AN OPPORTUNITY has arisen for prime minister Julia Gillard to double the size of her humble Altona estate – or at least get an idea of how prices in the area are faring.

A home in Delmont Avenue, and adjacent to Ms Gillard’s back fence, has been listed for sale asking between $550,000 and $600,000.

The South Australia raised Gillard paid $140,000 for her Altona home (pictured, right) in 1998 – the year she was elected to represent residents in the safe ALP seat of Lalor where Altona sits.

Ms Gillard's property portfolio also includes a flat in the Canberra suburb of Kingston, which was her ACT base before moving to The Lodge last September.

VIKING Transport has paid $12 million for a 10-hectare industrial facility in Melbourne’s west.

The purchase, of 441 – 459 Kororoit Creek Road will be the fourth owner-occupied site in the area for the transport and logistics group.

Knight Frank selling agents Matt Crofts and Andrew Macqueen said that with industrial vacancy rates levelling at about 4 per cent during the economic downturn, demand from both tenants and investors has been strong.