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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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Elimbah has an estimated 4,691 residents, up from 4,290 at the 2021 Census — a change of 401 people, or 9.3%. Growth has averaged 1.6% a year over five years. Density is about 46 people per 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
AreaSearch indicates that Elimbah has a population of approximately 4,691 in May 2026. This represents an expansion of 401 individuals (9.3%) relative to the 4,290 residents documented in the 2021 Census. This adjustment is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 4,645 alongside 65 validated new addresses identified after the Census. The resulting population density stands at 46 persons per square kilometer, suggesting a spacious residential environment. The post-census expansion of 9.3% is within 1.6 percentage points of the 10.9% state average, highlighting strong local growth dynamics.
Interstate migration was the primary driver, accounting for roughly 36.6% of the population increase, with natural increase and overseas arrivals also contributing positively. Projections from ABS/Geoscience Australia published in 2024 (using 2022 as a base) are utilized for each SA2. For areas lacking this data, or for periods past 2032, projections from the Queensland State Government released in 2023 (based on 2021 data) are substituted. Because these state-level figures omit age breakdowns, local age cohort distributions are adjusted using weightings derived from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections (based on 2022 data). Long-term forecasts suggest the area will experience population gains slightly under the national median, adding 421 residents by 2041 according to the most recent annual ERP statistics, which translates to a total increase of 8.0% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
139 new dwellings have been approved in Elimbah over the past five years, an average of 27 a year. That places the area in the 63rd percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 6 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 20, well below that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Approximately 27 residential dwellings receive building approval annually in Elimbah, accumulating to 139 properties over the last 5 financial years. Thus far in FY-26, there have been 19 registered approvals. An average of 2.5 new occupants per year was added for every residential unit constructed between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating sustained demand that helps maintain property valuations, with new constructions averaging a value of $281,000. Additionally, commercial development approvals totaling $459,000 have been logged during the current financial year, highlighting the predominantly residential character of the locality. Building activity in Elimbah is significantly subdued compared to Greater Brisbane, running 51.0% below regional average per person.
This low volume of construction generally supports values and demand for existing houses. New residential approvals consist of 89.0% detached houses and 11.0% townhouses or apartments, preserving the established low-density profile dominated by family residences. Showing an average of 201 people per dwelling approval, Elimbah exhibits typical growth area indicators. Based on the most recent quarterly estimates from AreaSearch, Elimbah is projected to add 375 residents by 2041. The current pace of construction suggests that incoming supply will satisfy local demand, maintaining balanced options for purchasers and potentially paving the way for growth that outpaces current forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Elimbah
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| 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 Elimbah, worth an estimated $1.16 billion. A further 110 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $40 billion. 46 are already under construction and 47 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans communities, precincts & urban renewal, transport & logistics and residential development. 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 infrastructure projects, major works, and municipal planning decisions remain primary drivers of regional growth. AreaSearch has tracked a total of 20 projects expected to influence the local area. Key initiatives include the M1 Industrial Estate, the Northern Intermodal Terminal (Elimbah), the Bruce Highway Upgrade - Caboolture-Bribie Island Road to Steve Irwin Way (Exit 163), and the East Elimbah Estate, with details provided below for those of highest relevance.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Northern Intermodal Terminal (Elimbah)
The Northern Intermodal Terminal is a proposed major freight hub near Elimbah, designed to facilitate freight transfer between the North Coast Rail Line and road networks. As part of the ShapingSEQ 2023 regional plan, it aims to reduce heavy vehicle movements through Brisbane. Current 2026 status indicates the project is in detailed planning alongside the Elimbah SEQ Development Area and the North Coast Line Stabling Expansion, which is slated for construction in 2027 to support the terminal's long-term viability.
Bruce Highway Upgrade - Caboolture-Bribie Island Road to Steve Irwin Way (Exit 163)
A major $662.5 million upgrade of an 11km section of the Bruce Highway from Caboolture-Bribie Island Road to Steve Irwin Way (Exit 163). The project widened the highway from four to six lanes and delivered 10 new, higher bridges to significantly improve flood immunity, including at King Johns and Lagoon Creeks. It also included upgrading interchanges, installing smart motorways technology, and supported 664 direct jobs during construction. Major construction was completed in April 2024.
Bigmor Drive Footpath
A new 3.5km concrete footpath along Bigmor Drive, between Pumicestone Rd and Mansfield Rd, providing a 'missing link' in the local footpath network. The $700,000 project provides safe pedestrian access to local shops, parks and the commercial development next to the Big Fish Tavern.
East Elimbah Estate
A project of 1300 residential lots surrounded by green spaces interwoven with commercial and retail uses, East Elimbah is a true mixed-use development. The project will create opportunities for retirement, education, childcare and local convenience and will generate employment for the wider Moreton Bay region.
Elimbah North (Rose Creek)
One of the largest future new communities in Southeast Queensland, Elimbah North will be home to almost 40,000 people and offer a lifestyle that embodies the existing green and blue character of the area. The development will include over 20,000 homes, multiple schools, shopping centres, parks, and sports facilities. At the heart of this transformation lies Rose Creek, a community of approximately 13,000 people, strategically positioned near the Elimbah train station and the Bruce Highway.
M1 Industrial Estate
A 48-hectare industrial estate strategically positioned near the Bruce Highway and M1 Motorway. The development features 39 hectares of developable land with ROL approval for 32 industrial lots ranging from 4,000sqm to 4.5 hectares. The site is zoned for General Industry, allowing for 24/7 operations and B-double access. Goldfields is currently advancing civil works and site preparation to support the region's growing logistics and manufacturing demands.
GemLife Elimbah
A $428 million over-50s community featuring 404 homes in a gated development. The 26-hectare site at 38 Atherton Rd, will include 8.2 hectares of green space and a conservation area bordering a nature and recreation reserve. There will be $20 million of facilities, including a country club with a ballroom, virtual golf, wellness room, summer house and pool.
Pumicestone Road and Clinker Road Intersection Upgrade
A $10 million upgrade to the intersection of Pumicestone and Clinker Roads in Elimbah East. The works will include significant widening and capacity upgrades, traffic signals and turning lanes, median strips, lighting and a pedestrian path and cycle lane. The project will accelerate the development of approximately 1160 lots in nearby housing estates.
2,636 residents of Elimbah are employed, from a labour force of 2,718. Unemployment sits at 3.0%, with participation at 72.0%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.1% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 3,936, about 84% 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 workforce is evenly distributed between white and blue-collar roles, with a notable concentration in the construction industry. The area maintains a low unemployment rate of 3.0% and achieved a 4.2% rise in employment over the past year. By March 2026, there were 2,636 employed residents, with the local unemployment rate sitting 1.3% below the Greater Brisbane rate of 4.3%. Labor force participation is comparable to the Greater Brisbane level of 70.4%. Census figures indicate that a moderate 14.9% of the workforce operated from home, though this data is subject to the influence of pandemic lockdowns.
The primary employment sectors for local citizens are construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Construction represents a major local specialization, with representation reaching 1.7 times the regional average. Conversely, professional & technical roles account for only 4.3% of the local workforce, which is lower than the Greater Brisbane share of 8.9%. Comparisons between the Census working population and resident population statistics suggest that local job opportunities within the immediate area remain limited. An analysis of SALM and ABS statistics shows that for the year ending March 2026, employment grew by 4.2% and the local labor force expanded by 5.0%, leading to a 0.7 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. Over the same timeframe, Greater Brisbane saw employment rise by 3.2% and its labor force grow by 3.4%, resulting in a 0.1 percentage point increase in unemployment. National forecasts released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 provide context for future labor demands. These five- and ten-year national projections, when matched to the local industry mix, suggest Elimbah's employment could grow by 6.1% over five years and 12.7% over ten years, assuming a basic weighted extrapolation that does not account for localized demographic shifts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Elimbah is $2,183 a week (about $114,000 a year), with median personal income at $789 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $57,054 a year against an average of $66,682. 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 the financial year 2023 ATO statistics compiled by AreaSearch, the Elimbah SA2 has average income levels positioned slightly below the national benchmark. Taxpayers in Elimbah recorded a median income of $57,054 and an average income of $66,682, compared to $58,236 and $72,799 in Greater Brisbane. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, these figures are estimated at approximately $63,535 for median income and $74,257 for average income as of March 2026. Census data shows weekly household income ranks in the 77th percentile ($2,183 weekly), while individual income sits in the 47th percentile.
The largest income group comprises 36.5% of residents (1,712 people) earning between $1,500 - 2,999, mirroring the metropolitan figure of 33.3%. High-income earners represent a notable segment, with 30.7% bringing in more than $3,000 weekly. Housing costs consume 13.8% of income, and residents place in the 79th percentile for disposable income, with a SEIFA index ranking in the 5th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Elimbah had 1,308 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 98% detached houses and 2% apartments. 58% are owned with a mortgage, 10% rented and 33% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $370 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,000 a month. Rent absorbs 16.9% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.1%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
The housing stock in Elimbah at the time of the latest Census consisted of 97.6% houses and 2.4% alternative dwellings like apartments or semi-detached homes, contrasting with the Brisbane metro mix of 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. The rate of outright home ownership in Elimbah reached 32.6%, which is higher than the Brisbane metro benchmark, while the remaining homes were mortgaged (57.6%) or rented (9.8%). The median monthly mortgage payment was higher than the Brisbane metro average at $2,000, while the weekly median rent was $370, compared to $1,863 and $380 in the capital city area.
On a national level, Elimbah's mortgage payments exceed the Australian average of $1,863, whereas rental costs remain below the national average of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Elimbah counted 1,308 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 1,430 today, averaging 3.1 people each. 46% are couples with children, more than in 91% of areas nationally, against 32% couples without children. 11% 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
Families make up the vast majority of households at 87.5%, consisting of couples with children (46.2%), couples without children (31.5%), and single parent homes (9.3%). Non-family households account for 12.5%, which includes single person dwellings at 10.7% and group housing at 1.8%. The average household size stands at 3.1 people, larger than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
14.3% of adults in Elimbah hold a university qualification, including 10.4% with a bachelor degree and 1.9% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 34.7% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 510 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 992 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
Educational attainment presents challenges in the area, with the university qualification rate of 14.3% falling well short of the Greater Brisbane average of 30.5%. This creates distinct opportunities for targeted educational programs. Bachelor degrees account for the largest share of higher education at 10.4%, followed by graduate diplomas at 2.0% and postgraduate degrees at 1.9%. Vocational and technical training is highly prevalent, with 45.9% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (11.2%) and certificates (34.7%). A significant portion of the population is engaged in study, with 28.1% of residents enrolled in an educational institution.
This group includes 10.9% in primary school, 8.9% in secondary school, and 3.3% in tertiary programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Elimbah means driving: households keep an average of 2.4 vehicles, and scheduled services reach only a handful of stops. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Analysis of local transit indicates there are 3 active public transport stops in Elimbah, comprising train and bus services. These stops support 41 individual routes that provide 601 passenger trips per week. Transport accessibility is considered low, with residents living an average of 2181 meters from the nearest stop. Because the area is mostly residential, the majority of workers commute to other areas, with private vehicles remaining the primary mode of travel for 91% of commuters. Household vehicle ownership averages 2.4 cars, which is higher than the regional average. Additionally, 14.9% of residents worked from home according to the 2021 Census, a figure that may reflect pandemic-era conditions.
Transit service frequency averages 85 trips daily across all routes, which corresponds to roughly 200 weekly trips at each active stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
67.4% of residents in Elimbah report no long-term health condition. 5.8% need daily assistance with core activities, and 52.1% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.2 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
An evaluation of local mortality data and chronic illness rates by AreaSearch indicates that health outcomes in Elimbah are below average, with common medical conditions slightly elevated across both younger and older cohorts. Private health insurance coverage lags slightly behind the typical SA2 area, sitting at approximately 52% of the population (~2,444 people), compared to 55.8% for Greater Brisbane. Arthritis and asthma are the most common medical diagnoses in the region, affecting 8.7% and 8.2% of residents respectively. Conversely, 67.4% of the population reported no chronic conditions, compared to 69.2% in Greater Brisbane.
Working-age citizens show higher than average rates of chronic health issues. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 16.9% of the population (791 people), exceeding the Greater Brisbane benchmark of 15.1%. Health metrics for this older demographic are above average, with national performance metrics exceeding those of the general local population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Elimbah is largely Australian-born, at 85.5% of residents, with 4.9% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (31.9%) and English (31.8%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity measures are below average, with 85.5% of Elimbah residents born in Australia, 91.0% holding citizenship, and 95.1% using only English at home. Christianity is the predominant religious affiliation, representing 49.0% of the community, compared to 47.8% recorded across Greater Brisbane. Regarding parental country of birth, the three most common ancestries in Elimbah are Australian at 31.9% (exceeding the regional average of 23.2%), English at 31.8% (above the regional average of 26.8%), and Irish at 7.7%. Specific differences in other ethnic heritages include Dutch ancestry representing 2.0% of Elimbah (compared to 1.2% regionally), German at 4.8% (compared to 4.2%), and New Zealand at 0.8% (compared to 1.0%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Elimbah is 40. 22.0% 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 median age of 40 in Elimbah is higher than the Greater Brisbane average of 36 and slightly higher than the national median of 38. The 55 - 64 age bracket is noticeably over-represented (15.9% locally) compared to Greater Brisbane, while the 25 - 34 bracket is under-represented (10.2%). Since the 2021 Census, the 55 to 64 group has increased from 13.3% to 15.9%, and the 75 to 84 cohort rose from 4.2% to 5.3%, while the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 16.3% to 14.2%. Long-term forecasts to 2041 point to major demographic shifts, led by a 71% increase in the 75 to 84 cohort (adding 176 people to reach 425 from 248).
Aging trends continue with residents aged 65 and over accounting for 69% of projected population growth, while the 45 to 54 and 0 to 4 age brackets are expected to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Elimbah
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 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) | May 2026 3 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 May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 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 5 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) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 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 — 65 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (4,290 at the 2021 Census → 4,691 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 May 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 (313021367). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.