Austin

Austin is a municipality of 1,748 residents (2021 census) in the MRC de Memphrémagog, on the west shore of Lake Memphremagog in the Eastern Townships (Estrie). Bordered by Orford to the northeast and by Potton, home of Mount Owl’s Head, to the southwest, it is about 20 minutes from Magog, about 50 minutes from Sherbrooke and a little under 2 hours from Montreal. People come here for space, lakes and quiet.

Living in Austin

Austin is named after Nicholas Austin, a Quaker who arrived from New Hampshire in 1793; the present municipality dates from 1938. The heart of the village comes down to a few landmarks: the small church at the corner of chemin Nicholas-Austin and chemin Millington, the general store and its regional products, and the municipal park with its splash pad, opened in 2026. Magog’s hospital, with its emergency department, and Magog’s schools are about 20 minutes away.

Outdoors and nature in Austin

Lake Memphremagog borders the territory to the east, while seven lakes and two large ponds dot the back country, including Lac des Sittelles and Lac Gilbert, not to mention the Millington peat bog, a wetland of about 260 hectares. In the village, Parc Muriel-Ball-Duckworth is the starting point of a 4.7 km heritage trail, and Parc Reginald-Aubrey-Fessenden of a 2 km planetary trail leading to Saint-Benoît-du-Lac. Chemin des Pères offers views of the lake and of Mount Owl’s Head, whose ski resort is about 30 minutes away.

Culture and local flavours

The Abbaye de Saint-Benoît-du-Lac, founded in 1912, forms an enclave in the heart of Austin; among other things, visitors come for the abbey’s cheeses. Local heritage also lives on at the Austin mill complex (complexe des moulins d’Austin) and the Damase-Amédée-Dufresne round barn. At the table, Parcelles serves country meals prepared with the harvest from its own farm, and Espace Hors Champs, a market garden overlooking Mount Orford, hosts farmers’ markets and meals in season.

Real estate in Austin

Austin’s housing is mostly homes on large wooded lots, waterfront properties on Lake Memphremagog, homes around the smaller lakes such as Lac des Sittelles, and a few hobby farms. The area suits retirees, cottagers and remote workers looking for space. Value here comes from private lots, water access and views of the lake, Mount Orford or Owl’s Head.

Frequently asked questions about Austin

Where is Austin, Quebec?

Austin is on the west shore of Lake Memphremagog, in the MRC de Memphrémagog in the Eastern Townships, between Magog, Orford and Potton.

How far is Austin from Montreal?

Austin is about 130 km from downtown Montreal, a little under 2 hours via Highway 10.

Are there schools and a hospital near Austin?

Magog’s hospital, with an emergency department, is about 25 minutes from Austin, and Magog has several elementary schools as well as École secondaire de La Ruche.

What types of properties are there in Austin?

Austin mainly offers homes on large wooded lots, waterfront properties on Lake Memphremagog, homes near small lakes and a few hobby farms.

Looking for space between lake and mountains? Browse our properties for sale, request a free estimate of your Austin property or write to a broker at BEAU, the real estate team.

Photo: Cantons-de-l’Est (pseudonym of a Wikimedia Commons contributor), CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons