Rocklea - Acacia Ridge
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in Rocklea - Acacia Ridge reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

As of November 2025, Rocklea - Acacia Ridge's population is approximately 10,147, marking a 4.5% increase from the 9,711 reported in the 2021 Census. This growth can be attributed to an estimated resident population of 10,025 as of June 2024 and an additional 58 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is around 452 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration contributed approximately 65.8% of overall population gains in 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 from 2023, based on 2021 data, are adopted. However, these state projections lack age category splits; thus, AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings using ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023, based on 2022 data. Considering projected demographic shifts, the area is expected to increase by 350 persons by 2041, representing a total gain of 2.2% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Rocklea - Acacia Ridge, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Rocklea-Acacia Ridge has granted around 25 residential property approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, a total of 126 homes were approved, with an additional 20 approved so far in FY-26. Despite population decline during this period, development activity has been adequate relative to population changes, benefiting buyers.

The average expected construction cost value for new dwellings is $319,000. This year, $85.9 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Rocklea-Acacia Ridge has significantly less development activity, 73.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings. However, construction activity has intensified recently, though it remains under the national average, suggesting the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. New development in Rocklea-Acacia Ridge consists of 67.0% detached houses and 33.0% attached dwellings.

This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing composition, currently 86.0% houses, indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and demand for more diverse, affordable housing options. The location has approximately 318 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Looking ahead, Rocklea-Acacia Ridge is expected to grow by 228 residents through to 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Rocklea - Acacia Ridge has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Local infrastructure changes significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 64 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital Expansion, Transition - Archerfield Logistics Estate, Acacia Ridge Industrial Estate Expansion - Warehouse & Logistics Facilities, and Acacia Ridge Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Precinct. The following list details projects most relevant to the area.

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

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Employment conditions in Rocklea - Acacia Ridge face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Rocklea - Acacia Ridge has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate was 15.2% as of June 2025.

This is 11.2% higher than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation in the area is lower at 57.4%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 64.5%. The leading employment industries among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Manufacturing is particularly prominent with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

However, professional & technical services have a limited presence at 5.2% compared to the regional figure of 8.9%. As of the Census, there are 2.7 workers for every resident, indicating that the area functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the 12 months to June 2025, labour force levels increased by 1.9% while employment remained stable at 0.0%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 1.7 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Brisbane recorded employment growth of 4.4%, labour force growth of 4.0%, and a decrease in unemployment of 0.4 percentage points. According to Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025, national employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Rocklea - Acacia Ridge's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.2% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Rocklea - Acacia Ridge shows a median taxpayer income of $52,070 and an average of $58,694 according to the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. This is lower than average on a national basis, contrasting with Greater Brisbane's median income of $55,645 and average income of $70,520. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $59,355 (median) and $66,905 (average) as of September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family and personal incomes in Rocklea - Acacia Ridge all fall between the 21st and 24th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 34.3% of residents (3,480 people), aligning with regional levels where this cohort likewise represents 33.3%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 80.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 20th percentile nationally.

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

Rocklea-Acacia Ridge dwelling structure in 2016 showed 85.7% houses and 14.3% other dwellings compared to Brisbane metro's 82.0% houses and 18.1% other dwellings. Home ownership was at 20.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.8% and rented ones at 49.4%. Median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,517, below Brisbane metro's $1,872. Median weekly rent was $335, compared to Brisbane metro's $400. Nationally, Rocklea-Acacia Ridge's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,517 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were lower at $335 against the national figure of $375.

Rocklea - Acacia Ridge features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 64.5% of all households, including 24.3% couples with children, 21.3% couples without children, and 17.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 35.5%, with lone person households at 28.8% and group households comprising 6.5%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 3.0.

Rocklea - Acacia Ridge faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates at 23.5%, substantially below the SA4 region average of 42.1%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 16.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.2%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 34.8% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (10.0%) and certificates (24.8%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 31.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 10.9% in primary education, 7.2% in secondary education, and 5.6% pursuing tertiary education. A robust network of 6 schools operates within Rocklea - Acacia Ridge, educating approximately 1,088 students. The area demonstrates varied educational conditions across Rocklea - Acacia Ridge, with the educational mix including 4 primary, 1 secondary, and 1 K-12 school. School places per 100 residents (10.8) fall below the regional average (15.6), with some students likely attending schools in adjacent areas.

Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Rocklea - Acacia Ridge has 98 active public transport stops operating within its area. These stops offer a mix of train and bus services, with 26 individual routes collectively providing 3,737 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 187 meters from the nearest transport stop.

Service frequency averages 533 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 38 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Rocklea - Acacia Ridge faces significant health challenges with common health conditions being somewhat prevalent across all age groups but to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts. Approximately 49% of the total population (~4,982 people) has private health cover, which is relatively low compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, affecting 9.8 and 8.4% of residents respectively. However, 66.8% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, which is lower than the 77.2% figure across Greater Brisbane. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, with 14.2% (1,441 people) compared to the 12.1% in Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention due to the challenges they present.

Rocklea - Acacia Ridge is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Rocklea-Acacia Ridge has a high cultural diversity, with 37.4% of its population born overseas and 33.7% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion in Rocklea-Acacia Ridge, comprising 42.6%. However, Islam is overrepresented at 9.8%, compared to 7.5% across Greater Brisbane.

The top three ancestry groups are English (21.2%), Australian (19.8%), and Other (18.7%). Notably, Samoan (1.4%) and Spanish (0.8%) are overrepresented, while Vietnamese is slightly underrepresented at 2.2%.

Rocklea - Acacia Ridge hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Rocklea - Acacia Ridge has a median age of 34, which is slightly lower than Greater Brisbane's figure of 36 and substantially under Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Rocklea - Ac Rica has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (17.6%) but fewer residents aged 15-24 (11.9%). Between the 2021 Census and the present day, the population of residents aged 35 to 44 has grown from 14.1% to 14.9%, while the proportion of residents aged 15 to 24 has declined from 12.5% to 11.9%. By 2041, Rocklea - Acacia Ridge's population is forecasted to undergo significant demographic changes. The 45 to 54 age group is projected to experience the strongest growth at 20%, adding 236 residents to reach a total of 1,433. This demographic aging trend continues as residents aged 65 and older represent 55% of anticipated population growth. Conversely, the populations of residents aged 0 to 4 and 5 to 14 are expected to decline.