Blackall
At just 0.1 people per square kilometre, Blackall combines a current population of 1,365 with an exceptionally dispersed 16,552.14 sq km footprint. Its median age of 49 sits 9 years above the national comparison, while the 26.8% vacancy rate points to a thin, changing housing market rather than strong demand pressure. Agriculture is the largest industry at 25.8% with 89 workers, supported by healthcare at 18.6% and education at 11.6%. Compared with nearby Barcaldine and the wider Longreach region, Blackall reads as a smaller, older service and pastoral centre, where local stability matters because 79.2% of residents stayed at the same address. Housing is overwhelmingly detached, with 97.5% separate houses.
Local council: Blackall Tambo
Population
1,365
Median Age
49.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,143/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
For buyers, Blackall's strongest practical signal is manageable ongoing housing cost rather than a clear price benchmark: weekly rent is $157 and the indicative monthly mortgage figure is $867, while mortgage costs equal 17.5% of household income and rent equals 13.7%. That supports households with stable employment, although the 26.8% vacancy rate can make resale and rental liquidity less predictable. The housing stock is 97.5% separate houses, led by 3-bedroom homes at 46.5% and 4-or-more-bedroom homes at 28.1%; apartments account for only 0.5%. Compared with a unit-oriented market, Blackall suits buyers seeking detached living, but each property needs careful checks of condition, services and recent comparable sales.
For Buyers
For buyers, Blackall's strongest practical signal is manageable ongoing housing cost rather than a clear price benchmark: weekly rent is $157 and the indicative monthly mortgage figure is $867, while mortgage costs equal 17.5% of household income and rent equals 13.7%. That supports households with stable employment, although the 26.8% vacancy rate can make resale and rental liquidity less predictable. The housing stock is 97.5% separate houses, led by 3-bedroom homes at 46.5% and 4-or-more-bedroom homes at 28.1%; apartments account for only 0.5%. Compared with a unit-oriented market, Blackall suits buyers seeking detached living, but each property needs careful checks of condition, services and recent comparable sales.
For Investors
Blackall's investment case is income-led but not vacancy-led. Gross rent is $157 a week, yet vacancy is 26.8%, so landlords may face longer reletting periods even when advertised rents look accessible. Renting accounts for 27.5% of households, below the 45.0% outright ownership share, which points to a predominantly owner-held market and a smaller tenant pool. There were 0 development projects over the past 12 months, limiting any near-term supply story. Migration is labelled Balanced, while the annual forecast trend is -0.71%, so capital growth should not be assumed. Compared with a tightly supplied regional market, Blackall requires conservative yield, maintenance and vacancy assumptions, with tenant demand linked to agriculture, healthcare, education and public administration.
Schools in Blackall
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School (Blackall)
Blackall State School
Demographics
Blackall has an older profile than the national comparison: median age is 49, or 9 years above it. University attainment is 16.6%, 13.5 percentage points below the national comparison, and only 5.6% of residents were born overseas, 16 points below the national figure. English ancestry counts 568 people, followed by Irish 153, Scottish 136 and German 119, while Christianity is recorded for 934 people and no religion for 311. Average household size is 2.2, or 0.3 below the national comparison, helping explain the prevalence of couples without children at 55.5% of families. The profile is more settled than transient, with 79.2% staying at the same address. Compared with nearby Barcaldine and larger Longreach, Blackall's smaller population and older age mix matter for services, workforce renewal and housing demand.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
97.5%
Houses
0.0%
Townhouse
0.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Blackall's housing stock is unusually detached: separate houses make up 97.5% of dwellings, versus 0.5% apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 46.5% and 4-or-more-bedroom homes for 28.1%, so family-sized formats dominate more than compact dwellings. Tenure is led by outright ownership at 45.0%, ahead of mortgages at 21.7% and renting at 27.5%; that structure can reduce forced selling because many households have no loan repayment. Rent takes 13.7% of income and mortgage costs take 17.5%, with neither ratio flagged as housing stress. Compared with Barcaldine and more apartment-oriented regional centres, Blackall is better read as a detached, low-density market. Without a reliable median house price, buyers should rely on recent like-for-like sales rather than broad suburb averages.
Mortgage / mo
$867
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$157
Census 2021
HH Size
2.2
Personal Income / wk
$686
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
26.8%
Unoccupied
202
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
13.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
17.5%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
30.4%
Couples with children
55.5%
Couples, no children
12.0%
Single parent
375
Total families
Economy & Employment
Blackall's economy is anchored by agriculture, employing 89 people or 25.8%. Healthcare adds 64 workers at 18.6%, education 40 at 11.6%, construction 27 at 7.8% and public administration 27 at 7.8%. Occupations are led by managers at 132, labourers at 120, trades at 77, clerical and administrative workers at 71, and community and personal services at 65. Unemployment is 2.2%, participation is 56.0% and full-time work is 66.1%, while 398 people are outside the labour force. IEO is decile 3 and IER, IRSD and IRSAD are each decile 4, below the midpoint. That combination fits household income at the 21.4th percentile and university attainment 13.5 points below the national comparison, despite low unemployment.
Unemployment
2.2%
Labour Force
648
Unemployed
14
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
66.1%
Part-time
29.0%
Participation
56.0%
Employed
634
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.6%
Postgraduate
1.8%
Born Overseas
5.6%
Dwellings
550
Transport to Work
Daily life in Blackall is strongly car-oriented. About 64.1% of workers drove a car, compared with 13.0% who walked or cycled, while 17.3% worked from home. Households should confirm public transport options at the exact address and consider service distances across the 16,552.14 sq km locality. Two local schools span government and Catholic sectors, with a state school and a Catholic primary school. Families should check enrolment zones, year levels and transport arrangements against the exact address. The IRSAD score is in decile 4 and the IRSD is also decile 4, below the midpoint, reflecting a lower-resource setting even though unemployment is 2.2%. Volunteering reaches 28.2%, which can support local participation. Compared with denser regional towns, Blackall trades convenience and school choice breadth for a quieter, more spacious setting.
Drive
64.1%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
13.0%
Work from Home
17.3%
Growth Outlook
Blackall's growth outlook is contractionary rather than expansionary. The annual trend is -0.71%, and population change across the wider area is -12.3% over 10 years, while migration is labelled Balanced rather than driven by a single inflow. The trajectory is Aging: the senior share has risen 6.9 percentage points, the young share has fallen 2.9 points and the working share has fallen 3.1 points. Rent growth of 30.8% and improving affordability, moving from 22.2% in 2011 to 19.4% in 2021, do not yet translate into a growth market because the resident base is ageing and vacancy is high. Compared with a flat-growth setting, -0.71% is below zero, and the gentrification score of 0 is classified as Not gentrifying. Planning priorities favour service continuity, workforce renewal and housing upkeep over large expansion assumptions.
Population trend: Blackall Tambo council area
Blackall sits in the Blackall Tambo council area. These are the council area's residents, not Blackall's.
Residents 2025
1,975
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.6%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.7%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Blackall compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Blackall a good suburb to live in?
Blackall can suit households seeking detached housing, low density and a small-town lifestyle. The population is 1,365, median age is 49, and 97.5% of homes are separate houses. Daily transport is car-oriented at 64.1%, while 2 local schools provide government and Catholic options.
What is the median house price in Blackall?
A reliable median house price is not available for Blackall, so buyers should compare recent like-for-like sales property by property. Weekly rent is $157, the indicative mortgage figure is $867 per month, and 97.5% of homes are separate houses, making condition, land size and services important to valuation.
What schools are in Blackall?
Blackall has 2 local schools spanning government and Catholic sectors, including a state school and a Catholic primary school. Families should confirm the exact enrolment zone, year levels and transport arrangements before signing a contract, particularly across a locality covering 16,552.14 sq km.
Is Blackall safe?
Check current Queensland Police crime statistics and recent local conditions before deciding. Blackall has 1,365 residents, but population size alone cannot establish whether an area is safe. Buyers and renters should also inspect lighting, street activity and emergency access for the exact property.
Is Blackall good for property investment?
Blackall suits a conservative investment approach more than a high-growth strategy. Rent is $157 a week, vacancy is 26.8%, development activity is 0 projects over 12 months and the annual forecast trend is -0.71%. These conditions make vacancy management and tenant demand more important than relying on rapid capital growth.
How is Blackall's population changing?
Blackall has an Aging trajectory, with population change across the wider area at -12.3% over 10 years and an annual trend of -0.71%. The senior share increased 6.9 percentage points while the young share fell 2.9 points. Migration is Balanced, so planning should focus on retaining services and attracting working-age households.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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