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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
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Daintree has an estimated 7,043 residents, up from 6,674 at the 2021 Census — a change of 369 people, or 5.5%. Growth has averaged 0.9% a year over five years. 161 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Overseas migration accounts for 59.6% of that increase. 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
According to research from AreaSearch, the resident count in Daintree stands at approximately 7,043 as of Aug 2026. This indicates an expansion of 369 people (5.5%) compared to the 2021 Census tally of 6,674 people. This estimate combines the ABS estimated resident population figure of 7,011 as of June 2025 with 161 validated new addresses identified following the Census. Consequently, population density is estimated at 3.2 persons per square kilometer, highlighting an expansive living environment. Daintree's post-census growth rate of 5.5% is within 1.3 percentage points of the broader SA3 area (6.8%), underscoring solid local expansion.
Net overseas arrivals served as the core growth driver by generating roughly 59.6% of recent population additions, complemented by positive contributions from natural increase and interstate migration. Projections compiled by ABS/Geoscience Australia (released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year) are utilised by AreaSearch for SA2 areas. Where these are unavailable or for horizons extending beyond 2032, Queensland State Government SA2 projections (released in 2023 based on 2021 data) are integrated instead. Because state-level datasets lack detailed age breakdowns, AreaSearch applies cohort weightings aligned with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Demographic models indicate future gains will track slightly under the national non-metropolitan median, with the region forecast to gain 845 persons to 2041 relative to latest annual ERP statistics, representing an overall increase of 11.5% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
135 new dwellings have been approved in Daintree over the past five years, an average of 27 a year. That is 3.9 approvals per 1,000 residents. Of the 27 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 100% 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 construction in Daintree has generated approximately 27 new dwelling approvals per annum, totaling 135 homes across the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26). Over this same span of 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26), the region recorded an average of 2.3 new residents per dwelling approval, signaling resilient housing demand favorable to property values. The average construction value of these new dwellings is $356,000, sitting below broader regional benchmarks and indicating competitive building costs. Furthermore, commercial building approvals have reached $56.6 million in the current financial year, highlighting substantial non-residential investment.
On a per-capita basis, building activity in Daintree aligns closely with the Rest of Qld, sustaining structural supply balance relative to adjacent markets. All recent residential approvals have consisted of separate houses, reinforcing the low-density suburban landscape favored by buyers seeking generous allotments. The metric of 319 people per dwelling approval underscores the calm and measured pace of local residential construction. Long-term forecasts derived from the latest AreaSearch quarterly figures indicate that Daintree will welcome 813 residents to 2041. While current construction volumes are tracking in step with these demographic expectations, ongoing expansion may generate tighter competition across the residential property market.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Daintree
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 Daintree, worth an estimated $33 million. A further 76 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $3.67 billion. 25 are already under construction and 26 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and tourism. 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
Infrastructure upgrades, major works, and strategic planning decisions play a decisive role in shaping local socioeconomic performance. AreaSearch has pinpointed 25 projects expected to influence the surrounding area. Prominent developments include Principal Cycle Network: Cooya Beach to Mossman (stage 3) & Cooya Beach Road (stage 2), Mossman River Intake (Alternate Water Intake Project), Principal Cycle Network - Mossman to Newell Beach, and Port Douglas Skatepark Replacement, with key initiatives itemised below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Mossman River Intake (Alternate Water Intake Project)
Development of a second water intake on the Mossman River, approximately 5 km downstream of the Mossman Gorge Visitors Centre, to improve water security and resilience for the Mossman-Port Douglas catchment. The intake will use a submerged gallery system to extract raw water and pump it to the existing Mossman Water Treatment Plant, supplementing the Rex Creek intake which currently serves around 7,000 people across Port Douglas, Craiglie and Mossman. The project is co-funded through the National Water Grid Fund's WISER initiative, with the Australian and Queensland governments contributing $10 million of the $16.4 million construction cost.Development approval was granted in October 2023, preliminary design and all approvals are complete, and a pre-RFT briefing was held in July 2025. Council intends to issue a Request for Tender in August 2025, award the design and construction contract in January 2026, and complete construction by June 2027.
Principal Cycle Network - Mossman to Newell Beach
Construction of a 5.2km shared cycleway priority link connecting Mossman CBD to Newell Beach along the Captain Cook Highway and Newell Beach Road corridor. Stage 1 (Mossman CBD to Cedar Street) is completed, while Stages 2 and 3 have completed detailed designs and await construction funding from state and local programs.
Principal Cycle Network: Cooya Beach to Mossman (stage 3) & Cooya Beach Road (stage 2)
Shared path construction to encourage active travel between Cooya Beach and Mossman.
Daintree Ferry Landside Infrastructure and Ferry Replacement Projects
Douglas Shire Council is delivering landside road and ramp upgrades on both sides of the Daintree River together with a new four-lane Daintree River ferry. The landside works, delivered by Durack Civil, include upgraded approach roads, additional lanes, improved queuing areas, priority lanes for residents and cardholders, relocated ticketing, dual-loading ramps and traffic safety improvements. Birdon is designing, building, operating and maintaining the new ferry, which is planned to replace the current vessel and improve capacity, reliability and travel times for residents, tourism operators, businesses and essential services.Major roadworks commenced in May 2026, stage one is targeted for November 2026, marine civil works are planned from July 2027, and the new ferry is scheduled for delivery and commissioning in December 2027.
Cow Bay Primary Health Centre
$14.8 million primary health centre serving remote Daintree communities with essential healthcare services and emergency capabilities.
Crystalbrook Superyacht Marina Redevelopment
Proposed mixed-use renewal of the Port Douglas marina into a modern waterfront precinct, including a 5-star hotel, new superyacht berths, dining and retail, and a limited number of residences. Earlier development applications were withdrawn and the asset was marketed for sale; the marina continues operating while long-term redevelopment options are reviewed.
Port Douglas Skatepark Replacement
Douglas Shire Council is progressing the replacement and upgrade of the existing Port Douglas Skatepark with a modern community facility. The design phase has concluded following extensive public consultation, and the project is positioned for construction pending external government grant funding allocation.
KAYA VILLAS
Four luxury freehold villas (each four bedrooms with private pool) on individual titles with no body corporate fees, located on Warner Street in central Port Douglas. DA approved with construction underway; one villa previously marketed as remaining for sale. Target completion indicated for late 2025.
3,196 residents of Daintree are employed, from a labour force of 3,490. Unemployment sits at 8.4%, with participation at 59.6%. 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. 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 features a mix of white-collar and blue-collar roles, anchored heavily by hospitality and tourism enterprises, alongside an unemployment rate of 8.4%. As of March 2026, 3,196 residents are actively employed. Local joblessness exceeds the 3.9% level of Regional Qld by 4.5%, pointing to capacity for stronger labour absorption, while the participation rate of 59.6% trails the 64.2% benchmark in Regional Qld. Census records also indicate that 12.6% of local workers operated from home, a figure influenced by prevailing Covid-19 lockdown conditions. The primary employment sectors for local residents include accommodation & food, retail trade, and health care & social assistance.
Workforce concentration in accommodation & food is pronounced, tracking at 1.8 times the regional benchmark. Conversely, health care & social assistance accounts for only 10.7% of local jobs compared to 16.1% across Regional Qld. Comparing Census workforce numbers against resident counts suggests a limited pool of local employment positions within the immediate area. AreaSearch assessment of ABS and SALM figures shows that over the twelve months to March 2026, Daintree recorded a 2.0% contraction in its labour force and a 5.6% reduction in employment, which drove a 3.5 percentage points rise in unemployment. In contrast, Regional Qld experienced 0.1% employment growth, a 0.3% increase in total labour force, and a 0.1 percentage points uptick in unemployment. National outlooks from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 provide context for future regional labour needs. Across Australia, workforce numbers are projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with performance varying widely by sector. Applying these industry growth rates to Daintree's sectoral breakdown suggests potential employment increases of 5.7% over five years and 12.1% over ten years (calculated as a structural projection for comparison, without integrating local population models).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Daintree is $1,201 a week (about $62,000 a year), with median personal income at $648 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $45,986 a year against an average of $54,496. 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
According to AreaSearch's evaluation of ATO tax data by postcode for financial year 2023, personal earnings across the Daintree SA2 trail national standards, with a median of $45,986 and an average of $54,496. These figures compare against Regional Qld benchmarks of $53,146 (median) and $66,593 (average). Factoring in the 11.36% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, updated estimates reach roughly $51,210 for median income and $60,687 for average income as of March 2026. Data from Census 2021 places local family, household, and personal earnings within the 13th to 19th percentiles nationwide.
The largest single earning bracket includes 29.1% of residents (2,049 people) in the $1,500 - 2,999 range, closely matching the 31.7% observed across the region. Residual income after housing costs stands at 85.1%, which corresponds to the 15th percentile across Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Daintree had 2,515 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 90% detached houses and 4% apartments. 33% are owned with a mortgage, 28% rented and 39% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $260 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,408 a month. Rent absorbs 21.6% of household income here and mortgage repayments 27.1%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census records show that the housing profile in Daintree is composed of 89.5% separate houses and 10.4% other dwellings (incorporating apartments, semi-detached properties, and alternative structures), compared to 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings throughout Regional Qld. Outright home ownership is notably elevated at 39.3%, well above regional standards, while remaining properties are either under a mortgage (32.8%) or occupied by tenants (27.9%). The median monthly mortgage payment sits at $1,408 and the median weekly rent is $260, representing substantial discounts against the Regional Qld averages of $1,655 and $345.
On a national level, local monthly home loan repayments and weekly rents remain well below the respective Australian benchmarks of $1,863 and $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Daintree counted 2,515 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 2,654 today, averaging 2.3 people each. 23% are couples with children, fewer than in 78% of areas nationally, against 32% couples without children. 30% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.8 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units account for 66.7% of total households, consisting of 31.7% couples without children, 22.7% couples with children, and 10.8% single parent families. Non-family living arrangements represent 33.3% of homes, driven by single-person residences at 29.8% alongside group housing at 3.6%. The typical household size is 2.3 people, tracking below the Regional Qld average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
15.3% of adults in Daintree hold a university qualification, including 10.9% with a bachelor degree and 2.5% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 76% of areas nationally. A further 35.1% hold a vocational qualification. 8 schools serve the area, with 1,270 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 952 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
Higher education rates highlight structural gaps across the area, with 15.3% of adults holding university qualifications compared to the national rate of 30.4%, creating clear scope for targeted training programs. Among degree holders, bachelor degrees represent 10.9%, postgraduate qualifications account for 2.5%, and graduate diplomas comprise 1.9%. Vocational and technical qualifications are widespread, with 45.2% of residents aged 15+ possessing trade credentials, including 10.1% with advanced diplomas and 35.1% holding certificates. Formal study engagement is substantial, with 28.8% of the local population engaged in education. Primary school students represent 12.5% of residents, 9.3% are attending secondary school, and 2.0% are enrolled in tertiary programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Daintree means driving: households keep an average of 1.4 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
69.9% of residents in Daintree report no long-term health condition. 6.1% need daily assistance with core activities, and 46.8% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.9 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch health metrics indicate notable community health needs, characterized by higher mortality and chronic illness rates across various age groups, while private health insurance coverage is low at roughly 47% of residents (~3,296 people). This rate falls below the 52.5% recorded across Regional Qld and the national benchmark of 55.7%. Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent diagnosed ailments, reported by 8.1 and 7.1% of the population, respectively, while 69.9% of residents stated they have no chronic medical conditions, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Health status among working-age individuals generally matches typical patterns.
Residents aged 65 and over constitute 23.5% of the community (1,652 people), surpassing the 20.3% share in Regional Qld. Older residents demonstrate notably positive health outcomes, achieving national rankings that exceed those of the wider population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Daintree is largely Australian-born, at 83.4% of residents, with 7.6% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (26.9%) and Australian (25.8%). 8.9% 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 homogeneity is comparatively high in Daintree, where Australian citizens comprise 85.2% of the populace, 83.4% were born domestically, and 92.4% speak solely English in domestic settings. Christianity represents the leading religious affiliation, accounting for 45.5% of residents. The most noticeable relative concentration occurs within Judaism, which encompasses 0.1% of the local community, matching the 0.1% benchmark across Regional Qld. Regarding parental origins, the leading ancestries reported across Daintree are English at 26.9%, Australian at 25.8%, and Australian Aboriginal at 8.9%, with the latter markedly exceeding the 3.9% regional level.
Distinct variations also emerge across other heritages: Italian background represents 4.7% in Daintree (compared to 2.4% regionally), German comprises 4.3% (against 4.7% regionally), and New Zealand ancestry sits at 0.9% (matching 0.9% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Daintree is 47, older than 84% of areas nationally. 17.5% 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
Age cohort distributions across Daintree correspond closely with Regional Qld, with all major brackets falling within 7.1 percentage points of regional proportions. As at August 2026, the estimated median age remains 47, unchanged from the 2021 Census, which sits 6 years higher than the Regional Qld median of 41 and above the national median of 38 at that Census. The retiree and senior cohort (65+) has risen from 20.8% at the Census to an estimated 23.5% of the population. Simultaneously, the 5 to 14 age group contracted from 13.3% to an estimated 11.2%, while the 15 to 24 demographic increased from 8.9% to 10.3%, reflecting cohort ageing alongside limited younger household arrivals.
By 2041, residents aged 65+ are expected to drive the largest absolute increase, expanding by 531 (32%) to reach 2,184 people, whereas cohorts of children and young adults are forecast to decline.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Daintree
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 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 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 — 161 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (6,674 at the 2021 Census → 7,043 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 (306041164). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.