reflects current construction costs, especially given the granny flat and the size of the home.
2. Ask about timber and pole-home discounts or endorsements. Some insurers offer specific policy options for Queenslander-style or pole-frame homes. Shopping around and being upfront about your construction type can sometimes unlock better pricing or more appropriate cover terms.
3. Confirm solar panel and granny flat cover in writing. Don't assume — ask your insurer explicitly what is and isn't covered for your solar system and the secondary dwelling. Get the details in writing so there are no surprises at claim time.
4. Compare quotes annually. Insurance pricing shifts year to year as insurers update their risk models. A quote that was competitive 12 months ago may no longer be the best available. Setting a reminder to compare before your renewal date is one of the simplest ways to avoid paying more than you need to.
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Ready to Compare?
Whether you're renewing soon or just want to see what else is out there, CoverClub makes it easy to compare home and contents insurance quotes for properties across Cashmere and the broader Moreton Bay region. Get a quote today and see how your current premium stacks up — you might be surprised by what's available.