Moving to East Mackay QLD 4740
What the official numbers say about living in East Mackay — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $320 a week, against a median household income of $1,718 a week.
About 61% of homes are owner-occupied and 38% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
East Mackay grew 2% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (3,636 → 3,725 people).
Around 63% of households are families, averaging 2.3 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: New Zealand, Philippines, England; most spoken languages besides English: Tagalog, Filipino, Mandarin.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), East Mackay sits around the national average (decile 4 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (91% of workers), while 5% work from home.
Nearest train station: Mackay, 4.3 km south-west.
Nearest railway halt: Mackay Miniature Railway, 5.3 km west.
Nearest airport: Mackay Airport, 2.4 km south-west.
The Brisbane CBD is roughly 802 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 14 schools · 23 cafes & restaurants · 5 supermarkets · 20 parks · 4 beaches — see them all on the East Mackay profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Victoria Park State School 850 m · St Mary's Catholic Primary School 1.4 km · Mercy College 1.5 km · Central State School 1.9 km · Mackay State High School 2 km · St Patricks College 2.3 km · Mackay West State School - Junior Campus 3.4 km · Mackay West State School - Senior Campus 3.6 km
Groceries: Nicks Shakespeare Street IGA 1000 m · De Campo's Mini Market 2.2 km · Woolworths 2.6 km · Coles 2.8 km · Coles 2.9 km
Parks and reserves: Tom McLean Park 400 m · Gold Street Park 600 m · Iluka Park 900 m · Queens Park 900 m · Quota Park 950 m · Harrup Park 1.3 km · Mackay Croquet 1.5 km · Railway Park 1.6 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around East Mackay, most often seen first: Australian White Ibis · Magpie-lark · Willie Wagtail · Australasian Figbird · Torresian Crow · Rainbow Lorikeet.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to East Mackay, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| East Mackay here | 3,725 | — | 4/10 | 26% |
| Mackay | 4,026 | — | 2/10 | 15% |
| South Mackay | 6,918 | — | 2/10 | 9% |
| West Mackay | 6,536 | — | 4/10 | 13% |
| North Mackay | 6,194 | — | 2/10 | 25% |
| Paget | 339 | — | 1/10 | 11% |
| Mackay Harbour | 686 | — | 7/10 | 38% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Mackay — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Dawson — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 4740 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full East Mackay profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $320 a week, and about 38% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 2% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 3,636 people to 3,725. It sits about 802 km from the Brisbane CBD in a straight line, and Mackay station is roughly 4.3 km away. Local government is Mackay council, and the federal seat is Dawson.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: East Mackay vs Mackay · East Mackay vs South Mackay.
Nearby guides: Mackay · South Mackay · West Mackay · North Mackay · Paget · Mackay Harbour.
Keep an eye on East Mackay
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