Located in Queensland, McDesme sits 1,259 km from Brisbane CBD, around 14 hours 15 minutes by car. The locality has 254 residents, a median age of 42, and a median household income of $98,384 per year. On socioeconomic measures it sits in the middle range nationally. Population fell 8.3% from 2016 to 2021. The 2021 Census recorded a median rent of $200 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $1,420. 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 254. 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.
How do you rate the liveability in McDesme?
Local knowledge beats any dataset. Rate it and see what other residents think.
Our score
Not enough data to score this locality.
Residents say
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Rental Market
Rental affordability
June quarter 2025167 Affordable · the average rental household in this region would pay about 18% of its income on the median rent in postcode 4807.
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.
Is McDesme safe? Crime statistics
2025Crime in Mcdesme sits in the moderate band, with 6 incidents recorded in 2025 — up roughly 200% on the prior year.
6 offences
200.0% since 2024Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2020–202417 crashes
where someone was killed or admitted to hospital, 2 of them fatal
Where they happened
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
Mcdesme 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 McDesme.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 0%
- Premises covered
- 120
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
Burdekin: 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
Mcdesme is home to 254 residents, with a median age of 42, a touch above the national 38. Median household income runs at $98,000 a year, with unemployment at 0.0%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
254
Median Age
42
Median Household Income
$98,384/yr
Census Median Rent
$200/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$1,420/mo
Avg Household Size
2.6
Median Personal Income
$48,360/yr
Unemployment Rate
0.0%
Unoccupied Dwellings
10.3%
Total Dwellings
87
Owner-Occupier Rate
87.2%
Houses
100.0%
Rental Stress
10.6%
Mortgage Stress
17.3%
Work From Home
12.4%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 89.8%
- English Spoken at Home
- 89.4%
- Employment Rate
- 65.7%
- Completed Year 12
- 33.9%
Occupations
Religion
Country of Birth (overseas)
Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents.
Languages Spoken at Home
Top languages other than English, 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 $1,502 a year through Burdekin based on 2025 figures.
Building Approvals: Burdekin
In the year to August 2026, 22 new dwellings were approved across Burdekin. Almost all of the pipeline is detached houses. Approvals are down 9.1% on the same period a year earlier.
New Homes Planned
New homes planned in this locality: 7 to 25 homes
- Within 2 years 1 to 5 homes
- No timeframe set 6 to 20 homes
Land the Queensland Government's residential land supply study identifies for future housing (2 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 Bindal People #2.
Under Queensland's Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Act 2003 the Aboriginal party for an area follows native title. A native title claim over this area is registered with the Federal Court.
Air Quality
MODERATEPM2.5 averaged 6.6 µg/m³ in 2025 — below Australia's NEPM annual standard (8 µg/m³), slightly above the stricter WHO guideline (5 µg/m³).
PM10 averaged 17.3 µg/m³. Days over the limit in 2025: PM10 1.
From the Ayr (North Queensland) monitoring station, 3.6 km away.
Climate & Setting
from Ayr Dpi Research Stn, 2.4 kmHigh rainfall — warm summers, mild winters.
- Elevation
- 15 m
- above sea level, at the locality centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 14.1 km
- Annual rainfall
- 1,037 mm
- 55 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- 32.0°C
- 6 days ≥ 35°C
- Winter min (Jul)
- 13.3°C
- 0 frost days ≤ 0°C
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.
Industrial Emissions Nearby
1 facility within 5 km- 3.0 kmSugar ManufacturingTop reported: Carbon monoxide · Particulate Matter ≤10.0 µm (PM10) · Oxides of Nitrogen
EV adoption
In postcode 4807, 14 of 10,139 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 2.0% (198 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 2.1%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 4807, 3,228 rooftop-solar systems totalling 26.7 MW have been installed since 2001, against 4,775 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 175 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 Andrew Willcox Liberal National Party of Queensland
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Andrew Willcox | 38.2% | 61.8% | -1.4 |
| 2022 | Andrew Willcox | 39.6% | 60.4% | -4.2 |
| 2019 | George Christensen | 35.4% | 64.6% | +11.2 |
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 Dale Last Liberal National Party of Queensland
Next state election: 28 October 2028.
| Year | Winner | Won with |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Dale Last LNP | 65.8% |
| 2020 | Dale Last LNP | 57.0% |
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 McDesme?
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 254 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
Ayr QLD 4807
Home Hill QLD 4806
Brandon QLD 4808
Jarvisfield QLD 4807
Airville QLD 4807
Carstairs QLD 4806
Compare McDesme 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 McDesme
Is McDesme a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in McDesme is moderate (69/100, ranked against other QLD suburbs on offences per resident).
What natural hazards affect McDesme?
McDesme 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 McDesme?
McDesme, QLD had a population of 254 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for McDesme, QLD?
The postcode for McDesme, QLD is 4807.
How far is McDesme from Brisbane?
McDesme is 1,259 km from Brisbane CBD by road, about 854 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in McDesme?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in McDesme was $98,384 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 McDesme?
There are too few current rental listings in McDesme for a reliable median. At the 2021 ABS Census the median weekly rent was $200, across all dwelling types.
What is the median age in McDesme?
The median age of residents in McDesme was 42 at the 2021 ABS Census.
What is the air quality in McDesme?
The nearest government air-quality monitoring station to McDesme (Ayr (North Queensland)) recorded a 2025 annual mean PM2.5 of 6.6 µg/m³ and PM10 of 17.3 µg/m³. That puts McDesme below the Australian NEPM annual standard of 8 µg/m³ but above the stricter WHO guideline of 5 µg/m³.
What is the weather like in McDesme?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to McDesme, Ayr Dpi Research Stn (2.4 km away), summer days average 32°C, winter nights 13.3°C, 1,037 mm of rain a year over 55 rainy days, and 6 days a year above 35°C over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in McDesme?
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 McDesme belong to?
McDesme sits within the Burdekin local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in McDesme?
The average residential rates bill through Burdekin is $1,502 a year (2025). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near McDesme?
Across Burdekin, 22 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's down 9.1% 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 McDesme in?
McDesme sits within the federal Division of Dawson, currently held by Andrew Willcox (Liberal National Party of Queensland).
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Data freshness
- Census · 2021
- 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
- Climate · 2006–2026
- 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.