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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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Riverhills has an estimated 4,267 residents, up from 4,121 at the 2021 Census — a change of 146 people, or 3.5%. That puts 1,957 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
Riverhills had an estimated population of 4,267 as of Aug 2026, according to analysis by AreaSearch. In comparison with the 4,121 residents recorded in the 2021 Census, this represents a gain of 146 people (3.5%). The update draws upon the ABS Estimated Resident Population of 4,267 as of June 2025 alongside 1 validated new addresses identified following the Census. Population density sits at 1,957 persons per square kilometer, positioning the suburb above the nationwide benchmark in AreaSearch's coverage. Riverhills outpaced the broader SA3 area (3.0%) with its 3.5% expansion since the 2021 census, establishing itself as a regional pacesetter.
Demographic expansion was predominantly powered by natural increase, which generated approximately 58.2% of recent overall gains. Projections published in 2024 (using 2022 as a base year) by the ABS/Geoscience Australia are utilised by AreaSearch for SA2 areas. For locations excluded from that release and across periods following 2032, Queensland State Government SA2 projections released in 2023 (utilising 2021 data) are incorporated. Because state models do not publish age cohort breakdowns, AreaSearch applies age-bracket growth weightings from the ABS Greater Capital Region series (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Long-term demographic forecasts place the suburb within the lower quartile nationally, projecting an increase of 27 persons through to 2041 under latest annual ERP figures, corresponding to an overall rise of 0.6% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Over the preceding 5 financial years, residential building approvals across Riverhills have averaged around 2 annually, accumulating to 14 homes. During this timeframe (covering FY-22 to FY-26), inbound population movement averaged 3.4 people per year for every home constructed, leaving residential supply trailing behind demographic demand and elevating buyer competition as well as upward valuation pressure. New residential builds over this period carry an average expected construction cost of $452,000. Per-capita development volumes in Riverhills lag 60.0% below regional average rates across Greater Brisbane. This restricted pipeline of new construction tends to bolster pricing and buyer interest for established stock, while also falling below nationwide averages due to the suburb's mature urban footprint and potential planning limits.
Recent residential development has comprised exclusively standalone houses, reinforcing the low-density suburban landscape oriented toward family living. With an average of roughly 1422 people per dwelling approval, the locality displays characteristics of an established, built-out residential district. Based on recent quarterly estimates by AreaSearch, Riverhills is forecast to gain 27 residents by 2041. Given prevailing development activity, anticipated dwelling additions appear well placed to satisfy residential needs, offering balanced conditions for purchasers while accommodating potential growth above current projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Riverhills
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 50 current infrastructure and development projects close to Riverhills, worth an estimated $22.9 billion. 7 are already under construction and 13 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and business parks & technology hubs. 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 infrastructure investment, significant development schemes, and strategic planning initiatives play a decisive role in shaping area performance. AreaSearch has pinpointed a total of 3 projects positioned to influence the suburb. Key developments include the Middle Park Intersection Upgrade (Eumong Street/Riverhills Road), Metro Middle Park Mixed-Use Redevelopment, Centenary Motorway Upgrade Planning, and McLeod Country Golf Club Retirement Village, with the primary initiatives outlined below.
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
Mt Ommaney Shopping Centre Entertainment Precinct
Cinema, dining and entertainment precinct extension to Mt Ommaney Shopping Centre including 6-storey building with cinema, community use and retail tenancies. Features additional gross floor area including multi-screen cinema, gym, dining and entertainment precinct, and rebuilt community centre. Designed by Blight Raynor.
Middle Park Intersection Upgrade (Eumong Street/Riverhills Road)
A $1.7 million project by Brisbane City Council to upgrade the intersection of Eumong Street and Riverhills Road to combat congestion and reduce travel times.
Darra Mixed-Use Commercial
Darra Mixed-Use Commercial is a 56-unit strata industrial and business precinct spread across nine buildings. Delivered by Prekaro Projects, the development provides versatile warehouse, showroom, commercial office, and storage tenancies configured for light industrial and trade services. Construction is actively underway with practical completion anticipated in 2026.
Verandah Estate
Newest residential estate in Seventeen Mile Rocks featuring contemporary homes on large blocks (875sqm+) surrounded by trees and nature. Estate includes building covenants ensuring homes are designed in harmony with natural environment. Features permanent ridge top reserve and bushwalking tracks to Rocks Riverside Park.
Centenary Motorway Upgrade Planning
The Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) is developing a masterplan for the Centenary Motorway between Darra and Toowong to address heavy congestion. The shortlisted options include a tunnel with surface upgrades or widening the existing motorway and constructing a new arterial road. Community consultation on these options is scheduled for early to mid-2025, with finalisation of the masterplan expected in 2025.
McLeod Country Golf Club Retirement Village
Aura Holdings to develop retirement living project at McLeod Country Golf Club with 126 apartments across four buildings over two stages. Designed to integrate with community, minimizing disruption to club operations.
Metro Middle Park Mixed-Use Redevelopment
Acquisition of a 2.1-hectare neighbourhood shopping centre anchored by Coles, with longer-term mixed-use development potential of up to four storeys and future uplift via retail repositioning. The current centre comprises 6,411sqm of gross lettable area with 38 specialty tenancies and 301 parking spaces.
Darra Mixed-Use Development
Five-storey mixed-use proposal across two buildings on a 1,707sqm triangular site. Ground floor for eight retail shops, two offices and a food and drink outlet, with caretaker accommodation above select shops. Upper levels include rooming accommodation and 12 residential units with a basement providing about 31 car spaces. Application is in progress with Brisbane City Council (Code assessable, Stage/Decision: Referral).
2,327 residents of Riverhills are employed, from a labour force of 2,443. Unemployment sits at 4.7%, with participation at 71.0%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.5% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 3,190, about 75% 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
The local labour pool exhibits strong educational qualifications, significant representation across essential services, and an unemployment rate of 4.7%. As of March 2026, employed residents numbered 2,327, while the jobless rate tracking at 0.4% above Greater Brisbane's 4.3% benchmark coincided with a participation rate broadly aligned with the metropolitan figure of 70.1%. Census findings recorded 20.3% of workers operating from home, reflecting conditions influenced in part by Covid-19 restrictions. Resident employment centers most heavily on health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. Workforce concentration is especially pronounced in education & training, where local participation reaches 1.4 times the regional average.
Conversely, accommodation & food accounts for only 5.2% of working locals, underperforming Greater Brisbane's 6.7%. Comparing the local resident workforce against the number of place-of-work positions indicates limited employment generation within this predominantly residential area. Analysis of SALM and ABS data by AreaSearch indicates that the labour force fell by 2.5% and employment dropped by 3.2% during the year to March 2026, which pushed the unemployment rate up by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Brisbane saw employment grow by 3.2% and the labour force expand by 3.4%, while unemployment increased by only 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Mar-26 provide additional context for anticipating future demand in Riverhills. These projections span five and ten-year horizons and have been overlaid with the local employment profile to estimate growth trends. National employment is projected to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though sectoral growth rates vary widely. When these industry-specific estimates are applied to Riverhills's employment composition, local employment is expected to grow by 6.5% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, though this calculation relies on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not incorporate localised population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Riverhills is $2,059 a week (about $107,000 a year), with median personal income at $974 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $64,891 a year against an average of $79,470. 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
Aggregated ATO data from AreaSearch for financial year 2023 ranks Riverhills SA2 among the highest earning areas nationally. Taxpayers in Riverhills SA2 generated a median income of $64,891 and an average income of $79,470, outperforming Greater Brisbane figures of $58,236 and $72,799. Factoring in an 11.36% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023 produces updated estimates of approximately $72,263 (median) and $88,498 (average) as of March 2026. The 2021 Census placed household, family, and individual earnings around the 72nd percentile across Australia. Income distribution shows 39.8% of local earners (1,698 individuals) within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, echoing metropolitan patterns where 33.3% occupy this range.
Although residential housing outlays absorb 15.1% of income, robust earnings position disposable income in the 71st percentile, aligning with a SEIFA income standing in the 7th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Riverhills had 1,519 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 87% detached houses and 0% apartments. 49% are owned with a mortgage, 25% rented and 25% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $410 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,820 a month. Rent absorbs 19.9% of household income here and mortgage repayments 20.4%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census records indicate that standalone houses constituted 87.1% of Riverhills's housing stock, with semi-detached, apartments, and other residential types accounting for 12.9%, compared with 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings across Brisbane metro. Outright property ownership in Riverhills stood at 25.2%, marginally trailing the metropolitan benchmark, with 49.4% held under a mortgage and 25.4% occupied by tenants. The local median monthly mortgage payment was $1,820, positioned below the Brisbane metro level of $1,863, whereas median weekly rent reached $410 against the metropolitan figure of $380. Compared to Australian averages, Riverhills mortgage costs sit below the national standard of $1,863, while rental rates exceed the nationwide $375 benchmark.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Riverhills counted 1,519 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.7 people each. 38% are couples with children, against 26% couples without children. 20% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.5 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families represent the predominant living arrangement, making up 77.2% of households and consisting of couples with children (37.5%), couples without children (25.7%), and single-parent households (12.6%). Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 22.8%, split between single-person households at 19.7% and group households at 3.2%. Riverhills records a median household size of 2.7 people, sitting slightly above the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
34.3% of adults in Riverhills hold a university qualification, including 23.2% with a bachelor degree and 8.0% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 22.9% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Educational attainment profiles highlight a comparatively low tertiary qualification rate, with 34.3% holding university credentials against the SA4 region benchmark of 47.4%, highlighting potential scope for targeted learning programs. Bachelor degrees form the primary higher education category at 23.2%, accompanied by postgraduate awards at 8.0% and graduate diplomas at 3.1%. In vocational pathways, 35.1% of residents aged 15+ possess technical qualifications, including advanced diplomas at 12.2% and certificate-level awards at 22.9%. Participation in study is substantial across the suburb, with 31.0% of the community undertaking formal education. Enrolments comprise 11.0% attending primary school, 8.2% in secondary education, and 6.0% engaged in tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Riverhills means driving: households keep an average of 1.5 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
72.5% of residents in Riverhills report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 76% of areas nationally. 3.7% need daily assistance with core activities, and 58.4% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.2 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health indicators across Riverhills reflect positive outcomes in AreaSearch's evaluation of chronic illness and mortality metrics, with lower levels of common ailments observed across both older and younger age brackets. Private health insurance coverage is notably strong, held by roughly 58% of the community (~2,491 people), exceeding the 55.8% proportion seen across Greater Brisbane. Mental health conditions and asthma represent the most frequently reported health concerns, affecting 8.3 and 7.4% of residents. Meanwhile, 72.5% of the local population reported no long-term health issues, outperforming the Greater Brisbane rate of 69.2%.
Working-age individuals display favourable health with low rates of chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and over total 648 people (15.2% of the suburb), registering robust health metrics that track closely with national population benchmarks.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
31.0% of Riverhills residents were born overseas and 19.1% speak a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (26.4%) and Australian (21.5%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in Riverhills tracks above typical local markets, with 19.1% using a non-English language at home and 31.0% born overseas. Christianity represents the leading faith, adhered to by 45.5% of the local community. Buddhism shows the most prominent relative concentration, making up 2.6% of residents compared to 2.0% across Greater Brisbane. Looking at parent country of birth, the three most common ancestral backgrounds are English (26.4%), Australian (21.5%), and Other (11.2%). Divergences emerge across several other cultural groups, with New Zealand ancestry accounting for 1.2% (against 1.0% regionally), South Australian ancestry at 1.1% (vs 0.6%), and Samoan ancestry at 0.9% (vs 0.9%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Riverhills is 36. 26.2% 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
Age structures in Riverhills closely mirror Greater Brisbane distributions, with the greatest variance across brackets limited to 1.9 percentage points. The median age remains steady at an estimated 36, identical to the 2021 Census reading and matching Greater Brisbane's 36 from that same period. Residents aged 25 - 44 declined from 31.0% at the Census to an estimated 28.6%. Specifically, children aged 5 to 14 dropped from 15.0% to an estimated 12.8%, while those aged 15 to 24 grew from 11.1% to 13.7% without an offsetting intake at younger ages.
By 2041, retirees and elderly residents aged 65+ are projected to experience the strongest expansion, rising by 213 (33%) to 862, whereas younger adult, child, and youth cohorts are expected to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Riverhills
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 — 1 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (4,121 at the 2021 Census → 4,267 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 (304011083). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.