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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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Manly - Lota has an estimated 8,434 residents, up from 7,890 at the 2021 Census — a change of 544 people, or 6.9%. Growth has averaged 0.7% a year over five years. Overseas migration accounts for 82.7% of that increase. That puts 2,008 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 from AreaSearch, the population of Manly - Lota stands at roughly 8,434 as of Aug 2026. This represents an expansion of 544 people (6.9%) compared to the 2021 Census tally of 7,890 people. This updated figure is derived from the ABS estimated resident population of 8,319 recorded as of June 2025, alongside 78 validated new addresses registered following the Census date. With 2,008 persons per square kilometer, the local population density exceeds the benchmark across national locations evaluated by AreaSearch. Furthermore, the 6.9% post-census growth rate in Manly - Lota trails the broader SA3 area (7.2%) by only 0.3 percentage points, highlighting solid demographic momentum.
The primary catalyst for local population expansion has been overseas migration, which generated roughly 82.7% of total population additions in recent periods. Projections for each SA2 area utilise ABS/Geoscience Australia models published in 2024 with a 2022 baseline. In instances where SA2 areas lack coverage or extend beyond 2032, AreaSearch incorporates Queensland State Government SA2 projections released in 2023 referencing 2021 data. Because state datasets omit breakdowns by age group, age cohort allocations are calculated using proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections (issued in 2023 from 2022 data). In terms of broader demographic patterns, future expansion is projected to sit slightly below the national statistical area median, adding 380 persons through to 2041 based on recent annual ERP statistics, which equates to an overall gain of 3.1% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
408 new dwellings have been approved in Manly - Lota over the past five years, an average of 81 a year. That places the area in the 73rd percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 10 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 82 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 34% 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 activity in Manly - Lota has generated an average of approximately 81 new dwelling approvals annually, amounting to 408 homes across the last 5 financial years. With an inflow averaging merely 0.7 new residents per year per newly approved home over the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26), residential supply is keeping pace with or outpacing demand, expanding options for purchasers while providing capacity for population gains beyond projected figures. The expected construction cost of these new homes averages $656,000, underscoring an emphasis by developers on higher-end, upmarket residential property.
In addition, commercial approvals have reached $8.9 million during this financial year, reinforcing the predominantly residential profile of the locality. Per capita residential building activity in Manly - Lota exceeds Greater Brisbane by 136.0%, providing prospective buyers with extensive options. Recent development activity consists of 34.0% detached houses alongside 66.0% townhouses or apartments. This pivot toward medium and higher-density living creates more attainable property options for downsizers, entry-level buyers, and investors. It also marks a noticeable departure from the established housing stock (presently 77.0% houses), driven by limited land supply while accommodating evolving lifestyle preferences and budget constraints. Recording approximately 136 people per dwelling approval, Manly - Lota exhibits the traits of an expanding growth location. Looking toward future urban growth, Manly - Lota is projected to expand by 265 residents through to 2041 (derived from the most recent AreaSearch quarterly figure). Ongoing construction activity is positioned to comfortably satisfy residential demand, establishing advantageous conditions for property purchasers and potentially facilitating growth exceeding existing projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Manly - Lota
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks one current infrastructure or development project inside Manly - Lota, worth an estimated $22 million. A further 72 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $7.39 billion. 16 are already under construction and 22 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and business parks & technology hubs. 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 economic momentum and community development are closely tied to regional planning, public works, and major capital investments. AreaSearch has pinpointed 4 projects expected to influence the surrounding area. Key developments include the Royal Far West (RFW) Neighbourhood Development, The Wellington Collection, the Manly Hotel Refurbishment, and Breeze On Berrima.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
BMD Group Headquarters
Construction of BMD Group's new six-storey national headquarters in Wynnum. The development will accommodate around 450 employees and includes ground-floor retail, cafes, community spaces and end-of-trip facilities. The design incorporates architectural references to the historic Wynnum Baptist Church that formerly occupied the site, following its relocation to Iona College in 2023. Development approval was granted in late 2022 and BMD subsequently announced construction would commence.
358 Manly Road Townhouse Development
30 low-medium density townhouses in 8 building groups. Comprises 25 x 3-bedroom and 5 x 2-bedroom units. Designed by Christian Zambelli with communal spaces and visitor parking.
Bric Housing Social Housing Development - Wynnum (Emsworth St)
Six-storey social housing development delivering 50 apartments (mix of 1- and 2-bedroom) with rooftop communal space and ground-level landscaping. The project was advanced via a Ministerial Infrastructure Designation (MID) and will be managed by Bric Housing, with Niclin Developments as delivery partner. Site fronts Emsworth St with vehicle access from Henry St, close to Wynnum train station and services.
Mayfair Village Shopping Centre Expansion
The expansion of Mayfair Village involves a 475sqm addition to the existing neighbourhood shopping centre. The development features a two-level extension in the north-east corner, providing new retail tenancies and a drive-thru facility. The project aims to improve streetscape activation and pedestrian connectivity along Burnett Street while maintaining the existing parking capacity of 348 vehicles.
The Wellington Collection
A boutique luxury residential project by Urbex Living comprising eight high-end apartments and townhomes overlooking Manly Harbour and Moreton Bay. Apartments are sold out and one townhome remains for sale.
Wynnum Plaza Redevelopment
DA approved integrated retail mixed-use redevelopment of Wynnum Plaza by Shayher Group, designed by ZENX Architects. The masterplan covers the existing sub-regional shopping centre site and includes new lifestyle retail precincts, food and beverage areas, residential apartments, commercial space and a cinema, with works planned to be staged so the centre can continue operating.
Ora - 27-Storey Mixed-Use Development (Withdrawn)
HamBros proposed 130 million AUD 27-storey mixed-use development at 74 Charlotte Street and 89 Bay Terrace featuring 275 apartments, retail space, two levels of commercial space, and recreational facilities with bay views. Project withdrawn due to escalating construction costs, uncertainty from upcoming Council election, and Council requests for changes in building design and impact management.
Wynnum Road and Hemmant-Tingalpa Road Intersection Upgrade
Major intersection upgrade installing new traffic lights with signalised crossing facilities, modified centre islands, dedicated turn pockets, and signalised U-turn facilities. Jointly funded by Brisbane City Council and Australian Government Roads to Recovery Program.
4,857 residents of Manly - Lota are employed, from a labour force of 4,990. Unemployment sits at 2.7%, with participation at 71.6%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.6% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 7,038, about 83% 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 market in Manly - Lota is characterized by a qualified talent pool, notable concentration in professional services, an unemployment rate standing at only 2.7%, and an estimated 3.8% employment gain over the previous year. By March 2026, employed residents numbered 4,857, while unemployment remained 1.7% below the 4.3% recorded across Greater Brisbane, with participation levels aligning closely with the regional mark of 70.1%. Additionally, Census records show a substantial 26.3% of workers worked from home, reflecting conditions during Covid-19 restrictions. Resident employment is primarily distributed across professional & technical, construction, and health care & social assistance.
Nevertheless, health care & social assistance accounts for 13.3% of local employment, which is lower than the 16.1% seen regionally. As demonstrated by the comparison between resident workforce figures and the Census working population, this largely residential district provides a relatively constrained volume of jobs locally. AreaSearch evaluation of ABS and SALM figures indicates that over the 12-month period, local employment expanded by 3.8% while the labour force grew by 4.1%, pushing unemployment up by 0.2 percentage points. Across Greater Brisbane over the same timeframe, employment climbed by 3.2%, the workforce expanded by 3.4%, and joblessness increased by 0.1 percentage points. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 provide additional context regarding future demand in Manly - Lota. These five and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce structure to model anticipated growth paths. Across the nation, total employment is projected to expand by 6.6% across five years and 13.7% over ten years, though trajectories fluctuate markedly across industries. Applying industry-level weightings to the workforce mix of Manly - Lota suggests local employment would rise by 6.6% across five years and 13.6% across ten years (noting that this simple weighting extrapolation is presented for illustration and excludes localized demographic forecasts).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Manly - Lota is $2,051 a week (about $107,000 a year), with median personal income at $928 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $65,035 a year against an average of $85,178. 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
AreaSearch analysis of the latest ATO postcode records for financial year 2023 indicates that taxpayers in the Manly - Lota SA2 recorded a median income of $65,035 and an average income of $85,178. These figures rank among the highest nationally, compared to $58,236 and $72,799 in Greater Brisbane respectively. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, updated estimates reach roughly $72,423 (median) and $94,854 (average) as of March 2026. Personal, family, and household earnings in Manly - Lota align with the 69th percentile nationwide based on Census data.
Within local income distributions, 27.5% of residents (2,319 individuals) earn in the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly bracket, comparable to the 33.3% regional benchmark. A notable 33.1% earn over $3,000/week, demonstrating high earning capacity. Housing expenses account for 14.4% of income, while disposable earnings place the community in the 72nd percentile, and the SEIFA income metric sits in the 7th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Manly - Lota had 3,016 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 77% detached houses and 9% apartments. 37% are owned with a mortgage, 27% rented and 36% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $410 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,167 a month. Rent absorbs 20.0% of household income here and mortgage repayments 24.4%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the most recent Census, the housing landscape in Manly - Lota consisted of 76.7% houses and 23.3% other dwellings (incorporating apartments, semi-detached properties, and 'other' dwellings), compared with 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings in Brisbane metro. Outright ownership in Manly - Lota reached 36.0%, substantially exceeding the metropolitan level, while mortgaged properties accounted for 36.9% and rental accommodation made up 27.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment stood at $2,167, well above the Brisbane metro mark of $1,863, and median weekly rent was $410, higher than the $380 metropolitan figure.
On a national scale, mortgage costs in Manly - Lota notably surpass the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents exceed the national benchmark of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Manly - Lota counted 3,016 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 3,224 today, averaging 2.5 people each. 32% are couples with children, against 27% couples without children. 28% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute the majority of living arrangements at 70.4% of households, consisting of couples with children (31.8%), couples without children (27.4%), and single parent families (10.0%). Non-family living situations represent 29.6%, composed of lone person households (27.5%) and group households (2.3%). The median household size is 2.5 people, slightly below the 2.6 figure recorded for Greater Brisbane.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
33.1% of adults in Manly - Lota hold a university qualification, including 22.2% with a bachelor degree and 7.1% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 78% of areas nationally. A further 22.3% hold a vocational qualification. 4 schools serve the area, with 1,581 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,070 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 education qualifications distinguish the area, with 33.1% of residents aged 15+ holding tertiary degrees, higher than both the SA4 region benchmark of 23.7% and QLD at 25.7%. Bachelor degrees represent the largest share at 22.2%, with postgraduate qualifications at 7.1% and graduate diplomas at 3.8%. Concurrently, vocational and trade qualifications are well represented, held by 34.9% of residents aged 15+, consisting of certificates (22.3%) and advanced diplomas (12.6%). Participation in study is robust, with 28.0% of the community actively engaged in formal learning. Primary education comprises 9.9% of residents, secondary schooling accounts for 8.1%, and tertiary courses make up 4.9%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Manly - Lota means driving: households keep an average of 1.4 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
66.7% of residents in Manly - Lota report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 81% of areas nationally. 6.1% need daily assistance with core activities, and 61.6% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 7.3 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Assessment of health indicators in Manly - Lota by AreaSearch highlights notable challenges relating to chronic conditions and mortality measures, with widespread prevalence across both younger and older cohorts. Private health insurance participation is elevated, covering roughly 62% of all residents (5,195 people), which exceeds the Greater Brisbane level of 55.8% and the Australian average of 55.7%. Arthritis and mental health issues represent the primary chronic ailments in the area, each recorded among 8.8 and 8.8% of the population, while 66.7% of residents reported having no medical ailments, compared to 69.2% in Greater Brisbane.
Working-age health outcomes remain generally average. Residents aged 65 and over account for 19.9% of the locality (1,679 people), higher than the 15.0% proportion in Greater Brisbane, with senior health indicators presenting certain challenges while tracking close to wider national patterns.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Manly - Lota is largely Australian-born, at 76.2% of residents, with 5.9% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (32.2%) and Australian (22.9%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity measures in Manly - Lota sit below standard levels, with 76.2% of residents born in Australia, 88.3% holding citizenship, and 94.1% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the primary religion, observed by 53.1% of residents in Manly - Lota, compared to 47.8% throughout Greater Brisbane. Regarding ancestral heritage (parental birth country), the three most common backgrounds in Manly - Lota are English at 32.2% (above the 26.8% regional figure), Australian at 22.9%, and Irish at 11.5%. Other ancestries also show distinct representation, including Scottish at 9.9% (compared to 7.4% regionally), New Zealand at 1.1% (compared to 1.0%), and French at 0.8% (compared to 0.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Manly - Lota is 45, older than 78% of areas nationally. 20.5% 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
Manly - Lota displays an age distribution weighted toward mature adults and pre-retirees. As of August 2026 updates, middle-aged individuals and early retirees (45 - 64) comprise 30.7% of the community, compared to 22.6% across Greater Brisbane, whereas young to middle aged adults (25 - 44) make up 20.8%, below the 30.6% regional benchmark. Consequently, the median age is estimated at 45, consistent with the 2021 Census and 9 years older than the Greater Brisbane median of 36 from the same period, while Australia recorded a Census median of 38.
By 2041, the retiree and elderly age bracket (65+) is projected to experience the highest growth, rising by 501 residents (30%) to 2,180, while younger adult cohorts, children, and young to middle aged adults are expected to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Manly - Lota
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 | Oct 2025 about a year ago all 1 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 Oct 2025. | ||
| 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 — 78 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (7,890 at the 2021 Census → 8,434 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 (301031015). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.