Burrum - Fraser

Population growth drivers in Burrum - Fraser are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Burrum-Fraser's population was 10,594 as of the 2021 Census. By Feb 2026, it increased to around 11,808, a rise of 1,214 people (11.5%). This growth is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 11,634 in June 2024 and an additional 467 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density was 4.3 persons per square kilometer. Burrum-Fraser's growth exceeded both its SA3 area (9.1%) and Rest of Qld, making it a regional growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 88.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023 (based on 2021 data) are adopted, with proportional growth weightings applied for age cohorts based on ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 using 2022 data. By 2041, the population is expected to increase by around 1,520 persons to approximately 13,328, reflecting an overall gain of 11.4% over the 17 years.

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

Burrum-Fraser averaged approximately 151 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 758 homes. As of FY26, 90 approvals have been recorded. Each year, an average of two new residents has been gained per dwelling built between FY21 and FY25, reflecting strong demand that supports property values. The average construction cost value of new homes is $328,000, aligning with regional trends.

This financial year, there have been $2.5 million in commercial approvals, indicating the area's predominantly residential nature. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Burrum-Fraser has 111.0% more construction activity per person, offering greater choice for buyers and attracting developer interest. The dwelling approvals consist of 87.0% detached dwellings and 13.0% medium and high-density housing, maintaining the area's traditional low density character focused on family homes. There are approximately 61 people per dwelling approval in the location, suggesting an expanding market. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Burrum-Fraser is projected to add 1,346 residents by 2041.

With current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Burrum - Fraser has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 104 projects that are likely to impact the area. Notable projects include the Torbanlea-Pialba Road Upgrade, Maryborough-Hervey Bay Road upgrade, Pialba-Burrum Heads Road intersection upgrade, BayWest City Centre development, and Dundowran Industrial Park expansion. The following list details those projects considered most relevant.

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

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Burrum - Fraser has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Burrum-Fraser has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, prominent essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 5.2%, with an estimated employment growth of 10.1% over the past year as of September 2025. There are 4,549 residents employed while the unemployment rate is 1.1% higher than Rest of Qld's 4.1%.

Workforce participation is lower at 47.2%, compared to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. Census data shows that only 10.5% of residents work from home, potentially impacted by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction, with a strong specialization in health care at 1.2 times the regional level. Education & training has limited presence at 7.3%, compared to the regional average of 9.1%.

Employment opportunities locally appear limited, as indicated by Census data comparing working population to resident population. Over the past year, employment increased by 10.1% alongside labour force growth of 10.1%, with unemployment remaining largely unchanged. In comparison, Rest of Qld saw employment grow by 1.7%, labour force expand by 2.1%, and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth varies significantly between sectors. Applying these projections to Burrum-Fraser's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 reports that Burrum - Fraser SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $41,262 and an average of $51,940. These figures are below the national average. In comparison, Rest of Qld's median was $53,146 with an average of $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $45,351 (median) and $57,087 (average). Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Burrum - Fraser fall between the 2nd and 2nd percentiles nationally. Income brackets show that 31.5% of the population (3,719 individuals) earn within the $400-$799 range, differing from metropolitan regions where the $1,500-$2,999 category is prevalent at 31.7%. The concentration of 40.2% in sub-$800 weekly brackets suggests economic challenges for a significant portion of the community. After housing expenses, 85.9% of income remains, ranking at only the 5th percentile nationally.

Burrum - Fraser is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Burrum-Fraser, as per the latest Census, consisted of 94.6% houses and 5.4% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. The home ownership rate in Burrum-Fraser was 54.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.6% and rented ones at 18.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent in Burrum-Fraser was $300, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Burrum-Fraser's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,300 than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Burrum - Fraser has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 70.4% of all households, including 18.3% couples with children, 41.8% couples without children, and 9.2% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 29.6%, with lone person households at 25.8% and group households comprising 3.8%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Burrum - Fraser faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 10.9%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 7.8%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.6%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.5%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 43.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (9.7%) and certificates (34.0%).

A substantial 22.4% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 8.7% in primary education, 7.7% in secondary education, and 1.5% in tertiary education.

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

Burrum-Fraser has 42 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These are covered by three routes offering a total of 97 weekly passenger trips. Accessibility is limited, with residents averaging 3609 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily using cars (92%). Walking accounts for 4% of journeys. Vehicle ownership stands at 1.5 per dwelling.

In 2021 Census data, 10.5% of residents worked from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 13 trips daily across all routes, translating to roughly two weekly trips per stop.

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

Burrum-Fraser faces significant health challenges, according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is extremely low, at approximately 46% of the total population (~5,408 people), compared to 52.5% in Rest of Qld and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (14.6%) and mental health issues (9.5%). Conversely, 54.3% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in Rest of Qld. Working-age population health challenges include elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors, with 34.8% aged 65 and over (4,109 people), compared to 20.4% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, aligning broadly with national rankings for the general population.

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

Burrum-Fraser has a cultural diversity level below average, with 85.1% of its population born in Australia and 90.1% being citizens. English is the language spoken at home by 97.2%. Christianity is the predominant religion, practiced by 52.8%, slightly higher than the Rest of Qld's 52.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (34.3%), Australian (30.0%), and Scottish (8.2%). Notably, German ancestry is overrepresented at 5.5% compared to the regional average of 4.7%. Australian Aboriginal ancestry stands at 3.5%, slightly lower than the regional 3.9%, while New Zealand ancestry is 0.7%, below the regional 0.9%.

Burrum - Fraser ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Burrum-Fraser is 55, which is considerably higher than the Rest of Qld figure of 41 and substantially exceeds the national norm of 38. Compared to Rest of Qld, Burrum-Fraser has a higher concentration of residents aged 65-74 (21.4%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (7.3%). This 65-74 concentration is well above the national figure of 9.5%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 9.2% to 10.9% of the population, while the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 10.4% to 8.8%. By 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Burrum-Fraser's age structure. The 75 to 84 group is projected to grow by 29%, reaching 1,648 from 1,282. This growth is led by those aged 65 and above, who will comprise 68% of the projected population growth. Conversely, both the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 age groups are projected to see reduced numbers.