Bundaberg Surrounds - South

Population growth drivers in Bundaberg Surrounds - South are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

AreaSearch's analysis indicates Bundaberg Surrounds - South's population was around 12,116 as of February 2026. This figure reflects an increase of 1,338 people, a 12.4% rise since the 2021 Census which reported 10,778 residents. The growth is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 11,923 in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 5.5 persons per square kilometer. Bundaberg Surrounds - South's growth exceeded Rest of Qld (9.1%) and its SA3 area, marking it as a regional growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 91.2% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023 (based on 2021 data) are adopted, applying proportional growth weightings from ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Demographic trends suggest a population increase just below the median of non-metropolitan areas nationally by 2041, with an expected expansion of 1,118 persons reflecting a total increase of 7.6% over the 17 years.

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

Bundaberg Surrounds - South has seen approximately 101 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, with a total of 505 homes approved between FY21 and FY25. In FY26, 70 homes have been approved so far. On average, 3.2 people move to the area each year for every dwelling built during this period.

This demand significantly outpaces supply, which typically exerts upward pressure on prices and intensifies competition among buyers. The average value of new dwellings developed is $294,000, below regional levels, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. In FY26, commercial approvals worth $39.9 million have been registered, indicating high local commercial activity.

Compared to the rest of Queensland, Bundaberg Surrounds - South has slightly higher development activity, with 43.0% more approvals per person over the five-year period, maintaining good buyer choice while supporting existing property values. New developments consist of 97.0% detached dwellings and 3.0% attached dwellings, preserving the area's traditional low-density character focused on family homes. The location has approximately 121 people per dwelling approval, suggesting an expanding market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Bundaberg Surrounds - South is expected to grow by 925 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favourable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

Bundaberg Surrounds - South has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 19 projects that could impact this area. Notable ones include Banksia Solar Farm, Duckpond Road Flood Upgrade, Vitwood Branyan Estate, and The Ridge on Branyan. Below is a list detailing those likely to be most relevant.

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

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.

The employment landscape in Bundaberg Surrounds - South shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Bundaberg Surrounds - South has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs. The unemployment rate was 4.6% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 9.7% over the past year. There are 5,526 residents in work, but the unemployment rate is higher than Rest of Qld's by 0.6%.

Workforce participation lags at 55.8%, compared to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. Only 11.2% of residents work from home. Dominant employment sectors are agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Agriculture, forestry & fishing has a notable concentration with employment levels at 4.3 times the regional average.

Health care & social assistance has limited presence at 12.8%, compared to the regional average of 16.1%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities. In the 12-month period ending in September 2025, employment increased by 9.7% while unemployment rose by 0.5 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of Qld where employment rose by 1.7%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Bundaberg Surrounds - South's employment should increase by 5.3% over five years and 11.8% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

The Bundaberg Surrounds - South SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $39,808 and an average income of $52,014 in the financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is lower than national averages; Rest of Qld's median income was $53,146 with an average of $66,593. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $43,753 (median) and $57,169 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023. The 2021 Census data shows Bundaberg Surrounds - South incomes at the 4th to 5th percentiles nationally. Income distribution indicates 29.8% (3,610 people) earn between $400 and $799, contrasting with surrounding regions where the $1,500-$2,999 bracket leads at 31.7%. Despite modest housing costs allowing for 87.2% income retention, total disposable income ranks at only the 7th percentile nationally.

Bundaberg Surrounds - South is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure within Bundaberg Surrounds - South, as evaluated at the latest Census in 2016, comprised 94.1% houses and 5.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership within Bundaberg Surrounds - South was at 52.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.2% and rented dwellings at 18.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,209, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $275, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $1,655 and $345 respectively. Nationally, Bundaberg Surrounds - South's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863 as of 2021, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375 for the same year.

Bundaberg Surrounds - South has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 70.5% of all households, including 20.4% couples with children, 41.1% couples without children, and 8.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 29.5%, with lone person households at 26.5% and group households making up 3.0%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Bundaberg Surrounds - South faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 11.4%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 8.8%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.4%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.2%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 42.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (8.9%) and certificates (33.6%).

A substantial 24.6% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 9.5% in secondary education, 9.3% in primary education, and 1.8% in tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Bundaberg Surrounds - South is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Bundaberg Surrounds - South. AreaSearch's assessment shows high mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 46% of the total population (around 5,549 people), compared to 52.5% in Rest of Qld and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (14.1%) and mental health issues (9.1%). Conversely, 57.7% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in Rest of Qld. Working-age individuals face notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 30.9% (3,740 people), compared to 20.4% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Bundaberg Surrounds - South is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Bundaberg Surrounds - South had a cultural diversity below average, with 85.9% of its population being citizens, 85.0% born in Australia, and 96.5% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion was Christianity, comprising 55.5%. This figure is higher than the regional average of 52.2% in Rest of Qld.

Regarding ancestry, the top three groups were English (32.7%), Australian (30.7%), and Scottish (7.9%). Notably, German ancestry was overrepresented at 6.8%, compared to the regional average of 4.7%. Samoan ancestry was present at 0.3% and Australian Aboriginal at 2.8%, both differing from their respective regional averages of 0.2% and 3.9%.

Bundaberg Surrounds - South ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Bundaberg Surrounds - South has a median age of 53 years, which is significantly higher than the Rest of Queensland average of 41 years and considerably older than the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of Queensland average, the 65-74 age cohort is notably over-represented in Bundaberg Surrounds - South at 19.6%, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 7.9%. The 65-74 concentration in Bundaberg Surrounds - South is well above the national average of 9.5%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 8.4% to 9.4% of the population, while the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 19.0% to 18.2%. By 2041, Bundaberg Surrounds - South is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition, with the 65 to 74 group growing by 13% (317 people) to reach 2,689 from 2,371. The aging population trend is clear, with those aged 65 and above comprising 62% of projected growth. Conversely, both the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.