South Mackay

South Mackay has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

South Mackay's population was approximately 7,192 as of November 2025, an increase of 274 people (4.0%) since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 6,918. This change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 7,190 in June 2024 and two validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density was around 1,043 persons per square kilometer. South Mackay's growth rate of 4.0% since the census compares within 2.6 percentage points of the SA3 area (6.6%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Natural growth contributed approximately 52.2% of overall population gains during recent periods. 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 are adopted, based on 2021 data and released in 2023. These state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings from ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort. By 2041, the area's population is projected to shrink by 380 persons according to this methodology. However, specific age cohorts are expected to grow, notably the 25 to 34 age group which is projected to increase by 233 people.

Residential development activity is lower than average in South Mackay according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

South Mackay experienced limited development activity from 2016 to 2020, with an average of two approvals per year. This resulted in a total of ten dwellings over the five-year period. Such low levels are characteristic of rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity.

It should be noted that due to the small number of approvals, individual development projects can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics. During this period, South Mackay showed significantly less construction activity than the rest of Queensland. The development pattern was also well below national averages. All new constructions during this time were detached houses, reflecting the area's rural character where larger properties and space are typical.

Notably, developers constructed more detached housing than the existing pattern implied at Census (73.0%), indicating persistent strong demand for family homes amid densification trends. Given stable or declining population forecasts for South Mackay, it may experience less housing pressure in the future, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

South Mackay has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

The performance of an area can significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 8 projects that are anticipated to impact the area. Notable projects include Milton Precinct, Mackay Airport Expansion, Mackay Base Hospital Expansion, and Great Barrier Reef Arena Redevelopment. The following list details those projects expected to be 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 indicates South Mackay maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks

South Mackay has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, with manufacturing and industrial sectors prominent. Its unemployment rate is 3.9%, lower than the Rest of Qld's 4.1%.

Over the past year, employment grew by an estimated 4.1%. As of September 2025, 3,835 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.2% below the Rest of Qld's rate. Workforce participation is standard at 62.2%. Key employment sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction.

Notably, mining employs 2.3 times the regional average, while agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 0.8%, below the Rest of Qld's 4.5%. In the past year, employment increased by 4.1% alongside a labour force increase of 4.5%, raising the unemployment rate by 0.4 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. State-level data as of 25-Nov shows Queensland's employment contracted by 0.01% (losing 1,210 jobs), with a state unemployment rate of 4.2%, closely aligned with the national rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to South Mackay's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 indicates that South Mackay SA2 has an income above the national average. The median income is $54,878 and the average income stands at $68,618. This contrasts with Rest of Qld's figures where the median income is $50,780 and the average income is $64,844. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022, current estimates for South Mackay SA2 would be approximately $62,555 (median) and $78,218 (average) as of September 2025. Census 2021 income data shows that household, family and personal incomes in South Mackay rank modestly between the 34th and 47th percentiles. The data reveals that 34.1% of residents (2,452 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket, consistent with broader trends across regional levels showing 31.7% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe in South Mackay SA2, with only 84.6% of income remaining, ranking at the 35th percentile.

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

South Mackay's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consists of 73.4% houses and 26.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Qld's 85.1% houses and 14.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in South Mackay stands at 27.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.9% and rented ones at 39.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,500, below Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,733. Median weekly rent in South Mackay is $290, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $340. Nationally, South Mackay's mortgage repayments are lower at $1,500 against the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are lower at $290 against the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 62.7% of all households, including 23.1% couples with children, 24.6% couples without children, and 13.4% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 37.3%, with lone person households at 34.0% and group households comprising 3.4%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.6.

Educational outcomes in South Mackay fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 13.8%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common, at 10.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Vocational credentials are prevalent among residents aged 15+, with 42.3% holding such qualifications; advanced diplomas account for 7.7% and certificates for 34.6%. Educational participation is high, with 27.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 10.6% in primary education, 8.1% in secondary education, and 3.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Transport analysis indicates 26 active public transport stops in South Mackay, offering a mix of bus services. These stops are served by four distinct routes, collectively facilitating 222 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents located an average of 239 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 31 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately eight weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in South Mackay is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

South Mackay faces significant health challenges, with common health conditions prevalent across younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 54% (~3,862 people) have private health cover, compared to 57.0% across Rest of Qld.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 8.5% of residents) and mental health issues (also affecting 8.5%). About 66.6% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.7% in Rest of Qld. Around 18.7% (~1,343 people) are aged 65 and over, higher than the 16.2% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors present challenges broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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

South Mackay had a cultural diversity index below the average, with 85.0% of its population being citizens, 83.9% born in Australia, and 90.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in South Mackay, accounting for 59.9% of the population, compared to 56.8% across the rest of Queensland. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (27.5%), English (27.3%), and Irish (8.4%).

Notably, Filipino (4.3%) and Maltese (1.4%) populations in South Mackay were higher than regional averages of 1.5% and 2.4%, respectively, while New Zealanders made up 0.9%, slightly above the regional average of 0.7%.

South Mackay's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in South Mackay is 39 years, which is lower than the Rest of Queensland's average of 41 but close to the national average of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 25-34 are prominent at 15.8%, while those aged 45-54 are smaller at 10.7% compared to the Rest of Queensland. Between 2021 and present, the 25-34 age group has increased from 13.7% to 15.8%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group has decreased from 12.4% to 10.7%. By 2041, demographic projections show that the 25-34 age cohort is expected to increase by 166 people (15%), from 1,137 to 1,304. Conversely, both the 65-74 and 35-44 age groups are projected to decrease in numbers.