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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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Barcaldine - Blackall has an estimated 4,921 residents, up from 4,749 at the 2021 Census — a change of 172 people, or 3.6%. Growth has averaged 0.5% a year over five years. Fewer than ten people live on each square kilometre, across a boundary that takes in surrounding rural land. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
AreaSearch indicates the population of Barcaldine - Blackall stands at approximately 4,921 as of May 2026. This represents a gain of 172 people (3.6%) from the 4,749 people recorded in the 2021 Census. The updated figure is calculated using the ABS estimated resident population of 4,912 from June 2025 plus 91 validated new addresses identified after the Census date. With a density of 0.10 persons per square kilometer, residents enjoy a highly spacious environment. This 3.6% expansion rate since the 2021 census outpaced both the SA3 area (2.7%) and the SA4 region, positioning the locality as a regional leader in population growth.
This upward trend was primarily propelled by natural growth, which accounted for roughly 42.2% of the total population increase during the recent timeframe, though positive contributions were also observed across interstate migration, overseas migration, and all other indicators. Projections developed by ABS and Geoscience Australia, published in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline, are utilized for each SA2 area. For SA2 areas excluded from this dataset, and for all years after 2032, Queensland State Government projections released in 2023 with 2021 baseline data are applied. Because these state projections lack age-specific breakdowns, AreaSearch distributes growth across age cohorts using weightings derived from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections based on 2022 data. Future demographic patterns suggest a coming contraction, with the overall population of the area projected to decrease by 87 persons by 2041 under this approach. Conversely, certain cohorts are set to expand, particularly the 25 to 34 age bracket, which is expected to grow by 104 people. Additional details are available in the age section.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
50 new dwellings have been approved in Barcaldine - Blackall over the past five years, an average of 10 a year. That is 2.1 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 7, well below that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Residential building approvals in Barcaldine - Blackall average approximately 10 per year, resulting in 50 homes approved over the last 5 financial years. In FY-26 to date, 7 approvals have been logged. The average occupancy of 2.6 new residents per year per dwelling recorded over the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) points to solid demand that should underpin property values, with new dwellings being constructed at an average cost of $447,000. Furthermore, commercial building approvals have reached $22.4 million during the current financial year, demonstrating ongoing commercial investment.
The volume of development per capita in Barcaldine - Blackall matches the Rest of Qld, preserving a balanced market in line with the wider region. This volume remains below the national average, reflecting the mature state of the local market and suggesting potential regulatory constraints on planning. Additionally, all recent construction activity consists of detached houses, maintaining the low-density profile of the community and emphasizing single-family homes that appeal to buyers looking for space. The estimated ratio of 495 people in the area for every single dwelling approval highlights a quiet development environment with limited activity. Given that the population is projected to stabilize or decline, housing pressure in Barcaldine - Blackall is likely to ease, potentially opening up opportunities for home purchasers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Barcaldine - Blackall
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 4 current infrastructure and development projects inside Barcaldine - Blackall, worth an estimated $122 billion. A further 80 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $193.1 billion. 25 are already under construction and 21 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans energy, transport & logistics and communities, precincts & urban renewal. 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
Changes to local infrastructure, major developments, and council planning are key drivers of regional outcomes. AreaSearch has identified 20 projects expected to influence the local area. Principal works include the Queensland Inland Road Network Upgrade, Central Western Railway Line Maintenance Program, Ilfracombe Heritage Precinct Development, and the Central Queensland Digital Infrastructure Program, with details on the most relevant initiatives provided in the list 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
Scrubby Creek Sports Club Facility Upgrade
Development of a new 240m2 multi-purpose community recreation facility for the Scrubby Creek Sports Club. The approved plans include a bar, commercial kitchen, administration office, and fully lockable concrete floor area to support existing outdoor sports and community gatherings.
National Electricity Market: Renewable Energy Zone Expansions
Expanding Renewable Energy Zones to boost grid-scale renewable generation, addressing the Australian National Electricity Market's need for new energy sources as thermal facilities retire.
Queensland Energy Roadmap 2025
The Queensland Energy Roadmap 2025 is a statewide strategic framework delivered by the Crisafulli Government to provide affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy through 2035. Key initiatives include a $1.6 billion Electricity Maintenance Guarantee, a $400 million Energy Investment Fund, and a mandate for at least 2.6 GW of new gas generation by 2035. The Energy Roadmap Amendment Act 2025 establishes a QIC Investor Gateway, renames Renewable Energy Zones as Regional Energy Hubs, and supports transmission projects like CopperString.
Queensland Energy Roadmap 2025
Released on 10 October 2025, the Queensland Energy Roadmap is the state government's five-year energy strategy targeting net zero by 2050 while operating state-owned coal assets to their technical life. Key initiatives include a $1.6 billion Electricity Maintenance Guarantee, a $400 million Queensland Energy Investment Fund, and the delivery of the CopperString 330kV Eastern Link. Planned capital expenditure stands at $6.7 billion for the 2025-26 period.
Queensland Inland Road Network Upgrade
An early-stage proposal to upgrade inland Queensland roads, improving safety, productivity, and addressing issues like flooding and deteriorating infrastructure to support regional communities and freight movement.
Central Western Railway Line Maintenance Program
Ongoing Queensland Rail maintenance, track renewal, drainage, bridge and asset improvement works along the Central Western railway corridor serving Ilfracombe and surrounding communities. The program supports freight, passenger and tourism services and continues as part of Queensland Rail's rolling network maintenance and possession program.
Ilfracombe Heritage Precinct Development
Enhancement of the Historic Precinct including Folk Museum, Oakhampton Cottage, Romani Hall and connections to Wellshot Centre. Tourism infrastructure development to showcase local heritage and the Great Machinery Mile attraction.
Central Queensland Digital Infrastructure Program
Queensland Government program delivering improved digital connectivity across Central and Western Queensland to support remote communities, businesses, education, telehealth and government services. The initiative forms part of the state's broader digital infrastructure strategy, with multiple regional connectivity projects progressing through construction and delivery alongside Commonwealth co-investment programs.
2,724 residents of Barcaldine - Blackall are employed, from a labour force of 2,762. Unemployment sits at 1.4%, with participation at 68.6%. 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. 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 local workforce is evenly distributed between white and blue collar occupations across a range of industries, with an unemployment rate standing at only 1.4%. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 2,724, while the unemployment rate was 2.5% below the 3.9% recorded in Regional Qld. Workforce participation is relatively standard at 68.6%, compared to 64.3% in Regional Qld. According to Census details, a moderate 22.2% of the workforce operated from home, though the influence of Covid-19 restrictions should be kept in mind. The primary employment sectors for local residents are agriculture, forestry & fishing, public administration & safety, and health care & social assistance.
The local economy exhibits a strong concentration in agriculture, forestry & fishing, where the share of employment is 7.4 times the regional average. In contrast, health care & social assistance is underrepresented, employing 10.4% of the workforce compared to 16.1% across the region. Although local jobs are available, a comparison of the Census working population against the resident population suggests a significant portion of residents travel outside the area for employment. AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics shows that during the 12 months ending March 2026, the local labor force contracted by 0.9% alongside a 0.9% drop in employment, which kept the unemployment rate steady. In contrast, Regional Qld saw employment rise by 0.1%, the labor force grow by 0.3%, and the unemployment rate tick up by 0.1 percentage points. Future local demand trends can be assessed using national employment forecasts published by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to the local industry mix to model potential growth. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates of growth vary widely by sector. Applying these national sector projections to the local employment structure suggests employment in Barcaldine - Blackall would rise by 5.1% over five years and 11.3% over ten years, representing a basic weighted extrapolation for comparison that does not incorporate local population forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Barcaldine - Blackall is $1,341 a week (about $70,000 a year), with median personal income at $808 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $52,976 a year against an average of $60,429. 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
The latest postcode-level ATO statistics compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 show that incomes within the Barcaldine - Blackall SA2 are below national averages, with a median of $52,976 and an average of $60,429. This is lower than the median of $53,146 and average of $66,593 recorded across Regional Qld. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, current estimates for March 2026 stand at roughly $58,994 for the median and $67,294 for the average. Census data places personal income at the 51st percentile ($808 weekly), whereas household income falls at the 23rd percentile.
Looking at the breakdown of earnings, the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly band accounts for 29.5% of the local population (1,451 individuals), which matches the wider region where this same bracket accounts for 31.7%. Household expenses remain manageable, with residents keeping 92.9% of their earnings, although disposable income is below average at the 35th percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Barcaldine - Blackall had 1,816 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 96% detached houses and 2% apartments. 22% are owned with a mortgage, 30% rented and 48% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $157 a week and the median mortgage repayment $955 a month. Rent absorbs 11.7% of household income here and mortgage repayments 16.4%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Residential structures in Barcaldine - Blackall at the time of the latest Census consisted of 96.2% houses and 3.8% other options like semi-detached properties, apartments, or alternative dwellings, compared to 76.4% houses and 23.6% other options in Regional Qld. Home ownership rates in Barcaldine - Blackall stood well above the Regional Qld level at 48.0%, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (22.3%) or rented (29.7%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $955 was significantly below the Regional Qld average, while the median weekly rent was $157, compared to regional averages of $1,655 and $345 respectively.
On a national level, mortgage costs in Barcaldine - Blackall are far lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are likewise well below the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Barcaldine - Blackall counted 1,816 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.3 people each. 25% are couples with children, against 32% couples without children. 33% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.1 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families represent the majority of local households at 65.1%, consisting of couples with children at 24.6%, couples without children at 31.5%, and single parent households at 8.4%. The remaining 34.9% consists of non-family households, which are primarily single persons at 32.7% and group houses making up 1.9%. The median household size of 2.3 individuals is smaller than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
14.6% of adults in Barcaldine - Blackall hold a university qualification, including 11.3% with a bachelor degree and 1.4% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 95% of areas nationally. A further 29.0% hold a vocational qualification. 10 schools serve the area, with 608 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 909 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
The community experiences lower rates of higher education, with university qualification levels at 14.6%, which is far below the national average of 30.4%. This highlights a clear area of need as well as a target for focused educational programs. Bachelor degrees account for the largest share at 11.3%, with graduate diplomas at 1.9% and postgraduate qualifications at 1.4%. Vocational and technical training is highly represented, with 37.6% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (8.6%) and certificates (29.0%). Enrolment rates are high, with 27.1% of the population actively participating in academic programs.
This cohort is made up of 13.7% in primary school, 7.1% in high school, and 2.7% enrolled in higher education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Barcaldine - Blackall means driving: households keep an average of 1.6 vehicles, and no scheduled public transport appears in the current timetable feeds. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
67.5% of residents in Barcaldine - Blackall report no long-term health condition. 5.2% need daily assistance with core activities, and 49.2% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.6 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Barcaldine - Blackall faces clear health hurdles based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality data and chronic illness rates, with typical medical conditions present across younger and older demographics alike, and private health insurance rates are low at approximately 49% of the population (~2,421 people). This is below the Regional Qld level of 52.5% and the national rate of 55.7%. Asthma and arthritis are the most common medical issues, affecting 8.5% and 8.3% of the community respectively, while 67.5% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld.
Chronic health issues are higher than average among residents of working age. Individuals aged 65 and over make up 22.8% of the local population (1,120 people), which exceeds the Regional Qld average of 20.4%. Health measures for local seniors are very positive, with national comparisons showing stronger results than the local population as a whole.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Barcaldine - Blackall is largely Australian-born, at 94.6% of residents, with 1.8% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (35.2%) and English (31.7%). 4.6% 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
The community has low levels of cultural diversity, with citizens making up 88.9% of the population, 94.6% of residents born in Australia, and 98.2% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Barcaldine - Blackall, practiced by 69.5% of residents, compared to 52.2% across Regional Qld. Regarding parental country of birth, the three largest ancestry groups in Barcaldine - Blackall are Australian at 35.2%, which is higher than the regional average of 26.5%, English at 31.7%, and Irish at 8.7%. There are also notable differences in other backgrounds: German heritage represents 4.8% of Barcaldine - Blackall (compared to 4.7% regionally), Australian Aboriginal represents 4.6% (compared to 3.9%), and Scottish heritage stands at 8.0% (compared to 7.8%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Barcaldine - Blackall is 45, older than 78% of areas nationally. 21.9% 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 45 in Barcaldine - Blackall is higher than the Regional Qld average of 41 and the national average of 38. The age breakdown shows a high concentration of residents aged 55 - 64 (14.5%), while the 15 - 24 age bracket is smaller (9.1%) than in Regional Qld. Since the 2021 Census, the 25 to 34 cohort has increased from 11.3% to 12.9% of the population, and the 0 to 4 group rose from 5.5% to 6.7%. In contrast, the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 12.9% to 10.9% and the 5 to 14 bracket decreased from 12.5% to 11.4%.
Looking forward to 2041, demographic models indicate changes in the age structure of Barcaldine - Blackall. Leading these changes, the 25 to 34 age bracket is projected to increase by 13% (79 people), rising from 632 to 712. Conversely, population declines are expected for the 65 to 74 and 5 to 14 age groups.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Barcaldine - Blackall
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) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| 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, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 this month all 4 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 this 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 — 91 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (4,749 at the 2021 Census → 4,921 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 (315031408). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.