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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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Lockyer Valley - West has an estimated 13,297 residents, up from 11,943 at the 2021 Census — a change of 1,354 people, or 11.3%. Growth has averaged 1.7% a year over five years, faster than 75% of areas nationally. 342 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Interstate and internal migration accounts for 59.9% of that increase. 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
According to research conducted by AreaSearch, the resident count in Lockyer Valley - West stands at roughly 13,297 as of Aug 2026. This marks an expansion of 1,354 people (11.3%) relative to the 2021 Census tally of 11,943 people. Such demographic progression draws on the ABS estimated resident population figure of 13,029 recorded as of June 2025 alongside 342 validated new addresses registered post-Census. With a density metric of 9.0 persons per square kilometer, residents enjoy spacious living environments. Outpacing both the wider SA4 territory and the SA3 area (9.3%), Lockyer Valley - West's 11.3% post-2021 Census expansion positions it at the forefront of regional expansion.
Inward interstate migration served as the primary growth catalyst, generating roughly 59.9% of total demographic additions in recent times, supplemented by positive inflows from natural increase and overseas arrivals. SA2 geographic modeling incorporates ABS/Geoscience Australia projections published in 2024 using a 2022 baseline. Where local coverage is absent or extends beyond 2032, models integrate Queensland State Government SA2 forecasts issued in 2023 utilizing 2021 figures. Because these state forecasts lack age-specific distributions, AreaSearch applies age-cohort growth weightings derived from the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (published in 2023 using 2022 benchmarks). Looking toward long-term trajectories, local population growth is anticipated to outpace median levels for Australian non-metropolitan areas. Driven by recent annual ERP benchmarks, the locality is projected to expand by 2,380 persons by 2041, representing a cumulative rise of 15.9% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
356 new dwellings have been approved in Lockyer Valley - West over the past five years, an average of 71 a year. That places the area in the 86th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 5 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 71 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 96% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. 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 Lockyer Valley - West have averaged approximately 71 per annum, delivering a cumulative total of 356 homes throughout the preceding 5 financial years. Between FY-22 and FY-26, the area added an average of 2.9 new residents per year for each dwelling over the past 5 financial years, signaling robust housing demand capable of underpinning local asset values. New residential construction registers an average value of $517,000, aligning with regional building expenditure. Furthermore, commercial building approvals reached $33.0 million during this financial year, underscoring substantial non-residential investment across the area.
Per capita building figures in Lockyer Valley - West mirror broader Rest of Qld trends, fostering overall market equilibrium while experiencing heightened construction volumes in recent times. The development profile is overwhelmingly skewed toward standalone residences, with detached houses accounting for 96.0% and townhouses or apartments making up 4.0%, maintaining a spacious suburban fabric that appeals to lifestyle-oriented buyers. Logging roughly 133 people per dwelling approval, Lockyer Valley - West displays typical growth-corridor dynamics. Based on recent quarterly projections from AreaSearch, demographic forecasts anticipate an influx of 2,112 residents into Lockyer Valley - West through to 2041. Prevailing building activity appears well-positioned to satisfy incoming residential demand, supporting favorable purchasing conditions and potentially paving the way for expansion above initial projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Lockyer Valley - West
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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 14 current infrastructure and development projects inside Lockyer Valley - West, worth an estimated $39.4 billion. A further 94 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $45.3 billion. 25 are already under construction and 33 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, education & training and energy. 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 works, major developments, and strategic planning frameworks play a central role in shaping community progression. AreaSearch has pinpointed 101 projects poised to influence the district, highlighted by initiatives including Inland Rail - Gowrie to Kagaru (G2K), Lockyer Energy Project, Rifle Range Road Reconfiguration, and St Peters Close Estate, with the key developments outlined below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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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
Helidon Spa Eco Escape Nature-Based Tourism Facility
Development application under assessment with Lockyer Valley Regional Council for a nature-based tourism facility featuring 48 eco-cabins, communal amenities, wellness facilities, and recreational walking trails.
Grantham Evacuation Route and Industrial Road Link
Lockyer Valley Regional Council and the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads are constructing the Grantham Evacuation Route and Industrial Road Link. The project delivers elevated flood-immune road pavements, upgraded culvert crossings, and a direct heavy vehicle connection between Grantham and the Warrego Highway. It ensures emergency evacuation resilience during severe weather and improves freight accessibility.
Lockyer Valley Foods Processing Facility Stage 1
Construction of a cutting-edge fruit and vegetable processing facility in the Lockyer Valley. The initial phase features a deep-freezing line processing up to 37,000 tonnes of fresh produce annually, aiming to enhance local agricultural capabilities and retain jobs within Australia.
Grantham Structure Plan
A long-term urban renewal and growth framework covering 417 hectares in the Grantham Structure Planning Area. This region-wide rezoning aims to deliver flood-resilient residential, commercial, and industrial land accommodating up to 3,100+ dwellings.
Inland Rail - Gowrie to Kagaru (G2K)
The 128km Gowrie to Kagaru (G2K) section is the most technically complex link of the Inland Rail, featuring the 6.2km Toowoomba Range tunnel. As of May 2026, the project is under intense assessment following the revised draft Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) public consultation held in late 2025. While the Australian Government has prioritized sections between Beveridge and Parkes for 2027 completion, G2K remains in the approvals phase with a project declaration lapse date currently set for July 1, 2026.The route is divided into three subsections: Gowrie to Helidon, Helidon to Calvert, and Calvert to Kagaru.
Lockyer Energy Project
The Lockyer Energy Project is a hybrid gas and battery energy project. Acquired by Stanwell Corporation from Quinbrook Infrastructure Partners in June 2025, it includes up to 120MW of gas-fired generation (Stage 1) and potential for up to 850MW of battery storage (Stage 2) to facilitate Queensland's transition away from coal.
Lockyer Valley Foods Processing Facility
A $97.8 million fruit and vegetable processing facility designed to expand regional agricultural processing capacity, support local growers across the Lockyer Valley, and create 124 operational jobs.
Lockyer Energy Project
A major energy firming project near Gatton featuring up to 120MW of gas-fired peaking generation, with potential for significant future battery energy storage system (BESS) capacity. Acquired by Stanwell Corporation to provide fast-ramping, dispatchable energy during daily peak demand and to support grid reliability in South East Queensland.
6,699 residents of Lockyer Valley - West are employed, from a labour force of 6,868. Unemployment sits at 2.5%, with participation at 64.5%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.7% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 11,640, about 88% 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
Lockyer Valley - West sustains a diverse local employment structure spanning professional and manual occupations, characterized by strong industrial and manufacturing presence alongside an unemployment rate of just 2.5%. As of March 2026, employed locals number 6,699, with local joblessness sitting 1.5% below Regional Qld's 3.9% benchmark, while labor force participation aligns with Regional Qld's 64.2%. Census figures indicate that 12.1% of workers carried out their duties from home, a metric influenced by prevailing Covid-19 restrictions at the time. Local workforce participation is centered predominantly within health care & social assistance, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and construction.
Primary industry concentration is exceptionally pronounced, with agriculture, forestry & fishing employing workers at 2.8 times the regional average. Conversely, accommodation & food services accounts for only 4.2% of the local workforce, contrasting with 8.3% across Regional Qld. Comparative Census metrics evaluating local jobs against resident worker counts suggest a modest volume of contained local employment opportunities. AreaSearch evaluation of ABS and SALM records indicates that over the year to March 2026, the local workforce contracted by 6.7% alongside a 7.4% reduction in employed individuals, elevating the jobless rate by 0.7 percentage points. Over the identical timeframe, Regional Qld experienced an employment rise of 0.1%, workforce expansion of 0.3%, and a 0.1 percentage points uptick in unemployment. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 provide supplementary perspective regarding future labor requirements. When mapped across local industry structures over five- and ten-year horizons, these figures contextualize future capacity. Across Australia, workforce numbers are projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though sector trajectories diverge widely. Extrapolating these industry weightings to the Lockyer Valley - West profile suggests local jobs could grow by 5.7% over five years and 12.4% over ten years (serving as an illustrative proportional estimate without local demographic modeling).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Lockyer Valley - West is $1,690 a week (about $88,000 a year), with median personal income at $737 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $50,095 a year against an average of $58,970. 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 AreaSearch’s most recent postcode level ATO information for financial year 2023, the median income for taxpayers in Lockyer Valley - West SA2 stands at $50,095, while the mean reaches $58,970. These figures fall short of the national average and are also lower than those for Regional Qld, where the median is $53,146 and the average is $66,593. Adjusting for an 11.36% Wage Price Index increase since financial year 2023, projected values by March 2026 would place the median at approximately $55,786 and the average at $65,669. The 2021 Census indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Lockyer Valley - West fall modestly within the 35th to 46th percentiles.
Earnings between $1,500 and $2,999 account for 35.1% of the local population, representing 4,667 individuals, a proportion that aligns with regional patterns where 31.7% fall in this same bracket. Housing expenses remain relatively affordable, with 86.9% of income retained, yet disposable income ranks below average at the 50th percentile, and the SEIFA income classification positions the area in the 4th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Lockyer Valley - West had 4,011 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 96% detached houses and 0% apartments. 48% are owned with a mortgage, 15% rented and 38% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $310 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,600 a month. Rent absorbs 18.3% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.8%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the time of the latest Census, the housing stock in Lockyer Valley - West was overwhelmingly concentrated in standalone dwellings, with separate houses representing 96.0% and alternative dwelling types (comprising semi-detached units, apartments, and other dwellings) accounting for 3.9%, compared with Regional Qld proportions of 76.4% and 23.6% respectively. Outright home ownership reached 37.8%, substantially exceeding regional benchmarks, while remaining households were mortgaged (47.7%) or renting (14.6%). Typical monthly mortgage commitments stood at $1,600 and weekly rental payments sat at $310, remaining more affordable than Regional Qld averages of $1,655 and $345.
On a broader scale, local mortgage repayments fall well below the national level of $1,863, with weekly rental rates similarly tracking under the nationwide figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Lockyer Valley - West counted 4,011 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 4,466 today, averaging 2.8 people each. 36% are couples with children, against 33% couples without children. 18% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.0 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 80.1%, comprising couples with children at 36.3%, childless couples at 32.6%, and single parent households at 10.3%. Non-family living structures make up the balance of 19.9%, consisting of single-person residences at 17.5% and share houses at 2.3%. Typical household occupancy averages 2.8 people, exceeding the Regional Qld figure of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
16.9% of adults in Lockyer Valley - West hold a university qualification, including 11.9% with a bachelor degree and 3.0% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 75% of areas nationally. A further 31.3% hold a vocational qualification. 10 schools serve the area, with 603 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 958 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
Higher educational attainment within the locality is relatively low, with university degrees held by 16.9% of residents compared to the national rate of 30.4%, highlighting a distinct scope for targeted learning programs. Bachelor degrees form the largest segment at 11.9%, alongside postgraduate qualifications at 3.0% and graduate diplomas at 2.0%. Meanwhile, technical and vocational qualifications are widely held, with 41.2% of individuals aged 15+ holding practical credentials, including certificates (31.3%) and advanced diplomas (9.9%). Active participation across learning institutions is significant, with formal study engaging 30.1% of the local population.
Primary schooling represents 11.4% of residents, secondary education accounts for 10.8%, and tertiary programs comprise 3.2%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Lockyer Valley - West means driving: households keep an average of 2.1 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
66.3% of residents in Lockyer Valley - West report no long-term health condition. 5.9% need daily assistance with core activities, and 48.4% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.9 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Based on AreaSearch assessments of health metrics, mortality, and chronic illnesses, Lockyer Valley - West experiences below-average health outcomes, with typical conditions appearing across younger and older demographics alike. Private health insurance participation is notably constrained, held by roughly 48% of the populace (~6,435 people), trailing both the Regional Qld level of 52.5% and the national benchmark of 55.7%. Mental health conditions and arthritis represent the most prevalent diagnoses locally, recorded among 9.8 and 9.4% of community members respectively, while 66.3% of residents reported having no diagnosed medical conditions, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld.
Chronic conditions are elevated among the working-age population. Older residents aged 65 and over constitute 18.4% of the population (2,446 people), sitting beneath the Regional Qld figure of 20.3%, with senior health rankings tracking in line with wider domestic patterns despite some localized challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Lockyer Valley - West is largely Australian-born, at 89.3% of residents, with 3.3% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (30.2%) and English (29.8%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity metrics in Lockyer Valley - West sit below broader norms, with 90.2% holding Australian citizenship, 89.3% born domestically, and 96.7% speaking English exclusively within the home. Religious affiliation is predominantly Christian, representing 62.1% of the local community, in contrast to 52.2% across Regional Qld. Examining parental background and ancestral heritage, the most prominent identities in Lockyer Valley - West are Australian at 30.2%, English at 29.8%, and German at 10.9%, which considerably outstrips the wider regional proportion of 4.7%. Distinct variations also appear across other cultural backgrounds, with Dutch heritage accounting for 1.4% (against 1.1% regionally), Australian Aboriginal ancestry at 2.8% (against 3.9%), and South Australian background at 0.4% (against 0.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Lockyer Valley - West is 41. 22.3% 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 of Lockyer Valley - West aligns closely with Regional Qld patterns, with the greatest variance across the primary age segments measuring 3.1 percentage points. The median age is estimated at 41, matching both the 2021 Census result and the Regional Qld benchmark of 41 recorded at that time. The most visible shift post-Census is the expansion of the senior and retiree demographic (65+), which grew from 16.5% to an estimated 18.4% of the community. Looking ahead to 2041, senior cohorts are projected to absorb the majority of local growth, adding 838 residents (34%) to reach a total of 3,285.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Lockyer Valley - West
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 | Aug 2026 2 months ago all 15 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 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 — 342 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (11,943 at the 2021 Census → 13,297 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 (317011451). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.