REVEALED: Mackay's most family friendly suburbs

New data shows the Mackay suburbs families choose to settle in

Beaconsfield is a popular suburb for families. Alison Cash with daughter Georgia Cash. Picture: Stuart Quinn

IS BEACONSFIELD the perfect suburb for families? Mother of two Alison Cash thinks so, and she has been living here for 15 years.

Data shows that at last count, 2563 families called Beaconsfield home, 1000 families more than the next most 'family-populated' suburb, Andergrove.

Other stand outs were South Mackay, Shoal Point and Glenella.

Ms Cash has lived in the suburb since 2003, and it's where she raised her children with husband, Peter.

"(We) bought the house here with a school nearby to send our kids to," she said.

"It's really family friendly around here, everyone gets along well with each other, our kids, Bronte and Georgia, have grown up with other children in the neighbourhood.

"We are very happy with our schools, and we feel safe, we have a lot of friendly neighbours around, looking out for each other. Not much crime happens around this area."

Beaconsfield is a popular suburb for families. Alison Cash with daughter Georgia Cash, 10. Picture: Stuart Quinn

Miraflores Estates real estate agent Trevor Camilleri said that house prices in Beaconsfield were reasonable and it appeared it was one of the more affordable inner suburbs of Mackay.

"There seems to be a quick turn over area and it has proven to be relatively popular," Mr Camilleri said. "It is a good suburb for families and first home buyers as well."

Mr Camilleri said there were multiple schools, plus easy access to major shopping.

Director of the City Research Institute at Griffith University, Paul Burton said most Australians if given a choice want to live in a suburban environment.

"People want to live on their own block of land," Mr Burton said. "In Australia we use suburb to mean any neighbourhood and a suburb we envisage as prominently residential with the odd shop or petrol station, maybe a small shopping centre.

"The houses are detached, one or two stories and if you speak to developers that's what most people want to buy.

"I moved to Australia 11 years ago from the UK and one of the things that struck me was that is very normal and very Australian to want to live in a detached house in suburbs."

Beaconsfield mum Natasha Mills said she lived in a great little community.

"Our street is large but we have neighbours on both sides and across the road who we've become really good friends with," she said.

"We often catch up for drinks in the afternoon and let the children play.

"Our neighbours to the left of us are a retired couple who my boys have adopted as their grandparents.

"We look out for each other's houses, children, pets and collect parcels from the delivery man if they aren't home.

"We have a street Christmas party every year and it's great. John from next door dresses up as Santa and drives his decorated golf buggy to the party and delivers presents to the kids.

"The Christmas light display in our part of the street is pretty impressive too.

"There's both young families and elderly people but we all get along."

Family-friendly suburbs:

Beaconsfield - 2563 families

Beaconsfield has seven schools in the area, Beaconsfield State School, Mackay District Special School, Carlisle Adventist Christian College, Whitsunday Anglican School, C&K Beaconsfield Community Kindergarten, Mackillop Catholic Primary School and Pioneer State High School.

With 3 parks including Broomdykes Drive Park, Celeber Drive Park and Wilson Park.

Andergrove - 1619 families

Andergrove has 10 schools, Andergrove State School, Pioneer State High School, Mackillop Catholic Primary School, Whitsunday Anglican School, Goodstart Early Learning, Kookaburra Community Child Care Centre, Mackay Christian College 'Providence' Junior Campus, Mackay Christian College Trade Training Centre and Pioneer Community Kindergarten.

The suburb also has 10 parks for people to enjoy including Carbeen Street Park, Gillhams Park and Inglewood Close Park.

South Mackay - 1039 families

There are many schools for parents to choose from in South Mackay including St Mary's Catholic Primary School, Mackay State High School, Mercy College Mackay, South Mackay Preschool & Kindergarten Assoc Inc., Victoria Park State School, Horizon Airways, Do Re Mi Mackay, Mackay Central State School, Paradise Aquatics & Fitness, Mackay West State School, St Francis Xavier Catholic Primary School

South Mackay has seven park for the kids to enjoy, Illawong Park, Kemmis Park and Napier Street Park.

• Shoal Point - 1022 families
• Glenella - 882 families
• Bucasia - 857 families
• Rural View - 857 families
• West Mackay - 854 families
• North Mackay - 834 families
• Mount Pleasant - 665 families
• Blacks Beach - 653 families
• Eimeo - 577 families
• Slade Point - 543 families
• Ooralea - 532 families
• East Mackay - 507 families
• Mackay City - 429 families
• Erakala - 96 families
• Richmond - 87 families
• Dolphin Heads - 55 families
• Mackay Harbour - 42 families
• Nindaroo - 40 families
• Paget - 39 families
• Te Kowai - 34 families
• Racecourse - 28 families
• Cremorne - 1 families

Originally published as REVEALED: Mackay's most family friendly suburbs