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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Holder has an estimated 2,895 residents, up from 2,816 at the 2021 Census — a change of 79 people, or 2.8%. Growth has averaged 0.8% a year over five years. That puts 1,548 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
AreaSearch indicates that the population of Holder stands at approximately 2,895 as of May 2026. Since the 2021 Census, which recorded 2,816 residents, the population has grown by 79 individuals, representing a 2.8% increase. This population movement is calculated using the ABS estimated resident population of 2,895 from June 2025 alongside 8 validated new addresses registered after the Census. Consequently, the local population density is 1,548 persons per square kilometer, a figure that exceeds the average density across national locations analyzed by AreaSearch. With this 2.8% expansion rate since the 2021 census, Holder outperformed the broader SA3 area's growth of 1.9%, positioning it as a leading growth area in the region.
This growth was primarily fueled by overseas migration, which represented roughly 58.7% of all population additions in the recent timeframe. Projections established by ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 with a 2022 baseline are utilized for each SA2 region. For locations lacking this dataset, or for periods extending past 2032, ACT Government SA2 projections by age category starting from a 2022 base are applied. Looking at future demographic trends, projections using this framework point to a contraction in the overall population, with a forecast loss of 27 individuals by 2041. Despite this overall contraction, gains are anticipated in particular age brackets, most notably in the 45 to 54 cohort, which is expected to expand by 65 individuals.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
22 new dwellings have been approved in Holder over the past five years, an average of 4 a year. That is 1.6 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 2, well below that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Home builders in Holder have secured approvals for approximately 4 new dwellings annually, resulting in a total of 22 homes over the previous 5 financial years. In the current FY-26 period, 2 approvals have been logged. With an average of 5.2 new inhabitants per year for each completed dwelling during the 5 financial years spanning FY-21 to FY-25, demand remains well ahead of supply. This mismatch typically drives up prices and intensifies buyer rivalry, while the construction cost of these new properties averages $241,000. Additionally, commercial approvals worth $622,000 have been logged during this financial year, highlighting the mostly residential character of the neighborhood.
Compared to the broader Australian Capital Territory, the rate of new residential approvals per person in Holder is only about two-thirds, placing it in the 11th percentile of all analyzed locations nationwide. This indicates a constrained supply for buyers and boosts demand for established properties. This rate is similarly below the national benchmark, highlighting the established status of the neighborhood and pointing to potential zoning constraints. The mix of new construction consists of 67.0% detached houses and 33.0% attached dwellings, showcasing a growing proportion of attached options that offer choices across various budgets, from large family residences to compact homes. Given that demographic forecasts point to stable or declining population levels, housing demand pressures in Holder are expected to ease, which should benefit prospective purchasers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Holder
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 6 current infrastructure and development projects inside Holder. A further 16 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $1.32 billion. 6 are already under construction and 1 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, retail and sports & recreation. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local infrastructure projects, planning choices, and major works can play a key role in regional performance. AreaSearch has identified 0 projects expected to impact the suburb. Relevant broader developments in the region include the Molonglo Group Centre to Town Centre Transition, Fetherston Weston, the Canberra Hospital Master Plan, and the Deakin Private Hospital, with details provided on those most applicable to the local area.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Cooleman Court Shopping Precinct Upgrades
Upgrades to the shopping precinct at Cooleman Court to revitalize and improve access.
Woolworths Weston Creek Supermarket Expansion and Refurbishment
Expansion of the supermarket and full refurbishment to Woolworth's latest standard. Supermarket to remain open during refurbishment.
Waramanga Oval and Stirling Playing Fields Upgrades
Lighting upgrades at Waramanga Oval and upgraded field lights at Stirling Playing fields to allow for night matches.
Heysen Street, Weston RZ4 Land Development Opportunity
Substantial 13,130my RZ4 (medium density residential) land parcel in established Weston, available for purchase for residential development. Elevated block with Brindabella views.
Weston Creek Aged Care Facility
Construction of an aged care facility and associated works on Blocks 1151 and 864 Weston Creek. Follows NCA Board approval in 2015 for a retirement village and 99-year lease.
Molonglo Town Centre
Canberra's sixth town centre, formally reclassified under National Capital Plan Amendment 99 (September 2024). The Suburban Land Agency is master-planning a 97-hectare precinct along the Molonglo River to serve as the primary commercial and community hub for the Molonglo Valley district, expected to house around 70,000 residents by 2050. The centre will include a main shopping precinct, homemakers and service trades precinct, district library and community centre, indoor sport and recreation facility, high school and college, transport interchange, town park, and approximately 10,000 dwellings within the town centre itself.Delivery is planned in four stages over 8-10 years, with retail core construction commencing in 2026.
Fetherston Ridge
Located on an elevated site in Weston, offering views across Fetherston Gardens to the Brindabella Ranges. Defence Housing Australia built 50 properties, and remaining land lots were sold. Will feature 120 residences.
Molonglo River Bridge and John Gorton Drive Extension
A jointly funded ACT and Australian Government infrastructure project delivering a 200-metre weathering steel bridge over the Molonglo River and approximately 1.7 kilometres of new arterial road as the final section of John Gorton Drive. When complete, the bridge will be the longest weathering steel bridge in Australia and the tallest road bridge in Canberra. The project improves all-weather connectivity for Molonglo Valley suburbs including Denman Prospect and Whitlam, replacing the flood-prone Coppins Crossing alignment.Scope includes two new signalised intersections, two queue-jump bus lanes, bus stops, provision for future light rail, off-road shared paths, a pedestrian underpass adjacent to the future Molonglo Town Centre, a services corridor for electricity across the river, and native fauna habitat including platypus nesting sites. Construction began January 2024; all 12 steel girders have been lifted into place and deck construction is underway. Completion is expected in late 2026.
1,554 residents of Holder are employed, from a labour force of 1,603. Unemployment sits at 3.1%, with participation at 66.8%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.4% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,402, about 83% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The labor force residing in Holder is highly qualified, with a strong concentration in essential services, an unemployment rate sitting at just 3.1%, and steady employment conditions over the preceding year. As of March 2026, working residents numbered 1,554, with the local unemployment rate running 1.0% lower than the Australian Capital Territory average of 4.1%. Labor force participation stands somewhat lower than the territory level, recorded at 66.8% compared to 70.8% across the Australian Capital Territory. According to Census records, a moderate 13.9% of the working population performed their duties from home, though this figure may reflect the influence of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.
Public administration & safety, professional & technical, and health care & social assistance represent the primary sectors of employment for local workers. In contrast, the accommodation & food sector has a minimal footprint, employing 5.1% of the workforce compared to 6.5% across the region. This highly residential suburb appears to offer few local jobs, as highlighted by the discrepancy between the Census local working population and the resident workforce count. According to AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, the labour force grew by 1.2% while employment fell by 0.3% during the year to March 2026, which caused the unemployment rate to rise by 1.5 percentage points. In contrast, the Australian Capital Territory experienced employment growth of 0.3%, a labour force expansion of 1.1%, and an unemployment increase of 0.7 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 provide additional context regarding potential future demand within Holder. These projections, which span five and ten-year periods, have been overlaid onto the local employment profile to estimate growth trends. Although national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, sector-specific growth rates vary considerably. When these industry-specific projections are applied to Holder's employment mix, local employment is expected to rise by 6.4% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, noting that this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not incorporate localised population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Holder is $2,338 a week (about $122,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,273 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $74,517 a year against an average of $86,762. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Based on the most recent postcode level ATO statistics processed by AreaSearch for financial year 2023, Holder SA2 has a median taxpayer income of $74,517 and an average of $86,762. These figures rank among the highest nationally, compared to the Australian Capital Territory median of $72,206 and average of $85,981. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2023, current estimates for March 2026 stand at approximately $82,297 for the median and $95,820 for the average. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual incomes in Holder all placed in the upper tiers nationally, ranking between the 85th and 94th percentiles.
Income distribution shows that the largest segment is the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly bracket, containing 33.1% of residents (958 people), which is similar to the wider region where 34.3% of the population falls into this category. The suburb exhibits high levels of wealth, with 37.9% of residents earning more than $3,000 weekly, which supports high-end retail and local services. After paying for housing, households keep 87.2% of their income, demonstrating strong disposable income, and the suburb ranks in the 9th decile on the SEIFA income index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Holder had 1,092 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 75% detached houses and 6% apartments. 42% are owned with a mortgage, 19% rented and 39% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $465 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,167 a month. Rent absorbs 19.9% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.4%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the time of the last Census, the housing stock in Holder consisted of 74.6% stand-alone houses and 25.4% other dwelling types such as townhouses, apartments, and alternative options, compared to 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings across the Australian Capital Territory. Home ownership rates in Holder were considerably higher than the territory average, with 39.0% owning their homes outright, while the remaining properties were held under a mortgage (42.1%) or rented (18.9%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the area was $2,167, exceeding the Australian Capital Territory median of $2,080, while the median weekly rent was $465, compared to the territory figure of $450.
Across Australia, Holder's mortgage costs are notably higher than the national average of $1,863, and weekly rents are well above the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Holder counted 1,092 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.5 people each. 32% are couples with children, against 29% couples without children. 25% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.5 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up the vast majority of households at 72.3%, consisting of 31.5% couples with children, 29.0% couples without children, and 11.2% single parent households. Non-family households account for the remaining 27.7% of properties, with single-person households at 24.9% and group households making up 2.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.5 residents, which is identical to the average for the Australian Capital Territory.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
48.1% of adults in Holder hold a university qualification, including 27.8% with a bachelor degree and 13.7% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 99% of areas nationally. A further 12.8% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 494 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,136 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Holder features high levels of academic achievement, with 48.1% of residents aged 15 and over holding a university degree, compared to 30.4% nationwide. This educational profile positions the suburb well to capitalize on knowledge-based employment sectors. Bachelor degrees represent the most common credential at 27.8%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 13.7% and graduate diplomas at 6.6%. Vocational qualifications are held by 23.9% of residents aged 15 and over, comprising advanced diplomas at 11.1% and certificates at 12.8%. Enrolment in education is strong, with 30.3% of the population currently undertaking formal study.
This student cohort includes 9.4% enrolled in primary schools, 8.1% in secondary schools, and 6.4% enrolled in tertiary institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Holder reaches 24 stops on 45 routes, timetabled for about 3,200 services a week. The typical home sits about 200 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.4 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transport services in Holder include 24 active stops providing bus connections. These stops accommodate 45 separate routes, which support a total of 3,204 weekly passenger journeys. Accessibility is high, with households situated an average of 198 meters from their nearest transit stop. Given the residential nature of the suburb, most working residents travel out of the area, with private cars remaining the primary transport mode at 85%, followed by buses at 9% and cycling at 2%. Households own an average of 1.4 vehicles. At the 2021 Census, 13.9% of the workforce worked from home, a figure that may reflect pandemic-era conditions.
Transit services run at an average of 457 trips daily across all routes, which translates to approximately 133 weekly departures per stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
66.8% of residents in Holder report no long-term health condition. 4.5% need daily assistance with core activities, and 63.3% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.8 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Holder displays favorable health trends, according to AreaSearch indicators for mortality rates and chronic illnesses, with both younger and older cohorts exhibiting low rates of common health conditions. Furthermore, private health insurance uptake is high, covering approximately 63% of the population (1,832 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. Asthma and mental health conditions are the most prevalent health issues in the suburb, affecting 9.1% and 9.0% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 66.8% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 70.2% across the Australian Capital Territory.
The health status of the working-age cohort is consistent with typical benchmarks. Residents aged 65 and over make up 18.9% of the local population (545 people), which is higher than the Australian Capital Territory average of 14.3%. Senior citizens in the area experience positive health outcomes, with national health rankings matching those of the broader local population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Holder is largely Australian-born, at 76.4% of residents, with 16.4% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (25.8%) and Australian (22.8%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Holder exhibits elevated levels of cultural diversity, with overseas-born residents making up 23.6% of the population and 16.4% using a non-English language at home. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 46.0% of the local population. The most pronounced religious divergence is seen in Hinduism, which represents 2.5% of the local population, compared to 4.8% across the Australian Capital Territory. Looking at ancestral backgrounds, the three largest groups in Holder are English at 25.8%, Australian at 22.8%, and Irish at 11.0%. Some European ancestries show higher concentrations relative to the broader region, with Polish heritage representing 1.1% of the population compared to 0.8% regionally, Serbian at 0.5% compared to 0.4%, and Hungarian at 0.4% compared to 0.3%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Holder is 41. 23.0% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The median age of residents in Holder is 41 years, which is higher than the Australian Capital Territory median of 35 and above the national average of 38. Compared to territory averages, the 75 - 84 age group is overrepresented, making up 7.5% of the local population, while the 25 - 34 cohort is underrepresented at 12.2%. Post-2021 Census data indicates the 35 to 44 age cohort has increased from 14.9% to 16.4% of the population, whereas the 65 to 74 group fell from 10.1% to 8.5%. Population projections for 2041 point to shifts in the local age structure, led by a 13% expansion in the 45 to 54 cohort, growing by 54 people to reach 466 from 411, while the 15 to 24 and 0 to 4 age brackets are expected to shrink.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Holder
8 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 8 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | May 2026 3 months ago all 13 measures |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 3 sections | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2025 about a year ago all 6 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Jul 2025. | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 8 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (2,816 at the 2021 Census → 2,895 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (801081094). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.