Rockhampton Surrounds - East

Rockhampton Surrounds - East has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Rockhampton Surrounds - East's population is approximately 3,769 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 262 people, a 7.5% rise from the 2021 Census count of 3,507 individuals. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 3,711 in June 2024 and an additional 121 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 5.5 persons per square kilometer. Rockhampton Surrounds - East's growth rate of 7.5% since the 2021 census exceeds that of the SA4 region (6.8%) and the SA3 area, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 69.7% of overall population gains during recent periods, with natural growth and overseas migration also being positive factors.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are used, released in 2023 with a 2021 data base. These state projections do not provide age category splits; therefore, AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings aligned with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 using 2022 data as the base year. Demographic trends project an above median population growth for national regional areas. Rockhampton Surrounds - East is expected to expand by 575 persons to reach a total of 4,344 individuals by 2041, reflecting a 13.7% increase over the 17-year period based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Rockhampton Surrounds - East when compared nationally

Rockhampton Surrounds - East has granted approximately 21 residential property approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling 105 homes. As of FY-26, eight approvals have been recorded. On average, around 1.9 people have moved to the area each year for every dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25. New properties are constructed at an average cost of $337,000, aligning with regional trends.

This financial year has seen $279,000 in commercial approvals, indicating limited commercial development activity. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Rockhampton Surrounds - East shows a 52.0% higher new home approval rate per capita, offering greater choice for buyers. All recent developments have been detached dwellings, preserving the area's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 168 people per approval, Rockhampton Surrounds - East reflects an emerging area with population forecasts indicating a gain of 517 residents by 2041.

Current construction levels should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Rockhampton Surrounds - East has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 16 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road, Yeppoon Road Upgrade, Crestwood Estate, Lifestyles By The Beach Over 50s Village, Zilzie, and Oak Tree Retirement Village Norman Gardens. Relevant projects are detailed below.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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The labour market in Rockhampton Surrounds - East demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Rockhampton Surrounds - East has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. The construction sector is prominent, with an unemployment rate of 3.5% as of September 2025. Employment stability in the area has been relatively consistent over the past year.

There are 1,982 residents currently employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.6% lower than Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation is similar to the regional average at 67.9%. According to Census responses, only 11.3% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in construction, health care & social assistance, and mining.

The area has a strong specialization in mining with an employment share three times the regional level. However, health care & social assistance shows lower representation at 12.0% compared to the regional average of 16.1%. There appears to be limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 0.2%, while labour force grew by 1.3%, leading to an unemployment rise of 1.0 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of Qld recorded employment growth of 1.7% and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Rockhampton Surrounds - East's employment mix, local employment is expected to increase by 5.6% over five years and 12.2% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023 shows Rockhampton Surrounds - East SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $57,010 and an average income of $69,084. Nationally, the median was $53,146 and the average was $66,593. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $62,660 (median) and $75,930 (average), based on a 9.91% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. The 2021 Census ranks Rockhampton Surrounds - East household, family, and personal incomes modestly, between the 32nd and 40th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 31.4% of locals (1,183 people) fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 category, similar to the broader regional trend of 31.7%. Housing costs allow for retention of 87.3%, but disposable income is below average at the 45th percentile.

Rockhampton Surrounds - East is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Rockhampton Surrounds - East dwelling structure at latest Census comprised 98.8% houses, 1.2% other dwellings. Non-Metro Qld had 76.4% houses, 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Rockhampton Surrounds - East was 46.9%, mortgaged dwellings 44.3%, rented 8.7%. Median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, median weekly rent $280. Non-Metro Qld averages were $1,655 and $345 respectively. Nationally, Rockhampton Surrounds - East's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,733 vs Australian average of $1,863, rents substantially below national figure of $375.

Rockhampton Surrounds - East features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 77.8% of all households, including 32.1% couples with children, 36.6% couples without children, and 7.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 22.2%, with lone person households at 19.9% and group households comprising 2.2%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Rockhampton Surrounds - East faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 13.8%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 9.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Vocational credentials are common, with 42.5% of residents aged 15 and above holding them. Advanced diplomas account for 7.6% and certificates for 34.9%.

Educational participation is high at 27.7%, including 11.4% in primary education, 9.2% in secondary education, and 2.4% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Rockhampton Surrounds - East is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Rockhampton Surrounds - East faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

The area has a high prevalence of common health conditions among both younger and older age groups. Approximately 53% (~2,008 people) of residents have private health cover, which is higher than the average SA2 area. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (10.9%) and asthma (7.2%). However, 66.7% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in the rest of Queensland. Working-age residents have a notably higher prevalence of chronic health conditions than average. The area has a larger proportion of residents aged 65 and over (23.2%, or 873 people), compared to the state average of 20.4%.

The latest Census data sees Rockhampton Surrounds - East placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Rockhampton Surrounds - East had a cultural diversity index below average, with 89.1% of its population being Australian citizens, 91.2% born in Australia, and 97.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 56.5% of people in Rockhampton Surrounds - East, compared to 52.2% across Rest of Qld. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (34.4%), English (30.4%), and Irish (8.4%).

Notably, German ancestry was overrepresented at 5.2%, South African at 0.6%, and Dutch at 1.5%.

Rockhampton Surrounds - East hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Rockhampton Surrounds - East has a median age of 45, which is higher than Rest of Qld's figure of 41 and well above the national average of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 are particularly prominent at 14.7%, while the 25-34 group is smaller at 10.0% compared to Rest of Qld. This concentration of 65-74 year-olds is higher than the national figure of 9.5%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 5.7% to 7.1%, while the 25 to 34 cohort increased from 8.8% to 10.0%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 17.6% to 14.5% and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 13.3% to 10.5%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Rockhampton Surrounds - East's age structure. The 75 to 84 group is projected to grow by 48%, reaching 398 people from 269. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15 to 24 and 55 to 64 cohorts.