Get a property report and suburb profile for any property in Ooralea

Ooralea sits on the southern fringe of Mackay as a semi-rural pocket close to the city. Streets are dominated by low-density, single-storey homes and larger blocks with open paddocks, so life tends to feel spacious and relaxed. The suburb is home to about 3,700 people, with a median age of 35 and a median household income of $2,248 a week (roughly $116,900 a year). It is largely family-oriented, with couple families with children the largest group at 47.4%, and around three in four homes are owner-occupied. That combination suits families and people who need room for vehicles, trailers or small-scale hobby farming while keeping easy access to Mackay’s shops, schools and sporting facilities.

Ooralea also contains Central Queensland University’s main Mackay campus and the Mackay Aquatic and Recreation Complex, a multi-sport precinct with a 50m competition pool, covered 25m pool, learn-to-swim pool and synthetic athletics track. Local roads link to major regional routes and an overpass at Ooralea is part of broader ring road works; further transport upgrades and new connections are planned or under way. The council has prepared a local plan to guide mixed-use centres, open space and connections around the university precinct, which will shape how the area evolves.

A median house in Ooralea at $750,000 works out to about 6.4 times a typical local household's annual income as recorded at the most recent Census, which places buying well above local incomes. On the rental side, a house rent of $750 a week would take roughly a third of that typical weekly household income at the last Census (about 33.3%), while a unit rent of $570 a week would take about 25.4%, a moderate share. If you're renting rather than buying, those rent shares are the most relevant numbers for comparing costs against local incomes at the last Census.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

Ooralea's clearest movements over the past 12 months are on the house side. Median house values rose 10.3%, a strong increase, while house rents rose 11.1%, also a strong increase, so house rent growth slightly outpaced house value growth. Unit rents increased 3.6% over the year, a modest rise. If rental income is your priority, the house rent figure is the most relevant; if capital growth matters more, the house value change is the figure to watch. What that means for you depends on your goals and circumstances.

This information has been prepared without taking your objectives, needs and overall financial situation into account. It is not meant to be a substitute for professional financial advice. For this reason, you should consider the appropriateness of the information and, if necessary, seek appropriate professional advice.