Moving to Grasstree Beach QLD 4740
What the official numbers say about living in Grasstree Beach — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $290 a week, against a median household income of $2,050 a week.
About 81% of homes are owner-occupied and 18% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Grasstree Beach shrank 27% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (978 → 717 people).
Around 76% of households are families, averaging 2.3 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: New Zealand, Philippines, England; most spoken languages besides English: German, Tagalog, Australian Indigenous.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Grasstree Beach sits around the national average (decile 4 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (88% of workers), while 9% work from home.
Nearest train station: Sarina, 11 km south-west.
Nearest airport: Mackay Airport, 24.4 km north-west.
The Brisbane CBD is roughly 777 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 5 beaches — see them all on the Grasstree Beach profile.
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Grasstree Beach, most often seen first: Red-capped Plover · Masked Lapwing · Brahminy Kite · Rainbow Bee-eater · Whimbrel · Rainbow Lorikeet.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Grasstree Beach, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Grasstree Beach here | 717 | — | 4/10 | 40% |
| Hay Point | 1,306 | — | 3/10 | 20% |
| Sarina | 5,619 | — | 2/10 | 38% |
| Bakers Creek | 1,590 | — | 4/10 | 18% |
| Paget | 339 | — | 1/10 | 11% |
| East Mackay | 3,725 | — | 4/10 | 26% |
| South Mackay | 6,918 | — | 2/10 | 9% |
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 Capricornia — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 4740 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Grasstree Beach profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $290 a week, and about 18% of homes here are rented.
The population fell 27% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 978 people to 717. It sits about 777 km from the Brisbane CBD in a straight line. Local government is Mackay council, and the federal seat is Capricornia.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Grasstree Beach vs Hay Point.
Nearby guides: Hay Point · Sarina · Bakers Creek · Paget · East Mackay · South Mackay.
Keep an eye on Grasstree Beach
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