Mount Louisa
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Mount Louisa's population was around 11,119 as of Nov 2025. This reflected an increase of 1,009 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,110. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 10,936 in June 2024 and an additional 197 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 351 persons per square kilometer. Mount Louisa's growth rate of 10.0% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA4 region (6.9%) and the SA3 area, making it a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 57.5% 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 based on 2021 data. It should be noted that these state projections do not provide age category splits. Therefore, AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Future population trends forecast a significant increase in the top quartile of non-metropolitan areas nationally, with the area expected to expand by 3,049 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 25.1% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Mount Louisa among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Mount Louisa averaged approximately 58 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, totalling 290 homes. In FY26, up to April, 48 dwellings have been approved. This averages out to around three people moving to the area per new home constructed each year during this period, indicating steady demand which could support property values.

The average expected construction cost of these new homes is $251,000, lower than regional levels, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. Commercial approvals in FY26 amount to $22.0 million, signifying balanced commercial development activity. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Mount Louisa has seen slightly higher development activity, with 34.0% more dwelling approvals per person over the past five years.

This balance between buyer choice and support for current property values is evident. The majority of new building activity consists of detached houses (91.0%), with attached dwellings making up the remaining 9.0%, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character focused on family homes. The location has approximately 220 people per dwelling approval, indicating room for population growth. Future projections estimate Mount Louisa will add around 2,787 residents by 2041. However, at current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting property price increases.

Mount Louisa has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 28thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 22 projects that could potentially impact this region. Notable initiatives include Garbutt - Upper Ross Road (Riverway Drive) Stage 2 Duplication, Cosgrove Estate development, Greater Ascot Estate project, and Kirwan Health Campus Expansion. The following list details those likely to have the most relevance.

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

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Employment performance in Mount Louisa exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

Mount Louisa has a skilled workforce with an unemployment rate of 3.3% as of June 2025. There are 5,899 residents employed, which is 0.6% below the Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%.

Workforce participation in Mount Louisa is 71.7%, compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. The leading employment industries among residents are health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and retail trade. There is a particular specialization in public administration & safety, with an employment share of 2.2 times the regional level. Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence, at 0.4% compared to the regional 4.5%.

The worker-to-resident ratio is 0.7, indicating above-average local employment opportunities. Between June 2024 and June 2025, the labour force decreased by 2.0%, while employment decreased by 2.5%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment rise by 1.8% and a labour force growth of 2.0%, with an unemployment increase of 0.2 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in May 2025, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mount Louisa's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.4% over five years and 13.5% over ten years.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Mount Louisa had a median taxpayer income of $56,165 and an average of $65,960 based on postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2022. This is slightly above the national average, contrasting with Rest of Qld's median income of $50,780 and average income of $64,844. By September 2025, current estimates suggest a median income of approximately $64,022 and an average of $75,188, accounting for Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since the financial year 2022. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Mount Louisa cluster around the 70th percentile nationally. Income analysis reveals that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 39.8% of residents (4,425 people), consistent with broader trends across the region showing 31.7% in the same category. Housing accounts for 14.2% of income while strong earnings rank residents within the 71st percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

Mount Louisa is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Mount Louisa's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 94.2% houses and 5.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Qld's 81.3% houses and 18.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mount Louisa stood at 21.4%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (43.0%) or rented (35.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,647, above Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,517. The median weekly rent figure was $350, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $305. Nationally, Mount Louisa's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Mount Louisa features high concentrations of family households and group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 77.8% of all households, including 36.0% couples with children, 27.5% couples without children, and 13.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 22.2%, with lone person households at 18.1% and group households comprising 4.1%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Educational attainment in Mount Louisa aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 20.1%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 15.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 41.3% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas account for 9.9% and certificates for 31.4%.

Educational participation is high at 32.1%, including primary (12.3%), secondary (8.8%), and tertiary education (5.0%). The area has two schools, Calvary Christian College and Eaton College, serving 1,117 students collectively. These schools offer integrated K-12 education for academic continuity. School places per 100 residents are 10.0, lower than the regional average of 16.7, indicating some students may attend adjacent areas' schools.

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

Mount Louisa has 31 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by four different routes that together facilitate 311 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is rated as moderate, with residents typically living 417 meters away from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 44 trips per day across all routes, which amounts to about 10 weekly trips per individual stop.

Mount Louisa's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Mount Louisa's health metrics are close to national benchmarks.

The level of common health conditions among its general population is somewhat typical but higher than the nation's average among older cohorts. Private health cover stands at approximately 52% of the total population (~5,826 people), slightly higher than the average SA2 area. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 8.6 and 8.4% of residents respectively. A total of 69.9% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.8% across Rest of Qld. The area has 11.9% of residents aged 65 and over (1,320 people), which is lower than the 14.9% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges requiring more attention than the broader population.

Mount Louisa ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Mount Louisa showed lower cultural diversity, with 86.4% born in Australia, 90.3% being citizens, and 91.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, at 56.7%, compared to 52.7% regionally. The top three ancestral groups were Australian (27.9%), English (26.6%), and Irish (7.6%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal (5.0%) and Italian (4.7%) groups had higher representation than the regional average of 5.0% and 3.6%, respectively. German ancestry also showed a slight increase at 4.3%.

Mount Louisa hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

The median age in Mount Louisa is 34 years, which is notably below the Rest of Queensland's average of 41 and also substantially under the Australian median of 38. Relative to Rest of Queensland, Mount Louisa has a higher concentration of 25-34 year-olds at 16.9%, but fewer 65-74 year-olds at 7.2%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 15.4% to 16.9%, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 13.8% to 14.9%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 15.5% to 14.3%. By 2041, Mount Louisa is expected to see significant shifts in its age composition. The 25 to 34 group is projected to grow by 48%, adding 898 people and reaching a total of 2,779 from the previous count of 1,880. The 5 to 14 group displays more modest growth at 1%, adding only 15 residents.