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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.
est. as @ -- *
ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Northern Peninsula has an estimated 2,944 residents, up from 2,781 at the 2021 Census — a change of 163 people, or 5.9%. Natural increase accounts for 100.0% of that increase. Fewer than ten people live on each square kilometre, across a boundary that takes in surrounding rural land. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
Northern Peninsula records a resident count of approximately 2,944 as of Aug 2026, according to analysis by AreaSearch. Compared with the 2,781 people tallied in the 2021 Census, this marks an addition of 163 people (5.9%). This demographic shift is calculated using address validation data alongside the ABS June 2025 estimated resident population of 2,944. The resulting settlement density is 2.8 persons per square kilometer, highlighting a very spacious living environment. With its 5.9% expansion post-2021 Census, Northern Peninsula outperformed both the broader SA3 territory and the wider SA4 region (3.5%), establishing itself as an area of notable growth.
Natural increase served as the primary and almost exclusive catalyst for these recent population additions. Projections for each SA2 district rely on ABS/Geoscience Australia modeling released in 2024 (referencing a 2022 baseline). For horizons beyond 2032 or locations outside that scope, AreaSearch utilizes Queensland State Government SA2 forecasts issued in 2023 (utilizing 2021 inputs). Because state datasets omit age breakdowns, AreaSearch adjusts cohorts using proportional weightings from the ABS Greater Capital Region forecasts published in 2023 (2022 baseline). Moving forward, expansion is projected to track slightly behind the national regional median, with the community anticipated to add 123 persons by 2041 relative to the latest annual ERP baseline, representing a cumulative 4.2% rise over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
57 new dwellings have been approved in Northern Peninsula over the past five years, an average of 11 a year. That is 3.9 approvals per 1,000 residents. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Residential building approvals across Northern Peninsula have tracked at roughly 11 new homes each year, totaling 57 homes over the last 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26). With an influx of approximately 0.9 new residents per year per dwelling over the preceding 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26), local housing output is matching or outpacing population intake, ensuring substantial options for prospective purchasers and headroom for further gains. Newly approved dwellings carry an average construction value of $1,036,000, signaling a clear developer focus on high-end, premium residential builds.
Non-residential development comprised $2.6 million in commercial approvals during the current financial year, underlining the district's overwhelmingly domestic profile. When evaluated against Rest of Qld, Northern Peninsula demonstrates elevated construction volumes (exceeding the per-capita regional benchmark by 25.0% over the 5 year period), preserving sound buyer availability while supporting underlying demand. In addition, recent construction has been composed exclusively of detached residences, maintaining the low-density lifestyle and catering to buyers prioritizing larger lots. This current building trend leans more heavily into separate houses than existing stock levels (80.0% at Census), underscoring enduring appetite for standalone family properties despite broader urban consolidation. Over the period running to 2041, Northern Peninsula is modeled to welcome an additional 123 residents based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly figures. Existing building trajectories suggest that residential construction will comfortably absorb future requirements, fostering buyer-friendly conditions and facilitating growth beyond existing expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Northern Peninsula
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 56 current infrastructure and development projects close to Northern Peninsula, worth an estimated $2.09 billion. 17 are already under construction and 15 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, tourism and communities, precincts & urban renewal. 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
Local capital works, major developments, and planning schemes play a vital role in shaping community outcomes. At present, no major initiatives have been identified by AreaSearch with anticipated direct consequences for the area. Relevant regional programs include the Queensland National Land Transport Network Maintenance, the Queensland Energy Roadmap 2025, and the Queensland Energy Roadmap - SuperGrid Infrastructure Program, alongside the Queensland Energy Roadmap 2025.
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
Victoria Parade Units
A three storey community housing complex on Thursday Island providing 16 two bedroom units on a single 2,783 m2 site for Queensland Government staff and community housing tenants. The project was delivered by Hutchinson Builders for the Queensland Department of Housing and Public Works, with a strong focus on Indigenous employment and local procurement, and was completed in 2016.
Saila Terrace Townhouses
Masterplanned 20 townhouse development on Waiben (Thursday Island) commissioned by the Torres Strait Regional Authority, with climate responsive house types that follow the steep topography, maximise ocean views, and use robust materials and roof forms suited to remote tropical construction and severe weather.
Thursday Island Affordable Modular Homes
A partnership between the Queensland Government Housing Investment Fund, the Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust and modular builder Oly Homes has delivered eight affordable modular homes on Thursday Island. The project, located on church land at 6 Chester Street and 142 Douglas Street, includes a mix of one and two bedroom homes, studio units and accessible units designed for the local climate and cultural needs. The homes were factory built on the mainland, transported to Thursday Island and installed in around eight months, with tenants moving in from early 2025.
Cooktown Multi-Purpose Health Service Redevelopment
The Cooktown Multi-Purpose Health Service (MPHS) Redevelopment is a $200 million regional hospital transformation delivered by Health Infrastructure Queensland for Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service. The project expands bed capacity from 16 to 24, adds a modern emergency department, birthing suite, operating theatre, and outpatient specialist facilities to replace aging infrastructure. Enabling works tenders and detailed architectural design are progressing ahead of major construction.
Gigers Residential Subdivision
Greenfield residential subdivision at 2 Hope Street, Cooktown, reconfiguring one lot into 12 residential lots under Cook Shire DA/4310 with operational works approval DA/4590. Currently under construction as an elevated cul-de-sac offering lots from 902sqm to 1,756sqm. Supported by the Queensland Government's $1.1 million Residential Activation Fund to deliver trunk infrastructure including water, sewer, underground power, and NBN.
Nhulunbuy Master Plan
A strategic roadmap guiding the redevelopment and renewal of Nhulunbuy as it transitions from a mining town to a sustainable regional hub. The plan translates the Yolngu Traditional Owners' Vision into a framework for future land tenure, essential services, and infrastructure, ensuring long-term liveability post-2029 mine closure.
Bunggulwuy Close Housing Development
A landmark $7 million community-led housing initiative to deliver 11 new two-bedroom units (four duplexes and a triplex) in Nhulunbuy. The homes are designed to meet long-term accommodation needs for essential service providers like St John NT and Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation, and the project includes a strong commitment to Aboriginal employment and training opportunities, supporting the post-mining economic transition of the region.
Gunyangara (Gove Port) Tourism Precinct
A $9.3 million upgrade of marine and land tourism infrastructure at Inverell Bay, Gunyangara, near Nhulunbuy, to support tourism and marine industry growth in East Arnhem as the region diversifies away from mining. Works delivered over three packages included a new 100 metre extended rock groyne, careening facilities for vessel maintenance, a 60 metre detachable floating pontoon, a washdown bay, sealed car park and lighting upgrades, a new entry structure, toilet facilities, and shade and seating at Gove Boat Club.Early works were completed in 2022, with the main $6.9 million construction package running from September 2024 to August 2025. The project achieved 28 percent Aboriginal employment and was officially opened in December 2025. Gove Boat Club now operates the facilities in collaboration with the Ngarrariyal Aboriginal Corporation and Gumatj Corporation.
1,056 residents of Northern Peninsula are employed, from a labour force of 1,196. Unemployment sits at 11.7%, with participation at 60.2%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.9% 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
Northern Peninsula maintains a varied employment landscape across blue and white collar positions, underpinned by substantial representation in essential community services and an overall jobless rate of 11.7%. Total employed persons numbered 1,056 as of March 2026, though joblessness remains elevated at 7.8% above Regional Qld's 3.9%, and the labor participation rate trails standard levels at 60.2% compared to 64.2% across Regional Qld. Census records also indicated that a modest 2.1% of workers operated remotely from home, reflecting conditions during Covid-19 restrictions. Major local fields of work include public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, and education & training.
Public administration & safety exhibits particular concentration, generating an employment concentration 3.0 times the regional level. Conversely, manufacturing makes up a mere 1.1% of the local workforce, trailing Regional Qld's 5.6%. Comparing Census-reported resident workers against local workplace positions highlights relatively constrained employment opportunities within the immediate boundary. AreaSearch assessment of ABS and SALM series over the recent 12-month period reveals a 1.0% contraction in the labor force paired with a 0.8% reduction in jobs, resulting in a 0.2 percentage points decrease in the unemployment rate. Over the identical timeframe, Regional Qld posted a 0.1% employment gain and a 0.3% labor pool increase, yielding a 0.1 percentage point rise. Broader trajectory indications emerge from Jobs and Skills Australia national industry models from Mar-26. Projected nationwide workforce growth sits at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though individual sector trajectories vary widely. Calibrating these sector forecasts against Northern Peninsula's specific employment distribution projects local employment expansion of 6.9% across five years and 14.5% across ten years (illustrative weighted calculation only, without factoring local population changes).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Northern Peninsula is $1,331 a week (about $69,000 a year), with median personal income at $604 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $47,823 a year against an average of $53,822. 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
Taxation records compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 indicate that earnings across Northern Peninsula SA2 sit below the Australian benchmark. Taxpayers in Northern Peninsula SA2 generated a median income of $47,823 and an average income of $53,822, in contrast to $53,146 and $66,593 across Regional Qld. Factoring in an 11.36% Wage Price Index increase since financial year 2023, modern levels correspond to roughly $53,256 (median) and $59,936 (average) as of March 2026. Across family, household, and individual brackets, Census data places Northern Peninsula between the 12th and 22nd percentiles nationwide.
In terms of earnings brackets, 31.0% of the community (912 individuals) falls into the $1,500 - 2,999 band, matching the 31.7% observed regionally. Residents retain 91.1% of earnings after housing outlays, though overall disposable income remains restrained at the 32nd percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Northern Peninsula had 678 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 80% detached houses and 3% apartments. 1% are owned with a mortgage, 97% rented and 2% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $120 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,300 a month. Rent absorbs 9.0% of household income here and mortgage repayments 22.5%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census assessments show that residential architecture in Northern Peninsula was split between 79.9% houses and 20.1% other dwellings (apartments, attached residences, and miscellaneous dwellings), while Regional Qld recorded 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Full home ownership stood at 2.1%, trailing wider regional patterns, with remaining homes held under a mortgage (0.5%) or rented (97.4%). Typical mortgage payments settled at $1,300 per month, substantially below the Regional Qld figure of $1,655, while typical weekly rent stood at $120 relative to $345 across Regional Qld. On a nationwide basis, local monthly mortgage obligations are notably lower than the Australian baseline of $1,863, and weekly rents track far below the national standard of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Northern Peninsula counted 678 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 718 today, averaging 3.5 people each. 36% are couples with children, against 13% couples without children. 21% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.3 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute the predominant living arrangement, making up 78.5% of total households. This consists of couples with children at 35.5%, single parent families at 27.7%, and couples without children at 12.8%. Non-family dwellings represent the remaining 21.5%, comprising lone person households at 20.6% and group households at 1.0%. The local median household size sits at 3.5 people, exceeding the 2.5 average seen in Regional Qld.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
10.4% of adults in Northern Peninsula hold a university qualification, including 7.0% with a bachelor degree and 1.5% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 92% of areas nationally. A further 44.3% hold a vocational qualification. 4 schools serve the area, with 624 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 695 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 figures point to distinct local challenges, with tertiary degree attainment at 10.4%, trailing the 30.4% recorded across Australia. Bachelor degrees form the largest cohort at 7.0%, followed by graduate diplomas at 1.9% and postgraduate qualifications at 1.5%. Conversely, vocational and trade credentials represent a substantial component, with 53.6% of residents aged 15+ possessing vocational qualifications, comprising certificates (44.3%) and advanced diplomas (9.3%). Formal study participation is elevated throughout the locality, with 41.2% of citizens engaged in an educational institution. This proportion encompasses 22.5% attending primary education, 12.7% enrolled in secondary education, and 1.0% undertaking tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Northern Peninsula means driving: households keep an average of 0.9 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
85.1% of residents in Northern Peninsula report no long-term health condition. 1.8% need daily assistance with core activities, and 46.6% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 9.5 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
General health benchmarks across Northern Peninsula closely mirror nationwide standards according to AreaSearch evaluations of mortality and chronic illness rates, showing standard condition prevalence across younger and older demographics. Private health insurance participation is low, encompassing roughly 47% of residents (~1,371 people), compared against 52.5% in Regional Qld and 55.7% across Australia. Asthma and diabetes represent the leading chronic illnesses diagnosed locally, registered among 3.7% and 6.3 of the population respectively, while 85.1% reported no long-term medical conditions compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Seniors aged 65 and over constitute 6.7% of the community (196 people), well below the 20.3% observed regionally.
Senior cohorts display particularly robust vitality metrics, outranking broader national population tiers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Northern Peninsula is largely Australian-born, at 97.3% of residents, with 82.8% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian Aboriginal (35.8%) and English (3.6%). 35.8% 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 measures in Northern Peninsula track above standard levels, with 2.7% of citizens born abroad and 82.8% using a non-English language in domestic settings. Christianity stands as the dominant faith, observed by 75.9% of Northern Peninsula residents, which exceeds the 52.2% reported for Regional Qld. Looking at parental lineage, the three most common ancestries across Northern Peninsula are Other at 53.0% (well above the 6.9% regional rate), Australian Aboriginal at 35.8% (exceeding the 3.9% regional benchmark), and English at 3.6% (below the regional level of 29.6%). Other distinct ethnic representations include Maori residents at 0.5% in Northern Peninsula (compared to 0.8% across the wider region).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Northern Peninsula is 24, younger than 100% of areas nationally. That is 1 year older than at the 2021 Census. 31.6% 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
Demographics across Northern Peninsula lean strongly toward younger age brackets. Based on figures updated to August 2026, children and young adults (0 - 24) account for 49.3% of the community versus 29.6% across Regional Qld, while the senior demographic (65+) represents 6.7% against 20.4% regionally. The estimated median age is 24, climbing from 23 at the 2021 Census, yet sitting 17 years below the Regional Qld median of 41 and below the national median of 38 recorded at that Census. Since the Census, the share of children and young adults has contracted from 51.9% to an estimated 49.3%.
Forecasts out to 2041 indicate the largest absolute increase among young to middle aged adults (25 - 44), expanding by 103 residents (13%) to reach 876. Proportional expansion will be led by retiree and elderly cohorts, rising 30% to 256 residents, while children and young adults are modeled to decrease.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Northern Peninsula
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, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 months ago all 2 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 May 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. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,781 at the 2021 Census → 2,944 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 (315011399). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.