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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.
est. as @ -- *
ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Guanaba - Springbrook has an estimated 4,687 residents, up from 4,420 at the 2021 Census — a change of 267 people, or 6.0%. Growth has averaged 1.0% a year over five years. Density is about 15 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
Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Guanaba - Springbrook's population is around 4,687 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 267 people (6.0%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,420 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 4,687 from the ABS as of June 2025 and an additional 36 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 15.4 persons per square kilometer, a level providing ample space per person. Guanaba - Springbrook's 6.0% growth since census positions it within 1.2 percentage points of the SA3 area (7.2%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals.
Population growth for the area was primarily driven by natural growth that contributed approximately 39.1% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including overseas migration and interstate migration were positive factors. Projections from ABS/Geoscience Australia released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year are utilized for each SA2 area. For SA2 areas where this data is unavailable, or for periods after 2032, Queensland State Government projections released in 2023 with a 2021 base are substituted. Because Queensland projections lack age breakdowns, proportional growth shares are applied based on the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections (using 2022 base data) for specific age brackets. Based on anticipated demographic developments, total growth will likely rank slightly below the median of non-metropolitan areas across the country, with the local population projected to expand by 449 persons to 2041 relative to the most recent annual ERP figures, representing a total rise of 9.6% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
91 new dwellings have been approved in Guanaba - Springbrook over the past five years, an average of 18 a year. That places the area in the 60th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 4 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 9, 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
Around 18 building approvals for residential units have been granted annually in Guanaba - Springbrook, accumulating to 91 homes over the previous 5 financial years. Thus far during FY-26, 9 approvals have been logged. The local market indicates solid demand supporting property values, with an average of 2.6 residents added per new home built over the 5 financial years spanning FY-21 to FY-25. Newly constructed dwellings carry a mean expected construction cost of $582,000, which suggests builders are focusing on higher-end builds for the upscale market. Furthermore, commercial building approvals have reached $2.6 million this financial year, reflecting a modest focus on business developments.
In comparison to Rest of Qld, local construction per resident is about three-quarters of the level, though the area places in the 70th percentile of all analyzed locations nationwide, indicating a recent acceleration in building activity. Additionally, recent residential construction has consisted entirely of standalone homes, preserving the established low-density aesthetic of the area with spacious layouts suited for families. With approximately 194 residents for every approved dwelling, the region exhibits the typical profile of a low-density community. Long-term projections indicate that the Guanaba - Springbrook area will add 449 residents by 2041 compared to the most recent quarterly estimate from AreaSearch. Current levels of building activity appear aligned with this future population growth, which should help maintain balanced market conditions and prevent significant upward pressure on home construction values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Guanaba - Springbrook
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks one current infrastructure or development project inside Guanaba - Springbrook, worth an estimated $18 million. A further 83 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $20.4 billion. 23 are already under construction and 27 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
Local infrastructure projects, major works, and urban planning developments exert a strong influence on regional performance. AreaSearch has identified 45 projects in progress or planned that are expected to impact the local community. The most relevant projects for the area include Serenity Estate, Mooyumbin Creek Riparian Restoration, Highland Park Investigation Area, and the Hinkler Drive Retail Showroom Complex.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Mudgeeraba Creek Causeway Upgrade (Austinville)
Queensland Government project to replace and raise the Mudgeeraba Creek Causeway on Gold Coast-Springbrook Road at Austinville, improving flood immunity for the Austinville, Neranwood and Springbrook communities. The existing causeway was damaged during Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred in March 2025. The new structure will sit 2.5 metres higher than the original and will be built upstream on a new alignment, with new pavement on both approaches. Works are jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland Governments through the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, with additional Queensland Government funding to build the structure higher.Construction commenced in March 2026, with culvert installation for the replacement structure now complete and works progressing to pavement construction, upstream wingwalls and scour protection. Completion is expected late 2026 to early 2027.
Serenity Estate - Gilston
Serenity Estate - Gilston is a 31 lot residential subdivision in the family friendly suburb of Gilston on the western Gold Coast. The project delivers flat, usable lots ranging from about 426 m2 to 1,282 m2, with civil works and roads completed and land now being sold for detached homes close to schools, shops and parks.
Serenity Estate
A brand-new subdivision nestled in one of the Gold Coast's most family-friendly suburbs, Gilston, offering 31 blocks of land with a variety of sizes for building spacious family homes or securing investments.
The Summit Highland Park
A prestigious gated community of 24 luxury homes with sweeping views from the Pacific Ocean to the hinterland, positioned on one of the Gold Coast's highest natural elevations.
Merrimac Community Sports Hub
City of Gold Coast community sports hub proposed for Merrimac to provide indoor multi-purpose courts, aquatic facilities, fitness spaces, community meeting rooms and outdoor sporting fields. The project remains in planning as part of the city's long-term community infrastructure program with planning and community consultation continuing.
Highland Park Investigation Area
City of Gold Coast investigation area assessing suitability for future housing and employment around Central Winderadeen Drive. Stage 2 technical investigations including ecological, bushfire, and infrastructure assessments are complete. As of December 2024, the project is on hold pending the outcomes of the Local Growth Management Strategy.
Merrimac Environmental Reserve Enhancement
Ecological restoration and enhancement of natural areas around Merrimac including native vegetation rehabilitation, wildlife corridors, and community education facilities.
Merrimac Floodplain and Stormwater Management Program
Ongoing City of Gold Coast flood mitigation and stormwater infrastructure program across the Merrimac floodplain. Works include stormwater drainage upgrades, detention infrastructure, floodplain management and supporting drainage improvements to improve flood resilience while accommodating future development. Public information indicates the originally supplied project pages are no longer available and works now form part of broader floodplain and drainage management activities.
2,492 residents of Guanaba - Springbrook are employed, from a labour force of 2,596. Unemployment sits at 4.0%, with participation at 66.2%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.4% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 3,913, about 83% 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 characterized by high skill levels, with the construction sector showing exceptionally strong representation. The local unemployment rate stands at 4.0%, while job growth over the preceding year is estimated at 3.4%. By March 2026, 2,492 residents were employed, and the local jobless rate closely aligns with the 3.9% recorded in Regional Qld. Workforce participation is also highly comparable to the 64.3% rate of Regional Qld. According to Census data, 21.0% of local workers operated from home, though this figure reflects some influence from Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.
The primary employment sectors for local workers are construction, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The area exhibits a notable concentration of employment in construction, with its share reaching 1.6 times the Regional Qld average. In contrast, mining is underrepresented, accounting for only 0.5% of local employment compared to the regional benchmark of 3.6%. The ratio of Census local workers to resident workers suggests the local area offers few jobs internally. According to AreaSearch's evaluation of SALM and ABS statistics, employment in the area grew by 3.4% and the labor force expanded by 3.2% in the year leading to March 2026, which lowered the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. This performance differed from Regional Qld, where total employment increased by 0.1%, the labor force grew by 0.3%, and the unemployment rate rose by 0.1 percentage points. National forecasts released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 offer additional context on future demand trends for Guanaba - Springbrook. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce distribution to model potential paths. Globally, national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but rates vary widely by industry. Weighting these national figures against the local industry mix indicates employment in the area is projected to rise by 6.4% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, which represents a basic weighted extrapolation for comparison and does not incorporate localized population adjustments.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Guanaba - Springbrook is $1,736 a week (about $90,000 a year), with median personal income at $764 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $54,229 a year against an average of $66,727. 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 latest postcode-level ATO data released for financial year 2023, the median tax-paying income in the Guanaba - Springbrook SA2 is $54,229, with an average of $66,727. This sits slightly below the national average and compares to Regional Qld's median of $53,146 and average of $66,593. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, updated estimates suggest figures of approximately $60,389 for the median and $74,307 for the average by March 2026. The 2021 Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes all rank in the moderate range, sitting between the 41st and 49th percentiles.
Among the population, the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket is the most common, accounting for 32.7% of residents (1,532 people), which is consistent with the surrounding region where 31.7% fall into this same group. After housing costs, residents retain 85.2% of their income for other spending, and the area ranks in the 5th decile of the SEIFA income index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Guanaba - Springbrook had 1,522 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 97% detached houses and 0% apartments. 50% are owned with a mortgage, 12% rented and 38% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $375 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,829 a month. Rent absorbs 21.6% of household income here and mortgage repayments 24.3%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
The local housing stock at the time of the latest Census consisted of 97.2% separate houses and 2.8% other dwelling types like semi-detached properties, apartments, or alternative formats. This compares to Regional Qld, where standalone houses represent 76.4% and other housing types make up 23.6%. Home ownership is significantly higher in Guanaba - Springbrook at 37.5% compared to Regional Qld, with the remaining dwellings split between mortgaged properties (50.1%) and rental accommodation (12.3%). The median monthly mortgage payment was $1,829, which is considerably higher than the Regional Qld average of $1,655.
The median weekly rent was recorded at $375, compared to $345 in Regional Qld. Nationally, local mortgage commitments are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, whereas median rents match the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Guanaba - Springbrook counted 1,522 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 1,614 today, averaging 2.7 people each. 33% are couples with children, against 32% couples without children. 21% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.7 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families comprise the majority of local households at 75.8%, consisting of couples with children at 32.5%, couples without children at 32.3%, and single-parent homes at 10.6%. Non-family households account for the remaining 24.2% of dwellings, with single-person households representing 21.4% and group shared homes making up 2.8%. The average household size stands at 2.7 people, which is larger than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
22.6% of adults in Guanaba - Springbrook hold a university qualification, including 15.3% with a bachelor degree and 4.6% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 32.1% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 43 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,029 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 levels in Guanaba - Springbrook are below regional averages, with 22.6% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree compared to 30.4% nationally. This difference indicates a clear opportunity for educational development and skills training. Within tertiary qualifications, Bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.3%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 4.6% and graduate diplomas at 2.7%. Vocational qualifications are highly prevalent, with 44.0% of residents aged 15+ holding a technical qualification, consisting of advanced diplomas at 11.9% and certificates at 32.1%. Student numbers are high in the area, with 27.6% of the population enrolled in an educational program.
This total includes 10.2% of residents in primary schools, 8.1% in secondary education, and 3.7% enrolled in university or other tertiary programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Guanaba - Springbrook means driving: households keep an average of 2.0 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 Guanaba - Springbrook report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 79% of areas nationally. 4.6% need daily assistance with core activities, and 52.1% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.0 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Assessments of local medical data reveal positive health indicators across Guanaba - Springbrook, based on AreaSearch's analysis of death rates and chronic health conditions, which shows extremely low rates of typical illnesses across all age brackets. Private health insurance coverage is slightly below the average SA2 area level, sitting at approximately 52% of the population, which corresponds to around 2,441 people. Arthritis and mental health challenges represent the most prevalent medical diagnoses, affecting 8.9 and 8.0% of local residents, respectively. Meanwhile, 70.2% of the population reported no long-term health conditions, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld.
Health outcomes for residents under the age of 65 are better than national averages. The population aged 65 and over represents 19.6% of the total (918 people), and health measurements for this senior demographic are very strong, matching general national benchmarks.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Guanaba - Springbrook is largely Australian-born, at 77.9% of residents, with 5.1% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (33.4%) and Australian (25.5%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Guanaba - Springbrook ranks below national averages for cultural diversity. Citizens comprise 85.5% of the population, 77.9% of residents were born in Australia, and 94.9% of homes speak only English. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 43.2% of the population. The most notable statistical divergence is in the Other category, which represents 0.8% of the local population, matching the 0.8% average for Regional Qld. English ancestry is the most common at 33.4% of the population, followed by Australian ancestry at 25.5% and Scottish ancestry at 9.4%. Specific national backgrounds show distinct concentrations, with New Zealand ancestry representing 1.3% of the local population compared to 0.9% across the region, Welsh ancestry at 0.8% compared to 0.5% regionally, and German ancestry at 5.4% compared to 4.7% regionally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Guanaba - Springbrook is 45, older than 78% of areas nationally. 20.5% 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
The median age of 45 in Guanaba - Springbrook is older than the Regional Qld figure of 41 and significantly higher than the Australian median of 38. The age distribution reveals a high concentration of residents in the 55 - 64 age bracket (15.1%), while the 15 - 24 group represents a relatively small share (9.5%) compared to Regional Qld. Since the 2021 Census, the 65 to 74 demographic has increased from 12.0% to 12.9% of the population, whereas the 55 to 64 group decreased from 17.2% to 15.1%. Projections to 2041 indicate notable shifts in the local age profile, led by a 32% increase in the 25 to 34 demographic, which is expected to rise from 516 to 681 people.
Conversely, the population in both the 55 to 64 and 15 to 24 age groups is projected to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Guanaba - Springbrook
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 | Aug 2026 this month all 1 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 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 — 36 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (4,420 at the 2021 Census → 4,687 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 (309041241). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.