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LGA · QLD · CENTRAL QUEENSLAND COAST

Mackay Region

Central QLD mining + sugar + construction economy with 2.8% unemployment and $25B+ approved project pipeline. Roughly 970km from Brisbane CBD.
Central Queensland Coast Hotspotting refresh: Jun 2026 970km from CBD

Investment thesis

What this LGA is for
Central Queensland regional city, the largest sugar-producing region in Australia (one of the world's largest bulk sugar export terminals). Gross Regional Product $14.8 billion. Mining contributes $7.94 billion in output and $4 billion+ in exports. Construction sector generates $2.9 billion annually. Population 128,360 forecast to grow 25.6% to 159,360 by 2046. Unemployment a very low 2.8%, reflecting strong demand across mining, construction, healthcare and tourism. Health Care + Social Assistance is now the largest employer (8,300+ workers). Major infrastructure pipeline: $500M Mackay Ring Road, $300M fermentation facility, hospital expansion, Waterfront Priority Project. More than $25 billion in approved projects across renewables, manufacturing, tourism and infrastructure. Strong YoY house growth across LGA (+11% to +33%) with sub-$770K entry across most suburbs and 5-6% gross yields.

Key numbers

Snapshot of the Mackay Region economy and demographics.

Gross Regional Product
$14.8B
Mining sector output
$7.94B
Unemployment — very low
2.8%
Approved project pipeline
$25B+

Infrastructure pipeline

The committed and in-flight infrastructure spend reshaping the LGA.

$500M
Mackay Ring Road
Major road infrastructure project. Reshapes regional freight + commuter movement.
$300M
Fermentation facility
Major new industrial facility. Renewable + bio-economy investment.
Major
Mackay Base Hospital expansion
Multi-decade health employment driver. Hospital is largest single employer at 8,300+ workers across health care + social assistance.
Major
Bulk sugar export terminal
One of the world's largest bulk sugar export terminals. Anchors agricultural + freight economy.
Major
$25B+ approved project pipeline
Renewables, manufacturing, tourism and infrastructure projects in delivery + pipeline.
Major
Waterfront Priority Project
Major waterfront redevelopment. Tourism + lifestyle anchor.
Major
Major mining services hub
Bowen Basin coal mining serviced from Mackay. Multi-decade employment + services economy.
Major
Tourism economy
Whitsunday Coast tourism + Great Barrier Reef access. Gateway to Whitsunday Islands.

Suburbs in scope

Suburbs we actively track within Mackay Region. House market data from PropTrack via Hotspotting LGA report (12 months trailing).

SuburbMedianYield1yr growthVacancyRead
Glenella$775K5.20%+21%0.60%Premium estate. Strong YoY
Marian$768K5.30%+33%0.60%STRONGEST YoY HOUSE GROWTH (+33%)
Ooralea$741K5.20%+13%0.70%JCU campus + Mackay airport adjacency
Rural View$736K5.00%+16%0.70%Northern outer suburb
Bakers Creek$728K5.00%+17%0.70%Outer middle-tier
Mount Pleasant$710K5.30%+26%0.70%Strong YoY growth
Walkerston$705K5.30%+21%0.70%Hinterland town
Beaconsfield$700K5.20%+20%0.70%Established middle-tier
Blacks Beach$680K5.10%+30%0.80%Coastal middle-tier. Strong YoY
Mirani$680K5.70%+22%0.80%Hinterland affordable
Bucasia$679K5.10%+12%0.70%Coastal middle-tier
Eimeo$675K5.00%+11%0.70%Coastal middle-tier
East Mackay$655K5.40%+18%0.80%Inner-CBD adjacent
Andergrove$643K5.30%+21%0.80%Established middle-tier. Volume leader
West Mackay$620K5.90%+16%0.80%Affordable middle-tier. Strongest house yield
Slade Point$605K5.40%+14%0.80%Coastal affordable
South Mackay$600K5.80%+18%0.80%Affordable inner-CBD adjacent
North Mackay$588K5.70%+20%0.90%Affordable inner-suburb
Mackay (House)$587K5.30%+18%0.80%CBD core house market
Sarina$543K5.60%+19%0.80%Most affordable house entry. Southern town
Mackay (Unit)$402K7.30%+22%1.10%DEEPEST unit market (166 sales/yr) + STRONGEST UNIT YIELD
South Mackay (Unit)$410K6.90%+12%1.20%Affordable unit + strong yield
East Mackay (Unit)$375K6.80%+15%1.20%Affordable unit + strong yield
North Mackay (Unit)$370K6.60%+25%1.20%Most affordable unit + strong YoY

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