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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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Spence has an estimated 2,537 residents, down from 2,587 at the 2021 Census — a change of 50 people, or 1.9%. That puts 1,669 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
According to the analysis by AreaSearch, the population of Spence is estimated at 2,537 as of May 2026. This represents a decline of 50 people (1.9%) relative to the 2021 Census, when the count stood at 2,587 people. This shift is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 2,535 alongside 2 validated new addresses registered since the Census. The local population density reaches 1,669 persons per square kilometer, a level exceeding the average across standard national areas monitored by AreaSearch. The primary driver of recent population gains was overseas migration, which accounted for approximately 51.9% of the overall increase.
Projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia, issued in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, are utilized by AreaSearch for each SA2 region. For locations lacking this data and for timeframes beyond 2032, age cohort growth rates from the ACT Government's SA2 projections (2022 base) are implemented. Based on this methodology, the total population is projected to drop, decreasing by 273 persons by 2041. Conversely, expansion is projected in certain age brackets, led by the cohort aged 85 and over, which is expected to grow by 26 people. See the age section for more details.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
An average of approximately 2 new residential approvals are recorded annually in Spence, with a total of 11 dwellings approved over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and 0 registered during FY-26 so far. Amidst the population decline of recent years, this volume of development has been relatively sufficient, which is favorable for purchasers, with new properties built at an average construction value of $224,000. Building activity in Spence is notably low compared to the Australian Capital Territory, running 85.0% below regional average per person. This restricted addition of new housing typically supports demand and valuations for established properties.
This rate also sits below the national benchmark, highlighting the established profile of the suburb and suggesting potential constraints in planning. Of the new builds, 50.0% are standalone houses and 50.0% consist of medium and high-density developments. The focus on denser options provides more accessible price points for buyers entering the market, downsizers, and investors. This represents a major shift from the existing housing stock, which is currently composed of 92.0% houses, reflecting a scarcity of development sites and responding to changing lifestyle preferences and budget constraints. Spence represents a highly mature property market, averaging 1683 people per dwelling approval. Given that population forecasts indicate either stable or declining numbers, Spence is anticipated to experience lower pressure on housing demand, which represents a benefit for prospective purchasers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Spence
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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 5 current infrastructure and development projects close to Spence, worth an estimated $1.41 billion. 1 are already under construction. The pipeline spans education & training, communities and tourism. 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 performance is highly dependent on infrastructure modifications, major developments, and urban planning schemes. AreaSearch has identified 1 project expected to influence the suburb. The key developments of interest include the Ginninderry Masterplanned Community - Strathnairn & Macnamara, Gold Creek Country Club Build-to-Rent (Gold Creek Golf Club Redevelopment), New Northside Hospital, and Canberra Light Rail Stage 3: Belconnen to City, with the detailed list focusing on the most relevant initiatives.
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
Gold Creek Events Facility and 57-Room Hotel
Proposal for a two-storey, 550-seat place of assembly (events facility) with an ancillary three-storey, 57-room hotel, basement/undercroft and surface parking, and retention/adaptation of the heritage-listed former Roman Catholic Church at Gold Creek Village. Proposed by Rakesh Bhutani, CEO of the Canberra Business and Technology College, to provide a large-capacity community and cultural event venue for Canberra. The DA (202342382 / S144B) was refused by the ACT Planning and Land Authority on 15 Aug 2024, citing non-support from the ACT Heritage Council and Transport Canberra and City Services, a 77-space parking shortfall, non-compliant boundary setbacks, and inconsistency with CZ6 zone heritage and landscape objectives.The proponent indicated intent to lodge a reconsideration application, and an EPSDD reconsideration referral for this DA was logged in late 2024, but as of Jul 2026 no public record confirms a successful reconsideration, ACAT appeal outcome, or resubmission.
Second Gungahlin College (Nicholls)
A new public senior secondary college for Years 11 and 12 in Nicholls, built to meet growing enrolment demand in the Gungahlin district. The campus will open with capacity for 800 students, with room to expand to 1,100 in future. Facilities include flexible learning spaces, a performing arts theatre, a gymnasium, and outdoor sports space including a mixed soccer and rugby oval, two tennis courts, and two mixed basketball and netball courts, some of which will be shared with the community outside school hours.The design incorporates solar power and energy-efficient construction. Community consultation on the Development Application has closed and the application is now under assessment. The college is expected to open by 2030 at an estimated construction cost of 114 million AUD.
Gold Creek Country Club Build-to-Rent (Gold Creek Golf Club Redevelopment)
Proposal by Gungahlin Golf Investments and Konstantinou Group for a staged approximately 694 dwelling build-to-rent and commercial accommodation redevelopment over about 10 years while retaining the 18-hole golf course. The enabling subdivision and Crown lease variation were refused in September 2024 due to inconsistency with the National Capital Plan. In October 2025 ACAT overturned the refusal of three associated development applications and remitted them to the ACT Planning Authority for assessment. The project remains under assessment and has not been approved.
Macnamara Residential Estate
Macnamara is the second residential suburb in the Ginninderry Joint Venture, a 6 Star Green Star community on the western edge of Belconnen. Delivered by Suburban Land Agency and Riverview Developments, the suburb will deliver approximately 1,800 homes on land bordering the Ginninderry Conservation Corridor, with views to the Brindabella Mountains. Multiple land stages are actively selling as of 2025-2026, with blocks from 540sqm priced from $615,000. A local retail centre is planned for 2027 (subject to approval) and Strathnairn Early Childhood and Education Centre is partially opening in 2026.
Gold Creek School Senior Campus expansion
ACT Government project to expand the Gold Creek School Senior Campus (Years 7-10) with additional contemporary learning spaces, staff areas and amenity upgrades. Delivered to accommodate approximately 200 extra students and lift total capacity to a little over 1,000 from the start of the 2022 school year. Works included studios, adaptable classrooms, quiet spaces, staff workspace, meeting rooms and bike/parking upgrades. Contractor: Rork Projects.
1,312 residents of Spence are employed, from a labour force of 1,394. Unemployment sits at 5.9%, with participation at 68.0%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.5% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,961, about 77% 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 workforce in Spence is highly educated, with a strong presence in essential services sectors, an unemployment rate of 5.9%, and relatively steady job numbers over the preceding year. As of March 2026, 1,312 residents are employed, while the local unemployment rate sits 1.8% above the Australian Capital Territory average of 4.1%. Participation in the labor force is slightly below the territory benchmark, at 68.0% compared to 70.8% across the Australian Capital Territory. According to Census records, a relatively low proportion of residents (12.8%) worked from home, though this figure may have been influenced by COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
The primary employment industries for local residents are public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The suburb exhibits a strong concentration in construction, with its employment share reaching 1.6 times the regional benchmark. In contrast, representation in public administration & safety is lower at 25.6% compared to the territory average of 30.4%. The residential character of the suburb appears to provide limited local job opportunities, as shown by the disparity between the count of the Census working population and resident population. An analysis of SALM and ABS statistics by AreaSearch indicates that over the 12-month period ending March 2026, the local labor force grew by 1.2% while total employment dropped by 0.1%, resulting in a 1.2 percentage point increase in unemployment. Over the same timeframe in the Australian Capital Territory, employment increased by 0.3%, the labor force expanded by 1.1%, and the unemployment rate rose by 0.7 percentage points. Future local demand patterns can be contextualized using national employment forecasts released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25. These five-year and ten-year forecasts have been aligned with the local industry profile to estimate employment trends. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates vary by industry. Applying these industry projections to the local mix suggests employment for Spence residents could rise by 6.5% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, representing a simple weighted extrapolation that does not account for local population changes.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Spence is $2,358 a week (about $123,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,125 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $69,559 a year against an average of $76,762. 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
According to the latest ATO statistics compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023, tax-paying residents in the Spence SA2 earn incomes well above the national benchmark. The median taxpayer income is $69,559 and the average income is $76,762, compared to the Australian Capital Territory averages of $72,206 and $85,981. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2023, current estimates for March 2026 are approximately $76,821 for the median and $84,776 for the average. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes all placed high nationally, falling between the 86th and 87th percentiles.
The weekly income band of $1,500 - 2,999 is the most common, accounting for 32.6% of residents (827 people), matching the broader regional trend where 34.3% of the population falls into this category. A substantial 36.0% of earners receive more than $3,000 weekly, indicating pockets of high affluence that support local business activity. Discretionary income remains high, with residents retaining 87.2% of their income after housing costs, and the area's SEIFA index for income ranks in the 7th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Spence had 926 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 93% detached houses and 0% apartments. 46% are owned with a mortgage, 21% rented and 33% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $375 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,120 a month. Rent absorbs 15.9% of household income here and mortgage repayments 20.7%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
The housing stock in Spence at the time of the latest Census consisted of 92.5% houses and 7.5% semi-detached dwellings, apartments, or other structures, compared to 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings across the Australian Capital Territory. Home ownership rates in the area were significantly higher than the territory average at 33.2%, with the remaining properties being held under a mortgage (46.1%) or occupied by tenants (20.7%). The median monthly mortgage payment was higher than the Australian Capital Territory level at $2,120, while the median weekly rent was recorded at $375, compared to territory figures of $2,080 and $450 respectively.
On a national scale, mortgage commitments in Spence are notably higher than the Australian average of $1,863, whereas rental costs match the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Spence counted 926 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.7 people each. 36% are couples with children, against 27% couples without children. 21% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.7 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family households constitute the majority at 75.6% of all homes, consisting of couples with children (35.6%), couples without children (27.2%), and single parent families (11.0%). Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 24.4%, with lone person households comprising 21.1% and group houses representing 2.8%. The median household size of 2.7 people is larger than the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
34.6% of adults in Spence hold a university qualification, including 20.7% with a bachelor degree and 8.6% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 77% of areas nationally. A further 20.2% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Educational challenges are present in the suburb, as university qualification rates (34.6%) remain below the SA4 regional average of 46.8%. This gap highlights both a difficulty and a potential focus area for targeted educational strategies. Holders of bachelor degrees make up 20.7% of the population, followed by postgraduate degrees (8.6%) and graduate diplomas (5.3%). Vocational and technical training is prominent, with 31.8% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (11.6%) and certificate-level credentials (20.2%). A high level of educational enrollment is observed, with 31.2% of residents participating in formal study.
This student population includes 10.1% enrolled in primary schools, 8.6% in secondary schools, and 5.6% undertaking tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Spence reaches 27 stops on 98 routes, timetabled for about 7,200 services a week. The typical home sits about 150 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.6 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
An analysis of public transit shows 27 active bus stops operating in Spence. These stops are served by 98 different routes, which together provide 7,199 weekly passenger journeys. Transit access is rated as excellent, with homes generally situated within 150 meters of the nearest stop. Because Spence is mostly residential, the majority of commuters travel outside the suburb, with private cars remaining the primary travel mode at 90%, and buses used by 6%. The average number of vehicles per household is 1.6, exceeding the regional average. A relatively low proportion of residents (12.8%) worked from home, based on the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-era conditions.
Across all routes, service frequency averages 1,028 trips daily, which translates to approximately 266 weekly trips at each transport stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
63.0% of residents in Spence report no long-term health condition. 5.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 57.0% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.1 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Significant health issues exist in Spence, as indicated by AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and the prevalence of chronic illnesses, with common medical conditions affecting both older and younger demographics, while the proportion of residents with private health insurance is high at roughly 57% of the population (~1,446 people). This compares to a rate of 62.4% across the Australian Capital Territory. Mental health concerns and asthma were identified as the most frequent medical conditions, affecting 10.9% and 9.4% of residents. Meanwhile, 63.0% of the population reported no chronic conditions, compared to 70.2% in the Australian Capital Territory.
The working-age cohort experiences notable health difficulties, marked by elevated rates of chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and over make up 18.3% of the community (463 people), which is higher than the 14.3% average for the territory. Senior health indicators present some difficulties, with national rankings aligning generally with the broader population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Spence is largely Australian-born, at 83.3% of residents, with 11.5% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (28.5%) and English (26.7%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Spence displays lower levels of cultural diversity, with 83.3% of residents born in Australia, 93.5% holding citizenship, and 88.5% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 47.5% of the local population. The most visible religious overrepresentation is Buddhism, which is practiced by 1.5% of residents compared to 3.0% across the Australian Capital Territory. Regarding parental country of birth, the three most common ancestries in Spence are Australian, representing 28.5% of residents (well above the regional average of 23.0%), English at 26.7%, and Irish at 10.2%.
There are also minor differences in other ethnic heritages, with Scottish ancestry overrepresented at 8.9% of the population (compared to 7.3% regionally), Polish at 0.9% (versus 0.8%), and Welsh at 0.7% (versus 0.6%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Spence is 38. 24.3% 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 Spence residents is 38 years, which is older than the Australian Capital Territory median of 35 years and identical to the national median of 38 years. Relative to the territory, Spence has a larger proportion of residents aged 75 - 84 (7.7%) and a smaller share of young adults aged 25 - 34 (10.9%). Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 has risen from 5.1% to 7.7%, and the 0 to 4 group grew from 6.0% to 7.4%. In contrast, the 65 to 74 group fell from 11.6% to 8.6%, and children aged 5 to 14 dropped from 14.0% to 11.7%.
Demographic projections suggest the age structure will change considerably by 2041. The 85+ cohort is expected to grow by 52%, adding 24 people to reach a total of 72. Residents aged 65 and older are projected to account for 84% of the population growth, highlighting local aging trends. Meanwhile, the cohorts aged 45 to 54 and 75 to 84 are expected to experience population declines.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Spence
9 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 9 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. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 months ago all 2 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 May 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 2 sections | ||
| 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 — 2 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (2,587 at the 2021 Census → 2,537 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 (801011025). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.