Macalister QLD 4406
Macalister is a rural locality in Queensland, 236 km from Brisbane CBD, around 2 hours 55 minutes by car. Population is 156; the median age is 40 and the median household income is $75,816 per year. On socioeconomic measures it sits in the middle range nationally. Population grew 2.0% from 2016 to 2021. The 2021 Census recorded a median rent of $250 per week. The area shows high crime risk and no recorded bushfire exposure. Walkability is low.
This locality is too small to rate.
The Liveability Rating is calculated for suburbs of 500 residents or more, and this one has 156. Below that the school, census and safety figures behind the score cover too few people to rank fairly against the rest of the state. The individual measures further down this page are still shown.
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Our score
Not enough data to score this locality.
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Is Macalister safe? Crime statistics
2025Crime in Macalister sits in the high band, with 3 incidents recorded in 2025 — down roughly 25% on the prior year.
3 offences
25.0% since 2024Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2020–20243 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital
Crashes are counted where they happened, so a main road through the locality carries people passing through; this is not a measure of risk to residents. Roads are listed with 3 or more serious crashes.
Schools
Walkability
Macalister is very car-dependent on foot — at 0/100, nearly all errands require a car.
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 Macalister.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 0%
- Premises covered
- 65
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
Western Downs: council population
The three add up to the change above. These are council-wide figures from the ABS, not figures for this locality alone — this locality's own population is in the census section above.
Socio-economic profile
Macalister is home to 156 residents, with a median age of 40, broadly in line with the national figure. Median household income runs at $76,000 a year, with unemployment at 3.3%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
156
Median Age
40
Median Household Income
$75,816/yr
Census Median Rent
$250/wk
Census Median Mortgage
—
Avg Household Size
2.5
Median Personal Income
$45,812/yr
Unemployment Rate
3.3%
Unoccupied Dwellings
9.4%
Total Dwellings
53
Owner-Occupier Rate
48.9%
Houses
100.0%
Rental Stress
17.1%
Mortgage Stress
—
Work From Home
31.4%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 76.3%
- English Spoken at Home
- 86.5%
- Employment Rate
- 64.1%
- Completed Year 12
- 34.6%
Occupations
Religion
Country of Birth (overseas)
Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents.
Age Distribution
Family & Household Composition
Commute to Work
Education
Cars per Dwelling
Council Rates
Households face an average residential rates bill of $1,238 a year through Western Downs based on 2025 figures.
Building Approvals: Western Downs
In the year to August 2026, 53 new dwellings were approved across Western Downs. That mix is 47 houses and 6 units. Approvals are down 40.0% on the same period a year earlier.
Aboriginal Cultural Heritage
The Aboriginal party for this area is Barunggam 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.
Setting
- Elevation
- 330 m
- above sea level, at the locality centre
Elevation is the ground at the locality 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 4406, 0 of 1,620 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 0.9% (15 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 0.9%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 4406, 304 rooftop-solar systems totalling 2.8 MW have been installed since 2001, against 728 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 15 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."
Federal Electorate
Currently held by David Littleproud Liberal National Party of Queensland
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | David Littleproud | 26.0% | 74.0% | -1.8 |
| 2022 | David Littleproud | 27.9% | 72.1% | -3.3 |
| 2019 | David Littleproud | 24.6% | 75.4% | +7.9 |
Results are per division — federal electoral boundaries are redrawn periodically, so the history reflects this division's past, not necessarily the exact locality's voters across time.
State Electorate
Currently held by Ann Leahy Liberal National Party of Queensland
Next state election: 28 October 2028.
| Year | Winner | Won with |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Ann Leahy LNP | 77.8% |
| 2020 | Ann Leahy LNP | 73.2% |
Results are per district. Districts were last redrawn in 2017, so results from before then describe the district of that name, not necessarily this locality's voters. Results: Electoral Commission of Queensland.
Looking at a specific address in Macalister?
Every figure above is a locality 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 156 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
Dalby QLD 4405
Pirrinuan QLD 4405
Kogan QLD 4406
Jimbour East QLD 4406
Warra QLD 4411
Ranges Bridge QLD 4405
Compare Macalister 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 Macalister
Is Macalister a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Macalister is high (93/100, 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 Macalister?
Macalister has no recorded bushfire history. These are locality-wide figures; check the address, as flood and bushfire exposure change street by street.
What is the population of Macalister?
Macalister, QLD had a population of 156 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Macalister, QLD?
The postcode for Macalister, QLD is 4406.
How far is Macalister from Brisbane?
Macalister is 236 km from Brisbane CBD by road, about 173 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Macalister?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Macalister was $75,816 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 Macalister?
There are too few current rental listings in Macalister for a reliable median. At the 2021 ABS Census the median weekly rent was $250, across all dwelling types.
What is the median age in Macalister?
The median age of residents in Macalister was 40 at the 2021 ABS Census.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Macalister?
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 Macalister belong to?
Macalister sits within the Western Downs local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in Macalister?
The average residential rates bill through Western Downs is $1,238 a year (2025). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near Macalister?
Across Western Downs, 53 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's down 40.0% 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 Macalister in?
Macalister sits within the federal Division of Maranoa, currently held by David Littleproud (Liberal National Party of Queensland).
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Data freshness
- Census · 2021
- Council rates · FY 2025–26
- Building approvals · Aug 2026
- Schools · 2025
- NBN connectivity · Dec 2025
- Crime · 2025
- Road crashes · 2020–2024
- 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.