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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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Sales Activity
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Sales Detail
Population
Mount Sheridan has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends
Mount Sheridan's population is approximately 9,060 as of May 2026. This figure represents an increase of 382 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 8,678. The growth is inferred from ABS estimated resident population data of 9,042 in June 2025 and an additional 82 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density of 1,344 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Mount Sheridan's 4.4% growth since census is within 2.5 percentage points of its SA3 area (6.9%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Natural growth contributed approximately 52.4% 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 and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023, based on 2021 data, are adopted. These state projections lack age category splits; hence AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023, based on 2022 data. Projected demographic shifts indicate an above median population growth for national non-metropolitan areas by 2041, with Mount Sheridan expected to expand by 1,224 persons, reflecting a 13.3% increase over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Residential development activity is lower than average in Mount Sheridan according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets
Mount Sheridan has received approximately 14 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 73 homes. As of FY-26, 11 approvals have been recorded. On average, 4.7 new residents are associated with each home built in the area between FY-21 and FY-25. The average construction cost for new dwellings is $376,000.
In terms of commercial development, $980,000 in approvals have been registered this financial year. Mount Sheridan has significantly less development activity compared to the rest of Queensland, with 54.0% fewer approvals per person than the regional average. This constrained new construction often reinforces demand and pricing for existing properties. The location currently has around 861 people per dwelling approval, indicating an established market. By 2041, Mount Sheridan is projected to grow by approximately 1,206 residents according to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate.
If current development rates persist, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth in the future.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Mount Sheridan
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Infrastructure
Mount Sheridan has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally
Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified five projects that may affect this region. Notable projects include Cairns Gateway Estate (Riverstone Road North), Cairns Southern Access Cycleway (Luke Azzopardi Cycleway), Cairns Community and Multicultural Centre, and The Outlook.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
North Queensland Youth Alcohol and Other Drugs Residential Rehabilitation Service
The North Queensland Youth Alcohol and Other Drug Service (NQYAODS) is a $19.3 million, 10-bed residential rehabilitation facility providing 24/7 specialist care for young people aged 13-18. Developed in partnership with Queensland Health, YETI, and YSAS, the center offers a home-like environment with integrated clinical, cultural, and educational support designed to assist voluntary recovery and harm minimisation for youth in the Far North Queensland region.
Edmonton Business & Industry Park
A 212-hectare masterplanned business, industrial, retail, health and recreation precinct fronting the Bruce Highway in Edmonton, south of Cairns. The approved masterplan provides more than 100,000 square metres of gross floor area across six flexible stages, with early land north of Blackfellows Creek intended for industry and retail and later stages south of the creek including uses such as a private hospital, showrooms and a tavern. The plan also includes more than 50 hectares of public open space, walking and cycling paths, sporting fields and restoration of the Blackfellows Creek green corridor.
Resource Recovery 2040
A major roadmap and infrastructure program to overhaul Cairns waste management. The project addresses the 2026 closure of the Bedminster Advanced Resource Recovery Facility and aims to reach Queensland Government recovery targets of 90% by 2040. Key initiatives include the introduction of a 3-bin system for food and garden organics (FOGO) starting in 2026, the development of new in-vessel composting facilities, and upgrades to existing materials recovery and transfer station assets.
Mount Peter Priority Development Area
Declared in July 2025, the 2,650-hectare Mount Peter PDA is the primary long-term growth corridor for Cairns, designed to accommodate 18,500 homes and 42,500 residents by 2050. As of April 2026, Cairns Regional Council is actively seeking 450 million AUD through the Residential Activation Fund (RAF) to fast-track critical trunk infrastructure, including water mains, wastewater pump stations, and transport upgrades for Precinct 1. While the permanent Development Scheme is being finalized for late 2026, 'Precinct 1 - Residential North' is currently open for accelerated development applications to provide immediate housing relief.
Cairns Reservoirs Remediation Package 2
Remediation works are underway across nine Cairns Regional Council reservoirs at eight sites: Mayer Street, Panguna, Bayview Large, Barron View, Runnymede, Brinsmead, Dempsey Street A and B, and Crest Close. The program includes concrete rehabilitation and strengthening, internal protective coatings, steel roof replacements at two reservoirs, access upgrades, minor civil works, access road repairs and temporary water supply works to improve water quality, reliability and security. Council reported in October 2025 that safety assessments, geotechnical surveys and structural testing had been completed, with repair and cleaning works progressing.
Smart water meter program 2023-2026
Cairns Regional Council is replacing existing mechanical water meters with over 50,000 smart water meters across the region. This initiative, part of the Water Demand Management Strategy, aims to improve water security, enable early leak detection, and provide residents with real-time usage data via a new customer portal. The rollout is scheduled for completion by July 2026.
Cairns Community and Multicultural Centre
Cairns Regional Council is progressing a community and multicultural centre at Tiffany Street, White Rock to provide social facilities, outreach services and inclusive meeting space for White Rock and Cairns multicultural communities. The planned centre includes a commercial kitchen, multipurpose rooms for up to 200 people, small meeting rooms, service-provider space, foyer and reception, and covered outdoor areas. As of late 2025, the capital project was in preliminary design, with Council awarding the proposed five-year lease and operation contract to Centacare Far North Queensland, subject to final trustee lease arrangements.
Bayview Heights to White Rock Underground Cable Project
Essential maintenance and refurbishment of 2.7km of 275kV underground high voltage transmission cables installed in 1997. The project addresses critical infrastructure risks through the removal of approximately 400 high-risk trees and the refurbishment of cable joint bays. Significant community enhancements include the installation of park benches, water bubblers with dog bowls, and shade structures along the Crowley Creek walking path. As of 2026, core transmission works are complete, and the project is in the extended maintenance phase for the establishment of 24,000 new compatible plants, with final completion expected in 2027.
Employment
AreaSearch analysis indicates Mount Sheridan maintains employment conditions that align with national benchmarks
Mount Sheridan has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate is 3.5%. As of December 2025, 4999 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.6% lower than Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%.
Workforce participation in Mount Sheridan is higher at 71.5%, compared to Regional Qld's 64.5%. A low 13.2% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts may have influenced this figure. Key industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. The area shows notable concentration in public administration & safety, with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average.
Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has lower representation at 0.9% versus the regional average of 4.5%. Over the year to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.4%, and employment decreased by 2.9%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 1.5 percentage points. In comparison, Regional Qld saw employment growth of 0.7% and an unemployment rate increase of 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Mount Sheridan's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, assuming constant population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch
Mount Sheridan SA2's median income among taxpayers is $61,381 for financial year ending June 2023. The average income stands at $70,776 in the same period. This compares to Regional Qld's median income of $53,146 and average income of $66,593 respectively. By March 2026, current estimates project a median income of approximately $68,354 and an average income of $78,816 based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36%. According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Mount Sheridan cluster around the 57th percentile nationally. The largest segment comprises 38.7% earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, with a total of 3,506 residents falling into this bracket. This mirrors regional levels where 31.7% occupy the same income bracket. After housing costs, 85.6% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fifth decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Mount Sheridan is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region
Mount Sheridan's dwellings, as per the latest Census, were 98.7% houses and 1.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mount Sheridan was at 28.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 44.6% and rented ones at 26.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,542, below Regional Qld's average of $1,655, while the median weekly rent was $390, higher than Regional Qld's $345. Nationally, Mount Sheridan's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,542 compared to Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were higher at $390 against the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Mount Sheridan features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size
Family households account for 79.1% of all households, including 34.7% couples with children, 28.8% couples without children, and 14.3% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 20.9%, with lone person households at 18.0% and group households comprising 2.9%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is larger than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
The educational profile of Mount Sheridan exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics
Mount Sheridan trail has educational qualifications that differ from national averages. As of a specific date, 20.9% of residents aged 15 and above held university degrees, compared to the Australian average of 30.4%. This indicates potential for educational development. Bachelor degrees were the most common at 15.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%).
Vocational credentials were also prevalent, with 41.6% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications. This includes advanced diplomas (12.3%) and certificates (29.3%). Educational participation was notably high, with 31.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This included 11.7% in primary education, 9.5% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Mount Sheridan has 20 operational public transport stops, all of which are bus routes. These stops are served by seven distinct routes, offering a total of 730 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically living 357 meters from the nearest stop. Primarily residential, most Mount Sheridan residents commute outward. Cars remain the dominant transport mode at 94%, with an average vehicle ownership of 1.6 per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, only 13.2% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.
The service frequency averages 104 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 36 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Mount Sheridan's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions
Mount Sheridan's health outcomes show excellent results based on AreaSearch's assessment.
Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were low, particularly among younger cohorts who had a very low prevalence of common health conditions. Private health cover was found to be high at approximately 54% of the total population (~4,901 people). The most prevalent medical conditions were mental health issues (7.2%) and arthritis (6.1%), while 73.8% of residents reported being completely clear of medical ailments compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Working-age residents had low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 14.2% of residents aged 65 and over (1,281 people), lower than the 20.4% in Regional Qld. Health outcomes among seniors were above average but ranked lower nationally than those of the broader population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Mount Sheridan was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics
Mount Sheridan's population showed above-average cultural diversity, with 22.5% born overseas and 17.9% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 53.9%. The category 'Other' was overrepresented at 2.1%, compared to Regional Qld's 0.8%.
In ancestry, the top groups were English (24.6%), Australian (22.3%), and Other (14.6%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal (5.0%) and Italian (4.5%) were overrepresented, while Samoan was slightly higher at 0.4%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Mount Sheridan's population is slightly younger than the national pattern
Mount Sheridan's median age is 37 years, which is significantly below the Regional Queensland average of 41 and essentially aligned with Australia's median age of 38. Compared to the Regional Queensland average, Mount Sheridan has an over-representation of the 35-44 age cohort (14.6% locally) and an under-representation of the 75-84 year-olds (4.4%). According to the 2021 Census, the 35 to 44 age group grew from 13.7% to 14.6% of Mount Sheridan's population. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 15.3% to 13.7%, and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 15.0% to 13.7%. Demographic modeling indicates that Mount Sheridan's age profile will significantly change by 2041. The 25 to 34 cohort is projected to grow strongly, adding 348 residents to reach a total of 1,602. Meanwhile, the 15 to 24 group is expected to decrease by 84 residents.