Parkhurst - Kawana
Statistical Area - sa2

Parkhurst - Kawana lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Parkhurst-Kawana's population, as of November 2025, is approximately 8,275. This figure represents a rise of 798 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 7,477. The increase is inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 8,000 in June 2024 and an additional 250 validated new addresses post-Census date. This results in a density ratio of 291 persons per square kilometer. Parkhurst-Kawana's growth rate of 10.7% since the 2021 Census exceeds both its SA4 region (6.6%) and SA3 area, indicating it as a growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 66.4% to overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, based on 2021 data and released in 2023. Note that these state projections lack age category splits; thus, proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections are applied where utilized. By 2041, a significant population increase of 3,373 persons is forecast for the area, reflecting an overall increase of 37.4% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Parkhurst - Kawana among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Parkhurst-Kawana averaged approximately 49 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25. This totals 248 homes approved during this period, with an additional 20 approved in FY26 as of now. On average, around 2.9 people moved to the area per new home constructed over these five years, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average construction cost value of $400,000. This financial year has seen $8.4 million in commercial approvals registered, reflecting Parkhurst-Kawana's primarily residential nature. Comparatively, Parkhurst-Kawana has 69.0% more new home approvals per person than the rest of Queensland when measured against this metric. This provides buyers with a wider choice of properties.

Current building activity consists solely of standalone homes, preserving the area's traditional low-density character and catering to families seeking spacious living arrangements. With approximately 155 people added per dwelling approval, Parkhurst-Kawana is considered a developing area. Population forecasts project that it will gain around 3,098 residents by 2041. If development rates remain constant, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting property price increases.

Parkhurst - Kawana has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 23rdth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 37 projects that could impact the region. Notable ones include Rockhampton Large Format Retail Centre (anchored by Anaconda), Living Gems Rockhampton, Ellida Estate, and Parkhurst Residential Enabling Infrastructure Project. The following list details those most likely to be 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.

Parkhurst - Kawana has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Parkhurst-Kawana has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate was 5.9% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 4.0%.

As of June 2025, 4,394 residents are employed, and the unemployment rate is 1.9% above Rest of Qld's rate of 3.9%. Workforce participation is at 62.9%, compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. The area specializes in electricity, gas, water & waste services with an employment share three times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 0.3% compared to 4.5% regionally.

There are 0.8 workers for each resident, indicating local employment opportunities above the norm. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 4.0%, while labour force grew by 5.3%, raising the unemployment rate by 1.2 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld experienced employment growth of 1.8% and labour force growth of 2.0%, with a 0.2 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Parkhurst-Kawana's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.3% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2022 shows Parkhurst - Kawana's median income among taxpayers is $54,824. The average income in this area is $65,067. Nationally, the median and average incomes are approximately the same as those in Parkhurst - Kawana. In Rest of Qld, the median income is $50,780 with an average of $64,844. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Parkhurst - Kawana would be approximately $62,494 (median) and $74,170 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals that household, family and personal incomes in Parkhurst - Kawana rank modestly, between the 43rd and 54th percentiles. The earnings profile shows that the majority of residents, specifically 32.9% or 2,722 people, fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket. This pattern is similar to regional levels where approximately 31.7% of residents occupy this range. After housing expenses, 85.5% of income remains for other expenses.

Parkhurst - Kawana is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Parkhurst-Kawana's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 89.4% houses and 10.6% other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This compares to Non-Metro Qld's 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Parkhurst-Kawana stood at 25.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 39.8% and rented ones at 34.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,517, matching Non-Metro Qld's average, while the median weekly rent was $280 compared to Non-Metro Qld's $300. Nationally, Parkhurst-Kawana's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,517 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Parkhurst - Kawana has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 71.6% of all households, including 31.9% couples with children, 24.4% couples without children, and 14.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 28.4%, with lone person households at 24.8% and group households comprising 3.4%. The median household size is 2.6 people, higher than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Parkhurst - Kawana faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 17.2%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 12.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.7%) and graduate diplomas (1.6%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 40.9% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 8.5% and certificates at 32.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 32.2% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.8% in primary, 10.1% in secondary, and 4.8% pursuing tertiary education. Parkhurst-Kawana's 5 schools have a combined enrollment of 2,480 students. The area has varied educational conditions across its 2 primary, 1 secondary, and 2 K-12 schools. It functions as an education hub with 30.2 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 17.6, attracting students from surrounding communities. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Parkhurst - Kawana is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts

Parkhurst-Kawana faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across various age groups but to a higher degree among older cohorts.

Approximately 52% (~4,294 people) have private health cover, slightly above the average SA2 area rate. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 9.8 and 8.7% of residents respectively. About 65.1% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 64.7% across Rest of Qld. The area has 15.5% (1,281 people) of residents aged 65 and over, lower than the 18.5% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention than the broader population.

Parkhurst - Kawana is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Parkhurst-Kawana was found to have below average cultural diversity, with 88.5% of its population being Australian citizens, born in Australia (89.1%), and speaking English only at home (92.8%). The predominant religion in Parkhurst-Kawana is Christianity, comprising 55.3%, compared to 56.3% across the rest of Queensland. The top three ancestry groups are Australian (32.3%), English (28.6%), and Scottish (7.3%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation is higher at 5.5% in Parkhurst-Kawana than regionally at 5.1%. German and Filipino representations also diverge significantly: German at 4.9% (versus regional 4.9%) and Filipino at 2.1% (versus regional 1.0%).

Parkhurst - Kawana's population is younger than the national pattern

The median age in Parkhurst - Kawana is 35 years, which is lower than the Rest of Queensland's average of 41 years and under the national average of 38 years. The 35-44 age cohort is notably over-represented at 15.7% locally compared to the Rest of Queensland average, while the 55-64 age group is under-represented at 9.9%. According to data from the 2021 Census, the 35-44 age group has grown from 14.2% to 15.7%, while the 5-14 cohort has declined from 15.1% to 12.6%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Parkhurst - Kawana, with the 25-34 age group expected to grow by 57%, adding 686 people to reach a total of 1,899 residents from 1,212. The 15-24 age group is projected to grow more modestly at 10%, with an increase of 108 residents.