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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.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Carina has an estimated 12,925 residents, up from 11,826 at the 2021 Census — a change of 1,099 people, or 9.3%. Growth has averaged 1.5% a year over five years. 432 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Overseas migration accounts for 76.3% of that increase. That puts 2,951 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to research from AreaSearch, the resident count in Carina reaches approximately 12,925 as of Aug 2026. This marks an expansion of 1,099 people (9.3%) compared to the 2021 Census tally of 11,826 people. Such growth is determined using the ABS estimated resident population figure of 12,897 recorded as of June 2025 alongside 432 validated new addresses identified following the Census. Density stands at 2,950 persons per square kilometer, placing the suburb within the top quarter among nationwide areas evaluated by AreaSearch. Outperforming the wider SA3 area (8.1%), Carina's 9.3% post-2021 census surge highlights its role as a regional growth hotspot.
Net overseas arrivals served as the primary growth catalyst, generating roughly 76.3% of total population additions in recent times, with natural increase and interstate migration also making positive contributions. Projections compiled by the ABS and Geoscience Australia, published in 2024 with 2022 serving as the baseline, are utilized by AreaSearch across SA2 locations. In areas lacking this coverage, or across periods beyond 2032, figures from the Queensland State Government SA2 projections (issued in 2023 utilizing 2021 numbers) are incorporated. Because these state forecasts omit age breakdowns, AreaSearch assigns proportional adjustments matching the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (published in 2023 based on 2022 metrics) across individual cohorts. Looking forward, local demographic expansion is projected slightly under the national statistical area median, with an anticipated addition of 1,226 persons by 2041 according to current annual ERP figures, translating to an overall rise of 9.3% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
274 new dwellings have been approved in Carina over the past five years, an average of 54 a year. That places the area in the 77th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 4 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 57 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 67% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. 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 Carina have tracked at an annual mean of roughly 54 homes, totaling 274 homes approved across the preceding 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26). Over these same 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26), approximately 3.3 people arrived in the area for every home constructed, highlighting an undersupply relative to inbound population that typically intensifies buyer demand and elevates pricing. Concurrently, mean construction value for new dwellings sits at $608,000, pointing to builder emphasis on higher-end, premium residential projects. In addition, non-residential investment saw $18.3 million in commercial approvals lodged during this financial year, indicating steady commercial activity.
Per capita building approvals in Carina sit 11.0% below the Greater Brisbane benchmark, yet rank at the 65th percentile among locations analyzed across the country. Detached houses constitute 67.0% of new residential development approvals, while townhouses or apartments make up the remaining 33.0%, delivering an increasing variety of medium-density choices that span diverse budget segments, ranging from traditional freestanding residences to entry-level dwellings. The ratio currently stands at roughly 199 people per dwelling approval, leaving scope for further development. Moving forward, projections from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate indicate Carina will welcome 1,198 residents up to 2041. Under ongoing building rates, incoming dwelling supply appears well positioned to satisfy demand, fostering supportive conditions for purchasers and potentially facilitating expansion beyond current baseline projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Carina
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 12 current infrastructure and development projects inside Carina, worth an estimated $333 million. A further 72 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $9.63 billion. 14 are already under construction and 31 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, 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
Urban development, major project delivery, and planning schemes play a decisive role in shaping local performance. AreaSearch has identified 18 key infrastructure undertakings positioned to influence the area. Leading developments include the Shopping Centre Expansion - 789-805 Old Cleveland Road, Carina, Kensho Carina, the Retail, Community Use Centre & Place of Worship - Creek Road, and Minnippi Quarter - Ellen Street & Fursden Road, alongside other noteworthy projects outlined below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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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
Retail, Community Use Centre and Place of Worship - Creek Road
Proposed mixed-use development by The Salvation Army involving a four-stage rollout at 1529 Creek Road. The project includes a shop, community care centre, and a place of worship. The design features a two-storey community building, 105 car parking spaces, and extensive landscaping, replacing the existing single-storey buildings on the site to better serve the Carina community.
Kensho Carina
Proposed residential townhouse development at 141 Fursden Road, Carina by Roycorp. Previously planned for 85 attached dwellings with 193 car spaces, the development application faced refusal from the Brisbane City Council due to the site's Community Facilities zoning, and a subsequent appeal was dismissed by the Planning and Environment Court in early 2025. The site remains in the planning phase pending an updated proposal or alternative development strategy.
20 Dickenson Street Carina Apartments
A contemporary apartment development at 20 Dickenson Street featuring one, two and three-bedroom units with modern design and quality finishes. The development offers convenient access to local shops, schools and transport.
25 Adelaide Street Carina Townhouses
A modern townhouse development at 25 Adelaide Street featuring contemporary three-bedroom homes with private courtyards and quality finishes. The development offers convenient access to local amenities and transport links.
208 Meadowlands Road Carina Development
A residential townhouse development at 208 Meadowlands Road featuring modern three and four-bedroom homes with contemporary design and sustainable features. The development is located in the established Carina suburb with good access to schools and amenities.
Cannon Hill Shopping Centre Bus Station Upgrade
Upgrade of existing bus facility to meet accessibility requirements in accordance with Disability Discrimination Act. Improvements to operational efficiency during peak periods and special events.
Shopping Centre Expansion - 789-805 Old Cleveland Road, Carina
Expansion and refurbishment of the Carina neighbourhood shopping centre into an open-air, four-storey complex delivered over two stages. The development, designed by WSA Architecture and planned by Place Design Group, includes new shops, food and drink outlets, office space, healthcare services, and indoor sport and recreation facilities. Stage 1 provides 181 car spaces (including 23 motorcycle) with the full two-stage build providing 441 spaces. The project maintains a local scale while significantly upgrading customer amenity and the streetscape along Old Cleveland Road.
Gym & Office Development - Wynnum Road
Two-storey commercial building with Indoor Sport and Recreation (Gym) on first floor and Office Space on second floor. Located at 1041-1045 Wynnum Road & 67 Ludwick Street. Features 54 car parking spaces and quality architectural design.
7,690 residents of Carina are employed, from a labour force of 7,880. Unemployment sits at 2.4%, with participation at 73.8%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.9% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 10,392, about 80% 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
Carina features a skilled local labor pool with strong representation in professional services, maintaining a low unemployment rate of 2.4% and achieving an estimated 5.5% expansion in employment over the preceding year. There were 7,690 residents employed as of March 2026, while the jobless rate sits 1.9% lower than the Greater Brisbane level of 4.3%. Labor participation remains steady at 73.8% relative to 70.1% across Greater Brisbane. Census findings further indicate that 23.9% of local workers operated from home, though figures should be viewed alongside Covid-19 lockdown conditions. Local employment is heavily oriented toward health care & social assistance, education & training, along with professional & technical fields.
The area exhibits substantial concentration in professional & technical jobs, recording a representation 1.2 times above regional levels. Conversely, the manufacturing sector is less prominent, employing 4.8% of local workers compared to 6.4% across Greater Brisbane. Given the divergence between resident workers and local job counts, this largely residential district provides comparatively few local workplace opportunities. Analysis of AreaSearch data alongside SALM and ABS figures shows that from the year leading up to March 2026, employment rose by 5.5% and the labour force grew by 4.9%, which led to a 0.5 percentage point drop in the unemployment rate. In contrast, Greater Brisbane experienced a 3.2% increase in employment, a 3.4% rise in the labour force, and a 0.1 percentage point increase in unemployment. Insights into future job demand in Carina can be drawn from Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts released in Mar-26. These forecasts span five and ten-year horizons and are overlaid onto local employment patterns to project growth trends. National employment is predicted to grow by 6.6% over five years and by 13.7% over ten years, though sectoral growth varies considerably. When these industry-specific forecasts are applied to Carina's current employment composition, local employment is estimated to rise by 6.9% over five years and by 14.1% over ten years. Please note that this represents a basic weighted extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not incorporate localised population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Carina is $2,075 a week (about $108,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,021 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $68,441 a year against an average of $89,911. 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
ATO postcode records compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 place local earnings in the Carina SA2 near top tiers nationally, recording a median income of $68,441 and an average income of $89,911. These figures outperform Greater Brisbane, where median earnings sit at $58,236 and the average is $72,799. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, updated estimates reach roughly $76,216 for median income and $100,125 for average income as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census shows personal, family, and household incomes in Carina ranking between the 70th and 80th percentiles across Australia.
The largest earning bracket contains 33.6% of residents (4,342 people) earning between $1,500 - 2,999, mirroring the wider regional proportion of 33.3%. Although accommodation expenses absorb 16.0% of earnings, solid remuneration keeps disposable income within the 70th percentile, placing the suburb in the 7th decile on the SEIFA income index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Carina had 4,723 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 55% detached houses and 11% apartments. 39% are owned with a mortgage, 34% rented and 27% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $440 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,000 a month, a total housing cost higher than 76% of areas nationally. Rent absorbs 21.2% of household income here and mortgage repayments 22.2%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the time of the latest Census, the housing stock in Carina consisted of 55.4% separate houses and 44.6% other dwellings such as apartments, townhouses, and attached properties, in contrast to the Brisbane metro distribution of 73.5% separate houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Outright property ownership mirrored the Brisbane metro proportion at 26.7%, while 39.3% of homes carried a mortgage and 34.0% were rented. Typical monthly mortgage payments reached $2,000, exceeding the Brisbane metro benchmark of $1,863, while median weekly rent stood at $440 compared to $380 regionally. Across Australia, Carina's mortgage commitments surpass the national benchmark of $1,863, and local rental figures sit well above the $375 recorded nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Carina counted 4,723 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 5,162 today, averaging 2.4 people each. 29% are couples with children, against 27% couples without children. 26% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.4 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute the majority of living arrangements at 69.0% of local households, consisting of 29.0% couples with children, 26.5% couples without children, and 11.8% single parent families. Non-family residences make up the remaining 31.0%, divided between single-person dwellings at 26.4% and shared group households at 4.7%. Average household occupancy stands at 2.4 people, coming in lower than the Greater Brisbane standard of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
37.7% of adults in Carina hold a university qualification, including 25.9% with a bachelor degree and 7.7% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 83% of areas nationally. A further 18.9% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 1,800 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,089 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
Qualifications among Carina residents stand well above broader averages, with 37.7% of individuals aged 15+ possessing higher education degrees, compared with 25.7% across QLD and 30.4% across Australia. This educational profile underpins strong capability in knowledge-focused industries. The most prevalent credential is a bachelor degree at 25.9%, accompanied by postgraduate qualifications at 7.7% and graduate diplomas at 4.1%. Vocational and trade qualifications are also widespread, with 30.7% of residents aged 15+ holding technical credentials, comprising certificates at 18.9% and advanced diplomas at 11.8%. Academic participation across the area remains prominent, with 27.4% of the population actively enrolled in an educational institution.
This includes 8.9% attending primary education, 6.7% engaged in tertiary education, and 6.0% undertaking secondary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Carina means driving: households keep an average of 1.2 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
70.2% of residents in Carina report no long-term health condition. 6.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 65.9% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 7.5 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health considerations remain notable in Carina, with AreaSearch evaluations of chronic conditions and mortality indicating that prevalent ailments affect both younger and older demographics. Private health insurance participation is exceptionally strong, covering approximately 66% of the resident population (8,517 people), exceeding the Greater Brisbane benchmark of 55.8% and the national baseline of 55.7%. Mental health conditions and asthma represent the most widely reported health issues locally, documented among 8.8 and 7.4% of the community, respectively. Meanwhile, 70.2% of residents reported having no diagnosed medical conditions, compared to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane.
Residents under 65 exhibit favorable health indicators, and individuals aged 65 and over account for 15.6% of the local population (2,009 people), recording national health percentiles that outpace the broader community.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
25.1% of Carina residents were born overseas and 15.8% speak a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (26.4%) and Australian (23.8%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Carina demonstrates elevated cultural diversity relative to broader standards, with 25.1% of community members born overseas and 15.8% using a non-English language at home. Christianity represents the primary religious affiliation, accounting for 52.4% of residents in Carina against 47.8% across Greater Brisbane. Regarding ancestral background based on parental birthplace, the primary heritages in Carina are English at 26.4%, Australian at 23.8%, and Irish at 10.1%. Several other cultural backgrounds also show above-average presence compared to broader regional levels, including New Zealand at 1.1% (compared to 1.0% regionally), Korean at 0.7% (compared to 0.5%), and Spanish at 0.6% (compared to 0.4%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Carina is 36. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 27.8% 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 in Carina is younger than that of Greater Brisbane overall. The 25 - 44 age bracket makes up 34.8% of the community as at August 2026, exceeding the Greater Brisbane level of 30.6%, whereas the 0 - 24 youth cohort represents 28.5% compared to 31.8% across the broader region. AreaSearch calculates the local median age at 36 as at August 2026, down from 37 at the 2021 Census and matching the Greater Brisbane median of 36 from that Census. The most noticeable shift since the Census occurred in the 25 - 44 demographic, increasing from 32.9% to an estimated 34.8%.
Moving toward 2041, senior cohorts (65+) will drive the largest numerical gain, adding 846 (42%) to reach 2,856 individuals, while young to middle-aged adult numbers are projected to decrease.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Carina
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 | Aug 2026 2 months ago all 12 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 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 — 432 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (11,826 at the 2021 Census → 12,925 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 (303011049). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.