Urban Centre · Area profile
Grasstree Beach
0 km²
A typical resident in Grasstree Beach is far older than the national figure, with a median age of 54. This small community has grown by 73% since 2011, evolving into an area where older adults and seniors now make up over 60% of the population. It is a relatively affluent pocket of the Mackay region, where typical family incomes sit above the state and national averages. The area is almost entirely made up of detached houses and is heavily dependent on cars.
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The population is much older than most areas, with 23.7% of residents aged 65 and over. Since 2011, the typical age has risen by 28 years, while the proportion of children under 15 has fallen significantly to 12.6%.
Most residents were born in Australia, and only 9.5% were born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. English ancestry is the most common at 43.2%.
English is the primary language for almost everyone, with only 1.3% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national average of 22.3%.
Nearly half of the community identifies as Christian, while 36.5% report having no religion. The proportion of people with no religion has risen by 33 points since 2011.
Education levels are lower than the state average, with only 33.3% of residents having completed Year 12. However, those with a bachelor degree or higher rose by 10 points since 2011 to reach 12.8%.
This is a high-earning area where the typical family income of $2,250 a week is above the national figure. About 15.5% of people earn $2,000 or more weekly, which is among the highest for similar areas.
Long-term health conditions are slightly more common here than in the rest of Australia, at 31.4%. Arthritis is the most reported condition, affecting 12.3% of residents.
Unpaid care for others is more common than usual, with 14.3% of people providing such support. Conversely, the proportion of people caring for children is well below the national average at 17.8%.
Homes are smaller than average, with typically 2.1 people per household. Over half of the households are couples without children, which is consistent with the area's older population.
Detached houses dominate the landscape at 94.5%, and 39.3% of homes are owned outright, far above the national figure. Most homes are large, with 82.8% having three or more bedrooms.
The area is entirely car-reliant, as every single home has at least one motor vehicle. No one in the community commutes using public transport.
The community is relatively stable, with 34.2% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. There have been no recent arrivals from overseas.
Full-time employment is very high at 71.2%, far above the national average. Many residents work in mining, which accounts for 21.2% of jobs.
The area is car-dependent with a low walkability score of 1.2. While every home is within a 15-minute walk of a park, there are no schools, health services, or groceries within the same distance.