Rockhampton Surrounds - West

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

Rockhampton Surrounds - West's population is around 3,206 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 204 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,002. The change is inferred from the ABS estimated resident population of 3,202 as of June 2024 and an additional 168 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 0.70 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Rockhampton Surrounds - West has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 0.8%, outpacing the SA4 region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration that contributed approximately 68.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 are adopted. These state projections do not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data for each age cohort are applied where utilised. Anticipating future population dynamics, a population increase just below the median of Australia's regional areas is expected, with the area expected to increase by 357 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 11.0% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Rockhampton Surrounds - West recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Rockhampton Surrounds - West has averaged approximately five new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, with a total of 26 homes approved. An additional eight dwellings have been approved so far in FY26. This averages out to about 10.7 new residents per year for every home built during this period.

However, demand significantly exceeds supply, which typically puts upward pressure on prices and increases competition among buyers. The average value of new homes being constructed is $395,000. In FY26, there have been $369,000 in commercial development approvals recorded, indicating a predominantly residential focus. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Rockhampton Surrounds - West has significantly less development activity, 56.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes.

However, building activity has accelerated in recent years. Nationally, this area also reflects lower development activity, suggesting market maturity and possible development constraints. All new construction in Rockhampton Surrounds - West has been comprised of standalone homes, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 454 people, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. Population forecasts indicate that Rockhampton Surrounds - West will gain approximately 353 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

The performance of a region is significantly impacted by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 47 such projects that could potentially affect this area. Notable among these are Moah Creek Renewable Energy Project, Breeze Residential Estate, Somerset Road Upgrade Gracemere, and Gracemere Industrial Area Expansion. The following list provides more details on those projects likely to have the most relevance.

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

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Rockhampton Surrounds - West ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Rockhampton Surrounds - West has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. The construction sector is prominent. As of September 2025, unemployment stands at 2.2%, with an estimated employment growth of 0.6% over the past year.

In September 2025, 1,894 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.9% below Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation is high at 75.9%, compared to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. Moderately, 16.3% of residents work from home. Key industries include agriculture, forestry & fishing, construction, and health care & social assistance.

The area has a strong focus on agriculture, forestry & fishing, with employment share four times the regional level. Conversely, accommodation & food services have lower representation at 2.0%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census data comparison of working population vs resident population. Over September 2024 to September 2025, employment increased by 0.6% while labour force grew by 1.2%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment grow by 1.7%, labour force expand by 2.1%, and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that while overall employment is projected to increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates vary significantly between industries. Applying these projections to Rockhampton Surrounds - West's employment mix indicates local employment should grow by 5.5% over five years and 12.0% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Rockhampton Surrounds - West SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $59,965 and an average of $71,756. This is higher than the national averages. The Rest of Qld's median was $53,146 with an average of $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $65,908 (median) and $78,867 (average) as of September 2025. The 2021 Census data indicates household, family and personal incomes in Rockhampton Surrounds - West cluster around the 56th percentile nationally. The earnings profile shows that 31.8% of locals (1,019 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, similar to metropolitan regions where 31.7% occupy this range. After housing costs, residents retain 88.6% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

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

Dwelling structure in Rockhampton Surrounds - West, as per the latest Census, consisted of 98.6% houses and 1.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Rockhampton Surrounds - West was at 44.6%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (45.0%) or rented (10.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,733, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $300, lower than Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Rockhampton Surrounds - West's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially lower than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 78.2% of all households, including 32.7% couples with children, 36.8% couples without children, and 7.5% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 21.8%, with lone person households at 20.4% and group households comprising 1.4%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in Rockhampton Surrounds - West fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 12.6%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 9.5%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.8%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.3%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 45.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas account for 8.1% and certificates for 37.0%.

Educational participation is high, with 31.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.0% in primary education, 9.7% in secondary education, and 3.4% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Rockhampton Surrounds - West's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

West's health metrics closely match national benchmarks. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were assessed by AreaSearch to be standard for both young and old age groups.

Private health cover is high at approximately 55% of the total population (around 1,760 people), compared to 52.5% across the rest of Queensland. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 10.6 and 8.3% of residents respectively. 66.0% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in the rest of Queensland. Working-age residents have a higher than average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 18.4% of residents aged 65 and over (589 people), lower than the 20.4% in the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than those of the general population.

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

Rockhampton Surrounds - West had a cultural diversity score below average, with 86.0% of its population being citizens, 95.5% born in Australia, and 99.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 68.1% of people in Rockhampton Surrounds - West, compared to 52.2% across Rest of Qld. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (37.9%), English (29.4%), and Irish (9.9%).

Notably, German ancestry was overrepresented at 5.6%, while Australian Aboriginal was underrepresented at 2.7%. Maori representation was also lower than the regional average, at 0.5%.

Rockhampton Surrounds - West's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Rockhampton Surrounds - West is 42 years, close to Rest of Qld's average of 41, and well above Australia's median of 38. Compared to the Rest of Qld average, the 55-64 cohort is notably over-represented at 14.6% locally, while the 15-24 age group is under-represented at 9.3%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 12.3% to 14.1%, and the 5 to 14 cohort increased from 12.3% to 14.0%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 16.1% to 14.6%, and the 15 to 24 group dropped from 10.8% to 9.3%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Rockhampton Surrounds - West, with the 25 to 34 age cohort projected to expand by 89 people (25%) from 360 to 450. Meanwhile, the 55 to 64 and 15 to 24 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.