Victorian Couple Moves Dream Home 100 Meters to Right Block

Most homeowners worry about paint colors or landscaping, but David and Melanie Moor watched their entire house get cut in half and loaded onto a truck. Their reaction? Pure relief.

The couple from Camperdown in southwest Victoria just moved their four-bedroom retirement home 100 meters sideways after discovering it had been built on the wrong block of land. The mistake happened in 2021 when a real estate agent showed them a property in a subdivision, but the house ended up on their neighbor's land instead of their own.

For two years, the Moors tried to resolve the situation peacefully. They explored swapping the land parcels, but the neighbor said the properties weren't equal in value. In August 2025, things got serious when the landowner gave them 14 days to move the house or face having it sold.

One contractor told them the house couldn't survive a move, but the Moors didn't give up. They found another house mover willing to take on the challenge and got it done just before Easter, meeting their May 2 deadline.

The relocation alone will cost the couple around $100,000 for moving, restumping, and reconnecting utilities. That's on top of the $500,000 they'd already invested in building their dream home. The house now sits on empty oil drums waiting for permanent foundations, and the Moors haven't dared go inside yet to check for damage.

"We don't know what damage is inside at the moment because it did look a bit wobbly coming over on the truck," Melanie said. They expect to re-plaster the interior walls at minimum.

The Bright Side

Despite the financial hit and mental stress, the Moors refuse to let this setback defeat them. They've bought a 20-foot caravan where they'll live with their 20-year-old daughter for the next year while making repairs.

David wants others to learn from their experience. "Don't just rely on the professionals, do your own homework," he advised anyone buying property. It's a hard-won lesson that could save others from similar heartbreak.

The family has no regrets about choosing Camperdown as their home. They watched their daughter thrive at the local high school and find work after graduation. "It is a good town, there are good people here," Melanie said.

The couple still needs to dig up 160 stumps from the neighbor's property, remove trees they planted, and restore the land to its original condition, but they're stubborn enough to see it through.