Rowes Bay QLD Property Investment
Townsville · 4810 · Score: 42/100 · Caution
Rowes Bay Short-Term Rental (Airbnb) Market
Rowes Bay QLD Investment Brief
CAUTION — 2.7% gross yield on a $911,554 (single source — OnTheHouse only, no peer to validate) median.
THE MARKET
Rowes Bay has compounded at 1.6%/yr over 5 years. Median sits in the $911,554 (single source — OnTheHouse only, no peer to validate) band today. Properties are sitting on market for 45 days (roughly balanced conditions).
- Median house: $911,554 (single source — OnTheHouse only, no peer to validate) | Units: $667,134
- Gross yield: 2.7% | Net yield: 1.2%
- 5yr price CAGR: 1.6%/yr | 3yr forecast: 13.5%/yr
- Population: 541 | Owner-occupier rate: 49% | Affluence: High
- Supply pipeline: Low — Price growth outpacing new supply, limited development pipeline
RENTAL SNAPSHOT
- Vacancy: 3.0% (stable) | Rental demand: Moderate
- Median weekly rent: $480/wk | Days on market: 45 (stable)
- Tenant market — vacancy elevated, negotiate hard on rent.
SHORT-TERM RENTAL
- Median nightly rate: $409/night | Occupancy: 44%
- Estimated annual STR gross: ~$65,726/yr
- vs long-term rent: $24,960/yr (+163% STR premium — factor in higher management costs)
INFRASTRUCTURE & CATALYSTS
- Bruce Highway Upgrade Program (under_construction)
- Transport: Townsville station 3.4km away
BULL CASE
If Rowes Bay maintains 3%+ annual growth and vacancy stays below 2.1%, median prices could reach $1,048,287 within 3 years with yields compressing slightly as capital values rise.
BEAR CASE
A market correction or interest rate shock could see prices in Rowes Bay pull back 10-15% from $911,554, 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
- Westwood (QLD): $747,318 median, 2.3% yield, 23.0% 1yr growth
- Mapleton (QLD): $1,178,153 median, 3.0% yield, 8.2% 1yr growth
- Mutchilba (QLD): $878,938 median, 1.3% yield, 10.9% 1yr growth
THE PLAY
Rowes Bay carries elevated risk that outweighs potential returns at current levels. A cooling 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: $820,399 – $1,002,709
- Minimum gross yield to target: 4.5%
- Watch signal: vacancy dropping below 2% and days on market falling below 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 1.6% + 10yr CAGR 2.3%
- −Population decline (-0.1%/yr) — demand headwind
- −High supply pipeline (4124 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 2026-04
Suburb Supply & Demand
Suburb Supply Pipeline — New Dwelling Approvals
516
2020
1,107
2021
826
2022
727
2023
948
2025
New dwelling approvals — higher numbers mean more future supply
Socio-Economic Profile
Source: ABS Census 2021SEIFA Index · Postcode 4810
Decile 6 of 10 — Average
Population
21,697
Education (IEO)
8/10
Econ. Resources (IER)
2/10
10-Year Investment Projection
Modelled on Rowes Bay QLD data — rent, capital growth, tax, and depreciation over 10 years.
Pre-filled: $480/wk median rent for Rowes Bay. 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.