Mackay Isaac Whitsunday · Regional Queensland
Mackay Property Investment
A $14.9 billion regional economy of 129,253 people, built on mining services, health, agriculture and tourism, with unemployment of just 2.5%.
Mackay at a glance
The Hub of the Bowen Basin
Mackay sits on the coast between Townsville and Rockhampton, at the gateway to the Bowen Basin coalfields and the Whitsundays.
129,253
Residents, 2025
$14.9bn
Gross regional product, 2025
2.5%
Unemployment, 2025 average
128+
New beds, Mackay Base Hospital
Sources: Mackay Regional Council, Mackay Economic Profile 2025 (ABS data); Queensland Government 2026–27 budget.
Why Mackay?
A Strong Economy With Tight Housing
Mackay is the service and supply centre for the Bowen Basin. Mining contributes about $5.3 billion of value added to the region, but health care is now the largest employer, with more than 10,000 jobs, and sugar, agriculture and tourism add further depth.
Mackay Base Hospital is being expanded with at least 128 new overnight beds under the Hospital Rescue Plan. With unemployment around 2.5%, the region’s challenge is housing: Mackay Regional Council reports median rents of $620 a week for houses in 2024–25.
We cross-check our location research against Hotspotting (Terry Ryder) and government, council and market data.
What’s driving demand
The Fundamentals Behind Mackay
Mining services
Mackay supplies and services the Bowen Basin, Australia’s largest coal region.
Health
Health care is the region’s largest employer, and Mackay Base Hospital is expanding.
2026–27 budgetAgriculture
Sugar cane and farming remain a core part of the regional economy.
Tourism
Gateway to the Whitsundays and Eungella, worth more than $640 million a year.
Rental demand
Low unemployment and high rents point to tight rental supply.
Our Queensland research
Where to invest in Queensland: Sunshine Coast, Townsville and Mackay.
Read the articleWhere we look
Diverse Jobs, Not a Single Industry
Queensland’s mining towns showed how quickly a one-industry market can turn. Mackay is different because its economy is broader, but we still focus on new homes in established growth areas such as Andergrove, Ooralea and the northern beaches, close to the hospital, schools and services, and we test every purchase against rental evidence and future supply.
New builds in Mackay
Why We Favour New Over Established
Anyone can buy a property. We help identify property worthy of your investment dollars. For most investors, that means a new build:
- Stronger cash flow and higher depreciation
- Lower maintenance and a builder’s warranty
- Rent that reflects a modern, energy-efficient home
- The ten-year rule: a new home stays ten years younger than the house next door, including when you sell
Investor → Strategy → Location → Property
Read more: Existing homes vs new builds, what makes property investment grade and our Queensland house and land research. Set on an established home? Our buyers advocacy service can help.
“Whenever you apply emotion to any decision, especially when it comes to investing, you’re guaranteeing yourself a lower return on investment, but only 100% of the time.”
Questions
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Mackay a good place to invest?
Mackay has a broad regional economy, very low unemployment and high rents. Because mining is a large part of the economy, we focus on well-located new homes with demand from more than one industry.
How many people live in Mackay?
About 129,253 people lived in the Mackay region in 2025, according to Mackay Regional Council’s economic profile.
What is Mackay’s economy based on?
Mining services, health care, agriculture including sugar, and tourism. Health care is now the largest employer.
Strategy Before Property
Talk to Us About Mackay
Book a complimentary strategy call with Stephen Lazar. We’ll talk about your goals and whether Mackay, and which part of it, fits your strategy.
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