Chart Color Schemes
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
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
Find a Recent Sale
Sales Detail
Elsey has an estimated 2,695 residents, up from 2,283 at the 2021 Census — a change of 412 people, or 18.0%. Growth has averaged 0.7% a year over five years, faster than 89% of areas nationally. Overseas migration accounts for 60.2% of that increase. 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 population of Elsey stands at roughly 2,695 as of Aug 2026. This marks an expansion of 412 residents (18.0%) relative to the 2,283 individuals enumerated in the 2021 Census. Such figures are derived from the ABS June 2025 estimated resident population of 2,695 alongside 62 validated new addresses recorded post-Census. Consequently, population density settles at 0.00 persons per square kilometer, highlighting an expansive living environment. Expanding by 18.0% since the 2021 census, Elsey outpaced both territory trends and the 9.5% nationwide benchmark, positioning the locality as a leading growth pocket.
Net overseas arrivals served as the principal demographic engine, accounting for nearly 60.2% of recent overall gains. Projections published in 2024 by ABS/Geoscience Australia utilizing 2022 baseline figures have been integrated by AreaSearch across SA2 boundaries. For locations omitted from that release and for all post-2032 modeling, age cohort progression parameters from the ABS Greater Capital Region release (published in 2023 using 2022 baselines) are applied. On the basis of these demographic outlooks, the locality is anticipated to register above-median expansion relative to regional peers nationwide, adding 390 persons through to 2041 according to recent annual ERP data, which equates to an overall lift of 14.5% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Dwelling creation remains minimal across Elsey, with an annual average of 3 approvals (amounting to 17 dwellings over the five-year period). This subdued level of construction is typical for non-urban settings where residential requirements are modest and building activity is naturally constrained by local market demand and infrastructure limits. Given the small overall volume of consents, year-on-year variations and comparative percentages can fluctuate markedly due to individual development schemes. Building volumes in Elsey fall substantially short of figures recorded throughout Rest of NT, while also sitting considerably beneath national benchmarks.
Of the new residential approvals, 75.0% consist of standalone houses and 25.0% comprise medium-to-high density formats like townhouses or apartments, preserving the district's open, low-density rural setting. According to the most recent quarterly estimate from AreaSearch, Elsey is projected to add 390 residents by 2041. Should current construction tempos persist, the delivery of new dwellings could fall short of resident inflows, which may intensify local buyer competition and place upward pressure on values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Elsey
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 20 current infrastructure and development projects close to Elsey, worth an estimated $7.08 billion. 8 are already under construction and 8 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans energy, environmental & disaster management and transport & logistics. 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
Civic upgrades and strategic regional developments play a critical role in guiding local socioeconomic performance. AreaSearch has identified 11 planned or active initiatives with potential relevance to the locality. Prominent projects include the RAAF Base Tindal Redevelopment, 50 New Houses at RAAF Base Tindal, Supporting Growth in Katherine East (Katherine East Residential Estate), and the Katherine Logistics and Agribusiness Hub, with detailed assessments provided below.
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
RAAF Base Tindal Redevelopment
Major upgrade program at RAAF Base Tindal near Katherine, NT, to enhance airbase capacity and resilience. Scope includes runway and taxiway upgrades, new air movements terminal and parking apron, expanded fuel storage, facilities for the new Triton remotely piloted drone fleet, power, water, and sewer upgrades, and 108 new live-in units for personnel. Works are being delivered under Stage 6 Redevelopment and the US Force Posture Initiatives, managed by Lendlease with packages led by contractors including BMD.
50 New Houses at RAAF Base Tindal
Design and construction of 50 four-bedroom, two-bathroom houses for Defence Housing Australia (DHA) at RAAF Base Tindal.
Supporting Growth in Katherine East (Katherine East Residential Estate)
NT Government and Australian Government enabling infrastructure project delivering serviced flood-free land in Katherine East. Stage 1 works including Corymbia Drive, earthworks, roads, stormwater, sewer and electrical infrastructure have been completed. Budget 2024 provided a further AUD16 million for a sewer pump station, sewer network and additional subdivision works to support the future release of more than 350 residential lots together with neighbourhood retail, commercial and community uses.
Katherine Logistics and Agribusiness Hub
A large-scale intermodal logistics and agribusiness hub adjacent to the Darwin-Tarcoola rail corridor and Stuart Highway in Katherine East. The hub is designed to service the storage, processing and freight needs of agriculture, horticulture, resources and defence industries across the Big Rivers region and northern Australia. The NT Government and Australian Government have committed $63.2 million combined, with the 2024 NT Budget allocating a further $30 million for continuing headworks and subdivision works. Critical water supply infrastructure is under construction through a joint NT Connections package with the National Water Grid Authority, with completion expected mid-2026.Full hub construction is targeted for completion Q4 2026.
Katherine Aquatic Centre Upgrade
Major redevelopment of the Katherine Aquatic Centre including refurbishment of the existing 50 m pool, construction of a new heated 25 m six-lane program pool, splash zone, upgraded plant and filtration systems, accessibility improvements including an assisted change facility, new amenities and associated landscaping. Construction remains substantially complete with final works and commissioning following approved contract variations.
Tindal Village
A workstay village with 200 en-suited rooms and amenities, located near Tindal RAAF Base to accommodate workforces for various projects in the area.
Katherine Solar Farm (ENI)
34MW solar farm with 6MW battery energy storage system, currently the largest photovoltaic plant in Northern Territory. Features innovative cloud coverage prediction technology and avoids 63,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually. Contributes significantly to NT's 50% renewable energy target by 2030.
Desert Springs Octopus Renewable Energy Program
Desert Springs Octopus is a majority Indigenous-owned company pursuing a $1 billion near-term pipeline of grid-connected solar and battery projects (100-150MW solar/30-50MWh storage near Darwin, 60-80MW solar/5-10MWh storage for mining, 10-15MW solar/2-3MWh storage for Defence) along the Darwin-Katherine Electricity System. The partnership includes Octopus Australia with Larrakia Nation and Jawoyn Association to deliver utility-scale renewable energy and community benefit sharing.
1,009 residents of Elsey are employed, from a labour force of 1,135. Unemployment sits at 11.1%, with participation at 52.5%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.1% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth, so in an area growing as fast as this one it understates the likely rise in local jobs. 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 market in Elsey includes both white and blue collar jobs, with essential services playing a major role. The unemployment rate stands at 11.1% and estimated employment growth over the past year is 3.3%. As of March 2026, 1,009 residents are employed, while the unemployment rate is 5.2% higher than the Regional NT average of 5.9%, indicating potential for improvement. Workforce participation is notably lower at 52.5% compared to the Regional NT figure of 69.8%. Census data shows that only 11.7% of residents work from home, though the effects of Covid-19 lockdowns should be taken into account when interpreting this statistic.
Key sectors supporting the local workforce include agriculture, forestry & fishing, education & training, and public administration & safety. Agricultural, forestry, and fishing enterprises are exceptionally concentrated, employing personnel at 5.7 times the broader regional rate. Conversely, health care & social assistance represents a comparatively small share, engaging 10.3% of local workers versus 18.8% across Regional NT. Comparison between Census figures for working and resident populations suggests that on-site employment opportunities within the district remain relatively constrained. Analysis of ABS and SALM figures by AreaSearch reveals that in the 12 months to March 2026, resident employment rose by 3.3% while the local workforce expanded by 2.7%, bringing about a 0.5 percentage point drop in the unemployment rate. Over the identical timeframe across Regional NT, total employment grew by 2.8%, workforce participation rose by 2.7%, and unemployment eased slightly. National projections from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 provide additional context regarding future labour demand in Elsey. When mapped to the local industry distribution over five and ten-year horizons, expected national growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years suggests localized employment could lift by 5.1% over five years and 11.4% over ten years, though industry trajectory variations are substantial (this model reflects a weighted calculation for illustrative purposes and excludes localized population dynamics).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Elsey is $1,389 a week (about $72,000 a year), with median personal income at $334 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $39,421 a year against an average of $48,340. 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 AreaSearch's evaluation of ATO postcode data from financial year 2023, taxpayers in the Elsey SA2 recorded a median earnings level of $39,421 and an average of $48,340, trailing nationwide figures as well as Regional NT medians of $53,572 and averages of $63,776. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 9.41% since financial year 2023, prevailing March 2026 levels are estimated at approximately $43,131 for median and $52,889 for mean earnings. Per 2021 Census metrics, individual earnings ranked at the bottom 0th percentile ($334 weekly), whereas household earnings reached the 27th percentile.
The predominant earnings tier consists of 964 residents (35.8%) earning between $1,500 - 2,999 weekly, closely matching metropolitan levels where this group comprises 33.6%. Housing outlays remain contained, with households retaining 94.5% of income, though overall disposable earnings remain suppressed at the 39th percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Elsey had 458 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 72% detached houses and 6% apartments. 5% are owned with a mortgage, 79% rented and 17% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $80 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,300 a month. Rent absorbs 5.8% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.6%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Data from the most recent Census shows that Elsey's housing stock consisted of 72.3% separate houses and 27.8% other dwelling types such as apartments and attached structures, compared to 75.6% houses and 24.5% other dwellings throughout Regional NT. Outright property ownership in Elsey reached 16.8%, significantly surpassing the broader regional proportion, while 4.6% of homes were mortgaged and 78.6% were tenanted. The median monthly mortgage payment in the district was $1,300, sitting well beneath the Regional NT benchmark of $1,733, while weekly rent was recorded at $80, far below the $150 regional figure.
When evaluated against broader national averages, Elsey's mortgage payments fall well short of the $1,863 Australian mark, and rent levels remain substantially lower than the $375 national benchmark.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Elsey counted 458 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 541 today, averaging 3.8 people each. 34% are couples with children, against 21% couples without children. 22% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.9 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute 73.8% of local domestic structures, encompassing 33.6% couples with children, 21.3% couples without children, and 16.3% single parent arrangements. Non-family dwellings make up the other 26.2%, comprising single-person households at 21.5% and shared group dwellings at 3.9%. The area's average household size sits at 3.8 people, exceeding the 3.1 person benchmark across Regional NT.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
8.8% of adults in Elsey hold a university qualification, including 6.5% with a bachelor degree and 1.7% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 97% of areas nationally. A further 25.1% hold a vocational qualification. 6 schools serve the area, with 386 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 661 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
Educational attainment levels present notable development potential, with 8.8% of the populace holding a higher education degree compared to the 30.4% nationwide rate. Among degree holders, bachelor qualifications represent 6.5%, followed by 1.7% with postgraduate degrees and 0.6% holding graduate diplomas. Technical and trade training is widely held, with 31.3% of people aged 15+ possessing vocational credentials, divided into 6.2% with advanced diplomas and 25.1% holding certificates. Formal learning participation remains substantial across the area, with 28.8% of the local population actively undertaking studies. This cohort includes 16.6% attending primary schools, 6.7% in secondary institutions, and 1.1% enrolled in higher education programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
77.3% of residents in Elsey report no long-term health condition. 3.9% need daily assistance with core activities, and 45.8% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 12.7 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch evaluations of mortality patterns and health conditions indicate notable public health challenges in Elsey, where chronic ailments are observed across both younger and older cohorts, and private health insurance penetration is very low at around 46% of the population (~1,234 people). This sits below the 51.6% regional standard and the 55.7% national average. Diabetes and heart disease represent the primary diagnosed chronic ailments, affecting 7.1 and 5.9% of the population, respectively, while 77.3% of residents reported having no long-term medical conditions compared to 78.4% across Regional NT. Younger cohorts under 65 exhibit comparatively favorable wellness markers.
Residents aged 65 and over make up 8.0% of the population (216 people), and this older demographic demonstrates particularly strong health outcomes that outperform wider national metrics.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Elsey is largely Australian-born, at 94.2% of residents, with 74.2% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian Aboriginal (67.1%) and Australian (10.1%). 67.1% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural metrics show notable diversity within Elsey, where 5.8% of residents were born abroad and 74.2% use a language other than English in their homes. Christianity forms the dominant religious faith, embraced by 52.0% of the community. The most pronounced demographic variation appears in the Other category, which represents 7.5% locally compared to 5.2% across Regional NT. Examining parental birthplaces reveals that Australian Aboriginal ancestry represents 67.1% of the community, significantly exceeding the 43.6% figure across Regional NT. Australian ancestry accounts for 10.1%, while English heritage represents 8.9%, notably below the 14.3% regional benchmark.
Among other backgrounds, French ancestry shows a slight overrepresentation, comprising 0.4% locally versus 0.3% across the wider region.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Elsey is 29, younger than 98% of areas nationally. 36.6% 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
Age distributions in Elsey align closely with broader territory patterns, showing a maximum divergence of 2.1 percentage points across four major generational brackets. The estimated median age of 29 remains unchanged since the 2021 Census, sitting 2 years younger than the Regional NT median of 31 and well below the Australian median of 38 at that Census. The most notable post-Census transition occurred among individuals aged 0 - 24, who moved from 40.3% down to an estimated 36.0% of the local population. Looking ahead to 2041, the 45 - 64 age bracket is projected to see the largest absolute increase, adding 142 residents (27%) to total 662.
In proportional terms, the 65+ cohort is anticipated to expand the quickest, lifting 59% to reach 345 residents.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Elsey
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 — 62 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,283 at the 2021 Census → 2,695 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 (702051065). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.