West Rockhampton QLD Property Investment
Livingstone · 4700 · Score: 47/100 · Caution
West Rockhampton Short-Term Rental (Airbnb) Market
Estimated revenue assumes year-round availability. Non-hosted short-stays are night-capped in some councils (e.g. 60 nights across most of Byron Shire, 180 in Ballina, Muswellbrook and parts of Greater Sydney) and levied in Victoria — the legal cap can cut achievable income well below this figure. Run STR Check for the rules on a specific address.
West Rockhampton QLD Investment Brief
CAUTION — 4.8% gross yield on a $596,365 median.
THE MARKET
West Rockhampton has compounded at 1.5%/yr over 5 years — a house that cost $553,582 in 2021 is worth $596,365 today. Properties are sitting on market for 27 days (sellers have the leverage). At the same growth rate, today's median reaches $642,454 by 2031.
- Median house: $596,365 | Units: $464,785
- Gross yield: 4.8% | Net yield: 3.3%
- 5yr price CAGR: 1.5%/yr | 3yr forecast: 13.5%/yr
- Population: 1,848 | Owner-occupier rate: 60% | Affluence: Below Average
- Supply pipeline: Low — Price growth outpacing new supply, limited development pipeline
RENTAL SNAPSHOT
- Vacancy: 3.0% (stable) | Rental demand: Moderate
- Median weekly rent: $550/wk | Days on market: 27 (stable)
- Tenant market — vacancy elevated, negotiate hard on rent.
SHORT-TERM RENTAL
- Median nightly rate: $481/night | Occupancy: 44%
- Estimated annual STR gross: ~$77,229/yr
- vs long-term rent: $28,600/yr (+170% STR premium — factor in higher management costs)
INFRASTRUCTURE & CATALYSTS
- Rockhampton Ring Road (Under Construction)
- Bruce Highway Upgrade Program (Under Construction)
- Transport: Archer Park station 1.8km away
BULL CASE
If West Rockhampton maintains 3%+ annual growth and vacancy stays below 2.1%, median prices could reach $685,820 within 3 years with yields compressing slightly as capital values rise.
BEAR CASE
A market correction or interest rate shock could see prices in West Rockhampton pull back 10-15% from $596,365, with vacancy rising to 5.0% and rental yields softening as tenants gain leverage.
KEY RISKS
- Distance from CBD may limit long-term capital growth potential
- - Flood risk: MODERATE (qld_elevation_proxy) — part of the suburb sits near waterways or in a mapped flood-prone area
COMPARABLE MARKETS
- Yarraman (QLD): $541,826 median, 3.4% yield, 21.1% 1yr growth
- Roma (QLD): $480,901 median, 5.6% yield, 26.7% 1yr growth
- Durong (QLD): $513,075 median, 2.6% yield, 15.8% 1yr growth
THE PLAY
West Rockhampton carries elevated risk that outweighs potential returns at current levels. A recovery market combined with moderate vacancy risk warrants caution. Avoid new acquisitions unless significant discount to median pricing is achievable. Re-evaluate if vacancy falls below 2.5% or annual price growth exceeds 3%.
- Entry range: $536,728 – $656,002
- Minimum gross yield to target: 5.1%
- Watch signal: vacancy dropping below 2% and days on market holding under 35
This analysis is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial, legal, or investment advice. Seek professional advice before making investment decisions.
Gentrification Index
Growth Forecast
low confidenceBasis: 5yr CAGR 1.5% + 10yr CAGR 3.2%
- +Active market (27 days avg)
- −Population decline (-0.1%/yr) — demand headwind
- −High supply pipeline (1526 new approvals) — may cap price growth
Suburb Metric Thresholds
Macro Environment
Macro Indicators
Cash Rate
4.35%
▲ 0.25%Cash rate as at 2026-05-06 · Credit data 2026-07
Suburb Supply & Demand
Suburb Supply Pipeline — New Dwelling Approvals
217
2020
385
2021
317
2022
265
2023
342
2025
New dwelling approvals — higher numbers mean more future supply
Socio-Economic Profile
Source: ABS Census 2021SEIFA Index · Postcode 4700
Decile 3 of 10 — High disadvantage
Population
17,312
Education (IEO)
4/10
Econ. Resources (IER)
2/10
10-Year Investment Projection
Modelled on West Rockhampton QLD data — rent, capital growth, tax, and depreciation over 10 years.
Pre-filled: $550/wk median rent for West Rockhampton. Capital growth and rent increase are editable assumptions.
Schools
In your catchment
These are the government-school zones containing this suburb centroid. Specific addresses within the suburb may fall in different catchments — confirm with the school directly.
Nearby Suburbs
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Analyse a Property →Data sourced from ABS, state government property sales, and Airbnb market analytics. For informational purposes only — not financial advice.