Ooralea - Bakers Creek

Ooralea - Bakers Creek lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Ooralea - Bakers Creek's population is around 6,692 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 751 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,941 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,514 in June 2024 and an additional 166 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 137 persons per square kilometer. Ooralea - Bakers Creek's growth of 12.6% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area (7.1%) and the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 59.4% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. These state projections do not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings from ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023) are applied for each age cohort. Demographic trends forecast a significant population increase in the top quartile of Australian non-metropolitan areas, with the area expected to expand by 2,129 persons to 2041 based on latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 29.1% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Ooralea - Bakers Creek among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Ooralea - Bakers Creek has recorded approximately 39 residential property approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 197 homes. As of FY26, 12 approvals have been granted. On average, around 4.6 people moved to the area each year for every dwelling built between FY21 and FY25, indicating high demand exceeding new supply. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $280,000, below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options.

This financial year has seen $83.3 million in commercial approvals, reflecting strong commercial development momentum. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Ooralea - Bakers Creek shows 81.0% higher new home approvals per capita. Recent development has consisted entirely of detached dwellings, preserving the area's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. As of now, there are an estimated 419 people in the area for each dwelling approval.

By 2041, Ooralea - Bakers Creek is projected to add 1,951 residents, with building activity keeping pace with growth projections despite potential increased buyer competition as the population grows.

Ooralea - Bakers Creek has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 22 projects likely to affect the area. Notable ones include Mackay Technology Park, The Gardens at Ooralea, Ooralea Local Plan, and Mackay Aquatic and Recreation Complex (Mackay ARC), with the following list detailing those most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Ooralea - Bakers Creek performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

Ooralea-Bakers Creek has a skilled workforce with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors. The unemployment rate was 2.0% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 4.1% over the past year. In this period, 3787 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 2.1% lower than Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation in Ooralea-Bakers Creek was 72.8%, higher than Rest of Qld's 65.7%. According to Census responses, only 3.6% of residents worked from home as of September 2025. Key industries for employment among residents are health care and social assistance, mining, and retail trade. The area has a strong specialization in mining, with an employment share 3.7 times the regional level.

In contrast, agriculture, forestry, and fishing employed only 1.3% of local workers, lower than Rest of Qld's 4.5%. As at the Census, there were 2.0 workers for every resident, indicating that Ooralea-Bakers Creek functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 4.1% while the labour force grew by 4.7%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.6 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of Qld where employment rose by 1.7%, the labour force grew by 2.1%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Ooralea-Bakers Creek's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.8% over five years and 12.6% over ten years.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

The Ooralea-Bakers Creek SA2's median income among taxpayers is $68,877 and average income stands at $85,185 in financial year 2023. This compares to Rest of Qld's figures of $53,146 and $66,593 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $75,703 (median) and $93,627 (average). According to census data, household, family and personal incomes in Ooralea-Bakers Creek cluster around the 74th percentile nationally. In this area, 37.0% of individuals fall within the $1,500-$2,999 income range, mirroring the region where 31.7% occupy this bracket. A substantial proportion of high earners (30.3%) indicates strong economic capacity throughout Ooralea-Bakers Creek. Housing accounts for 13.6% of income and residents rank within the 78th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Ooralea - Bakers Creek is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

The dwelling structure in Ooralea - Bakers Creek, as per the latest Census, consisted of 90.9% houses and 9.1% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Non-Metro Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. The home ownership level in Ooralea - Bakers Creek was 29.7%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (43.8%) or rented (26.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,820, which is higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $410, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Ooralea - Bakers Creek's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Ooralea - Bakers Creek has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 75.7% of all households, including 36.2% couples with children, 28.2% couples without children, and 9.9% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 24.3%, with lone person households at 20.7% and group households comprising 3.6%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Ooralea - Bakers Creek faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 17.2%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 13.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.4%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational credentials are held by 42.3% of residents aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 7.5% and certificates at 34.8%. Educational participation is high, with 32.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 12.4% in primary, 8.2% in secondary, and 5.4% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 32.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.4% in primary education, 8.2% in secondary education, and 5.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Ooralea - Bakers Creek has 11 active public transport stops. These are bus stops serviced by two routes offering a total of 155 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is moderate with residents located an average of 526 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward, primarily using cars at a rate of 93%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.8 per dwelling, higher than the regional average. Only 3.6% of residents work from home (as of 2021 Census data).

Service frequency averages 22 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 14 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Ooralea - Bakers Creek is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Ooralea-Bakers Creek faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were found to be somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover was exceptionally high at approximately 62% of the total population, which consists of 4,122 people.

This compares to 52.5% in the rest of Queensland and 55.7% nationally. The most common medical conditions were asthma and mental health issues, impacting 6.8% and 6.8% of residents respectively. A total of 72.9% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in the rest of Queensland. The under-65 population demonstrates better than average health outcomes. The area has 14.9% of residents aged 65 and over, which consists of 995 people, lower than the 20.4% in the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

Ooralea - Bakers Creek ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Ooralea-Bakers Creek had a cultural diversity below average, with 86.0% of its population being citizens, 84.3% born in Australia, and 88.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 60.3%, compared to 52.2% across Rest of Qld. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (29.7%), English (26.3%), and Irish (7.3%).

Notably, Maltese were overrepresented at 3.1% (vs regional 0.4%), Filipino at 3.8% (vs 0.9%), and Maori at 0.7% (vs 0.8%).

Ooralea - Bakers Creek's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age of Ooralea - Bakers Creek is 36, which is lower than the Rest of Qld figure of 41 and Australia's median age of 38. The 25-34 age group makes up 15.6% of the local population, compared to the Rest of Qld average, while the 65-74 cohort represents only 8.1%. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 12.2% to 13.3%, while the 5-14 group has decreased from 13.4% to 11.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in Ooralea - Bakers Creek's age profile. The 25-34 cohort is projected to expand by 402 people (39%), growing from 1,041 to 1,444. Meanwhile, the 5-14 cohort is expected to grow by a modest 7%, adding 52 people.