Median house price
—
No data available
QLD · Mackay Council
West Mackay, 4740
Est. population · Jun 2025
6,588
Growth (1 yr)
-0.5%
Growth (5 yr)
+1.3%
Median age
42
Median income
$1,696/wk
Employment rate
57%
Languages at home
10.3%non-English
Most common: Tagalog, Filipino, Mandarin
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- High desirability
- National parks
- Education hub
- Café precinct
Suburb profile
West Mackay is a regional mid-sized suburb in Mackay Council, oriented around local life rather than the metro orbit of Brisbane. Regional towns and local services do more of the everyday heavy lifting than the city. The area suits established families and long-term locals, with plenty of young families in the mix.
Sport and recreation are easy to access, with local venues supporting active weekends and after-work routines. Green space punches above what many regional towns offer, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb. Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus, with buses linking the suburb to surrounding areas.
Property sits in a premium price band and is harder to enter for many buyers. Tree-lined streets and established homes set the tone, with little pressure to reinvent the neighbourhood.
Schools and education push the suburb to a good desirability read, even as safety look more ordinary among similar regional towns.
At a glance
West Mackay snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$580/wk
Population (ERP)
6,588
-0.5% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
9.9%
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
#38
among Country & regional · Established
Safety
79th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
1st
percentile in QLD
Advantage (IRSAD)
4/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
48th
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
- 55.6/100 — Good
- State standing
- Top 23% of Queensland's suburbs
- National rank
- 1488th in Australia
- State rank
- 339th in QLD
- Peer rank
- #38 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #87 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 77%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- All types (Mar 2026)
- $580
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
6,588(June 2025)
-0.5% annual · +1.3% over 5 years · 1th percentile in QLD
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- -0.5%
- 5-year growth
- +1.3%
- Change in 1 year
- -35
- Change in 5 years
- +83
- Growth rank in QLD
- 1th 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 (~6,500), extrapolated at -0.3% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 6,536
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $1,696
- Dwelling vacancy
- 9.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 267 of 2,686
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,595
- Employment rate
- 57%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 1,877 / 469 / 51 (+ 16 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)
- 448
- Against the person
- 105
- Against property
- 196
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 68
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 62 residents
- State safety percentile
- 78.6th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate, partial year)
- +5.9%
Most common offence types
- Assault590
- Drug Offences1089
- Good Order Offences716
- Other Theft (Excl. Unlawful Entry)1372
- Traffic And Related Offences534
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
- 4
- Median school ICSEA (4 schools)
- 1,003
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 48th
School list
- Mackay West State SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 980 · 38th percentile · LBOTE 23% · 770 students · Top SEA quarter 11% · 0.2 km awayView on My School →
- St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 1031 · 60th percentile · LBOTE 12% · 569 students · Top SEA quarter 14% · 0.3 km awayView on My School →
- Catherine McAuley CollegeSecondary · Catholic · ICSEA 1026 · 58th percentile · LBOTE 7% · 606 students · Top SEA quarter 14% · 1.2 km awayView on My School →
- Mackay State High SchoolSecondary · Government · ICSEA 936 · 20th percentile · LBOTE 23% · 1,254 students · Top SEA quarter 4% · 1.5 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
2 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- St. Francis Xavier Catholic KindergartenHolland Streetkindergarten
- kindergartenkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Amenities
135 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
2 restaurants · 1 cafes · 2 supermarkets · 1 pharmacies · 1 fast food · 2 places of worship · 3 playgrounds · 1 sports centres
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus
- Great for outdoor family life — 26 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
- Strong local sport and recreation — 11 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
- Walkability proxy
- 56/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.15
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 0.61
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 3.98
Food & drink(4)
- The Lagoons CafeCafe
- Ma's Pizza KitchenFast food
245 Bridge Road, West Mackay
- Pizza HutRestaurant
- Souths Suburban Bowles ClubRestaurant
Shopping(5)
- Convenience store
- Keith Hamilton Street StoreConvenience store
- ColesSupermarket
249 Bridge Road
- Nicks Super IGASupermarket
Community(5)
- St. Francis Xavier Catholic KindergartenKindergarten
48 Holland Street, West Mackay
- Catherine McAuley CollegeSchool
- Mackay West State School - Junior CampusSchool
- Mackay West State School - Senior CampusSchool
- St. Francis Xaviers Catholic SchoolSchool
Health & services(2)
- AFS FourwaysPharmacy
- Veterinary
Sport & outdoors(34)
- Lagoons ReservePark
- Mackay Bowls ClubPark
- Mackay Regional Botanic GardensPark
- Marryatt Street ParkPark
- Park (17)
- Schaefer Street ParkPark
- Streeter Avenue ReservePark
- Playground (3)
- Sports centre
- Mackay Bowls ClubSports field
- Sports field
- Swimming pool (5)
Entertainment(1)
- Theatre
Transport(5)
5 bus stops
Other(32)
- Artwork (2)
- ANZATM
- Bbq
- Bench (3)
- Bicycle Parking
- Smart Vehicle RentalsCar repair
- Premier Caravan ParkCaravan Site
- Drinking water (5)
- A1 BatteryproElectrical
7 Cemetery Road
- Fitness Station (4)
- Casa Nostra Motel MackayHotel
30 Nebo Road
- Hotel (13)
- Information
- Comfort Inn - The RoseMotel
164 Nebo Road
- Motel (4)
- Newsagent
- Mackay Base HospitalParking
- Parking (18)
- Parking Space (3)
- Caltex Nebo RoadPetrol station
- Shell FourwaysPetrol station
- Picnic Table (3)
- Iona West Uniting ChurchPlace of worship
- St. Francis Xavier's Catholic ChurchPlace of worship
- Australia PostPost Box
- Mackay West Mail CentrePost office
- Public toilets
- Shelter (2)
- Telephone
- TelstraTelephone
- Vacant
- Waste Basket (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
- Col Story Rotary ParkPark
- Lagoons ReservePark
- Mackay Bowls ClubPark
- Mackay Regional Botanic GardensPark
- Marryatt Street ParkPark
- Schaefer Street ParkPark
- Streeter Avenue ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 26
- Parks (OSM)
- 26
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
2 places of worship within ~1.5 km
- Iona West Uniting Church
- St. Francis Xavier's Catholic Church
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
- Mater Misericordiae Hospital (2.3 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- AFS FourwaysPharmacy
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)
- 234
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 35.5
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
2 heritage places
- Mackay General CemeteryState heritage place
- Sugar Research Institute & ResidenceState 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
- Dawson
- Member of Parliament
- Andrew WILLCOX (Liberal National Party of Queensland)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 117,202
- Turnout (2025)
- 88.2%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- -1.4 pp toward Coalition
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 61.8%Labor 38.2%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 4.4 km away).
Coalition 54.8%Labor 45.2%
7.1 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: -0.4 pp toward Coalition
Nearest polling places
- Mackay WestLabor 45.2% · Coalition 54.8% TPP (2025)0.3 km away
- Mackay SouthLabor 49.1% · Coalition 50.9% TPP (2025)1.4 km away
- MackayLabor 43.5% · Coalition 56.5% TPP (2025)1.5 km away
- Mackay Town BeachLabor 46.5% · Coalition 53.5% TPP (2025)3.1 km away
- GlenellaLabor 37.2% · Coalition 62.8% TPP (2025)3.7 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)
- 4/10
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.