Karalee - Barellan Point
Statistical Area - sa2

Karalee - Barellan Point lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Karalee-Barellan Point's population is approximately 7,248 as of August 2025. This represents an increase of 554 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 6,694. The increase is inferred from ABS data: an estimated resident population of 7,212 in June 2024 and 35 new addresses validated since the Census date. The population density is around 377 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Karalee-Barellan Point has shown steady growth with a compound annual growth rate of 3.0%. Migration from other states contributed significantly to this growth, accounting for approximately 46.6% of overall population gains.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by these data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. Future population trends suggest above median growth for the area, with an expected expansion of 1,171 persons by 2041, a gain of 15.7% over 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Karalee - Barellan Point when compared nationally

Karalee-Barellan Point averaged approximately 93 dwelling approvals per year. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis. Between FY20 and FY25, there were 465 home approvals, with three more in FY26 as of current reporting.

On average, each new home has brought in around 6.2 new residents annually over the past five years. This supply lagging demand scenario typically leads to heightened buyer competition and pricing pressures, with new homes being constructed at an average cost of $481,000. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Karalee-Barellan Point has significantly less development activity, 57.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity can strengthen demand and prices for existing properties.

Recent building activity consists solely of standalone homes, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character catering to families seeking space. As of now, there are an estimated 386 people in the area per dwelling approval, reflecting its quiet development environment. Population forecasts indicate Karalee-Barellan Point will gain 1,135 residents by 2041. Given current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, presenting good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Karalee - Barellan Point has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified three projects that could impact the area: Warrego Highway - Mount Crosby Road Interchange Upgrade, Citiswich Business Park Expansion, Queensland Energy and Jobs Plan (SuperGrid), Woodlinks Village. The following details those likely most relevant.

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

AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Karalee - Barellan Point performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

Karalee - Barellan Point has a skilled workforce with notable representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate as of June 2025 was 1.8%.

Over the past year, there has been relative employment stability. There are currently 4,145 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.3%, which is below Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation stands at 72.0% compared to Greater Brisbane's 64.5%. Leading industries include health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction.

Public administration & safety has a particularly notable concentration, with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average. However, professional & technical services have limited presence, with only 6.6% of residents employed in this sector compared to the regional average of 8.9%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by a lower Census working population compared to resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 0.1%, labour force increased by 0.3%, resulting in an unemployment rise of 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Brisbane saw employment rise by 4.4% and unemployment fall by 0.4 percentage points over the same period. As of Sep-25, Queensland's employment contracted by 0.23%, with a state unemployment rate of 4.2%. National forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Karalee - Barellan Point's current employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.3%% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localised population projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2022 indicates Karalee - Barellan Point's median income among taxpayers is $59,230, with an average of $67,671. This is above the national average, and compares to Greater Brisbane's median of $55,645 and average of $70,520. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $66,166 (median) and $75,595 (average) as of March 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Karalee - Barellan Point, between the 80th and 90th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows the predominant cohort spans 33.8% of locals (2,449 people) in the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, aligning with the surrounding region where this cohort likewise represents 33.3%. Economic strength emerges through 37.9% of households achieving high weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. After housing costs, residents retain 86.7% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Karalee - Barellan Point is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Karalee-Barellan Point's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, was 98.5% houses and 1.5% other dwellings. Brisbane metropolitan area had 88.4% houses and 11.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Karalee-Barellan Point stood at 28.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 59.0% and rented ones at 12.8%. Median monthly mortgage repayments were $2,057, higher than Brisbane's $1,517 average. Median weekly rent was $400, compared to Brisbane's $300. Nationally, Karalee-Barellan Point's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents surpassed the national figure of $375.

Karalee - Barellan Point features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 86.6% of all households, including 47.2% couples with children, 30.8% couples without children, and 8.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 13.4%, with lone person households at 12.0% and group households comprising 1.4%. The median household size is 3.0 people, which is larger than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

The educational profile of Karalee - Barellan Point exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Educational qualifications in Karalee-Barellan Point show that 23.8% of residents aged 15 and above hold university degrees, compared to 30.5% in Greater Brisbane. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 16.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 4.1% and graduate diplomas at 3.0%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 42.0% of residents aged 15 and above holding them - advanced diplomas at 13.1% and certificates at 28.9%. Current educational participation is high at 31.3%, including 12.1% in primary education, 9.3% in secondary education, and 4.7% pursuing tertiary education.

Karalee State School serves the area with an enrollment of 563 students, demonstrating typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1041) and balanced educational opportunities. The school focuses on primary education, with secondary options available nearby. Local school capacity is limited at 7.8 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 18.1, leading many families to travel for schooling.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Karalee - Barellan Point's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Health data for Karalee - Barellan Point shows a relatively low prevalence of common health conditions among its residents compared to the general population, but higher than the national average among older and at-risk cohorts. Approximately 53% (around 3,870 people) have private health cover, which is slightly higher than Greater Brisbane's 49.9%.

Mental health issues affect 8.8% of residents, while asthma impacts 8.2%, with 70.0% reporting no medical ailments, compared to 62.2% in Greater Brisbane. The area has 14.0% (1,011 people) aged 65 and over, lower than Greater Brisbane's 15.3%. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention than the broader population.

Karalee - Barellan Point ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Karalee-Barellan Point has a population where 83.2% were born in Australia, 91.5% are citizens, and 95.5% speak English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, with 52.8% of residents identifying as such, compared to 49.5% across Greater Brisbane. The top three ancestry groups are English (30.9%), Australian (27.8%), and Irish (8.6%).

Notably, German (6.3%) and Dutch (1.9%) ancestry is overrepresented in Karalee-Barellan Point compared to the regional averages of 6.4% and 1.3%, respectively, while Welsh ancestry (0.8%) is also slightly higher than the regional average of 0.6%.

Karalee - Barellan Point's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Karalee - Barellan Point has a median age of 38 years, which is slightly higher than Greater Brisbane's figure of 36 but equal to Australia's median age of 38 years. The age group of 5-14 years old shows strong representation at 15.9%, compared to Greater Brisbane's figures. However, the 25-34 age group is less prevalent at 9.2%. Between 2021 and the present day, the population aged 65 to 74 has grown from 8.3% to 9.0%. Conversely, the 25-34 age group has declined from 10.5% to 9.2%. Looking ahead to the year 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Karalee - Barellan Point's age structure. The 75 to 84 age group is projected to grow by 97%, increasing from 271 people to 533. Meanwhile, both the 35-44 and 0-4 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.