Holloways Beach vs Machans Beach

In both, most households own their home and most homes are detached houses. In Holloways Beach, about half of households are people living alone. On these figures, Holloways Beach tends to suit people living alone.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Machans Beach

ahead on 2 of the 6 things we measure here

  • has more separate houses rather than flats (90% vs 62%)
  • is already more of a family suburb (53% vs 42%)
  • But Holloways Beach has more parks and reserves (11 vs 4)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Machans Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper land ($270,000 vs $920,000)

Weighs house prices, land prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Holloways Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper rent ($305/wk vs $370/wk)

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Holloways Beach

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more units and townhouses to downsize into (38% vs 10%)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

Holloways Beach

ahead on 2 of the 2 things we measure here

  • is growing faster (2.2% vs -10.3%)
  • returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.4% vs 3.9%)

Weighs house yield and population growth.

Where they sit

Holloways Beach and Machans Beach drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Holloways Beach Machans Beach
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Holloways Beach Machans Beach
Walkability 35 / 42
Holloways Beach — Walkability: 35/100 Machans Beach — Walkability: 42/100
Safety 22 / 26
Holloways Beach — Safety: 22/100 Machans Beach — Safety: 26/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Holloways Beach — Low fire risk: 100/100 Machans Beach — Low fire risk: 100/100

Demographics

Holloways Beach has more residents (2,398 vs 943); Machans Beach rents higher ($370/wk vs $305/wk).

Holloways Beach Machans Beach
Population 2,398
+61% vs other
 943
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +2.2% -10.3%
Median age 46 47
Median household income $69,784/yr $83,720/yr
+20% vs other
Median weekly rent $305/wk $370/wk
+21% vs other

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Holloways Beach Machans Beach
0-4 4.1% / 5.0%
Holloways Beach — 0-4: 4.1% Machans Beach — 0-4: 5.0%
5-14 10.2% / 12.2%
Holloways Beach — 5-14: 10.2% Machans Beach — 5-14: 12.2%
15-19 4.6% / 4.3%
Holloways Beach — 15-19: 4.6% Machans Beach — 15-19: 4.3%
20-24 4.6% / 3.2%
Holloways Beach — 20-24: 4.6% Machans Beach — 20-24: 3.2%
25-34 11.0% / 9.0%
Holloways Beach — 25-34: 11.0% Machans Beach — 25-34: 9.0%
35-44 12.7% / 12.6%
Holloways Beach — 35-44: 12.7% Machans Beach — 35-44: 12.6%
45-54 17.2% / 15.8%
Holloways Beach — 45-54: 17.2% Machans Beach — 45-54: 15.8%
55-64 18.3% / 18.9%
Holloways Beach — 55-64: 18.3% Machans Beach — 55-64: 18.9%
65-74 12.3% / 13.3%
Holloways Beach — 65-74: 12.3% Machans Beach — 65-74: 13.3%
75-84 4.1% / 4.9%
Holloways Beach — 75-84: 4.1% Machans Beach — 75-84: 4.9%
85+ 1.0% / 1.1%
Holloways Beach — 85+: 1.0% Machans Beach — 85+: 1.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (18.9%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Holloways Beach 48.8% lone person
Holloways Beach — Lone Person: 48.8% Holloways Beach — Couple Families: 23.3% Holloways Beach — One Parent Families: 18.9% Holloways Beach — Group Household: 8.3% Holloways Beach — Other Families: 0.8%
Machans Beach 36.0% lone person
Machans Beach — Lone Person: 36.0% Machans Beach — Couple Families: 31.7% Machans Beach — One Parent Families: 21.6% Machans Beach — Group Household: 8.3% Machans Beach — Other Families: 2.5%
Lone Person Couple Families One Parent Families Group Household Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Holloways Beach 36.7% renting
Holloways Beach — Owned Outright: 28.8% Holloways Beach — Mortgage: 34.5% Holloways Beach — Renting: 36.7%
Machans Beach 28.2% renting
Machans Beach — Owned Outright: 31.8% Machans Beach — Mortgage: 40.1% Machans Beach — Renting: 28.2%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Holloways Beach Machans Beach
Certificate III & IV 17.6% / 16.9%
Holloways Beach — Certificate III & IV: 17.6% Machans Beach — Certificate III & IV: 16.9%
Bachelor Degree 11.5% / 12.6%
Holloways Beach — Bachelor Degree: 11.5% Machans Beach — Bachelor Degree: 12.6%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 9.4%
Holloways Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Machans Beach — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 9.4%
Postgraduate Degree 3.4% / 5.3%
Holloways Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 3.4% Machans Beach — Postgraduate Degree: 5.3%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 2.0% / 2.9%
Holloways Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.0% Machans Beach — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.9%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (17.6%).

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Holloways Beach Machans Beach
England 6.3% / 5.0%
Holloways Beach — England: 6.3% Machans Beach — England: 5.0%
New Zealand 4.2% / 3.6%
Holloways Beach — New Zealand: 4.2% Machans Beach — New Zealand: 3.6%
Germany 1.3% / 0.8%
Holloways Beach — Germany: 1.3% Machans Beach — Germany: 0.8%
Japan 1.0% / 0.4%
Holloways Beach — Japan: 1.0% Machans Beach — Japan: 0.4%
Scotland 0.8% / —
Holloways Beach — Scotland: 0.8% Machans Beach — Scotland: not among its largest
Italy — / 0.7%
Holloways Beach — Italy: not among its largest Machans Beach — Italy: 0.7%
China — / 0.6%
Holloways Beach — China: not among its largest Machans Beach — China: 0.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (6.3%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Holloways Beach 62.4% houses
Holloways Beach — Houses: 62.4% Holloways Beach — Townhouses: 33.7% Holloways Beach — Flats / Apartments: 3.9%
Machans Beach 90.4% houses
Machans Beach — Houses: 90.4% Machans Beach — Townhouses: 7.7% Machans Beach — Flats / Apartments: 1.9%
Houses Townhouses Flats / Apartments

Property market

Holloways Beach Machans Beach
Median house price $700,000 $659,250
Median unit price $355,000 —
Median land price $920,000 $270,000
Typical days to sell (houses) 22 days
from 13 sales
 31 days
from 19 sales

House price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Holloways Beach Machans Beach
2 bed $630K / $658K
Holloways Beach — 2 bed: $630K (5 sales) Machans Beach — 2 bed: $658K (11 sales)

5 vs 11 sales

3 bed $705K / $672K
Holloways Beach — 3 bed: $705K (22 sales) Machans Beach — 3 bed: $672K (22 sales)

22 vs 22 sales

4 bed $677K / $630K
Holloways Beach — 4 bed: $677K (5 sales) Machans Beach — 4 bed: $630K (7 sales)

5 vs 7 sales

Development activity

Holloways Beach Machans Beach
New dwellings approved 767
across Cairns
same for both
Approvals change year on year -81%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Holloways Beach Machans Beach
Houses 4.4%
$640/wk on $749K
 3.9%
$740/wk on $989K
Units 7.3%
$505/wk on $360K
 —

Ranking within QLD

Holloways Beach Machans Beach
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 37% of QLD Higher than 55% of QLD
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 83% of QLD Higher than 85% of QLD
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 76% of QLD
same for both
NBN connectivity Higher than 79% of QLD Higher than 82% of QLD
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 74% of QLD Higher than 47% of QLD
Rental yield (units) Higher than 97% of QLD —

Liveability

Machans Beach scores higher overall (44 vs 37).

Holloways Beach Machans Beach
Grade C
same for both
Score 37/100 44/100
Socio-economic band below-average income
decile 3/10
 mid-range socio-economic
decile 5/10

Risk profile

Holloways Beach Machans Beach
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
78/100
 High
74/100
Flood Not mapped
no mapped data here
same for both
Coastal erosion Moderate
43/100
 High
83/100
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 3
within 5 km
 4
within 5 km

Schools

Holloways Beach Machans Beach
Inside the suburb 0 1
Rated above peers 0
same for both
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 1
James Cook University - Cairns, 5.0 km
 1
James Cook University - Cairns, 7.2 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 0.5%
same for both

Schools in Holloways Beach

No schools recorded inside this suburb's boundary. Children here will be zoned to schools nearby.

Schools in Machans Beach

  • Machans Beach State School Government · Primary at peers

Amenities in the suburb

Holloways Beach Machans Beach
Supermarkets 1 0
Cafes & restaurants 5 2
Parks & reserves 11 4
Childcare 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 0 1
Fuel stations 0 1
Waterways 3 2

Mobility

Holloways Beach Machans Beach
Walkability score 35/100 42/100
Distance to Brisbane 1709.7 km 1709 km
Drive time (normal traffic) 1183 min
same for both
Public transport score 57/100
Bus
 49/100
Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 12.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
 9.0
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 1 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 0.7%
postcode 4878
same for both
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 64
postcode 4878
same for both

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Holloways Beach Machans Beach
Car (driver) 78.5% / 68.6%
Holloways Beach — Car (driver): 78.5% Machans Beach — Car (driver): 68.6%
Worked from Home 14.4% / 20.0%
Holloways Beach — Worked from Home: 14.4% Machans Beach — Worked from Home: 20.0%
Car (passenger) 3.4% / 5.4%
Holloways Beach — Car (passenger): 3.4% Machans Beach — Car (passenger): 5.4%
Walked Only 2.0% / 1.6%
Holloways Beach — Walked Only: 2.0% Machans Beach — Walked Only: 1.6%
Bus 1.4% / 2.2%
Holloways Beach — Bus: 1.4% Machans Beach — Bus: 2.2%
Bicycle 0.3% / 2.2%
Holloways Beach — Bicycle: 0.3% Machans Beach — Bicycle: 2.2%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (78.5%).

Setting

Holloways Beach Machans Beach
Elevation 11 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 10 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 713 m 345 m

NBN connectivity

Holloways Beach Machans Beach
Connectivity score 70/100 73/100
Most common technology Fibre to the node Fibre to the premises
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 45%
1,303 premises
 52%
500 premises

Climate

Holloways Beach Machans Beach
Annual rainfall 2,121 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 31.9°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 18.1°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Holloways Beach Machans Beach
PM2.5 5.6 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 18.6 µg/m³
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Holloways Beach Machans Beach
Average residential rate $1,354/yr
same for both
Council Cairns
same for both

Federal electorate

Holloways Beach Machans Beach
Division Leichhardt
same for both
Member Matt Smith
same for both
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Holloways Beach Machans Beach
Grant amount $30,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Holloways Beach

Affordable Coastal Parks Quiet Townhouses

Machans Beach

Acreage Affordable Coastal Quiet River

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Holloways Beach

Holloways Beach vs Yorkeys Knob Holloways Beach vs Coral Sea Holloways Beach vs Barron

Other comparisons with Machans Beach

Machans Beach vs Stratford Machans Beach vs Aeroglen Machans Beach vs Coral Sea Machans Beach vs Barron
Full data on Holloways Beach Full data on Machans Beach
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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