Median house price
—
No data available
QLD · Townsville Council
Garbutt, 4814
Est. population · Jun 2025
2,452
Growth (1 yr)
+0.4%
Growth (5 yr)
+4.1%
Median age
42
Median income
$1,082/wk
Employment rate
46.6%
Languages at home
10.3%non-English
Most common: Tagalog, Australian Indigenous languages, Italian
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- National parks
- Green suburb
- Education hub
- Café precinct
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Garbutt sits in Townsville Council as a regional smaller community that feels self-contained and a long way from big-city bustle. Neighbouring centres cover more of the weekly rhythm than the distant capital does. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with plenty of young families in the mix.
Weekends tend to revolve around local favourites: a café, a market run, a walk through town. Pocket parks and green corners give residents room to get outside without leaving the neighbourhood. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here, with buses covering longer trips across the wider area.
Housing is more affordable than in many parts of the state. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.
Versus similar regional towns, the suburb reads below average on desirability, chiefly because schools and education trail behind.
At a glance
Garbutt snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$525/wk
Population (ERP)
2,452
+0.4% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
13.5%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#139
among Country & regional · Established
Safety
93rd
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
26th
percentile in QLD
Advantage (IRSAD)
1/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
2nd
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 35.4/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 4608th in Australia
- State rank
- 983rd in QLD
- Peer rank
- #139 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #520 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 71%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- All types (Mar 2026)
- $525
Median weekly rent from Queensland RTA rental bond data. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- RTA bond statistics — Residential Tenancies Authority (Queensland) · Mar 2026 · Updated · Quarterly releases
Population
Estimated resident population
2,452(June 2025)
+0.4% annual · +4.1% over 5 years · 26th percentile in QLD
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.4%
- 5-year growth
- +4.1%
- Change in 1 year
- +10
- Change in 5 years
- +96
- Growth rank in QLD
- 26th percentile
ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.
Methodology
Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.
The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~2,400), extrapolated at -0.5% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 2,309
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $1,082
- Dwelling vacancy
- 13.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 155 of 1,145
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,300
- Employment rate
- 46.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 652 / 315 / 8 (+ 5 other)
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences are running lower than the same point last year.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2026 to Aug 2026)
- 280
- Against the person
- 60
- Against property
- 146
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 114.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 38 residents
- State safety percentile
- 92.5th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate, partial year)
- +10.2%
Most common offence types
- Assault594
- Drug Offences933
- Good Order Offences494
- Other Theft (Excl. Unlawful Entry)1566
- Unlawful Entry569
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- QPS Online Crime Map — Queensland Police Service · Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 → Jan 2026 to Aug 2026; Jan 2026 to Aug 2026 · Updated · Calendar-year aggregates
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 775
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 2th
School list
- Garbutt State SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 775 · 2th percentile · LBOTE 31% · 78 students · Top SEA quarter 1% · 1.0 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Amenities
84 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
3 restaurants · 1 cafes · 1 pharmacies · 2 sports centres · 3 swimming pools · 2 petrol stations
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Limited walkable amenities nearby
- Great for outdoor family life — 6 parks mapped in suburb
- Walkability proxy
- 25/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.43
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 1.73
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 2.6
Food & drink(4)
- AAFCANS CanteenCafe
- RAAF Townsville Airmen's MessRestaurant
- RAAF Townsville Officer's MessRestaurant
- RAAF Townsville Sergent's MessRestaurant
Shopping(1)
No named venues listed.
Community(1)
- Garbutt State SchoolSchool
Health & services(1)
- Chemist WarehousePharmacy
Sport & outdoors(10)
- Strand Fitness CentralGym
- Park (2)
- Spilsbury ParkPark
- Pitstop KartingSports centre
- RAAF Townsville GymnasiumSports centre
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (3)
Entertainment(1)
- RAAF Townsville Aviation Heritage CentreMuseum
Transport(1)
1 bus stops
Other(32)
- Defence BankBank
- easyauto123Car
52 Duckworth Street
- Isuzu Trucks TownsvilleCar
36 Duckworth Street
- Townsville JeepCar
- Opposite LockCar Parts
- 1300 Meteor RentalsCar Rental
329 Ingham Road
- EnterpriseCar Rental
Coral Sea Drive, Garbutt
- ThriftyCar Rental
- CaravanmartCaravan
- Fire station
- Townsville Airport Fire StationFire station
- Garden (8)
- Rising Sun FPVHobby
- Dragonfly MotelMotel
- Air ForceParking
- Long Term ParkingParking
- MEOMSParking
- Parking (20)
- Service Vehicles OnlyParking
- Short Term ParkingParking
- Staff Car ParkParking
- Tanker Parking OnlyParking
- Parking Space (6)
- CaltexPetrol station
- Coles ExpressPetrol station
- Picnic Table
- Qantas FreightPost Depot
- Return ItRecycling
Unit 3 38-41 Mackley Street
- Shelter (4)
- UberShelter
- Taxi
- TradelinkYes
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
4 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Magpies ParkPark
- Melrose ParkPark
- Mundy Creek Landcare Site CDTLINature reserve
- Spilsbury ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 6
- Parks (OSM)
- 6
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 2
- Nearest hospital
- Mater Women's & Children's Hospital (4.0 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- Cate's Chemist GarbuttIngham RoadPharmacy
- Queensland X-Ray GarbuttDoctor
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 93
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 37.9
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 30° / 24°
- Rainfall
- 680 mm · ~85 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 28° / 21°
- Rainfall
- 277 mm · ~35 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 16°
- Rainfall
- 56 mm · ~7 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 27° / 20°
- Rainfall
- 125 mm · ~16 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Queensland Bushfire Prone Area mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Herbert
- Member of Parliament
- Phillip THOMPSON (Liberal National Party of Queensland)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 121,280
- Turnout (2025)
- 85.5%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- -1.6 pp toward Coalition
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 63.4%Labor 36.6%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 4.3 km away).
Coalition 58.1%Labor 41.9%
5.3 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -2.6 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- GarbuttLabor 40.6% · Coalition 59.4% TPP (2025)0.9 km away
- Belgian GardensLabor 44.1% · Coalition 55.9% TPP (2025)2.5 km away
- CutheringaLabor 47.5% · Coalition 52.5% TPP (2025)2.5 km away
- CurrajongLabor 42.0% · Coalition 58.0% TPP (2025)2.8 km away
- Mount LouisaLabor 36.1% · Coalition 63.9% TPP (2025)3.6 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
Compare with
Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.
More in Townsville Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Queensland.