Median house price
—
No data available
QLD · Mackay Council
Walkerston, 4751
Est. population · Jun 2025
3,404
Growth (1 yr)
+0.3%
Growth (5 yr)
+4.3%
Median age
35
Median income
$2,142/wk
Employment rate
65.1%
Languages at home
1.9%non-English
Most common: Afrikaans, Australian Indigenous languages
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- High desirability
- Education hub
- National parks
- Café precinct
Suburb profile
Walkerston sits in Mackay Council as a regional mid-sized suburb that feels self-contained and a long way from big-city bustle. Regional towns and local services do more of the everyday heavy lifting than the city. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with family life visible on every street.
Weekends tend to revolve around local favourites: a café, a market run, a walk through town. Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many regional towns, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Housing is expensive relative to much of the state.
Reported crime has been rising recently. Tree-lined streets and established homes set the tone, with little pressure to reinvent the neighbourhood.
Desirability rates good overall, led by stronger community and employment, plus schools and education compared with similar regional towns.
At a glance
Walkerston snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$670/wk
Population (ERP)
3,404
+0.3% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
6.2%
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
#36
among Country & regional · Established
Safety
10th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
25th
percentile in QLD
Advantage (IRSAD)
4/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
36th
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
- 55.9/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 22% of Queensland's suburbs
- National rank
- 1457th in Australia
- State rank
- 330th in QLD
- Peer rank
- #36 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #82 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 77%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- All types (Mar 2026)
- $670
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
3,404(June 2025)
+0.3% annual · +4.3% over 5 years · 25th percentile in QLD
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +0.3%
- 5-year growth
- +4.3%
- Change in 1 year
- +9
- Change in 5 years
- +139
- Growth rank in QLD
- 25th 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 (~3,450), extrapolated at +0.1% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 3,615
- Median age
- 35
- Median household income / week
- $2,142
- Dwelling vacancy
- 6.2%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 81 of 1,304
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,733
- Employment rate
- 65.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 1,122 / 87 / 0 (+ 9 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)
- 67
- Against the person
- 11
- Against property
- 32
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 19.7
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 329 residents
- State safety percentile
- 10.1th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate, partial year)
- +20.8%
Most common offence types
- Assault8
- Traffic And Related Offences11
- Other Theft (Excl. Unlawful Entry)19
- Drug Offences12
- Unlawful Use Of Motor Vehicle7
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
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 976
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 36th
School list
- Walkerston State SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 949 · 24th percentile · LBOTE 6% · 306 students · Top SEA quarter 2% · 0.0 km awayView on My School →
- St John's Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1003 · 48th percentile · LBOTE 3% · 349 students · Top SEA quarter 5% · 0.4 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
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- kindergartenkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Amenities
40 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
2 pubs · 1 supermarkets · 1 pharmacies · 1 fast food · 1 libraries · 4 places of worship · 2 playgrounds · 4 sports centres
Local character & venue list
Local character
- A car helps for daily errands
- Great for outdoor family life — 9 parks mapped in suburb, 2 playgrounds nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 46/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.83
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 2.49
Food & drink(3)
- Walkerston SeafoodsFast food
- O'Sheas Hotel MotelPub
- The Duke of EdinburghPub
Shopping(2)
- WoolworthsSupermarket
Community(5)
- Pioneer War Memorial HallCommunity centre
- Kindergarten
- Walkerston LibraryLibrary
- St Johns Catholic Primary SchoolSchool
- Walkerston State SchoolSchool
Health & services(3)
- Walkerston GP SuperclinicMedical clinic
- Pharmacy
- Valley Vet SurgeryVeterinary
Sport & outdoors(13)
- Alsatia ParkPark
- Anzac ParkPark
- Centenary ParkPark
- Jim Pascoe ParkPark
- McLennan ParkPark
- Norman Smith ParkPark
- Park
- Playground (2)
- BMX TrackSports centre
- Luke Payne Memorial Skate ParkSports centre
- Sports centre
- Western Suburbs Rugby Leagues Club MackaySports centre
Other(11)
- Retro visionElectronics
- Parking (4)
- Walkerstone Motors & MarinePetrol station
- Seventhday Adventist ChurchPlace of worship
- St Andrews WalkerstonPlace of worship
- St Johns Catholic ChurchPlace of worship
- St Mary MagdalenePlace of worship
- Walkerston Police StationPolice
- Walkerston Post OfficePost office
- Public toilets
- Shelter (2)
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
7 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Allan Cameron ParkPark
- Alsatia ParkPark
- Anzac ParkPark
- Centenary ParkPark
- Jim Pascoe ParkPark
- McLennan ParkPark
- Norman Smith ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 9
- Parks (OSM)
- 9
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
Places of worship
4 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Seventhday Adventist Church
- St Andrews Walkerston
- St Johns Catholic Church
- St Mary Magdalene
From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 1
- Nearest hospital
- Mackay Day Surgery (10.9 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- PharmacyPharmacy
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)
- 70
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 20.6
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° / 23°
- Rainfall
- 868 mm · ~90 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 27° / 20°
- Rainfall
- 504 mm · ~63 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 23° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 121 mm · ~15 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 28° / 18°
- Rainfall
- 183 mm · ~23 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Heritage
1 heritage place
- Walkerston State Butcher's Shop (former)State heritage place
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
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
- Capricornia
- Member of Parliament
- Michelle LANDRY (Liberal National Party of Queensland)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 115,141
- Turnout (2025)
- 88.8%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +0.8 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 55.8%Labor 44.2%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 24.4 km away).
Coalition 61.5%Labor 38.5%
5.7 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +1.2 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- WalkerstonLabor 38.5% · Coalition 61.5% TPP (2025)0.2 km away
- OoraleaLabor 48.3% · Coalition 51.7% TPP (2025)8.4 km away
- Bakers CreekLabor 45.5% · Coalition 54.5% TPP (2025)10.1 km away
- MarianLabor 38.6% · Coalition 61.4% TPP (2025)11.0 km away
- ChelonaLabor 26.2% · Coalition 73.8% TPP (2025)14.2 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)
- 4/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 6/10
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
More in Mackay Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Queensland.