Shaw is one of Townsville's newest residential areas, sitting between Kirwan, Mount Louisa, Cosgrove, Burdell and Bohle Plains. For a long time much of it was undeveloped or semi-rural, but new estates, including Greater Ascot with its adventure park, have brought streets of modern family homes in recent years. Its population was around 760 at the 2021 Census and has been growing since. Because the residential estates are so new, the RTA reports Shaw's rents as part of postcode 4818. For tenants, Shaw offers something increasingly rare: a brand-new home, built to current standards, a few minutes from Kirwan's schools and shops and the Townsville Ring Road. Young families, defence members and tradespeople are the typical renters. For landlords, new homes mean low maintenance in the early years, though owners of a new build need to manage warranty issues.
Rental snapshot
Median weekly rent for new leases in postcode 4818 (there were too few new bonds in Shaw itself for the RTA to publish a suburb figure).
- 3-bedroom house June 2026 · up $75 on a year earlier
- $600 per week
- 4-bedroom house June 2026 · up $40 on a year earlier
- $640 per week
Source: Residential Tenancies Authority (RTA), median weekly rent for new bonds lodged. Medians move around from quarter to quarter, and a specific home can rent well above or below them.
Get an appraisal for your propertyWho rents in Shaw
Shaw appeals to tenants who want a new home. Young families moving up from older suburbs, defence members, since RAAF Base Townsville is about 7 km away in a straight line, and tradespeople working in the northern industrial areas are the main groups. Many are drawn by modern layouts, ensuites, air-conditioning and low-maintenance yards.
Being close to Kirwan is a big advantage. Shaw tenants can reach Kirwan’s schools, Willows Shopping Centre and the Kirwan Health Campus in a few minutes while living in a brand-new estate.
Schools, shops and getting around
There are no schools inside Shaw yet. Families use the schools in Kirwan, Mount Louisa, Bohle Plains and Burdell, including Kirwan State School, Calvary Christian College, St Benedict’s Catholic School and North Shore State School. Northern Beaches State High School and Kirwan State High School are the nearest state high schools.
Shopping is a short drive away at Willows in Thuringowa Central, Kalynda in Bohle Plains or North Shore Marketplace in Burdell. The Greater Ascot estate has an adventure park, Maidens Green Park provides more green space, and the Townsville Kart Club is inside the suburb. The Townsville Ring Road and the Bruce Highway are close by.
Local considerations for landlords
New builds are low maintenance in the early years, but defects are common in the first year or two: cracking, drainage, doors and minor plumbing issues. Keep builder warranty details and handover documents on file, and make sure issues are reported and claimed within the warranty periods. Landscaping and drainage can take a couple of wet seasons to settle.
Shaw’s homes are built to modern cyclone standards, which helps with insurance. Land near drainage corridors should still be checked on the council’s flood maps, and landlord insurance should cover storm, flood and loss of rent.
Managing a rental in Shaw
With few comparable leases in such a new area, we appraise Shaw homes against recent leases of new and near-new homes across Kirwan, Burdell, Cosgrove and Bohle Plains, and give you a realistic range. We market to families, defence members and tradespeople who want a new home close to Kirwan.
For new builds, we track warranty items during the first inspections and help coordinate builder repairs, so defects are fixed at the builder’s cost rather than yours. Shaw is only minutes from our Kirwan office.
Shaw FAQs
Why does Shaw show postcode 4818 rents?
Shaw's residential estates are new, so the RTA hasn't recorded enough leases to publish a suburb median. We show the postcode 4818 median, which covers much of the northern corridor, and appraise each home against recent nearby leases.
What should I know about renting out a new build in Shaw?
New homes need little maintenance at first, but defects often appear in the first year or two. Keep builder warranty details handy, and make sure tenants report issues promptly so they can be claimed under warranty.
Sources: population from the ABS 2021 Census. Distances are straight-line, calculated from OpenStreetMap boundary data (© OpenStreetMap contributors). School list from the Queensland Government schools directory. Page reviewed September 2026.