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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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Norman Gardens has an estimated 11,297 residents, up from 10,709 at the 2021 Census — a change of 588 people, or 5.5%. Growth has averaged 0.9% a year over five years. 129 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Overseas migration accounts for 51.9% of that increase. That puts 314 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
According to the analysis conducted by AreaSearch, the population of Norman Gardens stands at approximately 11,297 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 588 people (5.5%) from the 2021 Census, which recorded 10,709 people. This shift is calculated using the ABS estimated resident population of 11,288 from June 2025 and 129 validated new addresses confirmed since the Census. With this population level, the density ratio is 313 persons per square kilometer, offering plenty of space per inhabitant and potential for future expansion. Throughout the last ten years, Norman Gardens has shown steady growth trends with a 1.1% compound annual growth rate, exceeding the wider SA3 region.
This population rise was chiefly driven by overseas migration, which made up about 51.9% of the overall population gains in recent times, though other contributors such as natural increase and interstate migration also remained positive. AreaSearch utilizes ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 region, which were published in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline year. For SA2 regions lacking this data, and for any years after 2032, projections from the Queensland State Government released in 2023 and based on 2021 statistics are used. Because these state projections do not separate data by age brackets, AreaSearch distributes age cohort growth proportionally using the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections, which are based on 2022 data. Based on these anticipated demographic trends, the area is set to experience a population rise slightly under the median of national non-metropolitan regions, with an projected increase of 995 persons by 2041 compared to the most recent annual ERP statistics, indicating a total growth of 8.7% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
131 new dwellings have been approved in Norman Gardens over the past five years, an average of 26 a year. That places the area in the 55th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 2 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 49, running ahead of that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Norman Gardens has averaged approximately 26 residential building approvals annually, translating to 131 homes over the last 5 financial years. In the current FY-26 period, 45 approvals have been logged. With an average of 4 new residents arriving per built home over the last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), demand is outstripping new supply, which typically drives up prices and intensifies competition among buyers. Meanwhile, newly constructed properties have an average value of $257,000, which is under the regional average and points to more budget-friendly choices for purchasers.
Furthermore, the area has seen $38.9 million in commercial building approvals this financial year, showing active commercial expansion. In comparison to the Rest of Qld, Norman Gardens registers roughly 62% of the building activity per capita, ranking in the 38th percentile of evaluated locations nationwide, which means fewer options for buyers and sustained demand for established properties. This rate is also below the national average, pointing to a mature market and potential development constraints. Recent home building consists of 83.0% detached houses and 17.0% attached dwellings, preserving the traditional low-density profile of the neighborhood and focusing on family-oriented residences. The estimate of 530 residents in the area per single residential approval highlights the calm, low-turnover building environment. Looking forward, Norman Gardens is projected to add 986 residents by 2041, based on the most recent quarterly estimates from AreaSearch. Construction activity is keeping reasonable pace with the projected population increases, though home buyers may face tougher competition as the number of residents rises.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Norman Gardens
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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 11 current infrastructure and development projects inside Norman Gardens, worth an estimated $771 million. A further 70 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $5.91 billion. 24 are already under construction and 23 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities and transport & logistics. 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
An area's growth is heavily shaped by developments in local infrastructure, major construction works, and planning updates. AreaSearch has identified a total of 35 projects that are expected to influence the locality. Key initiatives include the Capricorn Square Neighbourhood Centre, The Gardens Estate Norman Gardens, the Central Queensland University Norman Gardens Campus, and the Central Queensland University (CQU) Rockhampton Priority Development Area (PDA), with the list below highlighting the most significant developments.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Capricorn Square Neighbourhood Centre
Capricorn Square is a development-approved neighbourhood essential service centre on a 16,381 square metre corner site at Nagle Drive and Norman Road. Plans cover 3,123 square metres of specialty retail across four low-set buildings, with approvals for food and liquor, health, fitness and medical tenancies and a drive-thru convenience fuel and food enterprise. A separately titled 3,620 square metre lot holds approval for a 1,014 square metre early learning centre catering for 130 children across seven classrooms.The combined site provides 169 retail car spaces and 33 childcare car spaces, with frontage to Norman Road carrying around 11,500 to 15,000 vehicles per day. The two lots were offered at public auction in February 2024 by Next Commercial and have since transacted, with construction yet to commence as of the latest checks.
Former Bunnings Site Redevelopment
Multi-staged mixed-use redevelopment of the former Bunnings Warehouse site (2.66 ha) at 452-488 Yaamba Road, Norman Gardens. The project features a full-line Coles supermarket, Liquorland, specialty retail stores, outdoor dining, showroom space, and twelve four-bedroom townhouses accessed via Potts Street. The existing 8000 sqm warehouse will be demolished. The development is expected to create approximately 100 jobs during operation.
The Gardens Estate Norman Gardens
A residential housing development in Norman Gardens featuring modern family homes and community facilities. The development includes landscaped parklands, walking trails, and sustainable design principles.
Norman Gardens Play Space Development
A new ninja-themed community play space and recreation facility featuring dynamic play areas with obstacles and climbing structures for various age groups, shaded picnic areas, and a hard half court active play area with sandpit elements.
Limestone Creek Trunk Sewerage Network (Stage 1)
Detailed design and planning for Stage 1 of a new trunk sewerage network to service the Limestone Creek growth area north of Rockhampton. Funded under the Queensland Government's Residential Activation Fund, the design work is being delivered by AECOM Australia and is intended to make the project construction ready. The network will support up to 3,600 new homes in the Rockhampton region.
Anaconda Large Format Retail Development Rockhampton
Spotlight Group large format retail development beside the existing Spotlight store near Moores Creek Road and Yaamba Road. The current approved scheme includes a 2500 sqm stand-alone Anaconda anchor store, additional large format retail tenancies, loading areas, signage, landscaping, bicycle parking and more than 230 car spaces. Rockhampton Regional Council approved amended plans in 2025, tenders were called in mid-2025, and Paynters was reported as the builder with construction expected to commence in early 2026.
Central Queensland University Norman Gardens Campus
The main campus of Central Queensland University featuring modern teaching facilities, research centers, student accommodation, and recreational facilities. The campus serves as the administrative and academic hub for the university system.
Edenbrook
A master-planned residential community located in Parkhurst, near Rockhampton. The development offers house and land packages and is designed to include significant green spaces and community facilities.
6,114 residents of Norman Gardens are employed, from a labour force of 6,270. Unemployment sits at 2.5%, 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. The working-day population is estimated at 9,524, about 84% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Norman Gardens has a qualified workforce with a strong presence in essential services and an unemployment rate of only 2.5%. As of March 2026, there are 6,114 employed residents, which keeps the local unemployment rate 1.4% below the 3.9% rate seen in Regional Qld. Workforce participation is relatively typical, sitting at 68.0% compared to 64.3% in Regional Qld. Census data indicates that a minor portion of residents, 4.6%, worked from home, though this may reflect the influence of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions. The local workforce is heavily employed in health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade.
The neighborhood exhibits a high concentration in health care & social assistance, representing 1.2 times the proportion seen across the wider region. Conversely, the construction sector is underrepresented, employing just 6.2% of the Norman Gardens workforce compared to 10.1% in Regional Qld. The comparison between the Census working population and resident population suggests that local employment opportunities within the boundary are relatively scarce. AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data indicates that during the year leading to March 2026, the local labour force contracted by 5.0% while employment fell by 4.1%, resulting in a 0.9 percentage point drop in the unemployment rate. By contrast, Regional Qld saw employment rise by 0.1% and its labour force grow by 0.3%, leading to a 0.1 percentage point increase in unemployment. Employment projections released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 offer additional perspective on prospective demand trends in Norman Gardens. These projections, spanning five and ten-year horizons, have been applied to the local workforce distribution to project future growth. Nationally, employment is expected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but these rates vary significantly by sector. Applying these trends to the local industry mix suggests that employment for Norman Gardens residents could grow by 6.4% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, representing a basic weighting extrapolation that does not account for local population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Norman Gardens is $1,778 a week (about $92,000 a year), with median personal income at $837 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $60,348 a year against an average of $71,020. 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
Based on the most recent postcode level ATO statistics released by AreaSearch for financial year 2023, the median taxpayer income in the Norman Gardens SA2 is $60,348, with an average income of $71,020. This sits above the national average and compares to a median of $53,146 and an average of $66,593 in Regional Qld. Accounting for a 11.36% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, current estimates for March 2026 would be roughly $67,204 for the median and $79,088 for the average. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual incomes in Norman Gardens were positioned around the 53rd percentile nationally.
The statistics reveal that 33.9% of the population (3,829 individuals) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly income bracket, which aligns closely with the 31.7% recorded in the wider region. Residents retain 87.2% of their income after housing expenses, demonstrating solid discretionary spending capability, and the area ranks in the 5th decile of the SEIFA index for income.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Norman Gardens had 3,811 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 87% detached houses and 2% apartments. 38% are owned with a mortgage, 29% rented and 34% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $300 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,625 a month. Rent absorbs 16.9% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.1%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the time of the latest Census, residential dwellings in Norman Gardens consisted of 87.1% detached houses and 12.8% alternative dwellings such as townhouses, apartments, or other structures, compared to Regional Qld where detached houses made up 76.4% and other options represented 23.6%. Home ownership rates in Norman Gardens matched the regional benchmark at 33.5%, while the remaining properties were mortgaged (37.7%) or occupied by renters (28.8%). The median monthly mortgage payment in the area was lower than the regional average at $1,625, and the median weekly rent was $300, compared to Regional Qld averages of $1,655 and $345.
On a national level, mortgage payments in Norman Gardens are notably lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are well below the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Norman Gardens counted 3,811 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 4,020 today, averaging 2.6 people each. 33% are couples with children, against 28% couples without children. 23% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.8 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute the majority of households at 74.5%, which includes 33.0% couples with children, 28.4% couples without children, and 11.9% single parent households. Non-family households represent the remaining 25.5%, consisting of single-person households at 22.9% and group living situations at 2.6%. The median household occupancy is 2.6 people, which is slightly higher than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
22.4% of adults in Norman Gardens hold a university qualification, including 15.6% with a bachelor degree and 4.6% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 26.8% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 1,104 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 990 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
Educational attainment levels in Norman Gardens are lower than regional trends, with 22.4% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree compared to 30.4% nationally. This difference highlights opportunities for educational advancement. Bachelor degrees represent the most common higher qualification at 15.6%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 4.6% and graduate diplomas at 2.2%. Vocational skills are common, with 35.5% of residents aged 15+ possessing trade qualifications, including advanced diplomas (8.7%) and certificates (26.8%). There is strong participation in study, with 31.4% of the population currently enrolled in education. This comprises 11.3% in primary schools, 9.3% in high schools, and 6.0% undertaking tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Norman Gardens means driving: households keep an average of 1.4 vehicles, and no scheduled public transport appears in the current timetable feeds. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
67.8% of residents in Norman Gardens report no long-term health condition. 7.0% need daily assistance with core activities, and 54.1% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.5 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Norman Gardens presents notable health concerns based on mortality statistics and the prevalence of chronic health conditions. Health issues are observable across the community, though they are much more concentrated within older age groups. Additionally, private health insurance coverage is relatively high, encompassing approximately 54% of the total population (~6,111 people). The most prevalent health issues recorded in the area are mental health challenges and arthritis, affecting 9.0% and 7.6% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 67.8% of residents reported having no long-term health conditions, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld.
Health indicators for the working-age cohort are standard. Residents aged 65 and over make up 17.9% of the population (2,021 people), which is below the Regional Qld benchmark of 20.4%. Health outcomes among older residents show some difficulties, though they rank lower nationally than the statistics for the broader population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Norman Gardens is largely Australian-born, at 83.3% of residents, with 14.4% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (29.8%) and English (28.2%). 4.9% 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
Cultural diversity in Norman Gardens is similar to the regional average, with citizens representing 87.5% of the population, 83.3% born in Australia, and 85.6% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion in the suburb, practiced by 59.5% of the population, compared to 52.2% across Regional Qld. Regarding parental country of birth, the three largest ancestry groups in Norman Gardens are Australian at 29.8% of the population, English at 28.2%, and Other at 7.5%. There are also distinct variations in other backgrounds: Australian Aboriginal residents make up 4.9% of the population (compared to 3.9% regionally), Filipino residents represent 2.2% (compared to 0.9% regionally), and German ancestry is recorded at 4.7% (matching the 4.7% regional average).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Norman Gardens is 37. 27.3% 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 median age in Norman Gardens is 37 years, which is lower than the Regional Qld average of 41 and closely aligned with the Australian median of 38. The 25 - 34 age bracket is overrepresented at 13.9% of the local population compared to regional trends, whereas the 55 - 64 age cohort is underrepresented at 10.8%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 65 to 74 has increased from 8.5% to 9.8%, while the 5 to 14 age group has declined from 14.5% to 12.3%. Demographic projections indicate the age profile of Norman Gardens will shift significantly by 2041, with the 25 to 34 cohort expected to grow by 24%, adding 379 residents to reach a total of 1,953.
Conversely, the 55 to 64 and 5 to 14 age groups are expected to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Norman Gardens
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 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) | May 2026 3 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 May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 this month all 11 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 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) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 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 — 129 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (10,709 at the 2021 Census → 11,297 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 May 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 (308031213). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.