Airlie - Whitsundays
Statistical Area - sa2

Airlie - Whitsundays lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

AreaSearch's analysis indicates Airlie - Whitsundays' population is approximately 16,486 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 1,963 people (13.5%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,523. The growth is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 16,280 in June 2024 and an additional 291 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 54 persons per square kilometer. Airlie - Whitsundays' 13.5% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region (7.4%) and the non-metro area, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 58.2% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including natural growth and interstate migration were positive factors.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted. Age category splits are applied proportionally using ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023, based on 2022 data. Future population dynamics project a significant increase in the top quartile of non-metropolitan areas nationally, with Airlie - Whitsundays expected to increase by 5,763 persons to 2041, representing a total increase of 33.7% over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Airlie - Whitsundays was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Airlie - Whitsundays has seen approximately 121 dwelling approvals per year. The ABS provides development approval data on a financial year basis, showing 607 homes approved over the past five years from FY-21 to FY-25, with 17 approvals recorded so far in FY-26. On average, 3.2 new residents have been associated with each home built annually over these five years. This supply has lagged demand, potentially indicating heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures.

The average expected construction cost of new homes is $1,982,000, suggesting a focus on the premium segment. Commercial development approvals totaled $140.1 million in FY-26, implying strong local business investment. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Airlie - Whitsundays has had moderately higher new home approvals, with 17.0% more approvals per person over the past five years.

This has maintained reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand. However, building activity has slowed in recent years. The current development mix comprises 66.0% standalone homes and 34.0% attached dwellings, including townhouses and apartments, catering to various price points. With around 170 people per approval, Airlie - Whitsundays reflects a growing area. Future projections estimate an addition of 5,557 residents by 2041. Current construction rates appear balanced with future demand, fostering steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.

Airlie - Whitsundays has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 44thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 30 projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include Airlie Beach Waterfront Revitalization, Port of Airlie Marina Development, Whitsunday Medical Centre Development, and Whitsunday Regional Airport Expansion. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Employment conditions in Airlie - Whitsundays rank among the top 10% of areas assessed nationally

Airlie - Whitsundays has a skilled workforce with prominent tourism and hospitality sectors. Its unemployment rate was 1.5% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 0.8%.

As of June 2025, there are 10,111 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.4%, below Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation is high at 67.9% compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Key industries include accommodation & food, retail trade, and construction. Employment specialization in accommodation & food is significant, with a share of 3.7 times the regional level.

However, health care & social assistance employs only 6.6% of local workers compared to Rest of Qld's 16.1%. Some residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 0.8%, labour force decreased by 0.3%, reducing unemployment rate by 1.1 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment grow by 1.8% and unemployment rise slightly. By Sep-25, Queensland's employment had contracted by 0.23%, with a state unemployment rate of 4.2%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.5%, with employment growth of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Airlie - Whitsundays' employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 5.7% over five years and 11.9% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 30, 2022 shows income in Airlie - Whitsundays is approximately average nationally. The median income was $50,582 while the average income stood at $64,854. This contrasts with Rest of Qld's figures where the median income was $50,780 and the average income was $64,844. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year ending June 30, 2022, current estimates would be approximately $56,505 for median income and $72,448 for average income as of March 2025. Census 2021 income data shows personal income ranks at the 67th percentile with $898 weekly, while household income sits at the 46th percentile. Distribution data shows the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 36.0% of residents (5,934 people), aligning with the surrounding region where this cohort likewise represents 31.7%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 45th percentile.

Airlie - Whitsundays displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The latest Census revealed that in Airlie - Whitsundays, 64.5% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 35.6% being semi-detached homes, apartments, or other types. In contrast, Non-Metro Qld had 74.7% houses and 25.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Airlie - Whitsundays stood at 24.5%, with mortgaged properties at 34.9% and rented ones at 40.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,700. The median weekly rent in Airlie - Whitsundays was $370, slightly above Non-Metro Qld's figure of $350. Nationally, mortgage repayments averaged $1,863 and rents were $375 per week.

Airlie - Whitsundays features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 66.8 percent of all households, including 25.0 percent couples with children, 30.8 percent couples without children, and 10.2 percent single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 33.2 percent, with lone person households at 26.6 percent and group households making up 6.6 percent of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the average for the Rest of Qld.

Airlie - Whitsundays performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

Educational qualifications in Airlie - Whitsundays trail regional benchmarks; 21.1% of residents aged 15+ hold university degrees compared to Australia's 30.4%. This gap indicates potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 16.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.6%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 47.8% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (14.0%) and certificates (33.8%).

Educational participation is high; 30.2% of residents are currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary education (11.7%), secondary education (8.1%), and tertiary education (3.4%). Airlie - Whitsundays has 4 schools with a combined enrollment of 1,132 students. The schools demonstrate typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1018) with balanced educational opportunities. They include 3 primary schools and 1 K-12 school. Local school capacity is limited at 6.9 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 13.8, resulting in many families traveling to nearby areas for schooling.

Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

The analysis of Airlie - Whitsundays public transport shows there are currently 60 operational stops in use. These stops accommodate various bus routes. The total number of weekly passenger trips facilitated by these routes is 462.

The accessibility of the transport system is moderate, with residents generally residing around 513 meters from their nearest stop. On average, service frequency across all routes stands at 66 trips daily, translating to approximately seven weekly trips per individual stop.

Airlie - Whitsundays's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Airlie - Whitsundays shows excellent health outcomes across all age groups, with a low prevalence of common health conditions.

Private health cover is held by approximately 52% of its total population (~8,556 people), slightly higher than the average SA2 area rate. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions in the region, affecting 7.2% and 6.3% of residents respectively. A significant majority (76.7%) report being free from medical ailments, compared to 73.3% in Rest of Qld. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, at 11.9% (1,955 people), compared to the 15.4% in Rest of Qld. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors align with those of the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Airlie - Whitsundays was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Airlie Beach in the Whitsundays region was found to have above average cultural diversity, with 10.2% of its population speaking a language other than English at home as of the 2016 Census. Additionally, 25.8% of Airlie's population was born overseas. The predominant religion in Airlie Beach is Christianity, accounting for 39.3% of the population.

However, Judaism is notably overrepresented, comprising 0.1% of Airlie's population compared to the Rest of Queensland's 0.1%. In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups are English at 32.2%, Australian at 25.2%, and Irish at 8.2%. There are also notable divergences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: New Zealand is overrepresented at 1.2% compared to 1.1% regionally, Spanish at 0.8% versus 0.6%, and French at 0.7% compared to 0.6%.

Airlie - Whitsundays's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Airlie - Whitsundays is 35 years, which is lower than Rest of Qld's average of 41 years and under the national average of 38 years. The 25-34 cohort makes up 22.0% of the local population, compared to 17.9% in Rest of Qld and 14.5% nationally. Meanwhile, those aged 75-84 represent only 3.2% locally, lower than both Rest of Qld's 6.6% and the national average of 7.0%. According to the 2021 Census data, the 25-34 age group has increased from 19.5% to 22.0%, while the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 13.7% to 12.3%, and the 5-14 group has dropped from 10.6% to 9.3%. By 2041, population forecasts suggest significant demographic changes in Airlie - Whitsundays, with the 25-34 age group expected to grow by 53% (1,908 people), reaching a total of 5,529 from its current figure of 3,620.