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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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Mount Louisa has an estimated 11,137 residents, up from 10,110 at the 2021 Census — a change of 1,027 people, or 10.2%. Growth has averaged 1.5% a year over five years. 272 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. That puts 352 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
As of Aug 2026, AreaSearch estimates that Mount Louisa is home to roughly 11,137 residents. This represents an addition of 1,027 people (10.2%) compared to the 10,110 individuals recorded in the 2021 Census. Such demographic movement is deduced from the ABS estimated resident population of 10,932 recorded at June 2025 alongside 272 validated new addresses recognized after the Census. With a population density of 352 persons per square kilometer, the locality offers ample space per resident and room for future expansion. Outperforming both the broader SA3 zone and the SA4 region (7.2%), Mount Louisa's 10.2% post-2021 census expansion highlights its status as a regional growth hotspot.
This expansion was predominantly fueled by interstate arrivals, which made up around 35.8% of total demographic additions in recent times, supplemented by positive gains from natural increase and overseas migration. Projections from ABS/Geoscience Australia released in 2024 (using 2022 as the base year) are implemented by AreaSearch for local SA2 modeling. In instances where an SA2 is omitted or for timeframes beyond 2032, Queensland State Government SA2 projections issued in 2023 (utilizing 2021 data) are used instead. Because those state projections omit age-bracket breakdowns, AreaSearch assigns proportional cohort weights based on the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (published in 2023 from 2022 figures). Looking ahead, long-term forecasts position the locality in the top quartile of regional, non-capital areas for expansion, anticipating a gain of 2,807 persons by 2041 according to the latest annual ERP statistics, representing cumulative growth of 23.4% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
296 new dwellings have been approved in Mount Louisa over the past five years, an average of 59 a year. That places the area in the 77th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 5 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 59 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 92% 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
Dwelling consents in Mount Louisa have averaged roughly 59 approvals each year, accumulating to 296 homes across the prior 5 financial years. With an influx of 2.6 new residents per approved dwelling annually over the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26), local demand remains robust to underpin asset values, while average construction costs of $353,000 per home sit beneath regional benchmarks to deliver more attainable housing options. Additionally, commercial building approvals have reached $22.0 million during this financial year, reflecting steady non-residential development activity. In comparison to Rest of Qld, Mount Louisa exhibits elevated building volume (tracking 34.0% above the regional per-capita rate over the 5 year period), which supports existing asset values while maintaining sufficient supply for purchasers.
Detached houses account for 92.0% of recent approvals, with townhouses and apartments comprising the remaining 8.0%, upholding the suburb's low-density profile centered around standalone dwellings that appeal to buyers seeking space. An approval density of approximately one per 169 people underscores the ongoing expansion of the locality. According to the most recent AreaSearch quarterly projection, Mount Louisa is expected to expand by 2,602 residents through to 2041. Should current construction volumes persist, housing supply could fall short of demographic additions, heightening purchaser competition and generating upward pressure on local home values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Mount Louisa
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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 8 current infrastructure and development projects inside Mount Louisa, worth an estimated $693 million. A further 33 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $9.19 billion. 18 are already under construction and 11 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and health & medical. 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
Infrastructure upgrades, major developments, and council planning policies are critical determinants of local performance. AreaSearch has identified 23 key initiatives likely to influence the district, including the Garbutt - Upper Ross Road (Riverway Drive) Stage 2 Duplication, Cosgrove Estate, Greater Ascot Estate, and the Kirwan Health Campus Expansion, with significant projects outlined below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Garbutt - Upper Ross Road (Riverway Drive) Stage 2 Duplication
Stage 2 upgrades a 3.1 km section of Riverway Drive in Kelso, Townsville, including widening a 1.6 km section between Allambie Lane and Hammond Way to four lanes, plus median treatments and right turn improvements on the remaining 1.5 km to Dunlop Street. The project also delivers new and upgraded signalised intersections at Rosewood/Buunong Avenue, Yut Fay Avenue and Ponti Road, along with active transport links and bus stop upgrades. Construction started on 30 September 2024 and is expected to finish by mid-2027, weather and construction conditions permitting.The project supports more than 140 local jobs and serves around 17,000 motorists daily, targeting safety, network reliability and congestion relief for the Upper Ross growth area.
Cosgrove Estate
Master-planned residential community by Parkside Land featuring multiple district villages across 250ha. The estate includes parks, open spaces, and walking paths. Current stages and bulk earthworks, along with major enabling infrastructure like the Weston and Woolcock Street intersection upgrade, are actively under construction.
Greater Ascot Estate
Greater Ascot is a masterplanned residential community by Parkside Development in Shaw, Townsville. The project is progressing through staged construction and is planned to ultimately accommodate more than 2,000 homes together with extensive parks, open space, walking and cycling paths, schools and a future town centre. The first stage of the proposed town centre, including childcare, service station, food and beverage outlets and specialty services, has entered the development approval process while residential stages continue to be delivered.
Cosgrove Estate
A master-planned residential community in Townsville's growth corridor, featuring over 2,700 lots across seven villages on 250 hectares, including parks, open spaces, walking tracks, and an environmental corridor along the Bohle River. It offers affordable land lots with connectivity to amenities, future shopping centre, and natural reserves.
Kirwan Health Campus Expansion
A 45.2 million dollar expansion and redevelopment of the Kirwan Health Campus. The project includes a new two-story facility and refurbishment of existing buildings to expand outpatient pre-natal and post-natal care (midwifery) and oral health services. It also involves upgrading the existing car park and installing technology for TeleHealth services.
Kirwan Health Campus Expansion
A 45.2 million dollar expansion of the Kirwan Health Campus involving the construction of a new two-storey Green Star-rated building and refurbishment of existing facilities. The project doubles the capacity for oral health services and significantly expands pre-natal and post-natal midwifery clinics. Key features include a new chiller plant, a 120-bay car park, and upgraded TeleHealth infrastructure to support clinical services for the growing North Queensland population.
Hampton Grove Estate
Large-lot residential estate in the foothills of Mount Louisa, offering spacious homesites for new housing development.
Hillside Gardens Residential Estate
A 50-acre residential estate in the foothills of Mount Louisa, delivered by Yumba-Meta Limited to create pathways to Indigenous home ownership. The estate comprised 38 lots and included several Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) homes on retained sites, with dwellings completed by around 2021.
5,770 residents of Mount Louisa are employed, from a labour force of 5,961. Unemployment sits at 3.2%, with participation at 68.0%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.4% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Mount Louisa features a qualified workforce with a strong footprint across essential services and an unemployment rate of just 3.2%. By March 2026, employed residents numbered 5,770, with local unemployment sitting 0.7% lower than the 3.9% figure seen across Regional Qld. Labor force participation stands at a solid 68.0%, higher than the 64.2% registered across Regional Qld. Census data indicated that only 5.6% of workers worked from home, though the context of Covid-19 restrictions should be considered. Local employment is heavily centered in public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and retail trade.
The community demonstrates a notable concentration in public administration & safety, where its share of employment is 2.2 times the regional standard. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for only 0.4% of local jobs, well below the 4.5% observed regionally. An employment ratio of 0.7 jobs per resident recorded at the Census demonstrates above-average access to local employment opportunities. AreaSearch assessment of ABS and SALM metrics indicates that in the year to March 2026, the local workforce contracted by 1.9% while total employment fell by 2.0%, keeping local jobless rates relatively unchanged. By comparison, Regional Qld saw employment rise by 0.1% alongside a 0.3% rise in the labor pool, leading to a 0.1 percentage point increase in unemployment. Future labor demand in Mount Louisa can be evaluated against Jobs and Skills Australia's national projections from Mar-26 across five- and ten-year horizons. Nationally, total employment is projected to climb 6.6% across five years and 13.7% across ten years, with performance varying by sector. Aligning these industry trajectories with Mount Louisa's workforce distribution suggests local job numbers could rise 6.4% over five years and 13.5% over ten years (note that this extrapolation uses simple industry weighting for indicative purposes and excludes localized population models).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Mount Louisa is $2,033 a week (about $106,000 a year), with median personal income at $947 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $58,493 a year against an average of $68,554. 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
ATO postcode statistics compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 show local earnings in the Mount Louisa SA2 trending marginally higher than national benchmarks, registering a median of $58,493 and an average of $68,554, outperforming Regional Qld's median of $53,146 and average of $66,593. Incorporating Wage Price Index increases of 11.36% since financial year 2023 updates these figures to roughly $65,138 (median) and $76,342 (average) by March 2026. Data from the Census 2021 places personal, family, and household incomes near the 70th percentile across Australia. Roughly 39.8% of residents (4,432 individuals) earn between $1,500 - 2,999, mirroring wider regional trends where 31.7% fall into this bracket.
Shelter costs consume 14.2% of earnings, while disposable income ranks in the 71st percentile and the SEIFA income index places the area in the 5th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Mount Louisa had 3,501 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 94% detached houses and 0% apartments. 43% are owned with a mortgage, 36% rented and 21% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $350 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,647 a month. Rent absorbs 17.2% of household income here and mortgage repayments 18.7%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census records show that separate houses comprise 94.2% of Mount Louisa's housing stock, with apartments, semi-detached homes, and other forms of accommodation making up 5.7%, in contrast to Regional Qld where standalone dwellings represent 76.4% and other property types comprise 23.6%. Outright ownership sits at 21.4%, trailing Regional Qld, while mortgaged homes account for 43.0% and rental properties make up 35.7%. The median monthly mortgage payment was $1,647 compared to $1,655 across Regional Qld, and the median weekly rent stood at $350 against $345 regionally. On a national scale, Mount Louisa remains noticeably more affordable than the Australian average monthly mortgage repayment of $1,863 and average weekly rent of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Mount Louisa counted 3,501 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 3,857 today, averaging 2.7 people each. 36% are couples with children, against 28% couples without children. 18% 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 vast majority of local living arrangements at 77.8%, consisting of couples with children (36.0%), couples without children (27.5%), and single parent households (13.0%). Non-family setups make up the remaining 22.2%, led by single-person residences at 18.1% and group homes at 4.1%. The average household size stands at 2.7 people, outpacing the Regional Qld benchmark of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
20.1% of adults in Mount Louisa hold a university qualification, including 15.0% with a bachelor degree and 2.8% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 31.4% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 1,117 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 998 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 present a key area for development, as only 20.1% of residents hold university degrees compared to 30.4% across the country. Within this cohort, bachelor degrees comprise 15.0%, postgraduate credentials account for 2.8%, and graduate diplomas make up 2.3%. In contrast, vocational and trade training is widespread, with 41.3% of individuals aged 15+ holding practical qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (9.9%) and certificates (31.4%). Student participation is substantial across the suburb, with 32.1% of the population actively attending an educational institution. Primary education accounts for 12.3% of residents, secondary schools encompass 8.8%, and tertiary programs engage 5.0%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Mount Louisa reaches 33 stops on 4 routes, timetabled for about 310 services a week. The typical home sits about 380 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.7 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transit infrastructure in Mount Louisa includes 33 active transit stops serviced by buses across 4 separate routes, delivering 311 passenger trips weekly. Accessibility is favorable, with residents living an average of 375 meters from their closest boarding point. Commuting is largely outward-bound via private vehicles, with cars accounting for 95% of travel and vehicle ownership averaging 1.7 cars per household (higher than regional figures). A modest 5.6% of workers worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 settings. Transit services run at an average frequency of 44 trips per day across the network, translating to roughly 9 weekly departures for each individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
69.9% of residents in Mount Louisa report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 90% of areas nationally. 6.0% need daily assistance with core activities, and 53.3% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 10.9 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch evaluations of chronic illnesses and mortality indicate notable health considerations for Mount Louisa across diverse age groups, while private health insurance uptake stands at approximately 53% of all residents (~5,936 people), placing it slightly above the typical SA2 average. Asthma and mental health conditions are the most prevalent health issues recorded locally, affecting 8.4% and 8.6% of the population respectively, while 69.9% of residents report no long-term medical conditions, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Working-age residents display standard health metrics. Seniors aged 65 and over comprise 11.3% of the community (1,257 people), which is lower than the 20.3% share observed across Regional Qld, with health outcomes for older residents aligning generally with nationwide benchmarks.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Mount Louisa is largely Australian-born, at 86.4% of residents, with 8.4% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (27.9%) and English (26.6%). 5.0% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Mount Louisa displays lower levels of cultural diversity than broader averages, with 86.4% of residents born in Australia, 90.3% possessing Australian citizenship, and 91.6% speaking solely English in the home. Christianity represents the primary religious affiliation, encompassing 56.7% of the populace compared to 52.2% across Regional Qld. Examining parental heritage, the most prominent ancestries in Mount Louisa are Australian at 27.9%, English at 26.6%, and Irish at 7.6%. Specific demographic variations are also evident: Australian Aboriginal heritage represents 5.0% locally (compared to 3.9% regionally), Italian heritage comprises 4.7% (against 2.4%), and German heritage stands at 4.3% (versus 4.7%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Mount Louisa is 34, younger than 84% of areas nationally. 32.4% 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 demographic structure of Mount Louisa is centered around young families, with residents aged 25 - 44 making up 31.5% of the populace as at August 2026 (compared to 25.5% in Regional Qld), while seniors aged 65+ account for 11.3% against a regional benchmark of 20.4%. The median age is estimated at 34 as at August 2026, matching the 2021 Census level and sitting 7 years below the Regional Qld median of 41 recorded at that time. The 25 - 44 age cohort has expanded from 30.3% at the Census to 31.5% currently, and is projected to experience the greatest absolute growth by 2041 with an addition of 1,181 residents (34%) to reach 4,692.
Meanwhile, retirees and older cohorts are forecast to be the fastest-growing in relative terms, increasing 39% to 1,748 people.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Mount Louisa
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 | Sep 2026 last month all 9 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 Sep 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 — 272 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (10,110 at the 2021 Census → 11,137 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 (318021484). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.