Toolakea QLD 4818
Toolakea is a rural locality in Queensland, 1,388 km from Brisbane CBD, around 15 hours 50 minutes by car. Population is 218; the median age is 50 and the median household income is $79,248 per year. On socioeconomic measures it sits in the bottom 20% nationally. Population grew 6.3% from 2016 to 2021. The 2021 Census recorded a median rent of $310 per week and a median monthly mortgage of $1,950. The area shows high coastal erosion risk and high crime risk. 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 218. 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 Toolakea?
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Our score
Not enough data to score this locality.
Residents say
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Median House Price
Public listings dataThe median house sale price in Toolakea sits at $617,000, broadly flat year-on-year. That said, only four sales settled in the quarter, so the median is a noisy signal — treat it as a direction rather than a level.
$617,000
Based on only 4 sales — small sample, take as indicative.
Rental Market
Rental affordability
June quarter 2025105 Moderately unaffordable · the average rental household in this region would pay about 29% of its income on the median rent in postcode 4818.
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 Toolakea safe? Crime statistics
2025Crime in Toolakea sits in the moderate band, with 6 incidents recorded in 2025 — up roughly 50% on the prior year.
6 offences
50.0% since 2024Crime Trend
Serious Road Crashes
2020–20241 crash
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.
Coastal Erosion
Shoreline Change Summary
1989–2025Nearest Eroding Coastline
- Distance
- 254 m
- Rate
- -0.95 m/yr
- Net Movement
- -43.2 m
- Certainty
- good
Data Quality
Schools
Walkability
Toolakea 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 Toolakea.
- Full-fibre (FTTP) share
- 0%
- Premises covered
- 124
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
Townsville: 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
Toolakea is home to 218 residents, with a median age of 50 — noticeably older than the national figure of 38. Median household income runs at $79,000 a year, with unemployment at 12.5%.
2021 Census · change since 2016
Population
218
Median Age
50
Median Household Income
$79,248/yr
Census Median Rent
$310/wk
Census Median Mortgage
$1,950/mo
Avg Household Size
2.3
Median Personal Income
$43,888/yr
Unemployment Rate
12.5%
Unoccupied Dwellings
23.6%
Total Dwellings
89
Owner-Occupier Rate
84.7%
Houses
93.3%
Rental Stress
20.3%
Mortgage Stress
29.5%
Work From Home
11.4%
Dwelling Types
Property Ownership
Demographics
- Born in Australia
- 78.4%
- English Spoken at Home
- 85.3%
- Employment Rate
- 47.3%
- Completed Year 12
- 28.0%
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 $1,810 a year through Townsville based on 2025 figures.
Building Approvals: Townsville
In the year to August 2026, 1,096 new dwellings were approved across Townsville. That mix is 991 houses and 105 units. Approvals are down 22.3% on the same period a year earlier.
New Homes Planned
New homes planned in this locality: 1 to 5 homes
- No timeframe set 1 to 5 homes
Land the Queensland Government's residential land supply study identifies for future housing (1 parcel), 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 Gurambilbarra Wulgurukaba People.
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 µg/m³ in 2025 — below Australia's NEPM annual standard (8 µg/m³), slightly above the stricter WHO guideline (5 µg/m³). 1 day exceeded the daily threshold of 25 µg/m³.
PM10 averaged 15.6 µg/m³ · NO₂ averaged 0.25 pphm. Days over the limit in 2025: PM10 1 · NO₂ 0.
From the North Ward (Townsville, North Queensland) monitoring station, 25.8 km away.
Climate & Setting
from Townsville Aero, 22.0 kmHigh rainfall — warm summers, mild winters.
- Elevation
- 1 m
- above sea level, at the locality centre
- Distance to the ocean
- 259 m
- Annual rainfall
- 1,304 mm
- 65 rainy days
- Summer max (Jan)
- 31.8°C
- 5 days ≥ 35°C
- Winter min (Jul)
- 15.0°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.
EV adoption
In postcode 4818, 177 of 28,154 registered light vehicles are battery-electric on 31 January 2025. A further 2.1% (581 vehicles) are hybrid or plug-in hybrid, taking the non-petrol, non-diesel share to 2.7%.
Rooftop solar
In postcode 4818, 9,962 rooftop-solar systems totalling 74.4 MW have been installed since 2001, against 11,493 dwellings recorded in the 2021 Census. 800 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
5 mortgage brokers are registered in postcode 4818.
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 $617,000 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 Phillip Thompson Liberal National Party of Queensland
| Year | Winner | 2PP ALP | 2PP LNP | Swing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Phillip Thompson | 36.6% | 63.4% | -1.6 |
| 2022 | Phillip Thompson | 38.2% | 61.8% | +3.4 |
| 2019 | Phillip Thompson | 41.6% | 58.4% | +8.4 |
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 Wayde Chiesa Liberal National Party of Queensland — elected at the Nov 2025 by-election, after the results below
Next state election: 28 October 2028.
| Year | Winner | Won with |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Nick Dametto KAP | 63.2% |
| 2020 | Nick Dametto KAP | 64.8% |
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 Toolakea?
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 218 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 Toolakea to another suburb
Side-by-side stats for any other QLD suburb — type a name and pick one.
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Common questions about Toolakea
Is Toolakea a safe place to live?
Recorded crime in Toolakea is moderate (64/100, ranked against other QLD suburbs on offences per resident).
What natural hazards affect Toolakea?
Toolakea 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 Toolakea?
Toolakea, QLD had a population of 218 at the 2021 Australian Bureau of Statistics census.
What is the postcode for Toolakea, QLD?
The postcode for Toolakea, QLD is 4818.
How far is Toolakea from Brisbane?
Toolakea is 1,388 km from Brisbane CBD by road, about 949 minutes by car in normal traffic. Distance is the most-direct driving route, not straight-line.
What is the median household income in Toolakea?
At the 2021 ABS Census, median household income in Toolakea was $79,248 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 Toolakea?
There are too few current rental listings in Toolakea for a reliable median. At the 2021 ABS Census the median weekly rent was $310, across all dwelling types.
What is the median age in Toolakea?
The median age of residents in Toolakea was 50 at the 2021 ABS Census.
What is the air quality in Toolakea?
The nearest government air-quality monitoring station to Toolakea (North Ward (Townsville, North Queensland)) recorded a 2025 annual mean PM2.5 of 6.0 µg/m³ and PM10 of 15.6 µg/m³. That puts Toolakea 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 Toolakea?
At the nearest Bureau of Meteorology station to Toolakea, Townsville Aero (22 km away), summer days average 31.8°C, winter nights 15°C, 1,304 mm of rain a year over 65 rainy days, and 5 days a year above 35°C over 2006-2026.
Is the First Home Owner Grant available in Toolakea?
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 Toolakea belong to?
Toolakea sits within the Townsville local government area. Council rates, planning approvals, and waste collection fall under this LGA.
How much are council rates in Toolakea?
The average residential rates bill through Townsville is $1,810 a year (2025). Every suburb in this LGA shares the same schedule — individual bills vary with land value.
How much is being built near Toolakea?
Across Townsville, 1,096 new residential dwellings were approved in the year to August 2026 (source: ABS Building Approvals). That's down 22.3% 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 Toolakea in?
Toolakea sits within the federal Division of Herbert, currently held by Phillip Thompson (Liberal National Party of Queensland).
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Data freshness
- Census · 2021
- Median sale prices · 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.