Margate - Woody Point
Statistical Area - sa2

Margate - Woody Point has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Margate-Woody Point's population, as of Aug 2025, is approximately 12,618. This figure reflects a growth of 644 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 11,974. The increase is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 12,579 as of June 2024 and 108 validated new addresses post-census. This results in a population density of 2,948 persons per square kilometer, placing Margate-Woody Point in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessments. The area's growth rate of 5.4% since the census is comparable to its SA3 area's growth of 7.9%, indicating strong growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 65.6% of overall population gains recently.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023 (based on 2021 data) are adopted. However, these state projections lack age category splits; thus, AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings based on ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 using 2022 data for each age cohort. Based on current demographic trends, Margate-Woody Point is forecast to experience significant population growth, with an expected increase of 3,470 persons by 2041, marking a total gain of 27.2% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Margate - Woody Point among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Margate-Woody Point has seen approximately 117 new home approvals annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis, totalling 589 approvals from FY21 to FY25, with 7 recorded in FY26 so far. On average, 0.9 new residents have arrived per new home over the past five financial years. This suggests that new supply is meeting or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choices and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts.

The average construction cost value of new dwellings is $465,000. In FY26, Margate-Woody Point has recorded $7.3 million in commercial development approvals, indicating the area's residential character. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Margate-Woody Point shows moderately higher new home approvals, with 13.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This preserves reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand. New development consists of 22.0% standalone homes and 78.0% attached dwellings, focusing on higher-density living to create more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

This shows a considerable shift from the current housing mix, which is currently 64.0% houses. Margate-Woody Point has around 72 people per dwelling approval, indicating characteristics of a low density area. Population forecasts suggest Margate-Woody Point will gain 3,431 residents by 2041. Existing development levels appear aligned with future requirements, maintaining stable market conditions without significant price pressures.

Margate - Woody Point has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 23 projects that may impact the area. Key projects include Orilla Woody Point, Woody Point Jetty Restoration, Tydal Sands & Tydal Oceana, and Aqua Woody Point. The following list details those likely most relevant.

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

Employment performance in Margate - Woody Point has been broadly consistent with national averages

Margate - Woody Point has a skilled workforce with strong representation in essential services sectors. As of June 2025, the unemployment rate is 4.1%, following an estimated employment growth of 11.1% over the past year.

There are 6,121 residents currently employed. The unemployment rate aligns with Greater Brisbane's rate, but workforce participation lags at 53.5%. Key industries for local employment are health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training.

Professional & technical services employ only 5.7% of local workers, below Greater Brisbane's 8.9%. Over the year to June 2025, employment increased by 11.1%, while labour force grew by 8.2%, leading to a 2.5 percentage point decrease in unemployment. In comparison, Greater Brisbane recorded employment growth of 4.4% and unemployment fell by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows Queensland's employment contracted by 0.23%, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. Nationally, the unemployment rate is 4.5%, with employment growth at 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Margate - Woody Point's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.8%% over five years and 14.0% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that Margate - Woody Point has lower income compared to national averages. The median income is $51,219 and the average income stands at $62,075. In contrast, Greater Brisbane has a median income of $55,645 and an average income of $70,520. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.71% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes as of March 2025 would be approximately $57,217 (median) and $69,344 (average). Census 2021 income data indicates that Margate - Woody Point's household, family, and personal incomes fall between the 15th and 28th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket dominates with 26.1% of residents (3,293 people), similar to the surrounding region where this cohort represents 33.3%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 79.9% of income remaining, ranking at the 12th percentile nationally.

Margate - Woody Point displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Margate-Woody Point's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 64.5% houses and 35.5% other dwellings. Brisbane metro had 68.2% houses and 31.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Margate-Woody Point was at 30.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.6% and rented ones at 41.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, aligning with Brisbane metro's average. Median weekly rent was $325, compared to Brisbane metro's $350. Nationally, Margate-Woody Point had lower mortgage repayments ($1,733 vs $1,863) and rents ($325 vs $375).

Margate - Woody Point features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 58.3% of all households, including 18.2% couples with children, 25.8% couples without children, and 13.2% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 41.7%, with lone person households at 38.0% and group households comprising 3.7%. The median household size is 2.1 people, smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.3.

Educational outcomes in Margate - Woody Point fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

Margate-Woody Point has 20.8% of residents aged 15+ with university degrees, compared to Greater Brisbane's 30.5%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 13.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.9%). Vocational credentials are held by 41.2% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 12.3% and certificates at 28.9%. Currently, 24.1% of the population is engaged in formal education: 8.1% in primary, 6.8% in secondary, and 3.9% in tertiary education.

The three schools in Margate-Woody Point have a combined enrollment of 796 students. The ICSEA score for these schools is 978, indicating typical Australian school conditions with balanced educational opportunities. These schools focus on primary education, with secondary options available nearby due to limited local capacity (6.3 places per 100 residents vs the regional average of 16.1). Some families therefore travel to neighboring areas for schooling.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Margate-Woody Point has 49 active public transport stops. These are all bus stops. Four routes service these stops, providing a total of 672 weekly passenger trips.

Residents have excellent accessibility to transport, with an average distance of 171 meters to the nearest stop. On average, there are 96 trips per day across all routes, which equals about 13 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Margate - Woody Point is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Margate - Woody Point faces significant health challenges, with various conditions impacting both younger and older residents.

Approximately 51% of its total population (~6,384 people) has private health cover, which is relatively low compared to other areas. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 11.1%) and mental health issues (impacting 10.7%). Conversely, 59.1% of residents report having no medical ailments, slightly lower than the 59.7% reported in Greater Brisbane. In terms of demographics, 27.1% of Margate - Woody Point's population is aged 65 and over (3,423 people), compared to Greater Brisbane's 28.2%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are generally good, often surpassing those of the general population in various health metrics.

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

Margate-Woody Point's cultural diversity is below average. Its population is predominantly Australian-born citizens who speak English at home: 86.5%, 77.0%, and 93.6% respectively. Christianity is the dominant religion, with 51.0% of the population, compared to 52.8% in Greater Brisbane.

The top three ancestry groups are English (31.5%), Australian (23.8%), and Irish (10.2%). Notably, New Zealanders make up 1.2%, Maori 1.2%, and Samoans 0.6%.

Margate - Woody Point hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Margate - Woody Point's median age is 48 years, which is considerably higher than Greater Brisbane's average of 36 years and exceeds the national average of 38 years. The 65-74 age group comprises 15.0% of the population, compared to Greater Brisbane's percentage, while the 25-34 cohort makes up 7.8%, which is less prevalent than in Greater Brisbane. This concentration of the 65-74 age group is well above the national average of 9.4%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 75-84 age group has grown from 7.2% to 9.5% of the population. Conversely, the 5-14 cohort has declined from 10.0% to 8.8%, and the 35-44 cohort has dropped from 12.4% to 11.3%. Demographic modeling suggests that Margate - Woody Point's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 75-84 cohort is projected to grow by 88%, adding 1,048 residents to reach a total of 2,242. Senior residents aged 65 and above are expected to drive 66% of population growth, underscoring demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, population declines are projected for the 35-44 and 0-4 age cohorts.