Maryborough Surrounds - South
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Maryborough Surrounds - South's population was 10,891 as of August 2025, an increase of 1,343 people since the 2021 Census. This growth represents a 14.1% change from the previous year's population of 9,548. The estimated resident population in June 2024 was 10,893, with an additional 288 validated new addresses since the Census date contributing to this increase. The resulting population density is approximately 2.8 persons per square kilometer. This growth rate outperformed both the SA3 area (8.0%) and non-metro areas, positioning Maryborough Surrounds - South as a growth leader in its region. Interstate migration accounted for around 94.1% of overall population gains during recent periods.

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 are adopted, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort. Based on the latest population numbers and projected demographic shifts, Maryborough Surrounds - South is expected to grow by approximately 1,339 persons to reach a total population of 2041. This represents an increase of around 12.3% over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Maryborough Surrounds - South was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Maryborough Surrounds - South has seen approximately 89 new homes approved annually. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis. Between FY21 and FY25, around 446 homes were approved, with 14 approvals recorded in FY26 so far. On average, about 3.9 people have moved to the area for each dwelling built over these five years.

This demand outpaces supply, potentially influencing prices and competition among buyers. The average construction cost of new homes is around $272,000, below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options. In FY26, commercial approvals totalled $14.4 million, indicating balanced commercial development activity.

Compared to the Rest of Qld, Maryborough Surrounds - South has seen slightly higher development activity, with 40.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years. This maintains reasonable buyer options while sustaining existing property demand. However, building activity has slowed in recent years. All new construction consists of detached dwellings, preserving the area's low-density character focused on family homes. The area has approximately 157 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. Future projections suggest Maryborough Surrounds - South will add around 1,339 residents by 2041. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Maryborough Surrounds - South has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 18thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 24 projects likely to impact the area. Notable projects include Bruce Highway - Tiaro Bypass, Tiaro Bulls and Barrels Community Event, Mungar Road Upgrade, and Glenwood Playground. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Employment performance in Maryborough Surrounds - South has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Maryborough Surrounds - South has a mixed workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. Manufacturing and industrial sectors are prominent, with an unemployment rate of 7.3% as of June 2025.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 5.3%. There are 4,217 residents in work, but the unemployment rate is higher than Rest of Qld's by 3.4%, indicating room for improvement. Workforce participation lags significantly, at 40.1% compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and construction.

The area specializes in agriculture, forestry & fishing with an employment share 2.8 times the regional level. However, accommodation & food services are underrepresented, at 5.5% compared to Rest of Qld's 8.3%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited based on Census data analysis. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 5.3%, labour force grew by 7.6%, leading to an unemployment rise of 2.0 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of Qld recorded employment growth of 1.8% and unemployment rose by 0.2 percentage points during the same period. State-level data from Sep-25 shows Queensland's employment contracted by 0.23% (losing 8,070 jobs), with a state unemployment rate of 4.2%, compared to the national rate of 4.5%. National employment forecasts suggest growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but local projections based on industry-specific weighting extrapolations estimate Maryborough Surrounds - South's growth at approximately 5.7% over five years and 12.4% over ten years.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

Maryborough Surrounds - South had a median taxpayer income of $42,851 and an average income of $50,114 in the financial year 2022. This was lower than the national average, with Rest of Qld having a median income of $50,780 and an average income of $64,844. By March 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $47,869 (median) and $55,982 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth. Census data shows that incomes in Maryborough Surrounds - South fall between the 2nd and 2nd percentiles nationally. The $400 - $799 earnings band captures 31.7% of the community, contrasting with metropolitan regions where the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket leads at 31.7%. Economic circumstances indicate widespread financial pressure, with 41.7% of households having weekly budgets below $800. Despite modest housing costs, with 88.2% of income retained, total disposable income ranks at just the 6th percentile nationally.

Maryborough Surrounds - South is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure in Maryborough Surrounds - South, as evaluated at the latest Census, consisted of 97.9% houses and 2.1% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had 91.8% houses and 8.2% other dwellings. Home ownership in Maryborough Surrounds - South was 57.3%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (32.2%) or rented (10.5%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,170, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,179. Median weekly rent was recorded at $250, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $260. Nationally, Maryborough Surrounds - South's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Maryborough Surrounds - South features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 69.3% of all households, including 19.2% couples with children, 40.8% couples without children, and 8.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 30.7%, with lone person households at 26.8% and group households comprising 4.0%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.3.

Maryborough Surrounds - South faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 10.2%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 7.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.4%) and graduate diplomas (1.2%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 46.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (9.7%) and certificates (36.3%).

A substantial 23.7% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 9.2% in primary education, 7.6% in secondary education, and 2.4% in tertiary education. There are 7 schools operating within Maryborough Surrounds - South, educating approximately 295 students. These schools focus exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in nearby areas due to limited local school capacity (2.7 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 12.3).

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Maryborough Surrounds - South is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Maryborough Surrounds - South faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low, at approximately 46% (~5,031 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 14.6%) and mental health issues (10.5%). Conversely, 54.3% report being free from medical ailments, similar to Rest of Qld at 54.0%. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over (31.8%, or 3,461 people), compared to the state average of 29.9%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in Maryborough Surrounds - South are better than those for the general population.

Maryborough Surrounds - South is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Maryborough Surrounds-South had a cultural diversity index below the average, with 87.9% of its population being citizens born in Australia speaking English only at home (86.2%, 97.8% respectively). Christianity was the prevalent religion, comprising 52.6% of people, slightly lower than the regional average of 52.8%. The top three ancestry groups were English (34.2%), Australian (30.2%), and Scottish (8.5%).

Notably, German ancestry was overrepresented at 6.7%, while Australian Aboriginal was underrepresented at 2.7% compared to respective regional averages of 6.6% and 3.4%. New Zealand-born residents also had a lower representation at 0.6% versus the region's 0.5%.

Maryborough Surrounds - South ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age in Maryborough Surrounds - South is 54 years, significantly higher than the Rest of Qld's average of 41 years and also well above the national norm of 38 years. The 65-74 cohort is notably over-represented at 21.4% locally compared to the Rest of Qld average, while the 25-34 year-olds are under-represented at 7.6%. This concentration of the 65-74 age group is well above the national figure of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 7.2% to 9.0% of the population. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 21.1% to 18.9%, and the 45 to 54 group has dropped from 13.4% to 11.9%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Maryborough Surrounds - South, with the 75 to 84 cohort projected to grow by 40%, adding 392 residents to reach 1,368. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 57% of population growth, underscoring trends towards demographic aging. Conversely, both the 5 to 14 and the 55 to 64 age groups are projected to decrease in number.