Clermont is one of the oldest towns in inland Queensland. Gold was found there in 1861 and the town was proclaimed in 1863, with copper mined at nearby Copperfield soon after. The 1916 flood washed away the town's business district and killed at least 65 people. The Blair Athol coal mine near town ceased operations in 2012, and coal mining is still the largest employer of Clermont residents. Clermont is about 120 km from Moranbah and 100 km north of Emerald.
Housing in Clermont
In the 2021 Census, 85.8% of occupied homes in Clermont were separate houses and 9.7% were semi-detached homes or townhouses. Ownership is more even than in the newer mining towns: 28.9% of homes were owned outright, 24.1% owned with a mortgage and 39.1% rented. The Census median rent was $220 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,400 a month (2021 figures, not today's prices).
Work in Clermont: mining and grazing
Coal mining employed 21.7% of working residents in 2021, beef cattle farming 7.7%, and hospitals and local government each around 4%. That mix matters for lending. Roster workers face the overtime and allowance questions below, while for graziers and business owners lenders look at tax returns and financials. If you run cattle or a business, see our self-employed home loans page.
Roster income
Base pay is the easy part. Overtime, shift penalties, site and travel allowances, bonuses, labour hire and contracting are where lenders differ, and two lenders can count quite different amounts from the same payslips. Our free Mining & FIFO Borrower Pack has a printable document checklist and a plain-English guide to how lenders usually look at each part of your pay.
Buying in Clermont: what lenders look at
Lenders don't all treat 4721 the same way. Some limit lending in some regional and mining-town postcodes, for example by asking for a bigger deposit or lending a smaller share of the value; others are comfortable lending there. Policies change, so we check current lender policy for 4721 before you apply, not after.
First home buyers in Clermont
- Queensland First Home Owner Grant: $30,000 for first home buyers who buy or build a new home valued under $750,000 (including land), for contracts signed from 1 July 2026. It doesn't apply to established homes.
- Transfer duty (stamp duty): first home buyers pay no duty on a new home, or on vacant land to build one, for contracts from 1 May 2025, with no value cap. On an established home there's no duty up to $700,000, and partial relief for homes valued under $800,000.
- Australian Government 5% Deposit Scheme: buy with a 5% deposit and no lenders mortgage insurance, through a participating lender. The price cap for Clermont is $700,000. The higher $1,000,000 cap in Queensland applies only to Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.
- Residency: for contracts from 1 August 2026, Queensland's home and first home duty concessions are generally limited to Australian citizens, permanent residents and specified foreign retirees.
Each program has its own rules, set by the Queensland Revenue Office or the Australian Government, and the rules can change. The grant only applies to new homes, so in Clermont it's most likely to matter if you build or buy a newly built home. Our first home buyer check shows which ones you may be able to use.
How we work with Clermont clients
Our office is at 68 Sydney Street in Mackay. We work by phone, video and electronic signing, so most clients never need to come in. On roster? Text or WhatsApp 0458 773 002 and we'll call when you're off shift.
Common questions about Clermont
Do lenders treat Clermont as a mining town?
Lender policy is set postcode by postcode and varies between lenders. Some are more cautious in mining-dependent towns; others are comfortable. We check current policy for 4721 before you apply. General information only – speak to a broker about your situation.
I run cattle or a business near Clermont. Can I still get a home loan?
Often, yes. Lenders look at your tax returns and financials, usually for two years, and some accept one year or alternative documents. We work with your accountant so the numbers are read properly.
What is the 5% Deposit Scheme price cap in Clermont?
$700,000, the cap that applies everywhere in Queensland outside Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast.
Do I need to come to Mackay to apply?
No. We work by phone, video and electronic signing, and you're welcome to visit our Sydney Street office if you're in town.
General information only – speak to a broker about your situation. Census figures are from the ABS 2021 Census of Population and Housing and describe the area in August 2021, not today's prices.
Sources
- ABS 2021 Census QuickStats: Clermont SAL30621
- Isaac Regional Council: Clermont
- Isaac Regional Council: Gold Fever tourism trail (town-to-town distances)
- Queensland Places (University of Queensland): Clermont
- Queensland Government: First home owner grant ($30,000 for new homes, contracts from 1 July 2026)
- Queensland Revenue Office: First home concession (established homes)
- Queensland Revenue Office: First home (new home) concession
- Queensland Revenue Office: State Budget 2026 (residency from 1 August 2026)
- firsthomebuyers.gov.au: 5% Deposit Scheme property price caps
More areas: all the towns we help with.