Mount Morgan

Mount Morgan has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Mount Morgan's population is around 3,090 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 145 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,945 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 3,090 from the ABS as of June 2025 and an additional 117 validated new addresses since the Census date. Mount Morgan's population equates to a density ratio of 6.3 persons per square kilometer. Since the census in 2021, Mount Morgan has grown by 4.9%, positioning it within 2.1 percentage points of its SA3 area (7.0%). Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 95.8% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. These state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 and based on 2022 data. Looking ahead, regional areas nationally are anticipated to have lower quartile population growth. Mount Morgan is expected to grow by 86 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 2.8% over the 16 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Mount Morgan according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Mount Morgan had 8 new dwelling approvals over the period from 2016 to 2020. This averages out to approximately one new dwelling approved annually. The low development levels in Mount Morgan reflect its rural nature, where housing needs are typically specific and local rather than driven by broader market demand.

It is important to note that due to the small sample size, individual projects can significantly influence annual growth statistics. Mount Morgan's construction activity is notably lower compared to the rest of Queensland and also falls below national averages. All new constructions in Mount Morgan during this period were detached dwellings, primarily family homes suited for those seeking a rural lifestyle. The estimated population per dwelling approval was 1139 people.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Mount Morgan is projected to gain 86 residents by the year 2041. If current construction levels continue, housing supply may lag behind population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

Mount Morgan has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified seven projects likely to influence the region. Notable initiatives include Mount Morgan Tailings Processing and Rehabilitation Project, Boulder Creek Wind Farm, Bouldercombe Battery Project, and Stanwell Battery Energy Storage System (BESS). The following list details those most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment conditions in Mount Morgan face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Mount Morgan has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, with essential services well represented. As of December 2025, the unemployment rate is 14.0%. This is 10.0% higher than Regional Queensland's rate of 4.0%, indicating room for improvement.

Workforce participation in Mount Morgan is lower at 42.2%, compared to Regional Queensland's 64.5%. According to Census responses, only 5.6% of residents work from home. The key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. Health care & social assistance has a particularly strong presence, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

However, professional & technical jobs are under-represented at 1.2%, compared to Regional Queensland's 5.1%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as shown by the difference between Census working population and resident population figures. Over a 12-month period ending in May-25, employment increased by 0.1% while labour force decreased by 3.4%, leading to a fall in unemployment of 3.0 percentage points. In contrast, Regional Queensland recorded employment growth of 0.7%, labour force growth of 1.0%, and an increase in unemployment of 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mount Morgan's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 indicates Mount Morgan SA2's median income among taxpayers is $47,454, with an average of $58,349. This is lower than the national average, compared to Regional Qld's median of $53,146 and average of $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Mount Morgan would be approximately $52,845 (median) and $64,977 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Mount Morgan fall between the 0th and 2nd percentiles nationally. Income analysis shows that 36.8% of locals (1,137 people) earn between $400 - $799 per week, differing from regional levels where the $1,500 - $2,999 category is predominant at 31.7%. This indicates that 49.3% of residents have constrained household budgets due to incomes under $800/week. Despite modest housing costs with 88.4% of income retained, Mount Morgan's total disposable income ranks at the 3rd percentile nationally.

Mount Morgan is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Mount Morgan's dwellings were 97.2% houses and 2.8% other types at the latest Census, compared to Regional Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% others. Home ownership in Mount Morgan was 52.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 24.9% and rented ones at 22.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $840, below Regional Qld's $1,655 and the national average of $1,863. Median weekly rent in Mount Morgan was $200, lower than Regional Qld's $345 and the national figure of $375.

Mount Morgan features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 55.4% of all households, including 14.7% couples with children, 25.5% couples without children, and 13.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 44.6%, consisting of 40.3% lone person households and 4.6% group households. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5.

Mount Morgan faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 7.3%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 5.8%, followed by graduate diplomas (0.9%) and postgraduate qualifications (0.6%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 42.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (7.5%) and certificates (35.0%).

Educational participation is high, with 29.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.1% in primary education, 9.5% in secondary education, and 2.6% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Mount Morgan is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Mount Morgan faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and prevalence of chronic conditions are high, affecting both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at approximately 48% of the total population (around 1,489 people), compared to 52.5% in Regional Qld and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 14.3% and 12.6% of residents respectively. Conversely, 42.9% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in Regional Qld. Working-age individuals face notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors, with 30.9% of residents aged 65 and over (955 people), compared to 20.4% in Regional Qld. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, generally aligning with national rankings for the overall population.

The latest Census data sees Mount Morgan placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Mount Morgan's population was found to be predominantly culturally homogeneous, with 83.3% being Australian citizens, 91.5% born in Australia, and 98.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the primary religion, accounting for 54.5% of Mount Morgan's residents, compared to 52.2% across Regional Queensland. In terms of ancestry, Australians comprised 31.8%, which is higher than the regional average of 26.5%.

English ancestry constituted 31.2%, and Australian Aboriginal ancestry was at 10.3%, significantly higher than the regional average of 3.9%. Notable differences were seen in Welsh (0.6% vs 0.5%), German (3.9% vs 4.7%), and Maori (0.4% vs 0.8%) representations.

Mount Morgan ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Mount Morgan's median age at 53 years is significantly higher than the Regional Queensland average of 41 and considerably older than the Australian median of 38. Compared to the Regional Queensland average, those aged 65-74 are notably over-represented in Mount Morgan at 17.8%, while those aged 25-34 are under-represented at 7.5%. This concentration of those aged 65-74 is well above the national average of 9.4%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 8.3% to 10.3%, while the 0 to 4 cohort increased from 3.5% to 4.9%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 10.3% to 9.0% and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 13.0% to 11.7%. By 2041, Mount Morgan is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. Leading this demographic shift, the 85+ group will grow by 80%, reaching 159 from 88. The aging population dynamic is clear, with those aged 65 and above comprising 76% of projected growth. Conversely, both the 5 to 14 and 35 to 44 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.