Blackwater QLD 4717
Located in Queensland, Blackwater sits 832 km from Brisbane CBD, around 9 hours 20 minutes by car. The town has 4,702 residents, a median age of 31, and a median household income of $122,616 per year. On socioeconomic measures it sits in the bottom 20% nationally. Population fell 1.0% from 2016 to 2021. The 2021 Census recorded a median rent of $220 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $1,083. The area shows high crime risk and no recorded bushfire exposure. 3 schools sit within the town boundary, and walkability is low.
Is Blackwater a good town?
Blackwater scores a D (24/100) on SuburbScan's Liveability grade — weaker on schools, transit, safety, and community.
Below the state average
3 schools · Bottom 17% in QLD
Car-dependent
Walkability 0/100 · 831.6 km · 560 min drive to Brisbane
Median available
Median $302K
High crime risk
Fire 0/100 · Crime 84/100
Highly disadvantaged
SEIFA decile 2/10 · median age 31 · 4,702 residents
Liveability Rating
24 / 100 · Ranked #1000 in QLDEach bar is Blackwater's rank among QLD suburbs, from 0 to 100 (higher is better).
Flood data for Queensland covers only the areas mapped there — a blank here is not an all-clear.
How do you rate the liveability in Blackwater?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
24 / 100
From schools, safety and socio-economic data — not opinion.
Residents say
…
Median House Price
Public listings dataBlackwater's house market is moving higher: the median sale price reached $302,000, roughly 17% above where it sat a year earlier.
Houses
$302,000
Based on 171 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 62 days — median across 46 sales that recorded a listing period
By bedrooms
- 3 bed 105 sales $278K
- 4 bed 49 sales $370K
- 5 bed 5 sales $375K
Land
$39,000
Based on 17 recorded sales in the last 24 months.
Typically sold in 79 days — median across 5 sales that recorded a listing period
Currently for Sale
Last 6 monthsHouses in Blackwater are currently listed at around $389,000 on average. Based on 21 houses listed in the past six months.
$389K
21 houses listed in the last 6 months.
22 of the suburb's 1,492 dwellings (1.5%) were listed for sale in the last 6 months.
Rental Market
Advertised rents · last 6 monthsHouses in Blackwater rent for around $500 a week on average, based on 16 houses listed for rent in the past six months.
$500/wk
16 houses advertised for rent in the last 6 months.
18 rentals advertised against an estimated 965 rented homes (1.9%) in the last 6 months.
Rent agreed on new leases
Jul–Sep 2026- 3-bed houses
- $440/wk
- 34 bonds
- +56% since 2021
- 2-bed units
- $300/wk
- 10 bonds
Median weekly rent on bonds lodged for new tenancies. Change since 2021 compares the median of the first four quarters with the last four. Asking rents above come from advertised listings.
Rental affordability
June quarter 2025133 Acceptable · the average rental household in this region would pay about 23% of its income on the median rent in postcode 4717.
SGS Rental Affordability Index: a score of 100 means rent takes 30% of income, the usual housing-stress line; lower scores are less affordable. "Region" is the capital city or the rest of the state.
Gross rental yield
Indicative$500/week ($26,000 a year) on a $389,000 median
Gross yield — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. Calculated from median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.
Is Blackwater safe? Crime statistics
2025Crime in Blackwater sits in the high band, with 149 incidents recorded in 2025 — down roughly 22% on the prior year.
149 offences
21.6% since 2024Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2020–202421 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital
Where they happened
Crashes are counted where they happened, so a main road through the town carries people passing through; this is not a measure of risk to residents. Roads are listed with 3 or more serious crashes.
Schools
Three schools serve Blackwater, and the cohort is trailing peer-suburb performance.
- • 880 students across 3 schools (avg 293)
- • ICSEA 785-916, median 880 (below the national baseline of 1000)
- • Largest: Blackwater North State School (446 students)
Primary
Secondary
Walkability
Blackwater is very car-dependent on foot — at 0/100, nearly all errands require a car. Within the town there are 1 supermarket, 15 parks and 3 cafes to anchor that walking radius.
We hold no public transport timetable data for this area, so public transport is not rated here and the score is spread across the remaining components. It is not counted as zero.
NBN connectivity
The internet access technology available across NBN premises in Blackwater.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 49%
- Premises covered
- 2,756
NBN Co fixed-line and fixed-wireless premises, as at 30 December 2025. Higher-quality technologies (full fibre) score above copper, wireless, and satellite. Actual speeds depend on your plan.
Amenities
Central Highlands (Qld): council population
The three add up to the change above. These are council-wide figures from the ABS, not figures for this town alone — this town's own population is in the census section above.
Socio-economic profile
The ABS scores 17 small areas inside this town and averages them into the single decile above. They fall into 6 different deciles — a wide range, so parts of this town rank well above the average and parts well below it.
Blackwater is home to about 4,700 residents, and skews young, with a median age of 31 against the national 38. Median household income runs at $123,000 a year, with unemployment at 5.0%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
4,702
Median Age
31
Median Household Income
$122,616/yr
Census Median Rent
$220/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$1,083/mo
Avg Household Size
2.6
Median Personal Income
$65,936/yr
Unemployment Rate
5.0%
Unoccupied Dwellings
46.7%
Total Dwellings
1,492
Owner-Occupier Rate
35.3%
Houses
93.0%
Rental Stress
9.3%
Mortgage Stress
10.6%
Work From Home
3.6%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
75 rented from a state or territory housing authority and 4 from a community housing provider, as a share of the 907 rented dwellings above — not of all dwellings.
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 73.3%
- English Spoken at Home
- 79.6%
- Employment Rate
- 63.9%
- Completed Year 12
- 32.6%
Occupations
Religion
Country of Birth (overseas)
Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents.
When They Arrived
Share of all residents by the year they arrived in Australia. Periods cover different numbers of years, so compare the shape rather than the bar widths.
53 residents (1.1%) arrived since 2016. Australia’s borders were closed to most arrivals from March 2020, so the last two years of that period are much smaller than the ones before them — nationally 260,799 people arrived in 2019 against 28,521 in 2021.
Where New Residents Came From
Where residents aged five and over lived five years before the 2021 Census, for those who lived somewhere else.
5.2% of residents (227) lived in a capital city five years earlier, most of them in Brisbane (196).
Top places newcomers came from, as a share of the 4,338 residents aged five and over. Areas are ABS statistical regions. Small counts are approximate: the ABS adjusts every figure slightly to protect privacy.
Languages Spoken at Home
Top languages other than English, as a share of all residents.
Age Distribution
Family & Household Composition
Commute to Work
1% of employed residents work in a capital's city centre (12 of 2,303).
City centre: the ABS area around each capital's CBD, such as Sydney Inner City or Perth City (which takes in Subiaco and Leederville). 2021 Census place of work.
Local Jobs
People who work in this town against employed people who live here, 2021 Census.
About 5,020 people work here; 2,303 employed residents live here.
A jobs hub: 2.2 jobs for every working resident. At least 51% of the people who work here must live elsewhere.
Counts are by place of work and place of usual residence. The ABS counts jobs in zones; where a zone spans several places, its jobs are shared out by land use. The ABS also adjusts every figure slightly to protect privacy.
Education
Cars per Dwelling
Council Rates
Households face an average residential rates bill of $1,276 a year through Central Highlands (Qld) based on 2025 figures.
Building Approvals: Central Highlands (Qld)
In the year to August 2026, 35 new dwellings were approved across Central Highlands (Qld). That mix is 33 houses and 2 units. Approvals are down 75.0% on the same period a year earlier.
New Homes Planned
New homes planned in this town: at least 657 homes
- Within 2 years 51 to 100 homes
- No timeframe set at least 606 homes
Land the Queensland Government's residential land supply study identifies for future housing (7 parcels), by when it expects lots to be registered. Yields are published in ranges, so these are too.
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
The Aboriginal party for this area is Gaangalu Nation People.
Under Queensland's Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 the Aboriginal party for an area follows native title. No native title claim is currently registered here, so the last registered claimant remains the Aboriginal party.
Air Quality
MODERATEPM2.5 averaged 5.6 µg/m³ in 2025 — below Australia's NEPM annual standard (8 µg/m³), slightly above the stricter WHO guideline (5 µg/m³). 3 days exceeded the daily threshold of 25 µg/m³.
PM10 averaged 16.6 µg/m³. Days over the limit in 2025: PM10 0.
From the Blackwater (Central Queensland) monitoring station, 12.5 km away.
Setting
- Elevation
- 161 m
- above sea level, at the town centre
Elevation is the ground at the town centre, from Geoscience Australia's National Digital Elevation Model. Approximate — it reads high in dense built-up areas. It is a measure of height above sea level and not an indicator of flood risk, which depends on height above nearby waterways.
EV adoption
In postcode 4717, 11 of 3,846 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 0.8% (30 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 1.1%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 4717, 579 rooftop-solar systems totalling 5.4 MW have been installed since 2001, against 2,191 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 32 went up in the last year.
Counts every system certified since 2001, so a roof re-fitted with a newer system is counted twice, and small commercial systems are included alongside houses — useful for comparing postcodes, not an estimate of how many homes have working panels today.
2026 covers part of the year only, to 2026-07.
First Home Owner Grant
FY2026-27$30,000 for new homes priced up to $750,000.
$30,000 for contracts signed on or after 20 November 2023, with no end date. IT DID NOT REVERT TO $15,000: the tier was due to end 30 June 2026 and the 2026-27 Queensland Budget (23 June 2026) continued it for contracts signed from 1 July 2026. This file carried a "due to revert" note until 2026-09-18 — it was never true, and a note predicting a change is not the same as a change. Cap is "less than $750,000" including land and contract variations — less than, not up to. New homes only: "There are no home owner grants for established homes."
Mortgage repayments
Transfer duty at the owner-occupier rate, and it excludes first home buyer concessions — those can cut it substantially or remove it entirely. Excludes legal, inspection and lender fees. Check with Queensland Revenue Office
The First Home Owner Grant applies to newly built homes only, so it isn't available on an established purchase. A first home buyer building or buying new under $750,000 may qualify for $30,000 — see what qualifies with Queensland Revenue Office.
At $302,000 this is under the $750,000 First Home Owner Grant cap. A first home buyer may qualify for $30,000 on a newly built home — check eligibility with Queensland Revenue Office.
A deposit under 20% usually attracts Lenders Mortgage Insurance, which this doesn't include.
Principal and interest over 30 years, fixed rate. Excludes fees, offset, redraw and LMI. Default rate is the median comparison rate across 1788 advertised products as at 2026-10-27 — indicative only, and not an offer. Your rate depends on the lender, your deposit and your circumstances. Not financial advice.
Federal Electorate
Currently held by Colin Boyce Liberal National Party of Queensland
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Colin Boyce | 39.8% | 60.2% | -6.4 |
| 2022 | Colin Boyce | 46.2% | 53.8% | -4.8 |
| 2019 | Ken O'Dowd | 41.3% | 58.7% | +7.6 |
Results are per division — federal electoral boundaries are redrawn periodically, so the history reflects this division's past, not necessarily the exact town's voters across time.
State Electorate
Currently held by Sean Dillon Liberal National Party of Queensland
Next state election: 28 October 2028.
| Year | Winner | Won with |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Sean Dillon LNP | 71.0% |
| 2020 | Lachlan Millar LNP | 67.2% |
Results are per district. Districts were last redrawn in 2017, so results from before then describe the district of that name, not necessarily this town's voters. Results: Electoral Commission of Queensland.
Looking at a specific address in Blackwater?
Every figure above is a town average, and an average smooths over the difference between a street of family homes and a block of flats. Look up one address and you get the census for the few hundred people around it, its own nearest schools and stops, and what the state has mapped for that block.
- The census for a few hundred neighbours, not all 4,702 residents
- Nearest and zoned schools, with the walk from that door
- Flood, bushfire and noise mapping, where the state publishes it
Free to look up. Subscribers see every section in full — $29/month.
Nearby suburbs
Compare Blackwater to another suburb
Side-by-side stats for any other QLD suburb — type a name and pick one.
Or jump straight to a nearby comparison:
Common questions about Blackwater
Is Blackwater a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Blackwater is high (84/100, ranked against other QLD suburbs on offences per resident). Offences against shops, venues and visitors are divided by the people who live here, so suburbs with large daytime or visitor populations rank higher than living there may feel.
What natural hazards affect Blackwater?
Blackwater has no recorded bushfire history. These are town-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
Is Blackwater a good place to live?
Blackwater has a SuburbScan Liveability grade of D (24/100), ranked against other QLD suburbs on school quality (25%), safety (25%), SEIFA socio-economic advantage (25%), walkability (15%) and CBD access (10%). Whether it suits you depends on what you weigh — each of those is on this page.
What is the population of Blackwater?
Blackwater, QLD had a population of 4,702 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Blackwater, QLD?
The postcode for Blackwater, QLD is 4717.
How far is Blackwater from Brisbane?
Blackwater is 832 km from Brisbane CBD by road, about 560 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Blackwater?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Blackwater was $122,616 a year. It is the most recent suburb-level income figure until 2026 Census results are released in 2027.
What is the median weekly rent in Blackwater?
The median advertised rent in Blackwater is $500 a week for houses (16 listings), from rental listings over the last six months.
What is the median age in Blackwater?
The median age of residents in Blackwater was 31 at the 2021 ABS Census.
How are the schools in Blackwater?
There are 3 schools inside the Blackwater boundary: 1 at and 2 below similar schools on NAPLAN, compared with same-state, same-type schools of similar socio-educational advantage (ICSEA).
What is the air quality in Blackwater?
The nearest government air-quality monitoring station to Blackwater (Blackwater (Central Queensland)) recorded a 2025 annual mean PM2.5 of 5.6 µg/m³ and PM10 of 16.6 µg/m³. That puts Blackwater below the Australian NEPM annual standard of 8 µg/m³ but above the stricter WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Blackwater?
First-home buyers in QLD may be eligible for $30,000 towards new homes with a purchase price up to $750,000. The grant is administered by Queensland Revenue Office; confirm current eligibility before signing a contract — state rules and amounts can change.
What council does Blackwater belong to?
Blackwater sits within the Central Highlands (Qld) local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in Blackwater?
The average residential rates bill through Central Highlands (Qld) is $1,276 a year (2025). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near Blackwater?
Across Central Highlands (Qld), 35 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's down 75.0% on the same period a year earlier. These are LGA-level totals — every suburb in the council shares the same figure.
Which federal electorate is Blackwater in?
Blackwater sits within the federal Division of Flynn, currently held by Colin Boyce (Liberal National Party of Queensland).
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Data freshness
- Census · 2021
- Median sale prices · Oct 2026
- For-sale & rental market · Oct 2026
- Council rates · FY 2025–26
- Building approvals · Aug 2026
- Schools · 2025
- NBN connectivity · Dec 2025
- Crime · 2025
- Road crashes · 2020–2024
- Air quality · 2025
- Socio-economic (SEIFA) · 2021
- EV adoption · Jan 2025
- First Home Owner Grant · Sep 2026
- Federal electorate · 2025
- State electorate · 2024
- Amenities · Sep 2026
- Health & emergency facilities · Sep 2026
- Industrial emissions (NPI) · 2024/2025
- Coastal erosion · 1988–2025
- Aircraft noise · 2024
Vintages show when each source's data is from. See all data sources.
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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.