Garbutt
Suburb profile, market snapshot and recent listings for Garbutt, QLD 4814.
About Garbutt
Welcome to Garbutt
Garbutt sits a short drive north-west of Townsville's CBD, tucked between Gardens, Currajong, Gulliver and Belgian Gardens, with the landmark bulk of Castle Hill visible on the skyline nearby. It's a working suburb with deep roots in Townsville's aviation and industrial history, and today it offers a mix of older Queenslander-style homes and more modern housing at prices that remain accessible by North Queensland standards.
With a population of just over 2,300 and a median age of 42, Garbutt has the feel of a settled, low-key community rather than a boom-town growth corridor. It tends to suit buyers and tenants after affordability and proximity to the city, rather than those chasing a flashy lifestyle address.
Lifestyle & dining
Garbutt itself is more residential and industrial than café-strip trendy, but its position means the dining and entertainment options of neighbouring Gardens and Currajong, along with the broader Townsville CBD, are only minutes away. Locals tend to head slightly further afield for their coffee runs and dinners out, treating Garbutt as a practical base from which to enjoy the rest of Townsville.
Castle Hill, the city's most recognisable natural landmark, borders the area and is popular with walkers and runners tackling its various tracks to the summit lookout. For those who like their recreation close to home, that alone is a drawcard of living in this part of Townsville.
Getting around
Garbutt's location just north-west of the CBD makes it a genuinely convenient base for commuters. It's close to Townsville Airport, which is useful both for frequent flyers and for those who simply appreciate living near key infrastructure, and the surrounding road network connects easily into the city centre as well as out towards the northern beaches suburbs.
Buses service the area and link Garbutt with neighbouring suburbs such as Gulliver, Belgian Gardens and Currajong, as well as the Townsville CBD, making it a reasonably easy suburb to live in without relying solely on a car.
Schools & families
Families in Garbutt are well served locally by Garbutt State School, a long-standing part of the community, along with The BUSY School's Garbutt Campus. Together these give local families genuine choice without needing to travel into neighbouring suburbs for schooling options.
The suburb's median age of 42 suggests an established population base, and its modest size and quiet residential streets appeal to families and older residents alike who want easy access to schools, the airport and the CBD without big-city congestion.
Housing & architecture
Housing in Garbutt is dominated by standalone houses, which make up 73% of current listings, complemented by a smaller share of apartments and units (15%), townhouses (8%) and vacant land (4%). This mix reflects the suburb's traditional low-density character, with classic North Queensland homes sitting alongside more recently built dwellings.
The dominance of house stock means buyers after a freestanding home with a yard have plenty of choice, while the smaller unit and townhouse segment offers lower-maintenance or entry-level options for those not wanting a full house block.
The property market
Garbutt's median house price currently sits at $587,000, following growth of 14.6% recently, a sign that buyer demand in this part of Townsville has been building. Units and apartments carry a median of $395,000, offering a notably cheaper entry point into the suburb for first-home buyers, downsizers or investors.
Renters can expect to pay a median of $550 a week, a figure that reflects steady demand from tenants drawn to the suburb's proximity to the airport, CBD and surrounding employment hubs. With houses making up the bulk of the market and prices still well below many inner Townsville suburbs, Garbutt continues to present as one of the more affordable options for buyers wanting to stay close to the city.
Market snapshot
Garbutt property market
Median sale price
$587k
House · 3 bed
Median rent
$550
per week
Gross rental yield
4.9%
annual rent ÷ sale price
Typical price range
Entry
$450k
Median
$587k
Premium
$696k
Days on market
15
Auction clearance
0%
Sold this year
36
Median sold price trend · House 3 bed
Compound growth +19.8% / yr over 4 yrs
Median price by bedrooms · House
Property types on market
Share of current listings in Garbutt by dwelling type.
Who lives here
Demographics
ABS Census 2021 figures for Garbutt, QLD 4814.
Population
2,309
residents (2021)
Median age
42
years
Household income
$1,082
median, per week
Median rent
$220
per week
Median mortgage
$1,300
per month
Mortgage / income
28%
comfortable
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. Suburb-level (SAL) aggregates.
Education
Schools in Garbutt
Government school catchment
Independent & Catholic schools
The BUSY School - Garbutt Campus
Recent results
Recently sold in Garbutt
$523k
27 Crowder St
Sold ~July 2026
$415k
9/73-75 Gorden Street
Sold ~July 2026
Sold prices as published on the original listing; some may reflect the last advertised price. Dates are approximate.
Explore the area
Properties & amenities in Garbutt
Compare the area
Price map around Garbutt
Every listing for sale near Garbutt, coloured by price — so you can see how it stacks up against the streets and suburbs next door.
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Nearby suburbs
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Common questions
Garbutt suburb FAQ
What is the median property price in Garbutt?
The median house price in Garbutt, QLD is $587k for a 3-bedroom home. Over the past year, median sold prices have risen about 14.6%.
How much is rent in Garbutt?
The median weekly rent in Garbutt is around $550 per week.
Is Garbutt a good place to live?
Garbutt is a suburb of Townsville in the City of Townsville, Queensland, Australia. Garbutt is an established residential suburb in QLD, with a population of around 2,309 and 2 schools in the area.
What is the population of Garbutt?
Garbutt has a population of 2,309 (ABS 2021 Census), with a median age of 42.
What schools are in Garbutt?
There are 2 schools in or near Garbutt, including Garbutt State School and The BUSY School - Garbutt Campus.
How long do homes take to sell in Garbutt?
Properties in Garbutt take around 15 days to sell on average, with an auction clearance rate of about 0%.
How much do you need to buy in Garbutt?
Entry-level properties in Garbutt start around $450k, while premium homes reach $696k.
What suburbs are near Garbutt?
Suburbs near Garbutt include Gardens, Currajong, Castle Hill, Gulliver and Belgian Gardens.
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