Machans Beach at a glance
Walk score
2
Very car dependent
Population
943
Median age 47
The brief
What to know about Machans Beach.
The postcode for Machans Beach is 4878 (QLD).
Machans Beach (4878) sits in the Cairns region of Queensland.
Machans Beach has roughly 943 residents, with an established, older skew. Households are mostly owner-occupied. Daily life is car-dependent: most residents drive to work, school and the shops.
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Day to day
What it’s like to live here.
Machans Beach scores 2/100 on walkability, which makes it car-dependent with limited public transport. Plan for two cars in a typical household, especially if work isn't local.
Summer days here average around 32°C (warm), winter mornings around 17°C (mild). Annual rainfall lands at about 2065mm. Data comes from the Bureau of Meteorology's Cairns Aero station, 97.0km away.
Schooling within or near the suburb covers 7 government primary, 3 government secondary, 6 Catholic, 3 independent.
Who lives here
Demographics.
The 2021 Census put Machans Beach's population at 943, with a median age of 47. That sits as an established, older skew. Households are mostly owner-occupied (69% own, 27% rent), which shapes everything from school catchment stability to how often properties turn over. The household mix skews family-dominated (66% family households, 27% lone person), so amenity decisions tend to follow what families want: parks, schools, supermarkets.
Population
943
Median age
47
Family households
66%
Lone person
27%
Demographics data as of May 2026· ABS 2021 Census
Market
The price of a home here.
Median house price
Verified median pending
We don't yet have a verified suburb-level median for this market. We're working on a data partner; in the meantime, treat the state-level figures as a guide only. How we source data.
Sales data as of May 2026· sales-qld
Rental and ownership
Weekly rent (house)
$360/wk
Weekly rent (unit)
$370/wk
Owner occupied
69%
Renter occupied
27%
At a deeper level
943
Median age: 47
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Safety
Crime and safety.
LGA-wide data, not suburb-specific
QLD Police only publishes crime statistics at the local government area / region level. The numbers below cover the entire Cairns Regional Council, which may include suburbs with very different crime profiles. Quieter residential pockets within the LGA likely have lower rates than the total suggests; busier areas may have higher.
42,302
total offences in 2026 across the Cairns Regional Council LGA
Top offence categories
Crime statistics are reported at LGA level and may cover a broader area than this suburb.
Source: State Police Open Data
Getting around
Walkability.
2
10
100
Scores calculated from OpenStreetMap data (ODbL)
Walkability data as of May 2026· OpenStreetMap
Place
Location.
Amenities
Transport
Education
Schools in Machans Beach.
Local schools for Machans Beach
View the catchment for each school to find out more.
Government School Catchment
Machans Beach State School
Freshwater State School
Yorkeys Knob State School
© ACARA, licensed under CC BY 4.0.
Climate
Weather year-round.
Annual Rainfall
2065 mm
Hottest Month (avg max)
31.5°C
Coldest Month (avg min)
16.9°C
Monthly Rainfall (mm)
Weather data from BOM station Cairns Aero (97 km away)
Climate data as of May 2026· Bureau of Meteorology
Frequently asked
About Machans Beach.
- What is the Machans Beach postcode?
- Machans Beach is in the 4878 postcode, in QLD, in the Cairns Regional Council region.
- Where is Machans Beach?
- Machans Beach is a regional suburb in QLD, postcode 4878, in the Cairns Regional Council region.
- What is the average rent in Machans Beach?
- The median weekly rent for houses is $360, for units it's $370.
- What schools are in Machans Beach?
- There are 20 schools serving Machans Beach on this page, including Machans Beach State School, Freshwater State School, Mother of Good Counsel School.
- How walkable is Machans Beach?
- Machans Beach has a Walk Score of 2 out of 100, highly car-dependent. transit score 10, bike score 100.
- What suburbs are near Machans Beach?
- Machans Beach is close to Holloways Beach, Stratford, Aeroglen, Whitfield, Freshwater.
- What is the population of Machans Beach?
- The population of Machans Beach is approximately 943 (2021 Census). The median age is 47.
For Sale
Machans Beach
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Side by side
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Sources cited
Median, growth and rental data from state revenue offices and ABS. Census from ABS 2021. Climate from BoM. Hazard from Geoscience Australia. School data from ACARA. Crime from state police open data. Full methodology →
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