Walkerston
Mining employs 18.4% of Walkerston's workforce, more than any other industry, which explains how household income sits at the 81.6th percentile nationally despite a median house price of around $466,000. The suburb covers 13.88 square kilometres with a population of 3,615, giving a density of 260.5 people per square kilometre. Owner-occupiers dominate at 76.3% combined (outright owners 30.7%, mortgage holders 45.6%), well above typical Australian averages. The age profile at 35 skews 5 years younger than the national median, and the population trajectory is slow but steady at 0.46% annual growth.
Population
3,615
Median Age
35.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,142/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
6
Median House
$466K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price is approximately $466,000, materially below the QLD state capital and national headline figures, reflecting Walkerston's position as an affordable satellite of Mackay. The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 92.1%, with semi-detached dwellings making up 7.1%. Bedrooms skew large: 46.4% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 43.1% have 3, so buyers get more space than in comparable price brackets closer to major cities. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.7%, well below the 30% stress threshold and lower than most state averages. Outright ownership at 30.7% is solid, indicating an established community where many residents have paid down their mortgages.
For Buyers
The median house price is approximately $466,000, materially below the QLD state capital and national headline figures, reflecting Walkerston's position as an affordable satellite of Mackay. The stock is overwhelmingly detached houses at 92.1%, with semi-detached dwellings making up 7.1%. Bedrooms skew large: 46.4% of dwellings have 4 or more bedrooms and 43.1% have 3, so buyers get more space than in comparable price brackets closer to major cities. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.7%, well below the 30% stress threshold and lower than most state averages. Outright ownership at 30.7% is solid, indicating an established community where many residents have paid down their mortgages.
For Investors
The rental market is modest: 23.7% of dwellings are rented, below the national average, and weekly rent sits at $360. Against the $466,000 median, that implies a gross yield of approximately 4%, higher than most capital city markets. The vacancy rate of 6.2% is elevated compared to tight markets, so landlords should factor in some void periods. Net internal migration runs at minus 32 people per year on average, offset by overseas arrivals of 11, leaving a small net outflow that tempers demand. Development activity is minimal with only 5 applications in the past 12 months, indicating limited new supply pressure. The mining-dominated economy creates income stability but also cyclical exposure to commodity cycles.
Development Activity
Total DAs
6
Last 12 Months
6
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 Walkerston iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
St John's Catholic Primary School
Prep-6 · 349 students
Walkerston State School
Prep-6 · 306 students
Demographics
The median age of 35 is 5 years below the national figure of 40, giving Walkerston a younger profile than most comparable towns. Only 6.8% of residents were born overseas, which is 14.8 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the inland Queensland location rather than a migrant gateway. Ancestry is strongly Anglo-Celtic, led by English (1,423 people), Scottish (442), Irish (358), and German (266). University qualifications reach just 11.8%, which is 18.3 points below the national rate, consistent with the trade and machinery-heavy local workforce. Average household size is 2.7, marginally above the national figure by 0.2, and couples with children (1,305 families) outnumber couples without children (776), pointing to a family-formation demographic.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
92.1%
Houses
7.1%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Walkerston is a detached-house suburb: 92.1% of dwellings are separate houses and only 7.1% are semi-detached, well above the national separate-house share. The 4-plus bedroom bracket dominates at 46.4%, followed by 3-bedroom at 43.1%, so small dwellings are rare. Tenure splits roughly into outright owners (30.7%), mortgage holders (45.6%), and renters (23.7%), with owner-occupiers collectively at 76.3%, higher than the national benchmark. Mortgage stress is low: mortgage-to-income at 18.7% and rent-to-income at 16.8% are both comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The vacancy rate of 6.2% sits above tight-market levels, which has historically supported affordability for incoming renters.
Mortgage / mo
$1,733
Rent / wk
$360
HH Size
2.7
Personal Income / wk
$929
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.2%
Unoccupied
81
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.7%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.4%
Couples, no children
2,829
Total families
Economy & Employment
Mining is the largest industry at 18.4% of local employment (196 workers), consistent with Walkerston's proximity to the Bowen Basin coalfields. Healthcare follows at 14.6% (156 workers), then Manufacturing at 9.7%, Construction at 8.8%, and Other Services at 7.7%. By occupation, Clerical and Admin workers lead at 263, Machinery and Drivers at 255, and Professionals at 197. The unemployment rate is low at 3.0% and the full-time employment rate reaches 70.1%, above what many regional towns achieve. The SEIFA IRSD decile is 6, near the middle nationally for relative disadvantage, while the IER (economic resources) decile of 8 is notably higher, reflecting the above-average household incomes generated by mining wages. Real income growth of 1.7% over the decade is modest compared to higher-growth corridors.
Unemployment
1.5%
Labour Force
5,074
Unemployed
78
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
70.1%
Part-time
26.9%
Participation
62.4%
Employed
1,698
Occupations
Top Industries
University
11.8%
Postgraduate
1.3%
Born Overseas
6.8%
Dwellings
1,218
Transport to Work
Car dependency is very high at 91.4% of commuters, compared to the national average, with only 1.6% using public transport and 1.9% walking or cycling. This is consistent with a low-density outer suburb without a heavy rail link. No schools are recorded inside the Walkerston boundary in this dataset, so families rely on nearby Mackay area institutions. The IRSAD decile of 5 places the suburb at the national midpoint for advantage, while the IER decile of 8 reflects above-average economic resources generated by the mining wage base. Housing stress indicators are favourable: both mortgage-to-income (18.7%) and rent-to-income (16.8%) sit well below stress thresholds. The need-for-assistance rate of 4.1% and a volunteering rate of 13.4% round out a stable, community-oriented profile.
Drive
91.4%
Public Transport
1.6%
Walk / Cycle
1.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.46%/yr
(+40 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth is slow but positive: the annual rate is 0.46%, adding around 40 people per year, and medium forecasts project the SA2 population reaching 8,997 by 2031 from 8,749 in 2025. The 10-year population change was just 0.6%, classifying Walkerston as an established, slow-growth suburb. Internal migration runs at minus 32 per year on average while overseas migration contributes 11, leaving a small net outflow. The demographic trajectory is aging, with the senior share rising 4.9 points and the working-age share falling 2.3 points over the decade. The gentrification score of 2 indicates no gentrification pressure, and affordability has actually improved from 41.7% in 2011 to 36.6% in 2021, a positive signal for entry-level buyers.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+11
Net Internal / yr
-32
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Walkerston compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Walkerston a good suburb to live in?
Walkerston suits families and tradespeople who value space and affordability over proximity to a CBD. The median house price is around $466,000, 92.1% of dwellings are detached houses, and mortgage-to-income sits at a comfortable 18.7%. Household income ranks at the 81.6th percentile nationally, driven by the local mining economy. Car ownership is near-universal at 91.4%, so residents need their own transport.
What is the median house price in Walkerston?
The median house price is approximately $466,000 (estimated from 2025 rental data). Weekly rent averages $360, implying a gross yield near 4%. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,733, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 18.7% is well below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Walkerston?
No schools are recorded inside the Walkerston boundary in this dataset. Families access schools in the broader Mackay region. Despite the low local university qualification rate of 11.8%, which is 18.3 points below the national figure, the suburb has a strong trade and technical workforce consistent with its mining and construction economy.
Is Walkerston safe?
Specific crime statistics are not available for Walkerston in this dataset. As contextual indicators, the IRSD decile of 6 places the suburb at the national midpoint for relative disadvantage, and only 4.1% of residents need daily assistance. The unemployment rate is low at 3.0%, which correlates with community stability in comparable regional areas.
Is Walkerston good for property investment?
The gross yield of approximately 4% (based on $360 weekly rent against a $466,000 median) is higher than most capital city markets. However, the vacancy rate of 6.2% is elevated, and net internal migration averages minus 32 people per year, suggesting modest rental demand. The mining industry base (18.4% of workers) creates income stability but cyclical commodity risk. Development activity is low at 5 applications in 12 months, limiting supply pressure.
How is Walkerston's population changing?
Population growth is slow at 0.46% per year, adding around 40 people annually. The SA2 population reached 8,749 in 2025 and medium forecasts project 8,997 by 2031. The demographic is aging, with the senior share rising 4.9 points and working-age share falling 2.3 points over the decade. Net migration is slightly negative internally but offset partially by overseas arrivals of 11 per year.
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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