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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.
est. as @ -- *
ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Torrens has an estimated 2,472 residents, up from 2,424 at the 2021 Census — a change of 48 people, or 2.0%. Growth has averaged 1.0% a year over five years, slower than 81% of areas nationally. That puts 1,902 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 research conducted by AreaSearch, the resident count in Torrens stands at roughly 2,472 as of Aug 2026. This represents an addition of 48 people (2.0%) compared to the 2,424 people recorded in the 2021 Census. Such adjustments are derived from ABS estimated resident population figures of 2,470 as of June 2025 alongside 9 validated new addresses registered following the Census. The local population density reaches 1,901 persons per square kilometer, outperforming the benchmark across nationwide locations monitored by AreaSearch. Inbound international migration served as the core engine of local expansion, accounting for roughly 66.7% of net population additions over recent timeframes.
Projections utilised by AreaSearch incorporate ABS/Geoscience Australia models for SA2 regions published in 2024 using 2022 as the base year, supplemented by ACT Government SA2 projections with a 2022 base for unrepresented areas or periods following 2032. Looking ahead, demographic forecasts anticipate an overall shrinkage in community size, with the local headcount projected to contract by 164 persons by 2041 under these models. Conversely, selective expansion is expected in particular age brackets, spearheaded by the 65 to 74 demographic with a projected gain of 20 people. Additional insights are available in the age breakdown.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
51 new dwellings have been approved in Torrens over the past five years, an average of 10 a year. That is 4.2 approvals per 1,000 residents. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Residential building approvals in Torrens have averaged approximately 10 new dwellings each year, totaling 51 homes over the previous 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26). Demand fundamentals appear solid with 2.4 people entering the suburb annually for each new dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26), a metric supporting local values. Furthermore, residential building activity reflects an emphasis on high-grade construction, with expected building costs averaging $428,000 per dwelling, moderately exceeding regional standards. Commercial building activity recorded $132,000 in approvals during this financial year, underscoring the area's predominantly residential character.
Dwelling construction rates in Torrens sit well below regional norms, trailing the broader Australian Capital Territory per-capita average by 77.0%. Such a restricted supply of new residential stock generally underpins demand and pricing resilience for existing homes. Recent building permits have been heavily weighted toward separate houses at 80.0%, with medium and high-density housing making up 20.0%, thereby preserving the low-density suburban landscape favored by families requiring larger allotments. A metric of approximately 325 people per approval underscores the established, mature state of the local housing market. With demographic models pointing to steady or slightly declining resident numbers, Torrens is likely to encounter reduced building and dwelling demand pressures, presenting advantageous conditions for prospective property buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Torrens
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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 44 current infrastructure and development projects close to Torrens, worth an estimated $4.18 billion. 7 are already under construction and 12 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal 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
Capital investments and planning developments can substantially alter an area's trajectory. Presently, no major infrastructure initiatives have been identified by AreaSearch as directly impacting the suburb. Relevant nearby initiatives that may influence the broader district include the Athllon Drive Duplication, Mawson Group Centre Upgrade, Mixed-Use Complex In Mawson, and the Canberra Hospital Master Plan.
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
Kambah Group Centre Expansion
A $20 million private redevelopment led by Exempla Group to revitalize the Kambah Village precinct. The project involves doubling the existing Woolworths supermarket footprint to approximately 3,475 square metres to create a full-line store. The expansion includes a new BWS, additional specialty retail units ranging from 50 to 300 square metres, new food outlets, and medical services. The design features a new covered northern entry and integrated landscaping designed to complement ACT Government public realm upgrades.Current planning focus includes lease variations to accommodate indoor recreation and personal services.
The Valley Ponds - Wanniassa
Proposed medium-density residential estate of approximately 120-150 townhouses and apartments on former open space land between Wanniassa Hills and the Erindale Centre, part of the broader Indicative Land Release Program.
Woden Community Services Hub
A new four-storey facility in Woden Town Centre that will centralise community and government services under one roof, bringing together services currently operating from multiple buildings in the region. It will include child and family services, meeting rooms, a multi-purpose hall, and workshop spaces. Construction is expected to commence in 2026-27.
Athllon Drive Duplication
The Athllon Drive Duplication upgrades a key arterial road linking Woden to Tuggeranong in the ACT. The primary southern section duplicates 2.4 km between Sulwood Drive and Drakeford Drive in Kambah and Wanniassa, with a smaller 600 m northern section between Hindmarsh Drive and Melrose Drive. Works include lane duplication, new traffic signals at multiple intersections, upgraded bus stops, active travel paths for cyclists and pedestrians, water quality improvements for Lake Tuggeranong, and a new underpass under Sulwood Drive.Jointly funded by the ACT and Australian governments at $98.55 million, the Development Application for the southern section was approved in early 2026 following completion of enabling works. A tender for main construction is expected to be issued in 2026, with the northern section design ongoing and its timeline less certain due to future light rail corridor planning.
Wanniassa Hills Primary School Modernisation
ACT Government modernisation project at Wanniassa Hills Primary School delivering a preschool upgrade and replacement of existing gas boilers with fully electric heat pumps to improve energy efficiency, thermal comfort and learning environments. The works build on the school's earlier major modernisation program including new learning communities, administration refurbishment, hall improvements and expanded parking. Electrical supply upgrade works were tendered in 2025 to support the new HVAC system.
Ivy by Morris (Section 54 Phillip)
A premium 18-storey residential tower offering 212 apartments with rooftop amenities, ground-floor retail and direct connection to the redeveloped Woden Town Square.
Skye by Trilogy (Section 117 Phillip)
A landmark 20-storey mixed-use residential tower comprising 188 luxury apartments with ground-floor retail and commercial space, located directly opposite Westfield Woden in the Phillip town centre. Developed by Zapari, the project forms part of the broader high-rise transformation of the Woden Town Centre precinct.
Kambah BMX Facility Lighting Upgrade
Installation of four light towers at the existing BMX facility to allow greater use of the site, extended hours, and outdoor activities outside summer months.
1,315 residents of Torrens are employed, from a labour force of 1,357. Unemployment sits at 3.1%, with participation at 68.0%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.8% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,925, about 78% 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
Torrens is characterized by a workforce with high educational attainment, strong employment in professional services, a low unemployment rate of 3.1%, and steady labor market conditions throughout the prior year. By March 2026, employed residents reached 1,315, maintaining an unemployment rate 1.0% lower than the 4.1% recorded for Australian Capital Territory, while the participation rate sat slightly below regional standards at 68.0% compared to 70.6% across Australian Capital Territory. Remote work was reported by 13.6% of workers in Census data, though this was influenced by prevailing Covid-19 restrictions. The resident workforce is heavily concentrated across public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and professional & technical sectors.
In contrast, accommodation & food services accounts for a smaller footprint, employing 4.7% of workers locally against 6.5% regionally. Comparing Census daytime employment figures with resident workforce numbers indicates that this primarily suburban district provides relatively few jobs within its own boundaries. AreaSearch assessment of ABS and SALM figures indicates that over the 12-month period, local employment grew by 0.2% while the labor force expanded by 1.0%, leading to an increase in the unemployment rate of 0.8 percentage points. Across Australian Capital Territory, employment rose by 0.3% against a 1.1% expansion in the labor pool, resulting in a 0.7 percentage point increase. Looking forward, national employment forecasts from Mar-26 published by Jobs and Skills Australia project nationwide job growth of 6.6% across five years and 13.7% across ten years, with performance varying across sectors. When weighted against the industry profile of Torrens, local employment is projected to expand by 6.8% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, representing an illustrative baseline that does not integrate localized demographic shifts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Torrens is $2,612 a week (about $136,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,286 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $75,737 a year against an average of $97,606. 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
Taxation statistics from the ATO for financial year 2023 compiled by AreaSearch show Torrens SA2 taxpayers generating a median income of $75,737 and an average of $97,606, positioning the area in the upper tier nationally against Australian Capital Territory benchmarks of $72,206 (median) and $85,981 (average). Factoring in a Wage Price Index expansion of 10.44% since financial year 2023 yields updated estimates of approximately $83,644 for median earnings and $107,796 for average earnings as of March 2026. Across household, family, and individual brackets in Census 2021 data, local earnings consistently place between the 92nd and 94th percentiles across Australia.
In terms of earnings distribution, 30.6% of residents (756 individuals) fall into the $4000+ per week category, contrasting with the broader territory where the $1,500 - 2,999 band leads at 34.3%. With 45.6% earning above $3,000/week, the area displays significant financial strength. Residents retain 87.0% of their earnings after meeting housing costs, and the suburb achieves an advantageous SEIFA income standing in the 9th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Torrens had 858 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 85% detached houses and 3% apartments. 39% are owned with a mortgage, 25% rented and 36% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $478 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,470 a month, a total housing cost higher than 79% of areas nationally. Rent absorbs 18.3% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.8%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Data from the latest Census shows that standalone houses comprise 84.8% of the Torrens housing stock, while other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings) represent 15.2%, compared to 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings across Australian Capital Territory. Fully owned homes account for 36.2% of tenures, notably above the regional rate, while mortgaged properties represent 38.7% and rental accommodations comprise 25.1%. Typical monthly mortgage repayments settled at $2,470 and median weekly rent reached $478, both exceeding the Australian Capital Territory standards of $2,080 and $450 respectively. On a national scale, housing costs in Torrens are elevated compared to Australia-wide medians of $1,863 for mortgages and $375 for rents.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Torrens counted 858 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.7 people each. 39% are couples with children, more than in 75% of areas nationally, against 25% couples without children. 22% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute the predominant living arrangement, representing 74.2% of all households. This total includes couples with children (38.5%), couples without children (24.5%), and single parent families (10.1%). The remaining 25.8% consists of non-family arrangements, divided between lone person households at 22.2% and group households at 3.6%. The typical household size stands at 2.7 people, outpacing the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
48.6% of adults in Torrens hold a university qualification, including 29.3% with a bachelor degree and 13.9% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 85% of areas nationally. A further 14.7% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 397 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,092 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
Academic credentials in Torrens rank well above broader averages, with 48.6% of the population aged 15+ holding tertiary degrees compared to 30.4% across Australia, giving the workforce a distinct orientation toward knowledge-driven industries. Bachelor degrees are held by 29.3% of residents, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 13.9% and graduate diplomas at 5.4%. Technical and vocational training encompasses 24.0% of qualifications among residents aged 15+, consisting of certificates (14.7%) and advanced diplomas (9.3%). Participation in study is substantial across the suburb, with 32.5% of the local population actively undertaking formal education.
Breaking this down by level, primary schooling represents 11.3%, secondary education accounts for 9.4%, and tertiary programs engage 6.1% of residents.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Torrens reaches 10 stops on 27 routes, timetabled for about 2,600 services a week. The typical home sits about 230 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.5 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 assessment of public transport networks shows 10 active bus stops operating across Torrens. These locations are connected via 27 individual routes that together deliver 2,593 weekly passenger trips. Accessibility is convenient, with residents residing an average of 229 meters from their closest transit point. Given the residential makeup of the area, most workers travel outward for work, with private motor vehicles accounting for 86% of journeys and bus travel representing 9%. Households maintain an average of 1.5 vehicles, which exceeds regional norms, while 13.6% of residents reported working from home in the 2021 Census under prevailing pandemic conditions.
Transit service schedules deliver an average of 370 daily trips across the combined network, translating to roughly 259 weekly services at each individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
70.9% of residents in Torrens report no long-term health condition. 4.5% need daily assistance with core activities, and 69.7% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.6 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health indicators in Torrens perform favorably based on AreaSearch evaluations of chronic illness rates and mortality statistics, with typical conditions remaining infrequent among general residents and aligning with national baselines for older, vulnerable demographics. Furthermore, private health insurance uptake is exceptionally strong, covering approximately 70% of residents (1,722 people), surpassing both the Australian Capital Territory rate of 62.4% and the national baseline of 55.7%. Asthma and mental health conditions are the most prevalent reported medical challenges locally, each affecting 8.0% and 8.0% of the community, while 70.9% of residents reported having no long-term medical ailments, slightly above the 70.2% recorded for Australian Capital Territory.
Residents aged under 65 exhibit superior overall health metrics. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 16.3% of the suburb (403 people), exceeding the territory proportion of 14.2%, and while health indicators for this senior group are above average, their relative national ranking is somewhat lower than that of the wider local populace.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
25.2% of Torrens residents were born overseas and 19.8% speak a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (24.1%) and Australian (23.7%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Torrens demonstrates a higher degree of multicultural representation than most comparable markets, with 25.2% of its population born overseas and 19.8% speaking languages other than English in the home. Christianity represents the leading faith, adhered to by 46.4% of the population. Hinduism represents a notable religious community at 3.6% of residents, compared to 4.8% across Australian Capital Territory. Regarding parental heritage and ancestry, the three most common backgrounds among Torrens residents are English (24.1%), Australian (23.7%), and Other (9.5%). In addition, specific ancestral groups show higher relative representation locally than across the territory, such as Polish ancestry at 1.1% in Torrens (vs 0.8% regionally), French ancestry at 0.8% (vs 0.5%), and Croatian ancestry at 1.0% (vs 0.9%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Torrens is 39. 23.5% 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
Torrens exhibits an age profile broadly aligned with Australian Capital Territory norms, showing a maximum divergence of 10.3 percentage points across cohorts. As of August 2026, AreaSearch estimates the median age at 39, remaining identical to the figure from the 2021 Census and sitting 4 years above the territory median of 35 recorded at that Census. The most noticeable cohort shift since the Census occurred in the 25 - 44 age bracket, which declined from 24.5% to 22.5% of the population. Looking forward to 2041, senior and retiree demographics (65+) are projected to absorb the majority of additions, increasing by 12 residents (3%) to reach 415, while cohorts of children, young adults, and young to middle aged adults are expected to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Torrens
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Sep 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) | Aug 2026 last month 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 Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Sep 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 Sep 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 4 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 6 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) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago 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 — 9 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,424 at the 2021 Census → 2,472 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 Aug 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 (801091110). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.