Moving to Ooralea QLD 4740
What the official numbers say about living in Ooralea — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $440 a week, against a median household income of $2,248 a week.
Who you'll be living with
Ooralea grew 42% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (2,601 → 3,691 people).
Largest overseas birthplaces: Philippines, India, New Zealand; most spoken languages besides English: Tagalog, Malayalam, Bengali.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Ooralea scores a little above the national average (decile 7 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (93% of workers).
Nearest train station: Mackay, 1.4 km east.
Nearest railway halt: Mackay Miniature Railway, 400 m north-east.
Nearest airport: Mackay Airport, 3.5 km east.
The Brisbane CBD is roughly 803 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 9 schools · 6 cafes & restaurants · 2 supermarkets · 12 parks — see them all on the Ooralea profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Catherine McAuley College 2 km · Dundula State School 2.9 km · Mackay West State School - Senior Campus 3 km · St. Francis Xaviers Catholic School 3.1 km · Mackay West State School - Junior Campus 3.2 km · Mackay State High School 4.1 km · Mercy College 4.4 km · St Mary's Catholic Primary School 4.6 km
Groceries: Woolworths 450 m · Coles 3 km
Parks and reserves: Downie Street Park 150 m · Dickens Avenue Park 200 m · Mullers Park 400 m · Bernborough Avenue Park 800 m · George Moore Park 800 m · Col Story Rotary Park 1.4 km · Mulherin Park 1.4 km · Lagoons Reserve 1.7 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Ooralea, most often seen first: Australian White Ibis · Pacific Black Duck · Australasian Purple Swamphen · Dusky Moorhen · Magpie-lark · Comb-crested Jacana.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Ooralea, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ooralea here | 3,691 | — | 7/10 | 5% |
| Paget | 339 | — | 1/10 | 8% |
| West Mackay | 6,536 | — | 4/10 | 16% |
| Bakers Creek | 1,590 | — | 4/10 | 17% |
| South Mackay | 6,918 | — | 2/10 | 6% |
| Mackay | 4,026 | — | 2/10 | 12% |
| East Mackay | 3,725 | — | 4/10 | 11% |
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 Ooralea profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $440 a week.
The population grew 42% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 2,601 people to 3,691. It sits about 803 km from the Brisbane CBD in a straight line, and Mackay station is roughly 1.4 km away. Local government is Mackay council, and the federal seat is Capricornia.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Ooralea vs Paget · Ooralea vs West Mackay.
Nearby guides: Paget · West Mackay · Bakers Creek · South Mackay · Mackay · East Mackay.
Keep an eye on Ooralea
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