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Mackay, Queensland

Roofing help in MackayA city rebuilt by a cyclone, still living with them.

The 1918 cyclone destroyed about 70 per cent of Mackay's buildings, and much of the city you see today was built in the boom that followed. Many older homes are timber, single storey and up on stumps, with roofs that were first fixed with lead-head nails. Roof work here is about holding those roofs down in a cyclone and keeping heavy summer rain out. We pass jobs to licence-checked local roofers where we have them.

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What's different about Mackay roofs

The 1918 cyclone

On 20 and 21 January 1918, few buildings in central Mackay escaped serious structural damage. A storm surge rose 2.36 metres above the highest spring tide, one witness recalled waves breaking in the main street, and 30 people died across the region. The council's heritage guide says about 70 per cent of the town's buildings were destroyed.

Built in the boom that followed

Rebuilding and the sugar industry drove a big building boom through the 1920s and 1930s, and the CBD is known for its Art Deco buildings. The heritage guide names three character precincts: Queen's Park from the 1880s, Railway Station from the 1920s and West Mackay from the 1930s and 1940s.

Old roofs, old fixings

Older Mackay houses usually have steep hipped or gabled roofs, first sheeted with short lengths of corrugated galvanised iron held by lead-head nails. Many have since been re-sheeted in single lengths of zincalume, ridge to gutter. The council says that when a roof is re-sheeted, the framing should be upgraded for tie-down while the sheets are off.

Region C, and recent reminders

The QRA puts coastal areas north of Bundaberg, Mackay included, in Wind Region C, designed for gusts of 250 km/h. Cyclone Ului in 2010 caused roof damage through the region, and Cyclone Debbie in 2017 led to 25,000 Mackay residents in low-lying areas being told to evacuate.

Rain that comes all at once

Mackay Aero averages 1,542.2 mm a year (Bureau of Meteorology, 1950 to 2024, via Wikipedia), most of it from December to March. On 15 February 2008 more than 600 mm fell in six hours, affecting around 2,000 homes.

Coast, storm tide and fire

Council lists low-lying areas at real risk from storm tide, from Midge Point down to Armstrong Beach, and the Northern Beaches suburbs from Bucasia to Shoal Point sit close to the sea. Inland, the 2018 Central Queensland bushfires hit Finch Hatton and Eungella, and residents of Sarina Beach and Campwin Beach were evacuated.

The roof jobs that come up in Mackay

Re-sheeting old houses. When an old iron or zincalume roof finally leaks, it's the chance to upgrade bracing and tie-down at the same time, as council's guide recommends. Start with roof repairs in Mackay.

Painting and colour choices. The heritage guide prefers galvanised corrugated sheeting on heritage houses and says Colorbond colours are generally not appropriate for them. If you're in a character area, read roof painting in Mackay first.

Cleaning salt and grime. Northern Beaches roofs pick up salt, and the humid wet season grows mould. See roof cleaning in Mackay.

Termites and timber. The council says yearly termite checks are essential in Mackay, and structural timber should be checked for dry rot. A roofer who finds soft battens should tell you, not cover them up.

Fibro. Some original timber walls were 'modernised' with asbestos cement sheeting, the guide notes. Get anything suspect tested before it's cut or removed.

Before and after a cyclone

Don't go up on a roof when a cyclone is coming or once it's wet. The QRA says whirlybirds can spin themselves apart and let wind and water in, so it suggests a close-fitting heavy-duty plastic bag over each one before a cyclone. That means going on the roof, so ask a roofer to do it early in the season, never with a warning already out. For storm damage emergencies, call the SES on 132 500.

What we'd do in Mackay

If you own an older timber house, we wouldn't re-sheet the roof without upgrading the tie-downs underneath, exactly as the council's heritage guide advises. While the roof's open, get the timbers checked for termites and rot too. It's the one moment all of it is easy to reach.

Want a roofer to take a look?

Tell us the job and your postcode. We match it with a Find My Roofer certified roofer who specialises in that kind of work, and they call you to quote. Your number goes to them alone.

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Where we come in

We pass roofing jobs on; we don't do them. Tell us your suburb, whether it's West Mackay, Eimeo or out towards Sarina, and the job, and we'll look for one licence-checked roofer who works there. If nobody suitable covers your area, we'll say so.

Services

Roofing jobs in Mackay

Roof repairs in MackayLeaks in old Mackay iron roofs, mixed metals, termite-damaged battens and when a patch isn't enough.Roof painting in MackayPainting a Mackay roof: heritage colour advice, zincalume and galvanised iron, and primers.Roof cleaning in MackaySalt near the beaches, mould after the wet and bush debris: cleaning a Mackay roof the safe way.
Questions

Straight answers.

Do I need approval to re-roof a heritage house in Mackay?
For places on the Queensland Heritage Register, most changes need approval first, and that can include repairs. Council's heritage guide also says development in Residential Character Areas follows design guidelines. Check with Mackay Regional Council before you commit.
Did older Mackay houses do badly in recent cyclones?
In Bowen, Wikipedia reports major damage in Cyclone Debbie, where most homes were built before stricter codes were enforced. The QRA says homes built before the mid-1980s are generally at higher risk and suggests owners get advice from an engineer or builder.
Is there a grant to help with cyclone upgrades?
Not from the Household Resilience Program, which stopped taking applications on 2 October 2026. Even before then, it didn't pay for partial roof replacement or re-nailing.
How do I check a roofer's licence in Mackay?
Use the QBCC licensee register or call 139 333. Ask to see their licence card or digital licence before you sign or pay.

Ready for a roofer to look at it in Mackay?

Your postcode and three quick questions. We match you with a local roofer who specialises in your job, and tell you straight away if we don't have one near you.

Related help

Helpful next

Roof repairs in MackayLeaks in old Mackay iron roofs, mixed metals, termite-damaged battens and when a patch isn't enough.Roof painting in MackayPainting a Mackay roof: heritage colour advice, zincalume and galvanised iron, and primers.Roofers in QueenslandQBCC licence classes, the $3,300 line, home warranty and complaint deadlines for Queensland roofs.Roof replacementStrip-off, new battens and sarking, new roof. How to know it's time, and what happens on a re-roof.WhirlybirdsWind-driven roof vents: where to put them, why they squeak, and solar-assisted models.How to check a roofer's licenceWho licenses roofers in each state, the dollar thresholds, and the register to search.

Where this information comes from

Every fact and rule on this page comes from the sources above, checked on the dates shown. How we write and check these pages.

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