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 was 6,851 as of the 2021 Census. By Nov 2025, it is estimated to be around 7,452, reflecting an increase of 601 people (8.8%) since the Census. This growth is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 7,443 as of June 2024 and an additional 10 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density in Sunshine Beach is approximately 1,023 persons per square kilometer, which aligns with averages seen across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Sunshine Beach's growth rate exceeded that of its SA3 area (6.5%), making it a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 81.9% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including natural growth and interstate migration were positive factors.

For projections post-2032, AreaSearch uses Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data. By 2041, the Sunshine Beach population is expected to reach approximately 7,714, reflecting an increase of 262 persons or 3.4% over the 17-year period.

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 FY21 and FY25, around 184 homes were approved, with an additional 9 approved in FY26 so far. Each dwelling built over the past five financial years has resulted in an average of 3 new residents per year, reflecting strong demand that supports property values.

New homes are being constructed at an average expected cost of $865,000, indicating a focus on premium market properties by developers. This financial year has seen around $107,000 in commercial approvals registered, suggesting a predominantly residential development focus. Sunshine Beach's development levels per person are similar to the rest of Queensland, maintaining market balance with surrounding areas. New developments consist of 47% detached houses and 53% townhouses or apartments, offering affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers. This shift from the area's existing housing composition of 65% houses suggests decreasing availability of developable sites and changing lifestyle needs.

With around 177 people per approval, Sunshine Beach reflects a growing area. By 2041, Sunshine Beach is projected to gain approximately 253 residents (AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Current construction levels should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth beyond current forecasts.

Sunshine Beach has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Eleven projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Notable ones 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.

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

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Employment conditions in Sunshine Beach demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Sunshine Beach has a well-educated workforce with prominent tourism and hospitality sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.1%.

As of September 2025, 4,035 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.9% lower than Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation is similar to Rest of Qld's 59.1%. Key industries include accommodation & food, health care & social assistance, and construction. Sunshine Beach has a particularly strong specialization in accommodation & food with an employment share of 1.8 times the regional level.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 0.8% compared to 4.5% regionally. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by Census data. Over a 12-month period ending September 2025, labour force decreased by 2.5% and employment decreased by 1.9%, causing unemployment rate to fall by 0.6 percentage points. Rest of Qld recorded employment growth of 1.7% during this period. State-level data as of 25-Nov shows QLD employment contracted by 0.01% with state unemployment rate at 4.2%. National employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.8% over ten years. Applying these projections to Sunshine Beach's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 13.8% over ten years.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

Sunshine Beach SA2 has one of Australia's highest incomes based on latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. Its median taxpayer income is $48,704 and average income stands at $88,732. For comparison, Rest of Qld's figures are $50,780 and $64,844 respectively. By September 2025, current estimates based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% would be approximately $55,518 (median) and $101,146 (average). Census 2021 income data shows Sunshine Beach's household, family, and personal incomes cluster around the 58th percentile nationally. The income distribution shows that 32.2% of residents (2,399 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, mirroring the surrounding region at 31.7%. High housing costs consume 16.7% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 54th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Sunshine Beach displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

In Sunshine Beach, as per the latest Census evaluation, 65.4% of dwellings were houses while 34.6% consisted of semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had a higher percentage of houses at 73.5%. Home ownership in Sunshine Beach stood at 39.2%, with mortgaged properties at 33.1% and rented dwellings at 27.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, exceeding Non-Metro Qld's average of $2,000. Weekly rent in Sunshine Beach was recorded at $500, matching Non-Metro Qld's figure. Nationally, 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 fairly typical 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 at 22.5% and group households comprising 5.0%. The median household size is 2.4 people, aligning with the average for the Rest of Qld.

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

Sunshine Beach's educational attainment significantly exceeds broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15 and above, 36.5% hold university qualifications, compared to 20.6% in the rest of Queensland and 24.9% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 25.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (8.0%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 34.7% of residents aged 15 and above holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas account for 13.3% and certificates for 21.4%.

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.2% of residents 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 active public transport stops, all serving buses. Four routes operate here, offering a total of 1,012 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 195 meters to the nearest stop.

Daily service frequency is 144 trips across all routes, equating to around 31 weekly trips per individual 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 shows excellent health outcomes with low prevalence of common conditions across all ages. Approximately 64% of its total population (4769 people) has private health cover, higher than Rest of Qld's 57.2%. Nationally, this figure stands at 55.3%.

Arthritis and asthma are the most prevalent conditions in Sunshine Beach, affecting 7.1% and 6.3% respectively. A total of 75.3% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to Rest of Qld's 68.8%. The area has 19.5% (1450 people) aged 65 and over, lower than Rest of Qld's 25.8%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in Sunshine Beach are particularly strong, outperforming the general population in health metrics.

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 has a higher than average cultural diversity, with 9.5% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 28.1% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Sunshine Beach, comprising 41.1% of the population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented in Sunshine Beach compared to the rest of Queensland, making up 0.4% of the population versus 0.3%.

The top three ancestry groups are English at 32.9%, Australian at 21.1%, and Irish at 10.5%. There are also notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: French is overrepresented at 1.4% compared to 1.0% regionally, Scottish at 9.9% versus 9.7%, and Spanish at 0.7% versus 0.4%.

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 Rest of Qld's 41 and the national average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of Qld, Sunshine Beach has a higher percentage of residents aged 55-64 (16.0%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (10.6%). Between the 2021 Census and now, the 25-34 age group has grown from 9.1% to 10.6%, while the 75-84 cohort increased from 5.8% to 7.1%. Conversely, the 65-74 cohort has declined from 13.1% to 10.9%. By 2041, Sunshine Beach's age composition is expected to shift notably. The 25-34 group is projected to grow by 19%, reaching 939 people from 786. Meanwhile, the 45-54 and 5-14 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.