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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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Highland Park has an estimated 8,802 residents, up from 8,433 at the 2021 Census — a change of 369 people, or 4.4%. Growth has averaged 0.7% a year over five years. That puts 1,901 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to research by AreaSearch, the resident count of Highland Park stands at approximately 8,802 as of Aug 2026. This represents an addition of 369 people (4.4%) relative to the 2021 Census, when 8,433 people were enumerated. This population shift is derived from the ABS estimated resident population figure of 8,797 recorded as of June 2025 alongside 5 validated new addresses established post-Census. With these numbers, the locality records a population density of 1,901 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the typical nationwide benchmark across AreaSearch study locations. Furthermore, the 4.4% expansion rate post-census trails the broader SA3 benchmark (6.7%) by just 2.3 percentage points, reflecting resilient growth dynamics.
Recent demographic increases were predominantly underpinned by net overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 51.2% of total population additions. Forecast modeling relies on ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 series released in 2024 (taking 2022 as baseline), supplemented by Queensland State Government SA2 forecasts released in 2023 (utilizing 2021 data) for unmapped zones and time horizons past 2032. Because the state-level figures omit age-cohort breakdowns, AreaSearch applies age-bracket proportional weights derived from the ABS Greater Capital Region forecasts released in 2023 using 2022 benchmarks. Looking ahead, population growth is projected to track slightly underneath the nationwide regional median, adding 580 persons leading up to 2041 according to recent annual ERP data, corresponding to an overall rise of 6.5% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
42 new dwellings have been approved in Highland Park over the past five years, an average of 8 a year. That is 1.0 approvals per 1,000 residents. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Residential planning approvals in Highland Park run at roughly 8 dwellings per annum, totaling 42 homes cleared across the prior 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26). With an influx of 7.7 new residents arriving per dwelling constructed over the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26), local housing demand heavily outpaces newly delivered stock, generally fueling price appreciation and heighten buyer rivalry, while replacement and new residences average $386,000 in build cost—below regional norms—pointing to relatively economical construction expenditure. Furthermore, commercial building approvals sit at $2.0 million this financial year, underscoring subdued commercial planning activity.
Compared with Rest of Qld, local construction volumes are subdued (falling 68.0% below regional average per person). Such limited building activity frequently bolsters demand and valuation metrics for established residential stock. Output similarly trails nationwide benchmarks, highlighting the community's consolidated footprint and potential zoning constraints. Additionally, recent building authorizations consist exclusively of detached houses, maintaining the neighborhood's suburban environment and appealing to buyers seeking standalone properties. Generating approximately 989 people per approval, the district exhibits the profile of an established, settled market. Demographic projections indicate Highland Park will gain 575 residents by 2041 (benchmarked against the newest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). If residential building rates remain at present levels, housing creation may fall behind demographic expansion, intensifying market pressure among purchasers and supporting ongoing asset appreciation.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Highland Park
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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 2 current infrastructure and development projects inside Highland Park, worth an estimated $45 million. A further 92 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $25.4 billion. 30 are already under construction and 38 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 capital projects and urban planning initiatives play a decisive role in shaping community growth. AreaSearch has pinpointed 5 projects that are anticipated to influence the local area. Notable undertakings comprise the Hinkler Drive Retail Showroom Complex, Mooyumbin Creek Riparian Restoration, Highland Park Investigation Area, and The Summit Highland Park, each holding particular importance for surrounding infrastructure.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Hinkler Drive Retail Showroom Complex
Planned large-format retail and showroom complex on a prominent Hinkler Drive site beside the Pacific Motorway at Highland Park. Plans reported as lodged with Gold Coast City Council propose five buildings: three single-storey showroom or retail buildings with flexible tenancies, plus two two-level buildings for retail, office and cafe uses. The project is intended to expand the local commercial and bulky-goods retail offer near the SkyRidge growth area and generate local employment.
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.
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.
New Street Social Housing Development
A 5-storey mid-rise development providing 60 apartments, comprising 53 social homes and 7 affordable homes. Designed by Plus Architecture, the project features multi-level breezeways, subtropical landscaping, and a durable material palette of precast concrete with navy blue screening. It is the flagship project of Vinnies Queensland's 500 Homes initiative, providing secure housing for vulnerable residents including those impacted by domestic violence or disability.
Kokomo Gold Coast
Luxury riverfront residential development comprising 66 apartments across two six-level buildings with 75 metres of Nerang River frontage. Features include an infinity pool, resident jetty, landscaped recreation areas and premium finishes. Construction is in its final stages with apartments now being marketed as ready for occupation during 2026.
Cumulus Grand Villas
Cumulus Grand Villas is a private gated community comprising 59 luxury three- and four-bedroom townhomes set on an elevated ridgeline overlooking 250 hectares of natural savanna. The development features an infinity pool terrace, a 2-acre private nature reserve, and environmental walking trails.
Coomera Connector Stage 1 South
Stage 1 South is the 4 km southern package of the Coomera Connector (M9), delivering a four-lane motorway from Smith Street Motorway to Nerang-Broadbeach Road. Works include a grade-separated interchange at Southport-Nerang Road, a new intersection at Nerang-Broadbeach Road, an approximately 300 m bridge over the Nerang River, and shared walking and cycling infrastructure. Main construction commenced in June 2025 and remains underway.
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.
4,792 residents of Highland Park are employed, from a labour force of 4,963. Unemployment sits at 3.4%, with participation at 69.3%. 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 7,132, about 81% 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 labour pool in Highland Park is well qualified, showing marked concentration within the building and construction trades, an unemployment level of merely 3.4%, and an estimated 4.0% gain in employment over the preceding year. As of March 2026, employed residents tally 4,792, keeping the jobless rate 0.5% below Regional Qld's 3.9%, while the labor participation rate registers at an elevated 69.3% compared to Regional Qld's 64.2%. Census figures indicate only 11.6% of workers operated from home, though historical Covid-19 restrictions provide relevant context. Resident workers are primarily engaged within health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.
Construction activity features exceptional depth, holding an employment concentration 1.4 times the regional norm. In contrast, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for only 0.3% of workers against 4.5% regionally. As a predominantly residential enclave, the area provides relatively few on-site jobs relative to its resident workforce count at the Census. AreaSearch assessment of SALM and ABS statistics shows annual jobs expansion reached 4.0% alongside a 3.2% rise in the active workforce, helping trim the local unemployment rate by 0.7 percentage points. Over the same timeframe, Regional Qld saw employment rise 0.1%, the workforce grow 0.3%, and unemployment edge up 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts from Mar-26 provide additional context regarding future employment generation. When mapped to the local industry mix, these projections—which model broader national employment gains of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years—suggest Highland Park could achieve employment gains of 6.4% over five years and 13.3% over ten years (assuming a basic sectoral weighting model without factoring in localized population shifts).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Highland Park is $1,671 a week (about $87,000 a year), with median personal income at $731 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $53,515 a year against an average of $65,580. 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
Taxation records published by the ATO at postcode resolution for financial year 2023 show Highland Park SA2 taxable individuals earning a median income of $53,515 and an average income of $65,580. These figures track slightly beneath national benchmarks while comparing to Regional Qld's median of $53,146 and average of $66,593. Accounting for Wage Price Index gains of 11.36% since financial year 2023, modeled figures reach approximately $59,594 (median) and $73,030 (average) as of March 2026. Data from the Census 2021 indicates household, family, and individual earnings sit in moderate tiers between the 34th and 45th percentiles.
Specifically, the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly bracket encompasses 34.8% of residents (3,063 individuals), aligning closely with the 31.7% observed across the wider region. Mortgage and rental costs leave 83.0% of income remaining, placing the area at the 45th percentile for affordability, alongside a 5th decile ranking on the SEIFA income index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Highland Park had 2,988 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 89% detached houses and 8% apartments. 50% are owned with a mortgage, 18% rented and 33% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $420 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,820 a month. Rent absorbs 25.1% of household income here and mortgage repayments 25.1%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the most recent Census, Highland Park's residential landscape consisted of 88.8% houses and 11.2% other dwellings (incorporating semi-detached units, apartments, and diverse formats), contrasting with Regional Qld where houses comprised 76.4% and other dwellings made up 23.6%. Outright home ownership stood at 32.6%, matching the regional standard, while mortgaged properties accounted for 49.8% and rental arrangements represented 17.7%. Median monthly mortgage costs stood at $1,820, outpacing Regional Qld's $1,655, while weekly median rent reached $420 compared to $345 regionally. On a national scale, Highland Park mortgage repayments sit below Australia's $1,863 average, whereas median rents sit considerably higher than the nationwide $375 benchmark.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Highland Park counted 2,988 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.7 people each. 36% are couples with children, against 29% couples without children. 18% 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
Family units constitute the vast majority of local living arrangements at 78.9%, broken down into couples with children (35.8%), couples without children (28.8%), and single parent families (13.8%). Non-family living structures comprise 21.1% of the total, featuring lone person households at 17.7% and group households at 3.2%. The typical household size sits at 2.7 people, exceeding the Regional Qld figure of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
18.0% of adults in Highland Park hold a university qualification, including 12.9% with a bachelor degree and 3.3% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 29.7% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 1,112 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 986 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
Tertiary educational attainment presents an area for growth, as the proportion of university degree holders (18.0%) remains noticeably below the national benchmark of 30.4%. Among tertiary credentials, Bachelor degrees are held by 12.9%, followed by postgraduate degrees (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Conversely, vocational and technical pathways show strong uptake, with 43.1% of residents aged 15+ holding practical qualifications, including advanced diplomas (13.4%) and certificate-level awards (29.7%). Participation across educational institutions is substantial, with 27.8% of the local population actively engaged in study. Breakdown of this student cohort reveals 9.7% enrolled in primary education, 8.1% attending secondary education, and 3.9% engaged in tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Highland Park means driving: households keep an average of 1.7 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
67.1% of residents in Highland Park report no long-term health condition. 6.0% need daily assistance with core activities, and 51.9% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 3.7 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
General health benchmarks across Highland Park indicate positive overall well-being based on AreaSearch assessments of mortality patterns and chronic condition prevalence, with major health concerns remaining infrequent across the broader community while tracking closer to nationwide averages among older demographics, alongside private health insurance coverage of approximately 52% of the total population (~4,568 people). Arthritis and asthma represent the most frequently reported medical diagnoses, affecting 9.1 and 8.3% of the populace respectively, while 67.1% of residents reported having no chronic ailments, matching closely with 67.6% across Regional Qld. General health status among working-age individuals mirrors wider norms.
Residents aged 65 and over constitute 19.2% of the local community (1,686 people), tracking below the 20.3% observed in Regional Qld. Health metrics among senior cohorts register above standard regional levels, though somewhat lower in national rankings than the overall population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
26.1% of Highland Park residents were born overseas and 9.4% speak a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (31.3%) and Australian (24.7%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity metrics in Highland Park exceed broader averages, with 9.4% of residents speaking a language other than English at home and 26.1% born overseas. Christianity represents the primary religious affiliation, accounting for 48.9% of residents. The most notable relative concentration occurs among Judaism, representing 0.2% of the population compared to 0.1% across Regional Qld. Looking at parental background and ancestry, the most prevalent heritages in Highland Park are English (31.3%), Australian (24.7%), and Scottish (7.6%). Notable concentrations also appear for specific demographic origins relative to regional baselines: New Zealand ancestry stands at 1.7% (vs 0.9% regionally), Maori background accounts for 1.8% (vs 0.8%), and Hungarian ancestry comprises 0.4% (vs 0.2%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Highland Park is 40. 23.6% 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 age distribution across Highland Park closely mirrors Regional Qld, with the largest divergence across the primary age groups spanning only 1.8 percentage points. The estimated median age stands at 40 as at August 2026, matching the 2021 Census level and sitting 1 year below the Regional Qld median of 41 at that Census. Across cohorts, mature adults and early retirees (45 - 64) reduced their relative share from 26.0% at the Census to an estimated 23.3%. Individuals aged 25 - 44 are projected to drive future population growth to 2041, increasing by 372 (16%) to 2,770, whereas numbers for younger cohorts, children, and the 45 - 64 bracket are projected to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Highland Park
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 | Jun 2026 4 months ago all 2 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 Jun 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 — 5 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (8,433 at the 2021 Census → 8,802 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 (309061247). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.