Macleay Island

Macleay Island is far older than most areas, with 42.8% of people aged 65 and over. In contrast, children under 15 make up only 7.7% of the population, which is far below the national figure of 18.2%.

People born overseas make up 24% of the community, which is much higher than most similar areas. English is the most common ancestry at 45.5%, followed by Australian and Irish heritage.

English is the primary language for 87.9% of residents. The proportion of people using another language at home is 4.3%, which is well below the Queensland figure of 13.2%.

Nearly half the community (45.5%) reports having no religion, a figure that is well above the national average of 38.9%. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 41.7%.

Educational attainment is lower than in most areas, with only 35.4% of residents completing Year 12, far below the national figure of 58.8%. Only 11.7% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher.

Incomes are among the lowest at this level, with a typical household earning $755 a week, far below the national figure of $1,746. Very few households (2.4%) earn $3,000 or more weekly.

Health challenges are common here, as 46.5% of people live with a long-term health condition. This is far above the national figure of 27.7%, and 13.1% of residents need help with daily activities.

Unpaid care is a significant part of local life, with 15.8% of people providing this support. There is also a strong history of service, as 6.1% of residents served in the Defence Force, which is well above the national figure.

The First Nations community is larger than in about 89% of similar areas. However, this group faces significant hardship, with an unemployment rate of 25.0%, which is far above the national figure of 12.3%.

Living arrangements are often solitary, with 41% of people living alone—far above the national figure of 25.6%. Because of this, the typical home has only 1.9 people.

The island is almost entirely made up of separate houses (99.6%), and 50.9% are owned outright, which is far above the national average. Rent is relatively affordable, with a typical weekly cost of $260.

The area is mostly car-dependent, though 20% of the workforce works from home. This is consistent with the fact that there are no public transport stops or routes on the island.

The community has seen high movement, with 45% of people moving in the last five years. However, recent arrivals from overseas are few, at just 2.2%.

Working life is less common here, as only 30.6% of adults are working or looking for work, among the lowest at this level. The unemployment rate is 14.9%, which is well above the national figure of 5.1%.

Walkability is low and the area is mostly car-dependent. Only 28.2% of homes have a 15-minute-city walkshed, and only 3.6% of homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport.