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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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Ingham Surrounds has an estimated 6,729 residents, up from 6,462 at the 2021 Census — a change of 267 people, or 4.1%. Growth has averaged 0.8% a year over five years. 207 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Fewer than ten people live on each square kilometre, across a boundary that takes in surrounding rural land. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
Demographic assessments by AreaSearch place the resident count of Ingham Surrounds at roughly 6,729 in Aug 2026. This represents an addition of 267 people (4.1%) relative to the 2021 Census tally of 6,462 people. Such growth is derived by combining the ABS estimated resident population figure of 6,723 recorded in June 2025 with 207 validated new addresses identified following the Census. The local population density stands at 2.4 persons per square kilometer, highlighting a spacious rural living environment. Outpacing the broader SA3 area (3.5%), Ingham Surrounds's 4.1% expansion established it as a regional growth outperformer.
Inflows from interstate migration served as the primary growth catalyst, generating roughly 83.6% of recent population additions. Projections for each SA2 area utilise ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 (using 2022 as the baseline). Where coverage is absent or for periods past 2032, models incorporate Queensland State Government SA2 projections published in 2023 from 2021 data. Because state figures omit specific age breakdowns, proportional weightings from the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (published in 2023 using 2022 data) are applied across cohorts. Under this framework, demographic modelling points to an impending contraction, forecasting a decline of 582 persons by 2041. Even so, certain segments should expand, most notably the 75 to 84 age group with an anticipated gain of 87 people. Details regarding cohort shifts appear in the age breakdown.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
97 new dwellings have been approved in Ingham Surrounds over the past five years, an average of 19 a year. That places the area in the 50th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 3 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Residential building approvals across Ingham Surrounds run at roughly 19 homes annually, totalling 97 homes across the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26). Demand remains solid, with 2.7 people arriving per built home over the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26), underpinning local asset values. Newly approved dwellings carry an average construction cost of $338,000, coming in underneath regional benchmarks to offer relatively affordable building opportunities. Concurrently, non-residential activity saw $2.2 million in commercial approvals lodged this financial year, confirming a market largely centered on housing.
Building activity in Ingham Surrounds outpaces the Rest of Qld benchmark (tracking 43.0% above regional average per person over the 5 year period), which supports property pricing while sustaining homebuyer choice. This pace falls below national norms, indicating a mature residential landscape and potential planning parameters. Furthermore, construction over recent times comprises standalone houses exclusively, maintaining low-density characteristics and detached living environments that appeal to space-focused purchasers. A ratio of roughly 279 people per dwelling approval reflects this low-density profile. With demographic projections pointing to static or shrinking resident numbers, housing constraints in Ingham Surrounds are expected to ease, creating advantageous conditions for prospective buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Ingham Surrounds
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 4 current infrastructure and development projects inside Ingham Surrounds, worth an estimated $3.36 billion. A further 57 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $10.7 billion. 23 are already under construction and 18 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
Major infrastructure developments, planning frameworks, and capital projects exert a substantial influence on local growth. AreaSearch has pinpointed 13 strategic projects poised to influence the district, highlighted by the North Queensland Bio-Energy Facility (Ingham), Moduline Ingham Expansion - Factory and Showroom, Atlantic North Ingham, and the Orient Road Water Security Project, with key developments detailed below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
North Queensland Bio-Energy Facility (Ingham)
The North Queensland Bio-Energy (NQBE) facility is a proposed $640 million integrated sugar, ethanol, and renewable power plant located on an 80-hectare site south of Ingham. As of early 2026, the project remains in the planning phase while awaiting favorable market conditions and finalized financing. The facility is designed to process sugarcane into 350,000 tonnes of raw sugar annually, produce up to 200,000 litres of ethanol per day, and export approximately 110-115 MW of renewable energy to the national grid.The project was recently a focal point in the 2026 Queensland Parliamentary Inquiry into Sugarcane Bioenergy Opportunities, which seeks to address regulatory and investment barriers for such industrial hubs.
Moduline Ingham Expansion - Factory and Showroom
Proposed ~4,400 sqm manufacturing facility with ~550 sqm office and retail showroom for Moduline in Ingham CBD. Development Application lodged 24 Feb 2025 for Medium Impact Industry (furniture manufacturing, display and sales) across multiple lots fronting Herbert St and Lynn St. State assessment (SARA) advice issued 17 Mar 2025. Project aims to modernize production, expand local jobs and renew the town centre retail presence.
Bruce Highway (Ingham - Innisfail) Ingham to Cardwell Range Deviation
A planning project to investigate a new alignment for the Bruce Highway to improve flood immunity and safety. The project will update findings from a previous study and consider a preferred alignment known as the Western 2A Deviation. There is no funding allocated for design or construction at this stage.
Orient Road Water Security Project
A project to improve water security in the Ingham area, funded under the Building our Regions program. The project involved the extension of the water main along Orient Road.
Atlantic North Ingham
Atlantic North Ingham is a proposed mixed-use development at 70 Townsville Road, Ingham, designed to expand the commercial hub of Hinchinbrook Shire. The precinct comprises six retail showrooms of approximately 800 square metres each, an 18-room motel, and a 30-bed dormitory building for school groups and tourists. Located within walking distance of the Tyto Wetlands, the development incorporates North Queensland architectural elements and flood-proof design with floor levels 2.40 metres above natural ground, supported by 310 car parking bays.
Dutton Street Culvert Crossing Project
Construction of a culvert crossing on Dutton Street to provide a linkage between the north and south of Ingham during flood events. The project was fully funded under the National Flood Infrastructure Mitigation Program.
Hinchinbrook Shire Council Priority Projects
A list of priority projects for the Hinchinbrook Shire, including upgrades to marine and tourism infrastructure, recycling facilities, and digital connectivity. Specific projects include the Dungeness Marine Access Upgrade, Wallaman Falls Eco and Adventure Tourism, and Forrest Beach Boat Ramp Facilities.
Residential Activation Fund - Hinchinbrook Housing
Two critical infrastructure projects to unlock more than 180 new homes in Ingham. The projects are funded through the Queensland Government's Residential Activation Fund and align with the Hinchinbrook Shire Council's Local Housing Action Plan to address housing shortages.
3,014 residents of Ingham Surrounds are employed, from a labour force of 3,127. Unemployment sits at 3.6%, with participation at 53.7%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 4.9% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 5,886, about 87% 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 features a healthy distribution of white-collar and blue-collar occupations, marked by solid manufacturing and industrial employment alongside an unemployment rate of just 3.6%. In March 2026, employed locals numbered 3,014 residents, holding the jobless rate 0.3% below the Regional Qld figure of 3.9%, though labour force engagement remains subdued at 53.7% against 64.2% across Regional Qld. Remote work uptake was modest at 10.0% of workers during the Census, a figure shaped in part by pandemic-related restrictions. Major employment fields across the community comprise agriculture, forestry & fishing, manufacturing, and health care & social assistance.
Agricultural, forestry, and fishing operations represent a key specialization, capturing an employment concentration 4.6 times the regional level. Conversely, health care & social assistance accounts for only 12.3% of local jobs, trailing the 16.1% registered across Regional Qld. Comparing Census resident counts against local working numbers indicates a constrained local job market. According to AreaSearch evaluations of ABS and SALM releases, the prior 12-month period saw a contraction of 1.9% in the local workforce and a 2.6% drop in employment, pushing the jobless rate up by 0.7 percentage points. Across Regional Qld over the same interval, employment edged up 0.1%, the workforce grew 0.3%, and unemployment lifted 0.1 percentage points. Looking forward, Jobs and Skills Australia national forecasts published in Mar-26 provide context on employment demand. Mapped across local industry representation, these five-year and ten-year models illustrate prospective trajectories. Nationally, employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though industry growth varies widely. Extrapolating these industry trends against the local occupational base indicates potential employment increases of 4.9% over five years and 11.4% over ten years (a baseline industry weighting applied for illustration without integrating local population forecasts).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Ingham Surrounds is $1,245 a week (about $65,000 a year), with median personal income at $674 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $49,037 a year against an average of $57,472. 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
Taxpayer income metrics in the Ingham Surrounds SA2 trail nationwide averages based on AreaSearch compilations of ATO records from financial year 2023. Within the SA2, median taxable income reaches $49,037 with average earnings at $57,472, sitting below corresponding Regional Qld figures of $53,146 and $66,593. Factoring in Wage Price Index increases of 11.36% since financial year 2023 yields updated estimates of roughly $54,608 (median) and $64,001 (average) in March 2026. Across 2021 Census benchmarks, personal, family, and household earnings occupy positions between the 16th and 23rd percentiles across Australia. In terms of earnings distribution, the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band accounts for 30.1% of residents (2,025 individuals), mirroring the broader regional share of 31.7%.
Despite affordable housing overheads allowing residents to retain 91.0% of their earnings, overall disposable income places only in the 24th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Ingham Surrounds had 2,594 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 95% detached houses and 2% apartments. 25% are owned with a mortgage, 19% rented and 56% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $200 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,300 a month. Rent absorbs 16.1% of household income here and mortgage repayments 24.1%. 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 identified in the most recent Census consisted of 94.9% houses alongside 5.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with the Regional Qld distribution of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Outright property ownership in Ingham Surrounds reached an elevated 56.2%, surpassing regional figures, with remaining homes occupied under a mortgage (25.2%) or rented (18.6%). Mortgage commitments are notably affordable, showing a median monthly repayment of $1,300 versus $1,655 in Regional Qld, while median weekly rent sits at $200 compared to $345 regionally. Against nationwide figures, local monthly home repayments sit well below the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are markedly lower than the national benchmark of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Ingham Surrounds counted 2,594 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.2 people each. 22% are couples with children, fewer than in 79% of areas nationally, against 40% couples without children. 28% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.1 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute the predominant living arrangement, representing 70.4% of households, consisting of 22.4% couples with children, 40.0% couples without children, and 7.4% single parent families. Non-family homes account for the remaining 29.6%, composed of 27.5% lone-person residences and 2.1% group arrangements. The typical household size sits at 2.2 people, below the Regional Qld average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
11.7% of adults in Ingham Surrounds hold a university qualification, including 9.1% with a bachelor degree and 1.4% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 96% of areas nationally. A further 34.7% hold a vocational qualification. 10 schools serve the area, with 226 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 867 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 qualification levels highlight educational gaps across the locality, with university completion rates (11.7%) lagging well behind the national benchmark of 30.4%, pointing to opportunities for targeted educational development. Attainment is led by bachelor degrees at 9.1%, alongside postgraduate qualifications (1.4%) and graduate diplomas (1.2%). In contrast, technical and vocational qualifications are widely held, with 41.8% of adults aged 15+ having completed trade training, encompassing advanced diplomas (7.1%) and certificates (34.7%). Formal study engages a meaningful 23.8% of the local population. This educational cohort includes 9.9% attending primary schools, 8.6% enrolled in secondary education, and 1.7% engaged in tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Ingham Surrounds 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
63.8% of residents in Ingham Surrounds report no long-term health condition. 7.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 47.6% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.4 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health assessments by AreaSearch indicate notable challenges across Ingham Surrounds regarding chronic illness and mortality metrics, with chronic disorders observed across both younger and older residents, alongside a restricted private health insurance rate of around 48% (~3,203 people). This coverage sits below the 52.5% recorded for Regional Qld and the Australian benchmark of 55.7%. Arthritis and mental health conditions represent the leading reported ailments, affecting 11.1 and 7.0% of the population respectively, while 63.8% of residents reported having no long-term medical conditions compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Chronic health issues show higher-than-average prevalence among the working-age demographic.
Older demographics are prominent, with individuals aged 65 and over making up 32.0% of the populace (2,155 people), well above the 20.3% observed in Regional Qld. Seniors in the area experience positive health metrics, achieving national rankings that exceed those of the wider local community.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Ingham Surrounds is largely Australian-born, at 90.3% of residents, with 4.7% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (26.5%) and Australian (25.6%). 3.1% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Measures of cultural diversity place Ingham Surrounds below national norms, with Australian citizenship held by 91.0% of residents, 90.3% born in Australia, and 95.3% speaking solely English at home. Religious affiliation is predominantly Christian, encompassing 76.2% of the local population compared to 52.2% across Regional Qld. Looking at ancestral backgrounds (parental birthplace), the three most prevalent heritages across Ingham Surrounds are English at 26.5%, Australian at 25.6%, and Italian at 19.8%, the latter standing significantly above the regional norm of 2.4%. Further distinct ethnic variations include Spanish ancestry at 0.5% (vs 0.3% regionally), Australian Aboriginal heritage at 3.1% (vs 3.9%), and Irish lineage at 8.1% (vs 8.2%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Ingham Surrounds is 53, older than 95% of areas nationally. 18.0% 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 demographic profile of Ingham Surrounds skews heavily toward senior cohorts. As of August 2026, AreaSearch estimates indicate that 32.0% of residents belong to retiree and senior demographics (65+), compared to 20.4% across Regional Qld, whereas young to middle-aged adults (25 - 44) account for only 16.2% locally versus 25.5% across the wider region. The median age is estimated at 53 in August 2026, matching the 2021 Census baseline and standing 12 years higher than the Regional Qld median of 41 at that time, as well as exceeding the national Census median of 38.
The most significant shift since the Census occurred in the middle-aged and mature adult group (45 - 64), which dropped from 30.7% to an estimated 27.9%. Projections to 2041 indicate that senior cohorts will drive future growth, increasing by 104 residents (5%) to 2,259, whereas middle-aged groups, younger adults, and children are forecast to diminish.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Ingham Surrounds
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 | May 2026 5 months ago all 4 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 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 — 207 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (6,462 at the 2021 Census → 6,729 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 (318011465). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.