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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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Bouldercombe has an estimated 1,972 residents. Growth has averaged 0.5% a year over five years, slower than 85% of areas nationally. 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
Demographic assessments by AreaSearch indicate that Bouldercombe records an approximate population of 1,972 as of Aug 2026. Relative to the 1,948 people documented in the 2021 Census, this marks an expansion of 24 people (1.2%). This shift is derived using the ABS estimated resident population of 1,972 as of June 2025 alongside 37 validated new addresses registered post-Census. With 1.5 persons per square kilometer, population density remains low, affording substantial personal living area. Recent demographic additions were steered chiefly by natural increase, generating roughly 45.0% of net population increases, with positive contributions also registered across overseas migration and interstate migration.
Population projections for individual SA2 localities are drawn from ABS/Geoscience Australia models released in 2024 (2022 base year), supplemented after 2032 or where unavailable by Queensland State Government SA2 modeling issued in 2023 utilizing 2021 baselines. Because state projections lack age-specific breakdowns, AreaSearch allocates proportional cohort weighting derived from the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (published in 2023 using 2022 data). Long-range demographic trajectories place the locality within lower quartile non-metropolitan growth patterns, with the newest annual ERP figures pointing to a gain of 45 persons to 2041, representing a cumulative rise of 2.3% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential building activity in Bouldercombe is exceptionally low, averaging 2 dwelling approvals annually and totaling 12 approvals over five years. Such subdued numbers align with the regional rural setting, wherein construction responds to localized dwelling requirements rather than widespread speculative market demand. Given the limited baseline volume, singular projects possess the capacity to distort annual percentage movements and comparisons. Relative to Rest of Qld, Bouldercombe registers considerably subdued building volumes, with local building rates also tracking below nationwide benchmarks. Furthermore, new building supply has consisted solely of detached dwellings, catering to rural consumer demand for privacy and acreage.
A metric of 742 people per dwelling approval underscores the calm, subdued development conditions characterizing the district. Demographic modeling indicates an addition of 45 residents for Bouldercombe through to 2041 according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. With current building volumes, residential completions appear well positioned to satisfy demand, fostering favorable terms for purchasers and potentially enabling expansion beyond baseline demographic expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Bouldercombe
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 5 current infrastructure and development projects inside Bouldercombe, worth an estimated $1.92 billion. A further 59 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $6.84 billion. 21 are already under construction and 17 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans communities, residential development 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
Local economic and social outcomes are substantially shaped by planning initiatives, major infrastructure, and capital investments. AreaSearch has pinpointed 23 projects expected to influence the district, highlighted by the Capricorn BESS Project, The Central BESS, Bouldercombe Battery Project, and Mount Morgan Tailings Processing and Rehabilitation Project, with key developments outlined 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
The Central BESS
A 500MW/1000MWh battery energy storage system near Bouldercombe, Queensland, connecting directly to the Bouldercombe Terminal Station at 275kV to support the state's clean energy transition. After Rockhampton Regional Council rejected the development application in December 2024, ACEnergy appealed to the Planning and Environment Court, which approved the amended application in October 2025 with conditions addressing fire safety, visual integration, and biodiversity. ACEnergy also received AEMO 5.3.4A access standard approval in May 2025 and is finalising a connection offer with Powerlink.Construction is anticipated to commence in late 2026, with energisation targeted for late 2028. A $3.6 million Benefit Sharing Program will be distributed to neighbouring residents, the local community, and First Nations groups over the project lifecycle. A Community Reference Group, chaired by a Rockhampton Regional Council representative, is being established by mid-2026.
Capricorn BESS Project
Potentia Energy proposes a 300 MW / 1200 MWh battery energy storage system about 2.5 km north of Bouldercombe and around 15 km south of Rockhampton. The project would include up to 294 BESS containers, 98 inverters and medium voltage power stations, high voltage substation equipment, transformers, control rooms, and operations facilities, with underground connection to the adjacent Bouldercombe Powerlink substation. Potentia states the project represents more than AUD 450 million of investment and is intended to strengthen grid reliability and support Queensland's energy transition.The development application was lodged in late 2024, updated and publicly exhibited in 2025, and after Rockhampton Regional Council did not decide the application, Potentia lodged a Planning and Environment Court appeal. In January 2026 the Queensland Deputy Premier issued a proposed call-in notice, which Potentia says was formally enacted on 4 March 2026, so the project is now being assessed by the Queensland Government. Potentia is also progressing social impact assessment and community benefit agreement requirements for large scale BESS projects.
Bouldercombe Battery Project
A 50MW/100MWh battery energy storage system utilizing 40 Tesla Megapack 2.0 units, connected to Powerlink's 275kV/132kV Bouldercombe substation. The project provides arbitrage and frequency control ancillary services (FCAS) to support grid stability and enable renewable energy integration. Operational since November 2023, the battery is operated by Tesla using Autobidder software under a revenue-sharing agreement with Genex Power.
Mount Hopeful Wind Farm
The Mount Hopeful Wind Farm is a large-scale renewable energy project in Central Queensland, approved for up to 63 wind turbines and potential battery storage. The final project capacity is expected to be around 400 MW, providing clean energy to power approximately 240,000 homes.
Fitzroy to Gladstone Pipeline Project
A 983 million dollar, 117-kilometre pipeline project designed to transport up to 30 gigalitres of water annually from the Lower Fitzroy River to Gladstone. The infrastructure includes an intake and pumping station at Laurel Bank, the Alton Downs Water Treatment Plant, and two 50ML reservoirs at Aldoga. The project aims to provide long-term water security, reduce reliance on Awoonga Dam, and support emerging hydrogen and renewable energy industries. As of early 2026, the project is entering the final commissioning phase with hydrostatic testing of reservoirs and pipe sections largely complete.
Mount Morgan Tailings Processing and Rehabilitation Project
A $150 million project to reopen the historic Mount Morgan mine for tailings processing and rehabilitation, expected to create 150 ongoing jobs and generate new economic opportunities.
Gracemere State High School
New Queensland Government secondary school for Gracemere. The project has progressed to the detailed design phase following approval of the Ministerial Infrastructure Designation. Stage 1 will deliver facilities for Years 7 and 8, with construction expected to commence in Term 4 2026 by F.K Gardner and Sons. The campus is scheduled to open in 2028 and will expand over time to a full Years 7-12 secondary school.
Sienna Estate
Sienna Estate is a 69-lot masterplanned residential community in Gracemere offering house-and-land packages and duplexes. Developed by Altus Property Group, it features generously sized blocks (720-1200sqm), high-quality inclusions, and provisions for green spaces, aiming to alleviate housing undersupply in the Rockhampton region.
1,012 residents of Bouldercombe are employed, from a labour force of 1,032. Unemployment sits at 1.9%, with participation at 63.5%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.7% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,687, about 86% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local labour market displays a diverse distribution across blue and white collar roles, featuring substantial presence in industrial and manufacturing sectors alongside an unemployment rate of only 1.9%. As of March 2026, employed residents total 1,012, the jobless rate sits 2.0% beneath the 3.9% observed in Regional Qld, and the participation rate closely aligns with the regional benchmark of 64.2%. Census figures indicated that 11.4% of workers conducted their duties from home, though pandemic restrictions during that period should be acknowledged. Primary employment sectors for local workers comprise health care & social assistance, construction, and mining.
Mining displays notable concentration locally, capturing a workforce proportion 2.7 times the broader regional benchmark. Conversely, accommodation & food remains underrepresented, engaging just 4.7% of local workers relative to 8.3% across Regional Qld. Comparing resident counts with the local Census working population indicates constrained employment generation within the immediate district. According to AreaSearch evaluations of ABS and SALM releases, the preceding 12-month period recorded a 5.0% contraction in the labour force and a 3.3% reduction in employment, producing a 1.7 percentage points drop in unemployment. In contrast, Regional Qld experienced an employment uptick of 0.1%, a 0.3% rise in the labour pool, and a 0.1 percentage points increase in joblessness. Broader industry hiring patterns from Jobs and Skills Australia's Mar-26 projections offer perspective on prospective local labour demand over five and ten-year horizons. Nationally, job numbers are projected to climb 6.6% across five years and 13.7% across ten years, with distinct variances among industry groups. Weighting these sectoral trajectories against the local employment distribution suggests prospective local job growth of 5.7% over five years and 12.3% over ten years (representing an illustrative weighting model that excludes localized demographic projections).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Bouldercombe is $1,437 a week (about $75,000 a year), with median personal income at $644 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $55,370 a year against an average of $66,565. 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
Aggregate ATO statistics compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 position income levels in the Bouldercombe SA2 marginally below nationwide averages. Taxpayer earnings reflect a median income of $55,370 and an average income of $66,565, in contrast to $53,146 and $66,593 recorded across Regional Qld. Factoring in an 11.36% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023 yields updated modeled benchmarks of $61,660 (median) and $74,127 (average) as of March 2026. In the 2021 Census, local personal, family, and household earnings situated between the 18th and 31st percentiles nationally.
Income distribution shows a primary concentration of 28.4% of locals (560 people) earning within the $1,500 - 2,999 band, paralleling the broader regional share of 31.7%. Residents retain 87.6% of income after housing overheads, although overall disposable income places at the 36th percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Bouldercombe had 670 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 98% detached houses and 0% apartments. 41% are owned with a mortgage, 13% rented and 46% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $250 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,550 a month. Rent absorbs 17.4% of household income here and mortgage repayments 24.9%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the most recent Census, the local housing stock consisted of 98.1% separate houses and 1.9% alternative dwellings such as semi-detached units and apartments, whereas Regional Qld recorded 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Outright property ownership reached 46.2%, substantially exceeding regional levels, while remaining tenures comprised mortgaged properties (41.0%) and rental dwellings (12.8%). The typical monthly mortgage repayment of $1,550 and weekly median rent of $250 both sat beneath the Regional Qld benchmarks of $1,655 and $345. On a national scale, local monthly mortgage servicing is noticeably lower than the Australian benchmark of $1,863, and weekly rents sit well below the nationwide figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Bouldercombe counted 670 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.6 people each. 30% are couples with children, against 36% couples without children. 22% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.2 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute 75.8% of all local households, consisting of couples without children (36.4%), couples with children (30.0%), and single parent families (9.9%). The remaining 24.2% comprises non-family residences, where lone person households represent 21.6% and group households account for 1.3%. The median household size stands at 2.6 people, slightly higher than the Regional Qld figure of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
10.1% of adults in Bouldercombe hold a university qualification, including 8.0% with a bachelor degree and 1.2% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 89% of areas nationally. A further 34.2% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 107 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 953 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
Tertiary qualification levels present an area for progress, with university degree attainment standing at 10.1% compared to the national rate of 30.4%, highlighting a target for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees constitute 8.0% of qualifications, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 1.2% and graduate diplomas at 0.9%. Vocational and technical training is widely held, with 42.4% of residents aged 15+ possessing vocational credentials, divided between certificates (34.2%) and advanced diplomas (8.2%). Formal study engagement is substantial, encompassing 31.6% of the population. This cohort includes 12.5% attending primary education, 12.5% participating in secondary education, and 2.2% enrolled in tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Bouldercombe means driving: households keep an average of 2.0 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
63.4% of residents in Bouldercombe report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 78% of areas nationally. 4.8% need daily assistance with core activities, and 52.1% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.1 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 compiled by AreaSearch regarding chronic condition incidence and mortality suggest significant challenges in Bouldercombe, with health issues prevalent across younger and older demographics alike. Furthermore, private health insurance uptake trails typical SA2 benchmarks, covering roughly 52% of the total population (~1,027 people). Asthma and arthritis represent the primary chronic ailments in the district, recorded among 8.1% and 10.3 of residents, while 63.4% reported no medical conditions, trailing the Regional Qld rate of 67.6%. Working-age cohorts display elevated rates of chronic illness. Seniors aged 65 and over comprise 24.4% of the community (482 people), exceeding the 20.3% share in Regional Qld.
Among older residents, overall health metrics are above average, achieving national standings that surpass the wider community benchmark.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Bouldercombe is largely Australian-born, at 94.4% of residents, with 0.4% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (37.0%) and English (32.7%). 4.4% 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 diversity measures rank below wider benchmarks, with Australian-born individuals comprising 94.4% of residents, citizens representing 86.3%, and 99.6% speaking solely English in domestic settings. Christianity forms the leading religious affiliation, accounting for 60.2% of the local population compared to 52.2% across Regional Qld. Ancestry records regarding parents' country of birth highlight Australian heritage as the primary background at 37.0% of the community, well above the 26.5% regional standard, followed by English at 32.7% and Scottish at 7.7%. Specific ethnic representations show distinct variations, including German ancestry at 4.7% (matching 4.7% regionally), Australian Aboriginal background at 4.4% (vs 3.9%), and Spanish heritage at 0.4% (vs 0.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Bouldercombe is 46, older than 81% of areas nationally. 17.7% 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 demographic profile of Bouldercombe skews older than Regional Qld overall. Seniors and retirees aged 65+ make up 24.4% of the population as at August 2026 compared to 20.4% regionally, while adults aged 25 - 44 represent 18.6% against 25.5% across the broader region. The median age remains at an estimated 46, consistent with the 2021 Census, sitting 5 years higher than the regional median of 41 and above the national figure of 38 recorded at that Census. The most prominent shift post-Census is the expansion of retiree and elderly cohorts from 20.3% to an estimated 24.4%.
Projections to 2041 indicate this senior cohort will see the strongest increase, adding 103 residents (21%) to reach 585, whereas counts of young adults, children, middle aged, and young retirees are anticipated to decrease.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Bouldercombe
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 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 2 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 Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago 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 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| 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 Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 months ago all 5 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 7 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) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 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 — 37 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (1,948 at the 2021 Census → 1,972 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 (308031206). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.