Is South Mackay a nice place to live?

South Mackay has local shops, schools and sports fields, and a three-stage redevelopment of the Magpies Sporting Club is under construction. Couples without children are the largest family group in South Mackay, making up 40.1% of families, and most homes are owner-occupied. For everyday needs residents use nearby stores and schools, bus routes link the area to neighbouring suburbs, several local bus stops were upgraded with new shelters, pram ramps and tactile indicators, and beaches and river recreation are a short drive away.

Is it expensive to live in South Mackay?

A typical local household earned about $1,477 a week at the most recent Census. On those figures a median house price of $635,000 works out to about 8.3 times a typical local annual household income, and a median unit price of $400,000 is about 5.2 times that annual income. Looking at rents, the average house rent of $620 a week would take about 42% of a typical local household's weekly income, which is a large share of income, while the average unit rent of $500 a week would take about 34%, a sizeable share. On these figures buying a house sits well above local incomes, units sit somewhat above, and renting would take a sizeable portion of a typical household's income. Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.

Is South Mackay a good place to invest?

Over the past 12 months South Mackay's unit values jumped 19.7% while house values rose 16.5%. Rents moved more slowly: unit rents rose a solid 8.7% and house rents increased a modest 3.3%. That means capital growth outpaced rental income for both houses and units, and units recorded larger percentage increases than houses on both values and rents. 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.

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South Mackay suburb profile

South Mackay is an inner southern suburb in the Mackay region. It has a residential, established feel with a mix of low-set timber cottages and newer brick homes and low-rise units. Streets are shaded by mature tropical planting and many blocks feature roomy gardens.

It sits within easy reach of the city centre and regional services, with local shops, schools and sports fields for daily needs. Local roads and bus routes link the area to neighbouring suburbs, while beaches and river recreation are a short drive away.

South Mackay property market performance

Current median dwelling price$517,500Past 3 months

Property growth+18.1%Past 12 months

South Mackay's median house price is $635,000, up strongly by 16.5% over 12 months, and the median unit price is $400,000, up sharply by 19.7%.

Unit values rose faster than house values; that large unit change is based on only 11 sales in the last 3 months. In South Mackay, unit rents rose 8.7% over 12 months while house rents rose 3.3%, so unit rents increased notably faster than house rents.

	Houses	Units
Median price Past 3 months	$635K	$400K
Change in value Past 12 months	16.5%	19.7%
Sold Past 3 months	17	11
Median days on market Past 12 months	15	14
Average rent Past 12 months	$620	$500
Change in rent Past 12 months	3.3%	8.7%

5 year median price trend for houses and units

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South Mackay demographics

South Mackay is a community where couples without children are the largest family group and most homes are owner-occupied.

Couples without children make up 40.1% of families and 39.1% of homes are rented. At the 2021 Census 6,918 people lived in South Mackay.

South Mackay and Queensland

	Suburb	QLD
Median age years	39	38
Median household income weekly	$1,477	$1,675
Couples with children share of families	36.4%	41.2%
Couples without children share of families	40.1%	40.3%
One-parent families share of families	21.1%	16.8%
Homes owned outright share of homes	27.9%	30.1%
Homes with a mortgage share of homes	33.0%	35.6%
Homes rented share of homes	39.1%	34.3%

Source: ABS 2021 Census. Shares of homes exclude other and not-stated tenure.

South Mackay infrastructure, key developments and investment opportunities

South Mackay is seeing a three-stage redevelopment of the Magpies Sporting Club, which is under construction and scheduled for completion in 2027; the project has already opened a new 100-plus space car park as work on the main building continues.

A security upgrade for Mackay Stadium (BB Print Stadium) had its tender awarded in 2024 for access control, security fencing and gates. Council transport works also upgraded 18 bus stops, with the program beginning in 2024 and council reporting the upgrades by 2025; South Mackay stops improved included Kippen Street, Kenilworth Street and Napier Street, with new shelters, pram ramps and tactile indicators.

Suburbs near South Mackay

Some popular suburbs near South Mackay include:

How does South Mackay compare to nearby suburbs?

Median house prices: South Mackay’s median house price is 26.4% higher than Mackay’s.
Median unit prices: South Mackay’s median unit price is 17.3% lower than North Mackay’s.
House price growth: Over the past 12 months, house prices in South Mackay have grown 0.3% higher than in West Mackay.
Unit price growth: Over the past 12 months, unit prices in South Mackay have grown 1.6% higher than in Mackay.
Selling speed for houses: Properties in South Mackay are selling 11.8% faster than in West Mackay.
Selling speed for units: Properties in South Mackay are selling 30.0% faster than in Mackay.

Common questions about South Mackay

Is South Mackay a nice place to live?
South Mackay has local shops, schools and sports fields, and a three-stage redevelopment of the Magpies Sporting Club is under construction.

Couples without children are the largest family group in South Mackay, making up 40.1% of families, and most homes are owner-occupied. For everyday needs residents use nearby stores and schools, bus routes link the area to neighbouring suburbs, several local bus stops were upgraded with new shelters, pram ramps and tactile indicators, and beaches and river recreation are a short drive away.
Is it expensive to live in South Mackay?
A typical local household earned about $1,477 a week at the most recent Census. On those figures a median house price of $635,000 works out to about 8.3 times a typical local annual household income, and a median unit price of $400,000 is about 5.2 times that annual income.

Looking at rents, the average house rent of $620 a week would take about 42% of a typical local household's weekly income, which is a large share of income, while the average unit rent of $500 a week would take about 34%, a sizeable share. On these figures buying a house sits well above local incomes, units sit somewhat above, and renting would take a sizeable portion of a typical household's income.

Everyone's financial situation is different, so it's important to consider your own circumstances when deciding which suburb is right for you.
Is South Mackay a good place to invest?
Over the past 12 months South Mackay's unit values jumped 19.7% while house values rose 16.5%.

Rents moved more slowly: unit rents rose a solid 8.7% and house rents increased a modest 3.3%. That means capital growth outpaced rental income for both houses and units, and units recorded larger percentage increases than houses on both values and rents.

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.

Choose the right real estate agents in South Mackay

There are 54 real estate agents in South Mackay, but they don’t all deliver the same results.

Some agents have a much stronger presence in the suburb, with just 5 agents handling around 36.9% of all sales in the past year.

Commission rates in South Mackay typically range from 1% to 3.13%. Comparing agents—including what they charge, what’s included, and how they structure their fees—is not only important when choosing an agent, the right structure can help ensure your chosen agent is motivated to achieve the best possible result.