Hermit Park - Rosslea

An assessment of population growth drivers in Hermit Park - Rosslea reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Hermit Park - Rosslea's population is around 5,708 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 293 people (5.4%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,415 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 5,690 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 48 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 1,471 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Hermit Park - Rosslea's 5.4% growth since the census positions it within 1.7 percentage points of the SA4 region (7.1%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by natural growth, which contributed approximately 60.8% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers, including overseas migration and interstate migration, were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted. It should be noted that these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence, where utilised, AreaSearch is applying proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort. Regarding demographic trends, a population increase just below the median of Australian non-metropolitan areas is expected, with the area expected to expand by 756 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 12.9% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Hermit Park - Rosslea recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Hermit Park - Rosslea has averaged around 20 new dwelling approvals each year, totalling 104 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 5 approvals have been recorded. With an average of 3.6 people per year moving to the area for each dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), demand significantly exceeds new supply, which usually results in price growth and increased buyer competition, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $336,000, in line with regional trends. There have also been $7.8 million in commercial approvals this financial year, supporting the area's residential character.

When measured against the Rest of Qld, Hermit Park - Rosslea shows comparable new home approvals (per person), supporting market stability in line with regional patterns. New building activity shows 81.0% detached houses and 19.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. Notably, developers are constructing more detached housing than the existing pattern implies (47.0% at Census), reflecting persistent strong demand for family homes amid densification trends. At around 532 people per approval, Hermit Park - Rosslea indicates a mature market.

Population forecasts indicate Hermit Park - Rosslea will gain 738 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Construction is maintaining a reasonable pace with projected growth, although buyers could encounter growing competition as population increases.

Hermit Park - Rosslea has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total 10 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Eden Park Estate, Weststate Private Hospital, Townsville Connection Road (Stuart Drive), Bowen Road Bridge (Idalia) Duplication, and Corcoran Park Netball Courts Upgrade, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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

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.

The labour market performance in Hermit Park - Rosslea lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Hermit Park - Rosslea features a skilled workforce, with essential services sectors well represented and an unemployment rate of 7.5%. As of December 2025, 2,967 residents are in work, while the unemployment rate is 3.5% above Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%, showing room for improvement, and workforce participation is broadly similar to Regional Qld's 65.4%. Based on Census responses, a low 5.2% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and education & training. The area shows particularly strong specialization in public administration & safety, with an employment share of 1.8 times the regional level. In contrast, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 0.5% of local workers, below Regional Qld's 4.5%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels increased by 0.2% alongside a 1.8% employment decline, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.9 percentage points. This contrasts with Regional Qld, where employment rose by 0.7%, the labour force grew by 1.0%, and unemployment rose 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Hermit Park - Rosslea. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Hermit Park - Rosslea's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.7% over five years and 14.0% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for FY-23, the Hermit Park - Rosslea SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $59,899 with the average level standing at $69,909. This is slightly above average nationally and compares to levels of $53,146 and $66,593 across Regional Qld respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $65,835 (median) and $76,837 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals personal income ranks at the 64th percentile ($880 weekly), while household income sits at the 25th percentile. Distribution data shows the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 29.4% of the community (1,678 individuals), consistent with broader trends across the region showing 31.7% in the same category. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.3% of income remaining, ranking at the 24th percentile.

Hermit Park - Rosslea displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure within Hermit Park - Rosslea, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 46.8% houses and 53.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Hermit Park - Rosslea was lagging that of Regional Qld, at 20.3%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (27.0%) or rented (52.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well below the Regional Qld average at $1,450, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $260, compared to Regional Qld's $1,655 and $345. Nationally, Hermit Park - Rosslea's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375.

Hermit Park - Rosslea features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households dominate at 54.9% of all households, comprising 17.9% couples with children, 23.3% couples without children, and 12.7% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 45.1%, with lone person households at 40.4% and group households comprising 4.7% of the total. The median household size of 2.1 people is smaller than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.

Hermit Park - Rosslea performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

The area's educational profile stands out regionally, with university qualification rates (27.3% of residents aged 15+) exceeding the SA4 region average of 20.1% and that of Rest of Qld (20.6%), reflecting the community's emphasis on higher education. Bachelor degrees lead at 18.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.4%) and graduate diplomas (3.3%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 36.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (10.8%) and certificates (26.1%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.1% of residents aged 15+ currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.5% in primary education, 7.8% in secondary education, and 7.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 20 active transport stops operating within Hermit Park - Rosslea, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 5 individual routes, collectively providing 657 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 233 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 91%, with 2% cycling. Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per dwelling, below the regional average. A relatively low 5.2% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 93 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 32 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Hermit Park - Rosslea is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Hermit Park - Rosslea faces significant health challenges, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover just leads the average SA2 area at approximately 54% of the total population (~3,076 people).

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 11.1% and 7.4% of residents, respectively, while 67.9% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 13.8% of residents aged 65 and over (788 people), which is lower than the 20.4% in Regional Qld, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

Hermit Park - Rosslea ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Hermit Park - Rosslea was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 84.3% of its population being citizens, 82.4% born in Australia, and 89.7% speaking English only at home. The main religion in Hermit Park - Rosslea is Christianity, which makes up 47.9% of people. However, the most apparent overrepresentation was in Other, which comprises 1.0% of the population, compared to 0.8% across Regional Qld.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Hermit Park - Rosslea are English, comprising 27.1% of the population, Australian, comprising 24.9% of the population, and Irish, comprising 8.7% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: French is notably overrepresented at 0.9% of Hermit Park - Rosslea (vs 0.5% regionally), Australian Aboriginal at 4.8% (vs 3.9%) and New Zealand at 0.9% (vs 0.9%).

Hermit Park - Rosslea's population is younger than the national pattern

The 34-year median age in Hermit Park - Rosslea is notably under Regional Qld's average of 41 and also substantially under the Australian median of 38. Relative to Regional Qld, Hermit Park - Rosslea has a higher concentration of 25 - 34 residents (21.7%) but fewer 5 - 14 year-olds (8.9%). This 25 - 34 concentration is well above the national 14.4%. Since the 2021 Census, a rejuvenation is evident as the median age fell from 35 to 34 years. Specifically, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 17.7% to 21.7% of the population. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 13.1% to 9.9% and the 55 to 64 group dropped from 12.1% to 10.8%. By 2041, Hermit Park - Rosslea is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. Leading the demographic shift, the 25 to 34 group will grow by 29% (355 people), reaching 1,595 from 1,239. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 55 to 64 and 15 to 24 cohorts.