Moving to South Mackay QLD 4740
What the official numbers say about living in South Mackay — 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 $1,477 a week.
About 60% of homes are owner-occupied and 39% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
South Mackay shrank 7% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (7,416 → 6,918 people).
Around 63% of households are families, averaging 2.3 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: Philippines, New Zealand, England; most spoken languages besides English: Tagalog, Filipino, Mandarin.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), South Mackay scores below the national average (decile 2 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (91% of workers).
Nearest train station: Mackay, 2.6 km south-west.
Nearest railway halt: Mackay Miniature Railway, 3.6 km south-west.
Nearest airport: Mackay Airport, 1.2 km south.
The Brisbane CBD is roughly 803 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 14 schools · 26 cafes & restaurants · 6 supermarkets · 28 parks · 3 beaches — see them all on the South Mackay profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Mercy College 550 m · St Mary's Catholic Primary School 700 m · Mackay State High School 700 m · Central State School 1.4 km · Mackay West State School - Junior Campus 1.8 km · Victoria Park State School 1.9 km · Mackay West State School - Senior Campus 2 km · Catherine McAuley College 2.2 km
Groceries: De Campo's Mini Market 1.1 km · Coles 1.1 km · Nicks Super IGA 1.6 km · Nicks Shakespeare Street IGA 1.7 km · Woolworths 2.2 km · Coles 2.3 km
Parks and reserves: Park Vigoro 300 m · Shark Park 400 m · Mackay Croquet 450 m · Harrup Park 600 m · Penn Street Park 750 m · Kemmis Park 900 m · Railway Park 1.2 km · Napier Street Park 1.2 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around South 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 South Mackay, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Mackay here | 6,918 | — | 2/10 | 9% |
| Mackay | 4,026 | — | 2/10 | 15% |
| West Mackay | 6,536 | — | 4/10 | 13% |
| East Mackay | 3,725 | — | 4/10 | 26% |
| Paget | 339 | — | 1/10 | 11% |
| North Mackay | 6,194 | — | 2/10 | 25% |
| Ooralea | 3,691 | — | 7/10 | 3% |
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 South Mackay profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $290 a week, and about 39% of homes here are rented.
The population fell 7% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 7,416 people to 6,918. It sits about 803 km from the Brisbane CBD in a straight line, and Mackay station is roughly 2.6 km away. Local government is Mackay council, and the federal seat is Dawson.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: South Mackay vs Mackay · South Mackay vs West Mackay.
Nearby guides: Mackay · West Mackay · East Mackay · Paget · North Mackay · Ooralea.
Keep an eye on South Mackay
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