Moving to Arcadia QLD 4819
What the official numbers say about living in Arcadia — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $255 a week, against a median household income of $1,008 a week.
About 62% of homes are owner-occupied and 34% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Arcadia grew 3% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (238 → 246 people).
Around 49% of households are families, averaging 1.7 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: England, Germany, Ireland; most spoken languages besides English: French, German.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Arcadia sits around the national average (decile 5 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (46% of workers), while 38% work from home.
Nearest bus interchange: Nelly Bay Ferry Terminal, 1.5 km south-west.
Nearest ferry wharf: Magentic Island Ferries - Vehicle Waiting Area, 1.5 km south-west.
Nearest airport: RAAF Base Townsville;Townsville Airport, 15.6 km south-west.
The Brisbane CBD is roughly 1118 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 1 school · 12 cafes & restaurants · 2 supermarkets · 1 park · 5 beaches — see them all on the Arcadia profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Magnetic Island State School 1.6 km
Groceries: IGA Supermarket 1.4 km · Foodworks 2 km
Parks and reserves: Nelly Bay Foreshore 2.1 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Arcadia, most often seen first: Rainbow Lorikeet · Bush Stone-curlew · Pied Currawong · Sulphur-crested Cockatoo · Masked Lapwing · Rainbow Bee-eater.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Arcadia, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arcadia here | 246 | — | 5/10 | 92% |
| Nelly Bay | 1,213 | — | 4/10 | 76% |
| Horseshoe Bay | 611 | — | 3/10 | 71% |
| Picnic Bay | 367 | — | 3/10 | 50% |
| North Ward | 5,073 | — | 7/10 | 14% |
| Rowes Bay | 541 | — | 8/10 | 13% |
| Castle Hill | 972 | — | 10/10 | 51% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Townsville — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Herbert — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 4819 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Arcadia profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $255 a week, and about 34% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 3% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 238 people to 246. It sits about 1118 km from the Brisbane CBD in a straight line. Local government is Townsville council, and the federal seat is Herbert.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Arcadia vs Horseshoe Bay · Arcadia vs Picnic Bay.
Nearby guides: Nelly Bay · Horseshoe Bay · Picnic Bay · North Ward · Rowes Bay · Castle Hill.
Keep an eye on Arcadia
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