Kalkie
Nearly half of Kalkie's dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms (49.1%), and 92.6% are separate houses, giving the Bundaberg-area suburb a distinctly detached, car-oriented profile. Its 2,968 residents have a median age of 40, exactly in line with the national comparison, while 87.2% travel as car drivers. Household income sits at the 52.5th percentile, close to the middle rather than an affluent extreme. Compared with nearby Bundaberg East and Branyan, Kalkie is best assessed as a detached-house and car-access market. The aging trajectory, 5.3% rise in senior share and 3.7% fall in young share point to a settled market where larger homes and driving access matter more than apartment living.
Local council: Bundaberg
Population
2,968
Median Age
40.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,599/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
12
Kalkie suits buyers seeking conventional detached housing rather than a unit-heavy setting. Separate houses account for 92.6% of dwellings, while apartments are 4.0% and semi-detached homes 3.4%; 49.1% have 4 or more bedrooms and 41.5% have 3 bedrooms. That mix supports families and buyers needing space because larger house formats dominate the local stock. Buyers can use the $310 weekly rent and $1,502 monthly mortgage reference when comparing individual listings. Mortgage costs equal 21.7% of household income, higher than the 19.4% rent-to-income measure, with neither stress flag activated. Compared with apartment-oriented areas, Kalkie gives buyers more detached choice, though car access is important.
For Buyers
Kalkie suits buyers seeking conventional detached housing rather than a unit-heavy setting. Separate houses account for 92.6% of dwellings, while apartments are 4.0% and semi-detached homes 3.4%; 49.1% have 4 or more bedrooms and 41.5% have 3 bedrooms. That mix supports families and buyers needing space because larger house formats dominate the local stock. Buyers can use the $310 weekly rent and $1,502 monthly mortgage reference when comparing individual listings. Mortgage costs equal 21.7% of household income, higher than the 19.4% rent-to-income measure, with neither stress flag activated. Compared with apartment-oriented areas, Kalkie gives buyers more detached choice, though car access is important.
For Investors
Investor demand is likely to be shaped by a modest renter base and a relatively open rental market. Renting accounts for 24.7% of occupied tenure, below the combined 74.2% held outright or with a mortgage, while the weekly rent is $310. Vacancy is 6.2%, leaving tenants more choice than in a tightly supplied market and increasing the need for careful property selection. Development activity recorded 11 applications in 12 months, indicating some ongoing local building activity but not a large pipeline on this measure. Annual growth is 1.05% and overseas migration is the primary driver, while rent growth reached 18.4%. The 39.0% mortgage share is higher than renting, pointing to a substantial owner-occupier base.
Development Activity
Total DAs
12
Last 12 Months
12
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Kalkie
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Kalkie State School
Demographics
Kalkie's demographic profile is close to the national age midpoint but less university-qualified and less overseas-born. Median age is 40, with the age comparison at 0.0 years versus national; university attainment is 24.2%, 5.9 percentage points below national, and overseas-born residents are 13.6%, 8.0 points below. English, Scottish, Irish and German ancestry counts are 1,234, 312, 273 and 270, while Christianity counts 1,643 and no religion 1,075. Average household size is 2.6, 0.1 above national, consistent with 39.7% couples with children and 43.9% couples without children. A 77.7% stayed rate suggests continuity, while the aging trajectory is reinforced by a 5.3% senior-share increase and 3.7% young-share decline. Compared with the national profile, Kalkie is more locally settled and less internationally diverse.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.6%
Houses
3.4%
Townhouse
4.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Kalkie's housing stock is overwhelmingly detached: 92.6% separate houses, compared with 4.0% apartments and 3.4% semi-detached dwellings. Space is also common, with 49.1% of homes containing 4 or more bedrooms and 41.5% containing 3 bedrooms. Tenure is weighted toward ownership, with 35.2% owned outright and 39.0% mortgaged, versus 24.7% rented and 1.0% other. The 39.0% mortgage share is higher than renting because the suburb's large-house format suits established families building equity. Mortgage costs equal 21.7% of household income and rent equals 19.4%, with neither stress flag activated. Compared with apartment-heavy locations, Kalkie has less housing variety but a clearer family-house profile.
Mortgage / mo
$1,502
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $310.
$585
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $585 · units $440
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$726
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.2%
Unoccupied
70
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.4%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.7%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
39.7%
Couples with children
43.9%
Couples, no children
15.4%
Single parent
858
Total families
Economy & Employment
Kalkie's employment base is led by healthcare at 27.0% and 234 workers, followed by education at 12.9% and 112, retail at 8.9% and 77, public administration at 6.9% and 60, and construction at 6.8% and 59. That mix links local households to care, education, services and building work rather than a single industry. Professionals number 258, trades 195, community and personal workers 191, clerical and administrative workers 170, and sales workers 155, showing a broader occupational spread. Unemployment is 5.5%, participation is 59.9% and full-time employment is 59.4%; household income of $1,599 a week sits at the 52.5th percentile. The contrast is important: income is near the national middle, but IRSAD and IRSD are both decile 2, IER is decile 3 and IEO is decile 2, all below the midpoint. This points to socioeconomic disadvantage that income alone does not capture.
Unemployment
5.5%
Labour Force
1,422
Unemployed
78
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.4%
Part-time
34.0%
Participation
59.9%
Employed
1,344
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
24.2%
Postgraduate
4.0%
Born Overseas
13.6%
Dwellings
1,065
Transport to Work
Daily life in Kalkie is strongly car dependent: 87.2% travel as car drivers, compared with 0.8% using public transport and 1.4% walking or cycling. That matters because local errands, work and services are less convenient without a vehicle; only 5.0% work from home. Kalkie State School is a government-sector school in the suburb. Families should check the exact address, year level and enrolment zone, then review nearby Bundaberg options if needed. Safety should be checked through current Queensland Police information because a suburb-specific crime rate is not available. Socioeconomic conditions are mixed: IRSAD is decile 2 and IEO is decile 2, below IER decile 3, while 8.1% need assistance. Compared with a transit-oriented suburb, Kalkie offers less public transport choice but more detached-house space across 9.24 square kilometres at 321.3 residents per square kilometre.
Drive
87.2%
Public Transport
0.8%
Walk / Cycle
1.4%
Work from Home
5.0%
Growth Outlook
Kalkie's growth outlook is established rather than explosive, with annual growth of 1.05% and wider-area population change of 11.4% over 10 years. Overseas migration is the primary driver, so momentum is likely to come from incoming households rather than a sudden construction surge. The shift trajectory is Aging: senior share has risen 5.3%, young share has fallen 3.7% and working share has fallen 2.3%. Rent growth of 18.4% is higher than the 1.05% annual population trend, which can support investor interest even as demographics mature. Gentrification is scored 4 and labelled Not gentrifying, while the shift score is 26 and labelled Early signs. Compared with a fast-expanding fringe market, Kalkie's 1.05% pace suggests gradual change, with affordability labelled Improving from 49.8 in 2011 to 43.9 in 2021.
Population trend: Bundaberg council area
Kalkie sits in the Bundaberg council area. These are the council area's residents, not Kalkie's.
Residents 2025
107,297
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.6%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.3%
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 Kalkie compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Kalkie a good suburb to live in?
Kalkie can suit households wanting a detached, space-oriented setting. Separate houses make up 92.6% of dwellings, 49.1% have 4 or more bedrooms, and 87.2% drive to work or other destinations. The trade-off is limited public transport at 0.8%, so daily convenience depends heavily on having a car.
What is the median house price in Kalkie?
No current median house price is quoted for Kalkie. Useful affordability markers are $310 weekly rent, a $1,502 monthly mortgage reference, 35.2% outright ownership and 39.0% mortgage ownership. Compare individual properties by land, condition and bedroom count, as 49.1% of homes have 4 or more bedrooms.
What schools are in Kalkie?
Kalkie State School is a government-sector school in Kalkie. Families should check the exact address, year level and enrolment zone, then review nearby Bundaberg options if needed. With 87.2% car-driver travel and 0.8% public transport use, school runs are likely to be easier by car than public transport.
Is Kalkie safe?
A definitive safety rating cannot be given because a current suburb-specific crime rate is not available. Kalkie has 2,968 residents, but population size does not establish safety compared with other suburbs. Check recent Queensland Police updates, local lighting and traffic conditions, and visit at different times before deciding.
Is Kalkie good for property investment?
Kalkie may suit a selective long-term investor rather than a high-yield or high-growth strategy. Rent is $310 a week, vacancy is 6.2%, renting is 24.7%, and annual growth is 1.05%. Overseas migration is the primary growth driver, while rent growth of 18.4% is higher than annual growth. The 39.0% mortgage share suggests a substantial owner-occupier base.
How is Kalkie's population changing?
Kalkie's current population is 2,968. Wider-area population change is 11.4% over 10 years, with annual growth forecast at 1.05% and overseas migration the primary driver. Change is also aging: senior share rose 5.3%, young share fell 3.7%, and the trajectory is labelled Aging. Gentrification is scored 4 and labelled Not gentrifying, so growth looks gradual rather than rapid.
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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