Blackall
A median house price of $216,000 in a town spread across 16,552 square kilometres tells the Blackall story quickly: this is deep outback Queensland where land is vast and affordability is rare nationally. The population of 1,365 skews older with a median age of 49, which is 9 years above the national figure, and the area sits at SEIFA decile 4 across multiple indexes, placing it in the lower-advantage tier compared to most Australian suburbs. Agriculture drives 25.8% of local employment, and 47.8% of homes are owned outright, well above the national average, signalling an established community with long tenure rather than high turnover.
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
Median House
$216K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At $216,000, the median house price is dramatically lower than state and national medians, making Blackall one of Queensland's most affordable entry points. Monthly mortgage repayments average $867, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 17.5%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Nearly all dwellings are separate houses at 97.5%, and 3-bedroom homes are the most common configuration at 46.5%, with 4-plus bedroom homes making up 28.1%. Outright ownership at 47.8% is notably high compared to the national rate, meaning many residents have paid off their homes, reflecting the stability of long-term owner-occupiers rather than recent buyers chasing leverage.
For Buyers
At $216,000, the median house price is dramatically lower than state and national medians, making Blackall one of Queensland's most affordable entry points. Monthly mortgage repayments average $867, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 17.5%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Nearly all dwellings are separate houses at 97.5%, and 3-bedroom homes are the most common configuration at 46.5%, with 4-plus bedroom homes making up 28.1%. Outright ownership at 47.8% is notably high compared to the national rate, meaning many residents have paid off their homes, reflecting the stability of long-term owner-occupiers rather than recent buyers chasing leverage.
For Investors
Blackall's vacancy rate of 26.8% is extremely high compared to healthy national benchmarks of 1-3%, which presents a significant risk for rental investors. Weekly rent of $157 against a $216,000 median implies a gross yield around 3.8%, modest for a high-vacancy regional market. The renter share is 29.2%. Population is declining at 0.71% annually, or about 35 persons per year, which compresses future rental demand. Net overseas migration of 12 per year and internal migration of 4 provide minimal offset. With no development applications recorded in the past 12 months and a medium forecast projecting the broader area population falling to around 4,537 by 2031, investors should weigh affordability against thin demand fundamentals.
Schools in Blackall iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St Joseph's Catholic Primary School
Prep-6 · 53 students
Blackall State School
Prep-12 · 90 students
Demographics
Blackall's median age of 49 sits 9 years above the national figure, reflecting an aging trajectory that saw the senior share rise 6.9 points and the working-age share fall 3.1 points over the decade. The overseas-born share is just 5.6%, which is 16 points below the national average, consistent with a predominantly Australian-born community. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic: English (568), Irish (153), Scottish (136) and German (119) are the top four groups. Average household size is 2.2, slightly below the national figure, aligning with the couples-no-children profile where 42.5% of families have no dependent children. Volunteering is high at 28.2%, suggesting strong community participation relative to most Australian towns.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
97.5%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
0.5%
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is almost entirely freestanding: separate houses account for 97.5% of all dwellings, with apartments at just 0.5%. The tenure split shows 47.8% of homes owned outright, 23.0% under mortgage, and 29.2% renting. The outright ownership rate is well above the national average, reflecting long-standing residents rather than recent buyers. Three-bedroom dwellings are the modal type at 46.5%, followed by 4-plus bedrooms at 28.1% and 2-bedroom at 19.0%. Rent-to-income at 13.7% is low, meaning tenants are not under financial pressure. The vacancy rate of 26.8% is high relative to a healthy market, indicating more supply than demand, a structural condition tied to the 12.3% population decline recorded over the past 10 years.
Mortgage / mo
$867
Rent / wk
$157
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
42.5%
Couples, no children
943
Total families
Economy & Employment
Agriculture is the foundation of the local economy at 25.8% of employment (89 workers), followed by Healthcare at 18.6% (64 workers) and Education at 11.6% (40 workers). Construction and Public Admin each contribute 7.8%. By occupation, Managers (132) and Labourers (120) are the two largest groups, reflecting the pastoral and agricultural base. The unemployment rate is low at 2.3% with 14 unemployed persons, and the full-time employment rate is 69.5%. Household income sits at the 21.4th percentile nationally, significantly below average, because the agricultural and public-sector wage base in remote Queensland generates lower incomes than urban centres. SEIFA decile 4 on IRSAD and IRSD confirms the area sits in the lower-advantage tier compared to most of Australia.
Unemployment
1.4%
Labour Force
2,737
Unemployed
37
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
69.5%
Part-time
28.2%
Participation
53.3%
Employed
603
Occupations
Top Industries
University
16.6%
Postgraduate
1.8%
Born Overseas
5.6%
Dwellings
550
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high, with 77.5% of residents driving to work, typical for remote Queensland where public transport is not recorded. Walking and cycling account for 15.8% of commutes, a meaningful figure for a small town. At a SEIFA IRSAD decile of 4, Blackall ranks in the lower-advantage tier nationally, meaning access to services and economic resources is below average compared to most Australian communities. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset. The need-for-assistance rate is 7.6% (96 residents), above the national average, consistent with an older population, as the median age of 49 is 9 years higher than the national figure. Rent-to-income at 13.7% keeps housing costs manageable for renters, providing financial breathing room that is rarer in metropolitan areas.
Drive
77.5%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
15.8%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
-0.71%/yr
(-35 people/yr)
EstablishedBlackall is experiencing gradual, sustained population decline. The annual trend is minus 0.71%, or about 35 persons per year, and over the past 10 years the population fell 12.3%. Medium forecasts for the broader Blackall-Tambo LGA project the population falling from around 4,912 to approximately 4,537 by 2031, a further decline of about 7.6%. Migration is balanced, with overseas migration of 12 per year and internal migration of 4 per year providing only modest stabilisation. The aging trajectory and working-age population outflow are structural factors. On the positive side, affordability improved from 22.2% in 2011 to 19.4% in 2021, and real incomes grew 21.4% over the decade, suggesting that those who remain are financially better positioned than before.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+12
Net Internal / yr
+4
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
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 suits those seeking affordable, low-density outback living. Housing is inexpensive at a $216,000 median and mortgage stress is low at a 17.5% mortgage-to-income ratio. The trade-offs are a declining population, limited services, and a SEIFA IRSAD decile of 4, placing it in the lower-advantage tier compared to most Australian communities.
What is the median house price in Blackall?
The median house price in Blackall is $216,000, far below the Queensland and national medians. Weekly rent averages $157 and monthly mortgage repayments average $867. With a mortgage-to-income ratio of 17.5%, housing costs are manageable relative to local incomes.
What schools are in Blackall?
No schools are recorded within the Blackall suburb boundary in this dataset. The local university qualification rate is 16.6%, which is 13.5 points below the national figure, consistent with the agricultural and trade-oriented workforce where 25.8% work in agriculture and 120 residents are employed as labourers.
Is Blackall safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Blackall in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores SEIFA decile 4 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage, placing it below the national average. The 7.6% need-for-assistance rate (96 residents) reflects an older population with a median age of 49, which is 9 years above the national figure.
Is Blackall good for property investment?
The investment case is cautious. A 26.8% vacancy rate is very high compared to the healthy national range of 1 to 3%, and population is declining at 0.71% annually. Weekly rent of $157 against a $216,000 median implies a gross yield around 3.8%. Zero development applications in the past 12 months and a medium forecast projecting further population decline through 2031 mean demand growth is unlikely.
How is Blackall's population changing?
Blackall's population is declining. The annual trend is minus 0.71% (roughly 35 persons per year), and the 10-year population change was minus 12.3%. Medium forecasts for the broader area project a fall from around 4,912 to approximately 4,537 by 2031. The aging trajectory, with the senior share rising 6.9 points over the decade, is the primary structural driver.
What industries drive Blackall's economy?
Agriculture is the dominant industry at 25.8% of employment (89 workers), followed by Healthcare at 18.6% (64 workers) and Education at 11.6% (40 workers). Construction and Public Admin each account for 7.8%. Household income sits at the 21.4th percentile nationally, reflecting the lower wage base typical of remote agricultural communities.
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 Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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