East Mackay
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in East Mackay reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

East Mackay's population is approximately 3,864 as of August 2025. This figure reflects a growth of 108 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 3,756. The increase is inferred from ABS estimates of 3,864 in June 2024 and an additional seven validated new addresses post-Census. The population density is around 836 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across assessed locations by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 63.8% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. These state projections lack age category splits; thus, AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023, based on 2022 data. Considering projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of Australian non-metropolitan areas is expected by 2041, with an anticipated increase of 272 persons and a total growth rate of 7.0% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees East Mackay recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

East Mackay has approved 19 new dwellings over the past five years, with an average of 3 approvals annually. This low development activity reflects its rural nature, where housing needs drive development rather than broad market demand. The small number of approvals means individual projects can significantly impact annual growth statistics.

East Mackay's development activity is much lower compared to the rest of Queensland and below national averages. Of the new building activity, 38.0% are detached dwellings and 62.0% attached dwellings, indicating a shift from the current housing mix of 73.0% houses. This change reflects reduced development site availability and shifting lifestyle demands. The area has an estimated 558 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. By 2041, East Mackay is projected to grow by 272 residents. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Looking ahead, East Mackay is expected to grow by 272 residents through to 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

East Mackay has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 34thth percentile nationally

The performance of an area is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified ten projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include Mackay Base Hospital Expansion, Mackay State Development Area, Mackay Waterfront Priority Development Area, and Great Barrier Reef Arena Redevelopment. The following list details those projects likely to have the most relevance.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

The labour market strength in East Mackay positions it well ahead of most Australian regions

East Mackay has a skilled labour force with prominent manufacturing and industrial sectors. Its unemployment rate was 1.8% in the year ending June 2025.

This rate is 2.2% lower than Rest of Qld's 3.9%. Workforce participation in East Mackay is similar to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Key industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and mining. The area specializes in mining with an employment share 2.5 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 0.7% compared to 4.5% regionally.

Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 1.7%, labour force decreased by 0.3%, and unemployment rate fell by 1.9 percentage points in East Mackay. In comparison, Rest of Qld saw employment grow by 1.8%, labour force expand by 2.0%, and unemployment rise by 0.2%. State-level data to Sep-25 shows Queensland's employment contracted by 0.23% with an unemployment rate of 4.2%, compared to the national rate of 4.5% and national employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's forecasts from May 2025 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to East Mackay's employment mix indicates potential local growth of approximately 6.3% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, although these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only and do not account for localized population projections.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that income in East Mackay is among the highest in Australia. The median assessed income is $63,689, while the average income stands at $79,635. This contrasts with Rest of Qld's figures of a median income of $50,780 and an average income of $64,844. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $71,147 (median) and $88,960 (average) as of March 2025. Census 2021 income data shows personal income ranks at the 70th percentile ($918 weekly), while household income sits at the 48th percentile. Income brackets indicate that the predominant cohort spans 32.0% of locals (1,236 people) in the $1,500 - 2,999 category, mirroring the region where 31.7% occupy this bracket. After housing, 85.7% of income remains for other expenses and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

East Mackay is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

East Mackay dwelling structure at latest Census showed 72.6% houses and 27.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro Qld's 85.1% houses and 14.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in East Mackay was at 29.1%, similar to Non-Metro Qld, with remaining dwellings either mortgaged (33.4%) or rented (37.5%). Median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,625, below Non-Metro Qld average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in East Mackay was $320, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $340. Nationally, East Mackay's median monthly mortgage repayments were lower at $1,625 versus Australia's $1,863, and rents were substantially below national figure of $375.

East Mackay features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 62.6% of all households, including 23.7% couples with children, 27.0% couples without children, and 10.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 37.4%, with lone person households at 32.6% and group households comprising 4.5%. The median household size is 2.3 people, smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.6.

East Mackay faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area has university qualification rates of 19.5%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 41.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (9.8%) and certificates (31.4%).

Educational participation is high, with 28.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 10.5% in primary, 9.7% in secondary, and 3.2% in tertiary education. Victoria Park State School serves the local educational needs within East Mackay, with an enrollment of 637 students as of 2021. The school focuses exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas.

Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

The analysis of public transportation in East Mackay indicates that there are currently fifteen active transport stops operating within the area. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with one individual route providing service to them collectively. Together, these stops facilitate 118 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of these transport services is considered good, with residents generally located approximately 223 meters from the nearest stop. On average, there are sixteen trips per day across all routes, which equates to roughly seven weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in East Mackay is lower than average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

East Mackay faces significant health challenges, with notable prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 59% of the total population (2,295 people), compared to 57.0% across Rest of Qld.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 8.2 and 7.9% of residents respectively, while 68.3% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 69.7% across Rest of Qld. The area has 18.2% of residents aged 65 and over (702 people), which is higher than the 16.2% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

East Mackay ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

East Mackay's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 84.2% of its population being citizens born in Australia who spoke English only at home. The majority religion in East Mackay was Christianity, comprising 56.2% of the population, slightly lower than the Rest of Qld's 56.8%. The top three ancestry groups were English (30.3%), Australian (24.2%), and Irish (9.9%).

Notably, Maltese were overrepresented at 1.5%, compared to the regional average of 2.4%. German and Scottish ancestry was also notable, with Germans comprising 4.7% in East Mackay, equal to the regional percentage, and Scots at 8.8%, higher than the region's 7.8%.

East Mackay hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in East Mackay is 41 years, matching Rest of Qld's average but somewhat older than Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of Qld, East Mackay has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (14.6%) but fewer residents aged 35-44 (11.0%). According to the 2021 Census, the age group 25-34 grew from 12.6% to 14.6%, while the 15-24 cohort increased from 11.7% to 13.5%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort declined from 14.3% to 12.3%, and the 85+ group dropped from 4.6% to 3.5%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in East Mackay's age structure. The 25-34 group is expected to grow by 24% (137 people), reaching 701 from 563. Conversely, the 5-14 and 55-64 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.