19-year-old builds $600,000 investment home while serving in the ADF and studying law

Olivia Shone began saving for property at 16 after discussions with her father, Luke, who bought his first home at 18. By 18 she had saved enough to buy a plot in Warragul, Victoria, and decided building a new house would be more cost-effective than purchasing an existing one. Metricon and the Crownlee estate team supported the project, and Shone managed design decisions remotely while stationed at an air force base in the Northern Territory, communicating via phone and email.

Her father made periodic site visits to assist with the construction. After three years, the $600,000 four-bedroom home was completed; Shone intends to rent it out as a stepping stone toward a larger investment portfolio. She continues to serve in the Australian Defence Force as a chef and studies law part-time, emphasizing disciplined saving and long-term planning.