QLD · Mackay Council
West Mackay, 4740
Current weather
19.9°CClear sky
91% humidity · 8 km/h wind · 24.5° / 13.9° today · 0.1 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- National parks
- Cycling
- High desirability
Suburb profile
West Mackay is a regional centre in Mackay that balances local services with a more relaxed pace of life. A strong local centre anchors daily routines, while the surrounding region adds variety for weekends away. Generous greenery runs through the area, from street trees to tucked-away reserves.
The area suits established families and long-term locals, with plenty of young families in the mix. The town centre holds its own, with enough local flavour to make staying close to home appealing. Green space is a real strength, with parks and playgrounds woven through the suburb.
Housing carries a premium, but residents tend to feel the lifestyle justifies the commitment. Tree-lined streets and established homes set the tone, with little pressure to reinvent the neighbourhood.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits around average overall, mainly because safety and transport and access lag similar regional towns, despite relative strength in parks and green space.
Population
- Population
- 6,536
- Median age
- 42
- Median household income / week
- $1,696
- Dwelling vacancy
- 9.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 267 of 2,686
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,595
- Employment rate
- 57%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 215 / 469 / 51
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- All types (Mar 2026)
- $580
Median weekly rent from Queensland RTA rental bond data. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- RTA bond statistics — Residential Tenancies Authority (Queensland) · Period: Mar 2026 · Updated on site · Quarterly releases
Crime & safety
- Total offences (Jan 2026 to Jul 2026)
- 387
- Against the person
- 92
- Against property
- 176
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 59.2
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 71 residents
- State safety percentile
- 76.8th (lower crime is better)
- Increase (daily rate, partial year)
- +7.1%
Reported offences are running lower than the same point last year.
Reported offences by period
Most common offence types
- Assault500
- Drug Offences818
- Good Order Offences578
- Other Property Damage431
- Other Theft (Excl. Unlawful Entry)1129
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- QPS Online Crime Map — Queensland Police Service · Period: Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 → Jan 2026 to Jul 2026; Jan 2026 to Jul 2026 · Updated on site · Calendar-year aggregates
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 980
- Mackay West State SchoolPrimary
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Amenities
60 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
- ANZATM
- Bbq
- Bench (3)
- Bicycle Parking
- Bus stop (2)
- Ford StreetBus stop
- Mackay Base HospitalBus stop
- Milne LaneBus stop
- The Lagoons CafeCafe
- Smart Vehicle RentalsCar repair
Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe).
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Parks & reserves
7 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Col Story Rotary ParkPark
- Lagoons ReservePark
- Mackay Bowls ClubPark
- Mackay Regional Botanic GardensPark
- Marryatt Street ParkPark
- Schaefer Street ParkPark
- Streeter Avenue ReservePark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · Period: current · Updated on site
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 1
- Emergency department
- Not in suburb
- AFS Fourwayspharmacy
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 4/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
2 state heritage places
- Mackay General CemeteryState heritage place
- Sugar Research Institute & ResidenceState heritage place
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Childcare
2 childcare services from OpenStreetMap
- St. Francis Xavier Catholic KindergartenHolland Streetkindergarten
- kindergartenkindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- No overlay at centroid
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Queensland Bushfire Prone Area mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 26
- Parks (OSM)
- 26
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 52.6/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 25% of Queensland's suburbs
- National rank
- 1641st in Australia
- State rank
- 373rd in QLD
- Peer rank
- #83 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #114 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 77%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- A1 Batteryproamenities7 Cemetery Roadelectrical
- AFS Fourwaysamenitiespharmacy
- ANZamenitiesatm
- Australia Postamenitiespost_box
- Bbqamenitiesbbq
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Benchamenitiesbench
- Bicycle Parkingamenitiesbicycle_parking
- Bus stopamenitiesbus_stop
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
More in Mackay Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Queensland.