Sunshine Beach

An assessment of population growth drivers in Sunshine Beach reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Sunshine Beach's population, as of May 2026, is approximately 7,524, reflecting a 9.8% increase since the 2021 Census which reported 6,851 people. This growth was inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 7,524 in June 2025 and 8 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is around 1,033 persons per square kilometer, roughly inline with averages across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Sunshine Beach's growth exceeded both its SA3 area (6.1%) and the Rest of Qld region, marking it as a growth leader. Overseas migration contributed approximately 95.4% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year.

For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. However, these state projections lack age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings from ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023, based on 2022 data. Looking ahead, lower quartile growth is anticipated for national regional areas. By 2041, Sunshine Beach's population is projected to increase by 273 persons, reflecting a total increase of 3.6% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Sunshine Beach among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Sunshine Beach has seen approximately 36 new homes approved annually. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 184 homes were approved, with an additional 15 approved in FY-26 to date. Each dwelling built over these years has gained an average of 3 new residents per year, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

Developers target the premium market segment, with new homes averaging $865,000 in construction cost value. In FY-26, Sunshine Beach has registered around $107,000 in commercial approvals, suggesting a primarily residential focus. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Sunshine Beach maintains similar development levels per capita, preserving market equilibrium with surrounding areas. New developments consist of 47.0% detached houses and 53.0% townhouses or apartments, offering affordable entry pathways and attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This shift from the area's existing housing composition (currently 65.0% houses) suggests decreasing availability of developable sites and reflects changing lifestyles requiring more diverse, affordable housing options.

With around 177 people per approval, Sunshine Beach is considered a developing area. By 2041, Sunshine Beach is projected to grow by approximately 273 residents (based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Current construction levels are expected to meet demand adequately, creating favorable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Sunshine Beach has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Eleven projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Key projects include Sunrise Beach Village, Noosa Aquatic Centre Facility Upgrade Plan, Noosa Business Centre Village Precinct, and David Low Way Retaining Wall and Shared Pathway at Sunrise Beach. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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.

The labour market in Sunshine Beach shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Sunshine Beach has an educated workforce with prominent tourism and hospitality sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.4%. As of December 2025, 3985 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.6% lower than Regional Qld's 4.0%.

Workforce participation matches Regional Qld's 64.5%. Census responses show 26.9% work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries include accommodation & food, health care & social assistance, and construction. Sunshine Beach specializes in accommodation & food with an employment share of 1.8 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 0.8% compared to Regional Qld's 4.5%.

The area may offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data comparison. Between May-24 and Apr-25, labour force decreased by 3.1%, employment by 3.0%, reducing unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage points. By contrast, Regional Qld saw employment growth of 0.7% and labour force growth of 1.0%, with unemployment rising 0.3%. National employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sunshine Beach's industry mix suggests local employment should grow by 6.9% in five years and 13.8% in ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Sunshine Beach SA2's income level is among the top percentile nationally according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. Its median income among taxpayers is $49,856 and average income stands at $111,551, compared to Regional Qld's figures of $53,146 and $66,593 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $55,520 (median) and $124,223 (average) as of March 2026. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes in Sunshine Beach cluster around the 58th percentile nationally. Distribution data shows the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 32.2% of residents (2,422 people), mirroring surrounding region where 31.7% occupy this bracket. High housing costs consume 16.7% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 54th percentile and area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Sunshine Beach displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Sunshine Beach's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 65.4% houses and 34.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Sunshine Beach stood at 39.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.1% and rented ones at 27.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than Regional Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent in Sunshine Beach was recorded at $500, compared to Regional Qld's $345. Nationally, Sunshine Beach's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Sunshine Beach features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 72.5% of all households, including 27.1% couples with children, 34.7% couples without children, and 10.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 27.5%, with lone person households making up 22.5% and group households comprising 5.0%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5.

The educational profile of Sunshine Beach exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Sunshine Beach has a higher educational attainment than broader averages. Among residents aged 15+, 36.5% have university qualifications, compared to 20.6% in the rest of Queensland and 24.9% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most common at 25.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.0%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 34.7% of residents holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (13.3%) and certificates (21.4%).

Educational participation is high, with 27.2% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.6% in secondary education, 9.0% in primary education, and 3.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Sunshine Beach has 32 operational public transport stops, all serving buses. These are covered by four different routes that together facilitate 889 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated highly, with residents on average located 194 metres from their nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards daily. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 88% of residents, while cycling accounts for 2%. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, 26.9% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 127 trips per day, translating to approximately 27 weekly trips per stop.

Sunshine Beach's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Sunshine Beach's health outcomes show remarkable results based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The area has a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Approximately 76% of Sunshine Beach's total population (5,725 people) has private health cover, which is notably higher than the Regional Qld average of 52.5%.

This figure also exceeds the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are arthritis and asthma, affecting 7.1% and 6.3% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 75.3%, reported being completely free of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Working-age residents display low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 20.5% of residents aged 65 and over (1,546 people), with health outcomes among seniors ranking broadly in line with the general population nationally.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Sunshine Beach was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Sunshine Beach had a higher than average cultural diversity, with 9.5% speaking a language other than English at home and 28.1% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 41.1%. Judaism was overrepresented at 0.4%, compared to Regional Qld's 0.1%.

Top ancestry groups were English (32.9%), Australian (21.1%), and Irish (10.5%). French, Scottish, and Spanish groups were notably more represented than the regional averages of 0.5%, 7.8%, and 0.3% respectively.

Sunshine Beach hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Sunshine Beach's median age is 46 years, which is significantly higher than Regional Queensland's median age of 41 and the national average of 38 years. Compared to Regional Queensland, Sunshine Beach has a higher proportion of residents aged 55-64 (15.9%) but fewer residents aged 15-24 (9.5%). Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population aged 75-84 has increased from 5.8% to 7.5%, while the 25-34 age group has grown from 9.1% to 10.6%. Conversely, the 65-74 age group has declined from 13.1% to 11.2%, and the 45-54 age group has dropped from 16.7% to 15.3%. By 2041, Sunshine Beach's population is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 16%, adding 127 people and reaching a total of 927 from the current 799. Meanwhile, the 5-14 and 55-64 age groups are expected to experience population declines.