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 was around 3,799 as of November 2025, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This showed an increase of 292 people, representing an 8.3% growth since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 3,507. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 3,711 in June 2024 and an additional 118 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 5.6 persons per square kilometer. Rockhampton Surrounds - East's growth exceeded that of its SA4 region (6.6%) and SA3 area, making it a growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 69.7% to overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data were used, applying proportional growth weightings from ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Future population dynamics anticipate an above median growth for Australia's regional areas, with the area projected to increase by 575 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 12.8% over the 17 years.

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

Rockhampton Surrounds - East has had approximately 21 dwelling approvals per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 105 homes were approved, with another seven approved in FY-26 so far. Each new home has attracted an average of 1.9 new residents annually over these years.

The average construction value for new properties is $337,000. In FY-26, there have been $279,000 in commercial approvals, indicating limited commercial development activity compared to residential growth. Rockhampton Surrounds - East has seen 52.0% more new home approvals per person than the rest of Queensland since FY-21, offering greater housing choice for buyers. All recent developments have been detached houses, maintaining the area's low-density character and appealing to families seeking space.

The area currently has around 168 people per dwelling approval, suggesting a growing market. By 2041, Rockhampton Surrounds - East is projected to gain approximately 487 residents based on AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. With current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth beyond current forecasts.

Rockhampton Surrounds - East has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 16 projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones are Rockhampton-Yeppoon Road project, Yeppoon Road Upgrade (commencing Jul-20xx), Lifestyles By The Beach Over 50s Village development at Zilzie, Crestwood Estate construction, and Oak Tree Retirement Village Norman Gardens expansion. Relevant projects are listed below.

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.

Employment performance in Rockhampton Surrounds - East has been broadly consistent with national averages

Rockhampton Surrounds - East has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. The construction sector is prominent, contributing significantly to its unemployment rate of 3.5%, which has remained stable over the past year.

As of September 2025, 1,982 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.6% lower than Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation is similar to Rest of Qld at 59.1%. Key employment sectors include construction, health care & social assistance, and mining. Mining has a particularly strong presence, with an employment share three times the regional level.

However, health care & social assistance has limited representation, with 12.0% employment compared to the regional average of 16.1%. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by Census data comparing working population and resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 0.2%, while labour force grew by 1.3%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.0 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of Qld saw employment growth of 1.7% and a smaller unemployment rate increase of 0.3 percentage points. State-level data as of 25-Nov-25 shows Queensland's employment contracted by 0.01%, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. Nationally, the unemployment rate is 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia projects national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Rockhampton Surrounds - East's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.6% over five years and 12.2% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localized population projections.

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

Rockhampton Surrounds - East SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $54,848 and an average income of $66,766 in the financial year 2022, according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This compares with Rest of Qld's figures of $50,780 and $64,844 respectively. By September 2025, estimated median income is approximately $62,521 and average income is around $76,107, based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022. Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes rank modestly in Rockhampton Surrounds - East, between the 32nd and 40th percentiles. Income brackets indicate that 31.4% (1,192 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 earnings band, consistent with broader metropolitan trends 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's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, were 98.8% houses and 1.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Qld's 88.5% houses and 11.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Rockhampton Surrounds - East was 46.9%, with the rest being mortgaged (44.3%) or rented (8.7%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,517. The median weekly rent was $280, lower than Non-Metro Qld's figure of $300. Nationally, Rockhampton Surrounds - East's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially lower at $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 comprise 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, 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 the Australian average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 9.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 42.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (7.6%) and certificates (34.9%).

Educational participation is high, with 27.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 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 lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Rockhampton Surrounds' eastern region faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent among both younger and older residents.

Private health cover stands at approximately 52%, covering around 1,990 people, which is higher than the average SA2 area. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 10.9% of residents) and asthma (7.2%). A significant portion, 66.7%, report being free from medical ailments, compared to 64.7% in Rest of Qld. The region has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 23.1% (877 people), compared to the state's average of 18.5%.

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, surveyed in 2016, had low cultural diversity with 89.1% citizens, 91.2% born in Australia, and 97.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, accounting for 56.5%, similar to Rest of Qld's 56.3%. Ancestry showed Australian (34.4%), English (30.4%), and Irish (8.4%) as top groups.

Notable differences included higher percentages of German (5.2% vs regional 4.9%), South African (0.6% vs 0.3%), and Dutch (1.5% vs 0.9%).

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 the national average of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 are prominent at 14.8%, while those aged 25-34 are smaller at 9.8% compared to Rest of Qld. This concentration of 65-74 year-olds is above the national figure of 9.4%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 5.7% to 7.0%, while the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 17.6% to 14.9% and the 45 to 54 group has dropped from 13.3% to 10.9%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Rockhampton Surrounds - East's age structure. The 75 to 84 group is projected to grow by 51%, reaching 398 people from 264. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15 to 24 and 55 to 64 cohorts.