Chart Color Schemes
This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
Find a Recent Sale
Sales Detail
Walkerston has an estimated 3,745 residents, up from 3,615 at the 2021 Census — a change of 130 people, or 3.6%. Growth has averaged 0.8% a year over five years. That puts 270 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
Drawing on census data and address validations performed by AreaSearch, the suburb of Walkerston has an estimated population of 3,745 as of May 2026. This representing a growth of 130 people (3.6%) from the 2021 Census, where the count was 3,615 residents. The calculation builds on a population estimate of 3,708 derived from ABS ERP releases in June 2025, alongside 21 validated new addresses registered afterward. With these numbers, the local density stands at 269 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density with options for future residential expansion. Natural increase was the primary contributor to local growth, accounting for 89.0% of the population gains over the recent period.
Projections are sourced from ABS and Geoscience Australia forecasts issued in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. Where SA2 data is missing, or for periods past 2032, calculations apply Queensland State Government SA2 forecasts published in 2023 utilizing 2021 data. Because state projections lack age cohorts, AreaSearch distributes growth using weightings from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections based on 2022 data. Future growth is projected to rank slightly below the median of other regional localities in Australia, with aggregate projections pointing to an increase of 262 residents by 2041, registering a total expansion of 6.0% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Building activity is quiet in the suburb of Walkerston, averaging 3 new dwellings approved each year, amounting to 17 approvals over five years. This scale of building is typical for rural environments where residential needs are low and construction remains bound to local demand and municipal capacity. Given the low number of projects, individual developments can heavily alter local annual statistics and trends. The suburb of Walkerston has a building rate that falls well short of Rest of Qld, alongside development patterns trailing national averages. All recent construction consisted of detached houses, matching local preferences for rural plots, space, and privacy.
A ratio of 618 people for each new home approval underscores the quiet and low-volume nature of local construction. Projections show the suburb of Walkerston adding 225 residents by 2041 based on quarterly calculations by AreaSearch. Should current construction volumes persist, housing supply could fall short of demand, increasing competition among buyers and encouraging upward price trends.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Walkerston
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 3 current infrastructure and development projects inside Walkerston, worth an estimated $6 million. A further 48 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $17.2 billion. 20 are already under construction and 16 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and sports & recreation. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Infrastructure updates, planning decisions, and new developments are major drivers of local growth. AreaSearch has highlighted 3 projects that could affect the community, with major projects including Glenrowan Estate, Walkerston Service Station and Retail Development, Alsatia Park Upgrade, and Walkerston Bypass, as detailed in the list.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Walkerston Service Station and Retail Development
Approved redevelopment comprising a new service station, fast food outlet and retail tenancies on the corner of Dutton Street and Dane Street. The project requires demolition of three existing houses and the former service station and includes 30 on-site parking spaces. Following the June 2024 development approval, an Operational Works application for Stage 1 and Stage 2 civil works, roadworks, stormwater drainage and landscaping was lodged in late 2024, indicating the project is progressing toward construction, although no confirmed construction commencement has been publicly announced.
Glenrowan Estate
A community-focused residential estate in Walkerston, Queensland, offering 180 new homes. It features expansive open green spaces, a park, and a playground. The estate is designed for families, offering relaxed living close to city conveniences on a total area of 21.90 hectares.
Alsatia Park Upgrade
Major upgrades to Alsatia Park, which is now open to the community. The project included new play equipment, a youth hang-out space (with a ping pong table featuring custom local artwork), an upgraded skatepark (with an inlaid bronze memorial plaque), new public amenities (including accessible toilets), basketball facilities, picnic shelters, barbecue area, footpaths, and drainage improvements. The design incorporated extensive community feedback, notably separating the younger children's playground from the skatepark. The project was jointly funded by the Australian Government's Local Roads and Community Infrastructure Program ($700,000) and Mackay Regional Council.
Mackay Aquatic and Recreation Complex (Mackay ARC)
Completed multi-sport precinct on CQUniversity's Ooralea campus featuring a FINA-approved 50m pool, covered 25m pool, learn-to-swim pool, synthetic athletics track and multi-use spaces. The $23.9m project was co-funded by Mackay Regional Council and the Australian Government with land provided by CQUniversity.
Mackay Educational Precinct
Consolidated education hub in Mackay bringing together state education services with TAFE and university pathways. The initiative focuses on industry-aligned training and higher education in mining, agriculture and marine sciences, delivered through precinct-style collaboration between Queensland Department of Education, TAFE Queensland and CQUniversity.
Mackay Technology Park
Queensland Government led technology and industrial precinct within the Mackay State Development Area supporting biomanufacturing, renewable energy, sustainable aviation fuel and advanced manufacturing. The Mackay SDA was declared in February 2024 and its Development Scheme was approved in September 2024. Infrastructure planning to activate the precinct is underway, with opportunities centred on the Racecourse Mill and Rosella precincts.
The Gardens at Ooralea
The Gardens at Ooralea is Mackay's newest premier residential estate in the heart of Ooralea, featuring large premium blocks from 590mý to 880mý. The development includes multiple stages with a total of approximately 62 lots (Stage 1 released and Stage 2 comprising 29 residential lots). Civil and operational works are underway following development approvals.
Ooralea Local Plan
A strategic local plan prepared by Mackay Regional Council to guide urban development in the Ooralea area. Key features include a proposed mixed-use Major Centre, Specialised Centre (Homemaker Centre), interconnected walkable neighborhoods, open spaces, integration with surrounding infrastructure like Central Queensland University, and a simple, functional road network. The plan informed the Mackay Region Planning Scheme 2017.
2,105 residents of Walkerston are employed, from a labour force of 2,147. Unemployment sits at 2.0%, with participation at 73.5%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.3% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,701, about 72% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The suburb of Walkerston has a diverse workforce of blue and white collar workers, with prominent industrial and manufacturing presence, a low unemployment rate of 2.0%, and a job growth rate of 4.5% over the past year, as aggregated by AreaSearch. In March 2026, 2,105 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate of 2.0% sat below the Regional Qld level of 3.9%. Furthermore, workforce participation reached 73.5%, exceeding the Regional Qld rate of 64.3%. Census data indicates that a low 4.6% of workers worked from home, though this was during a period affected by pandemic health mandates.
Mining, health care & social assistance, and retail trade are the main sectors employing local residents. The concentration of mining jobs is notably high, standing at 4.5 times the regional average. Conversely, health care & social assistance is less common, making up 11.0% of local jobs compared to 16.1% in Regional Qld. Local employment opportunities appear scarce, as shown by comparing the count of working residents to local census jobs. AreaSearch data from ABS and SALM indicates that over the 12-month period, local employment expanded by 4.5% while the labor force expanded by 5.3%, resulting in an unemployment rate increase of 0.8 percentage points. For comparison, Regional Qld saw employment rise by 0.1% and its labor force grow by 0.3%, with a 0.1 percentage point rise in unemployment. National employment projections from May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide further context. These national forecasts, covering five and ten years, are mapped against local profiles to estimate trajectories. While national growth is projected at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, trends vary by sector. Projecting these industry trends onto local employment figures indicates local jobs could grow by 5.3% over five years and 11.9% over ten years, representing a simple weight-based projection rather than a localized population forecast.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Walkerston is $2,142 a week (about $111,000 a year), with median personal income at $929 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $63,718 a year against an average of $77,889. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
According to the latest postcode level ATO statistics released for financial year 2023, taxpaying residents in the suburb of Walkerston have a median income of $63,718 and an average income of $77,889. This is higher than the national figures, and compares to Regional Qld where the median is $53,146 and the average is $66,593. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, estimates for March 2026 reach approximately $70,956 for the median and $86,737 for the average. Census data from 2021 shows that local personal, family, and household incomes sit around the 72nd percentile nationally.
The largest group, containing 35.8% of local taxpayers (1,340 people), earns in the $1,500 - 2,999 range, mirroring regional patterns where 31.7% fall into the same bracket. After housing outlays, residents keep 87.5% of their earnings, showing solid household buying power and placing the area in the 4th decile for the SEIFA income index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Walkerston had 1,217 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 92% detached houses and 0% apartments. 46% are owned with a mortgage, 24% rented and 31% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $360 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,733 a month. Rent absorbs 16.8% of household income here and mortgage repayments 18.7%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census data reveals that houses represent 92.1% of the dwelling stock in the suburb of Walkerston, with semi-detached, apartments, or other structures representing 7.8%. In comparison, Regional Qld has 76.4% houses and 23.6% other options. Home ownership rates in the suburb of Walkerston stand at 30.8%, which is slightly lower than Regional Qld, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (45.5%) or rented (23.6%). The median mortgage repayment in the area is $1,733, higher than the Regional Qld median of $1,655. Rents average $360 weekly, compared to $345 in Regional Qld.
Nationally, local mortgage costs sit below the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are lower than the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Walkerston counted 1,217 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.7 people each. 37% are couples with children, against 31% couples without children. 18% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.9 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up 78.6% of households, consisting of couples with children at 37.2%, couples without children at 31.3%, and single parents at 9.9%. Non-family households represent the remaining 21.4%, with single-person households at 17.9% and group arrangements at 3.5%. The median household size is 2.7 residents, higher than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
9.5% of adults in Walkerston hold a university qualification, including 7.5% with a bachelor degree and 1.0% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 75% of areas nationally. A further 39.9% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 656 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 979 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Local qualifications show room for growth, with university graduates representing 9.5% of the population, well below the national rate of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees comprise 7.5% of qualifications, followed by postgraduate degrees at 1.0% and graduate diplomas at 1.0%. Vocational skills are very common, with 47.5% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas at 7.6% and certificates at 39.9%. Enrolment rates are high in the community, with 31.3% of residents engaged in formal education. Primary school students represent 12.8%, secondary school students account for 9.8%, and tertiary students comprise 3.0%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Walkerston means driving: households keep an average of 1.8 vehicles, and scheduled services reach only a handful of stops. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The suburb of Walkerston has 12 active public transport stops, utilizing bus services. These stops are served by 1 routes, which provide 20 weekly passenger trips. Access is rated as good, with residents living an average of 327 meters from their nearest stop. Because this is a residential area, most workers commute out, with private vehicles accounting for 95% of trips. Average car ownership is 1.8 per household, which is above the regional average. A low 4.6% of residents work from home according to the 2021 Census, which was held during a period affected by pandemic restrictions.
Service frequency averages 2 runs daily across the network, which equates to approximately 1 weekly runs for each transit stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
70.6% of residents in Walkerston report no long-term health condition. 3.7% need daily assistance with core activities, and 58.1% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.6 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health assessments point to lower outcomes in the suburb of Walkerston, with medical condition rates slightly elevated compared to average across younger and older cohorts, though private health insurance coverage is high at 58% of the population (~2,174 people). This is higher than the Regional Qld average of 52.5%. The most common medical conditions are asthma and mental health concerns, affecting 7.8% and 7.2% of residents respectively. Conversely, 70.6% of the population reported no chronic conditions, compared to 67.6% in Regional Qld. Health outcomes for working-age residents are typical. Residents aged 65 and over represent 15.6% of the local population (584 people), which is lower than the Regional Qld proportion of 20.4%, with national rankings aligning closely with the general public.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Walkerston is largely Australian-born, at 93.2% of residents, with 1.9% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (30.6%) and English (29.3%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity measures are low in the suburb of Walkerston, with citizens making up 87.9% of residents, 93.2% born in Australia, and 98.1% speaking only English at home. The main religious affiliation is Christianity, practiced by 60.5% of the population, compared to 52.2% across Regional Qld. The leading parent origins reported are Australian at 30.6%, English at 29.3%, and Scottish at 9.1%. Certain ancestries differ from regional trends: Maltese is overrepresented at 4.3% in the suburb of Walkerston (compared to 0.4% regionally), German stands at 5.5% (compared to 4.7%), and Maori is at 0.7% (compared to 0.8%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Walkerston is 35, younger than 76% of areas nationally. 26.5% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The median age of 35 in the suburb of Walkerston is below the regional median of 41 and the national median of 38. The 0 - 4 cohort is overrepresented locally at 8.0%, while the 75 - 84 cohort is underrepresented at 4.6%. Post-2021 Census, the 65 to 74 group grew from 7.9% to 9.2%, while the 45 to 54 group fell from 13.2% to 10.7%. Projections for 2041 suggest changes, with the 25 to 34 group growing by 14% (75 people) to reach 604 from 528. Conversely, numbers in the 55 to 64 and 15 to 24 age groups are expected to fall.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Walkerston
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 this month all 3 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 21 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (3,615 at the 2021 Census → 3,745 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL32959). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.