Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Mackay Harbour
10 km²
Life in Mackay Harbour is largely car-dependent and revolves around a high-earning, older population. The community is far older than the national figure, with a typical resident aged 50 and a low number of children. It is a small, relatively affluent pocket where many residents are professionals or managers with high weekly incomes. This wealth is reflected in a housing market where many own their homes outright and others pay well above average rents.
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The population is far older than the state and national average, with 18.4% of residents aged 65 or over. In contrast, children under 15 make up only 10.6%, which is well below the national figure.
Most residents were born in Australia, though 18.7% were born overseas. English is the most common ancestry at 39.5%, followed by Australian and Scottish heritage.
English is the dominant language, with only 6.3% of people using another language at home, which is far below the national figure. Very few residents speak little or no English.
About half the community identifies as Christian. Those with no religion make up 33.7%, a figure that is well below both the state and national levels.
Qualifications are varied, with 18.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, the proportion of people who completed Year 12 is far below the national figure at 47.3%.
This is a high-income area where the typical personal weekly income of $1,141 is well above the national figure. About 24.1% of people earn $2,000 or more a week, which is far above the state average.
Residents generally report better health than most areas, with much lower rates of long-term health conditions and mental health conditions compared to the state and nation.
Participation in unpaid care and housework is much lower than in most other areas. Interestingly, 4.3% of residents served in the Defence Force, which is a little above the national figure.
The First Nations community is small, numbering 12 people. This group is far older and earns much more than the state and national First Nations averages.
Homes are typically small, with just 2.1 people per dwelling. This is consistent with the fact that 28.3% of people live alone, a rate higher than most Australian areas.
Apartments and flats dominate the landscape, making up 57.1% of homes. While 38.1% of homes are owned outright, those who rent pay a typical weekly rent of $510, which is well above the national figure.
Cars are essential here, as 0.0% of people commute by public transport. Very few people work from home, and 70.2% of workers drive themselves to their jobs.
The area sees significant movement, with 54.7% of residents having moved in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas also make up 17.4% of the population, which is well above the state average.
Full-time employment is very high at 71.7%, far above the national figure. Many residents work in mining, health care, or professional and managerial roles.
The area is generally advantaged, ranking higher than about 70% of all areas. It has also seen a population growth of 9.2% since 2021, which is much higher than most similar areas.
The climate is warm and wet, with an average maximum temperature of 27.7°C and annual rainfall that is far above the Queensland average.
While most homes are within a short walk of a park, the area is mostly car-dependent. There is no access to schools, health services, or groceries within a 15-minute walk.