Garbutt is a well-established suburb sitting just a few kilometres from Townsville's CBD, and like much of North Queensland, it comes with its own unique set of considerations when it comes to insuring your home. This article breaks down a real home and contents insurance quote for a two-bedroom free standing home in Garbutt (postcode 4814), rated Fair (Around Average), and puts it in context against local, state, and national benchmarks — so you know exactly where you stand.
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Is This Quote Fair?
The quote in question comes in at $4,253 per year (or $408 per month) for combined home and contents cover, with a building sum insured of $470,000 and contents valued at $50,000. Both the building and contents excess sit at $1,000.
Our price rating for this quote is Fair — Around Average, and the numbers back that up. The suburb average for Garbutt sits at $4,261 per year, meaning this quote is essentially right on the money — within $8 of the local average. It also falls comfortably within the interquartile range of $3,385 (25th percentile) to $4,776 (75th percentile), which tells us this is a very typical result for the area rather than an outlier in either direction.
In short: this isn't a bargain, but it's not an overpriced policy either. For a property with the characteristics described below — particularly its age, construction type, and location in a cyclone risk zone — paying around the suburb average is a reasonable outcome.
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How Garbutt Compares
To really understand what this quote means, it helps to zoom out and look at the broader picture. Here's how Garbutt stacks up:
| Benchmark | Premium |
|---|---|
| This Quote | $4,253/yr |
| Garbutt Suburb Average | $4,261/yr |
| Garbutt Suburb Median | $3,997/yr |
| QLD State Average | $9,129/yr |
| QLD State Median | $3,903/yr |
| National Average | $5,347/yr |
| National Median | $2,764/yr |
| Townsville LGA Average | $7,340/yr |
(Based on [Garbutt suburb data](https://coverclub.com.au/stats/QLD/4814/garbutt) from 23 quotes, [QLD state data](https://coverclub.com.au/stats/QLD), and [national benchmarks](https://coverclub.com.au/stats/national).)
A few things stand out here. First, the QLD state average of $9,129 is dramatically higher than both this quote and the suburb average — but that figure is heavily skewed by extremely high-risk areas across the state (think flood-prone or remote coastal communities). The state median of $3,903 is a far more representative figure, and this quote sits only modestly above it.
Similarly, the Townsville LGA average of $7,340 is well above this quote, which suggests that while Garbutt is part of the Townsville local government area, it may benefit from relatively more favourable risk characteristics compared to some other suburbs within the LGA.
Compared to the national average of $5,347, this quote is actually below average — a somewhat surprising result given Garbutt's cyclone exposure. The national median of $2,764 is lower still, but that reflects the large proportion of Australian properties located in low-risk southern states.
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Property Features That Affect Your Premium
Several characteristics of this property have a direct bearing on the premium quoted. Understanding these factors can help you make smarter decisions about coverage and risk mitigation.
Age and Construction (Built 1953, Weatherboard Timber) At over 70 years old, this home predates modern building codes and standards. Weatherboard timber construction, while charming and common in older Queensland homes, is considered higher risk than brick veneer or double brick — it's more susceptible to fire, termite damage, and wind uplift. Insurers typically price this in.
Cyclone Risk Zone Garbutt sits within a designated cyclone risk area, which is one of the most significant premium drivers in North Queensland. Cyclone cover adds meaningful cost to any policy in this region, and it's non-negotiable for most homeowners. This is a key reason why Townsville-area premiums tend to run higher than the national median.
Elevated on Stumps The property is elevated by less than one metre on stumps — a classic Queenslander-style foundation. While elevation can help with flood resilience (water draining away from the structure), stumped homes can also be more vulnerable to wind damage if the subfloor structure isn't well maintained. Insurers assess this carefully.
Timber and Laminate Flooring Flooring type contributes to the overall rebuild cost assessment. Timber flooring, while attractive, can be expensive to replace and is sensitive to moisture — relevant in a tropical climate like Townsville's.
Solar Panels The presence of solar panels adds a modest amount to the sum insured, as they need to be covered as part of the building. Some insurers include them automatically; others require them to be specified. It's worth confirming your policy explicitly covers solar panels and their associated wiring.
Standard Fittings, No Pool, No Ducted Climate Control These factors work in the homeowner's favour. Standard-quality fittings keep the rebuild cost estimate grounded, while the absence of a pool and ducted air conditioning removes two common sources of additional premium loading.
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Tips for Homeowners in Garbutt
1. Review your sum insured annually Building costs in North Queensland have risen sharply in recent years due to supply chain pressures and strong demand for tradespeople after successive cyclone and flood events. A sum insured of $470,000 for a 105 sqm home may be adequate today, but it's worth recalculating your rebuild cost each year — underinsurance is a significant risk.
2. Cyclone-proof your home where possible Many insurers offer discounts or more competitive pricing for homes that have undergone cyclone mitigation improvements — such as roof tie-downs, storm shutters, or upgraded fixings. The Queensland Government's Resilient Homes Fund and similar programmes have provided grants for exactly this kind of work. Even small improvements can influence your premium over time.
3. Compare quotes before your renewal date With 23 quotes in our Garbutt dataset, there's clearly a range of pricing available in this suburb — from $3,385 at the 25th percentile up to $4,776 at the 75th percentile. That's nearly a $1,400 spread. Shopping around at renewal time could move you from the top of that range to the bottom without sacrificing cover quality.
4. Check what's included for your solar panels As mentioned above, solar panels are increasingly common but not always automatically covered in full. Review your policy schedule to confirm coverage for the panels themselves, inverter, and any battery storage. If in doubt, ask your insurer directly before your next renewal.
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Ready to Compare?
Whether you're renewing soon or just curious about what else is available, comparing quotes is the simplest way to make sure you're not overpaying. Get a home insurance quote at CoverClub and see how your current premium stacks up — it only takes a few minutes, and the savings could be significant.