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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Tablelands has an estimated 6,429 residents, up from 6,204 at the 2021 Census — a change of 225 people, or 3.6%. Growth has averaged 0.5% a year over five years. Fewer than ten people live on each square kilometre, across a boundary that takes in surrounding rural land. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to the analysis by AreaSearch, the population of Tablelands stands at approximately 6,429 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 225 residents (3.6%) from the 2021 Census, which recorded 6,204 individuals. This shift is calculated utilizing the ABS estimated resident population of 6,420 in June 2025 alongside 43 validated new addresses registered since the Census. Such a population size results in a density of 0.10 persons per square kilometer, offering residents substantial personal space. The 3.6% expansion since the 2021 census outperformed the broader SA4 region (3.5%), positioning the area as a local growth frontrunner.
This population rise was chiefly powered by overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 63.5% of the total population gains in recent times. AreaSearch utilizes projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for individual SA2 localities, published in 2024 with a 2022 baseline. For any SA2 regions lacking this coverage, and for the years after 2032, projections from the Queensland State Government released in 2023 (utilizing 2021 baseline data) are applied. Because these state-level projections omit age breakdowns, AreaSearch distributes growth across age brackets using proportional weightings derived from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections (with a 2022 baseline). Looking at upcoming demographic shifts, regional areas outside capital cities are projected to experience lower quartile growth, with this specific locality expected to add 140 residents by 2041 based on the most recent annual ERP statistics, representing a total increase of 2.0% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
53 new dwellings have been approved in Tablelands over the past five years, an average of 10 a year. That is 1.7 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 7, well below that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Approximately 10 new residential approvals have been granted annually in Tablelands, amounting to 53 homes over the last 5 financial years. During the current FY-26 period, 7 approvals have been logged. An average of 2.9 people moved to the locality per completed dwelling over the past 5 financial years (spanning FY-21 to FY-25), indicating steady demand that supports local real estate values, with new builds averaging a construction cost of $277,000—a figure below regional averages—providing more budget-friendly options for buyers. Furthermore, commercial approvals worth $3.0 million have been documented in the current financial year, reinforcing the residential focus of the locality.
Tablelands records roughly half the rate of per-capita building activity compared to the Rest of Qld, ranking in the bottom 20th percentile of assessed areas across Australia, which limits choices for purchasers and bolsters demand for established homes. This volume of building is also below the national average, reflecting a mature market and highlighting potential planning limits. Recent residential projects consist of 89.0% separate houses and 11.0% semi-detached dwellings or units, preserving the established low-density layout that appeals to families seeking space. A ratio of 755 residents per single dwelling approval highlights the quiet, slow-paced construction sector in the area. Projecting forward, Tablelands is set to increase its population by 131 residents by 2041, according to the latest quarterly estimates from AreaSearch. Given current building trends, the residential supply is positioned to satisfy demand, yielding favorable conditions for buyers and potentially allowing growth to outpace current projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Tablelands
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 2 current infrastructure and development projects inside Tablelands, worth an estimated $4 million. A further 66 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $3.88 billion. 25 are already under construction and 27 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and transport & logistics. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Developments in local infrastructure, key projects, and planning decisions are critical drivers of local performance. AreaSearch has tracked a total of 44 projects expected to influence the region. Notable initiatives include the Draft Far North Queensland Regional Plan 2025, the Enviroplas Recycling Plant, the Mareeba Retail Centre, and the Mareeba CBD Project Blueprint, with the following list detailing the most significant projects.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Draft Far North Queensland Regional Plan 2025
Queensland Government review of the Far North Queensland Regional Plan 2009, now advanced to the Draft Far North Queensland Regional Plan 2025. Public consultation ran from 12 November 2025 to 5 January 2026 and submissions are being reviewed before finalisation. The plan provides a statutory regional growth framework for housing, jobs, biodiversity, liveable communities and coordinated infrastructure across Far North Queensland, including a target range of 34,455 to 48,485 new homes by 2046 and a supporting draft FNQ Infrastructure Plan 2025.
Enviroplas Recycling Plant
A major recycling facility transforming 6,000 tonnes of agricultural, commercial, and consumer plastic waste annually into products like plastic bags and clips for the banana industry. The facility employs 45 people across three shifts and promotes a circular economy, supported by a $1.08 million grant from the Queensland Recycling Modernisation Fund. The operation processes various plastic types including PP bags, twine ropes, HDPE, and LDPE into pelletized forms.
Mareeba Central
Mareeba Central is an approved neighbourhood shopping centre planned for the former sawmill site at 232 Byrnes Street and Close Avenue, Mareeba. The approved development comprises a Woolworths supermarket, retail tenancies, a food and drink outlet and on-site parking. Council approved the original material change of use in March 2023 and considered a minor change application in August 2025 for updated plans, retail floor area changes, layout modifications and an increase to 253 car parking spaces.A September 2025 report said Council support for freeholding a 1128 sqm government land parcel may have removed the final tenure hurdle, with the developer aiming to start once documentation is resolved and targeting operation by April 2027.
Mareeba CBD Project Blueprint
A $2.14 million revitalisation initiative funded by the Australian Government's regional Precincts and Partnerships Program (rPPP) to develop construction-ready plans for Mareeba's CBD. The Masterplan was formally endorsed at the February 2026 Council meeting following extensive community engagement involving over 800 participants. Key priorities include upgrading stormwater infrastructure, improving lighting and pedestrian safety along Byrnes Street, enhancing accessibility, creating shaded green spaces, improving wayfinding, celebrating Mareeba's heritage through public art and signage, and revitalising key streets with outdoor dining and event spaces.Detailed design work will proceed through 2026 with Council to seek State and Federal construction funding upon completion.
Haren Street Residential Aged Care Facility
A 120-bed residential aged care facility approved for a 2.89 hectare site at Lot 1 Haren Street. The facility is designed as a single-level complex featuring four wings (houses) of 30-36 residents, each with dedicated nurse stations, serveries, and dining areas. Key features include 24-hour nursing care, secure dementia units, a cafe, commercial laundry, and high-standard fittings. While the development permit (MCU/19/0019) remains active, the site has been periodically marketed for sale as a 'shovel-ready' opportunity for developers or owner-occupiers.
Mareeba Research Facility Upgrades
Upgrade of fruit handling laboratories at Mareeba research facility, enabling scientists to provide research services to expanding and new horticultural industries. Part of Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries infrastructure program.
Homes for Queenslanders - Mareeba Social Housing
New social housing development providing affordable housing options for vulnerable Queenslanders. Part of Queensland Government's Homes for Queenslanders program targeting key regional centres with housing supply challenges.
Kennedy Highway Safety Upgrades (Mareeba to Atherton)
Safety upgrades delivered along approximately 21 km of the Kennedy Highway between Mareeba and Atherton. Works included wide centre line treatments, audio tactile line marking, shoulder widening, safety barriers and targeted intersection upgrades (turning lanes, bike lanes, improved lighting and line marking).
2,541 residents of Tablelands are employed, from a labour force of 2,618. Unemployment sits at 2.9%, with participation at 47.2%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 4.8% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local workforce is evenly split between white-collar and blue-collar occupations across diverse industries, featuring a low unemployment rate of 2.9% and steady job numbers over the prior year. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 2,541, with the unemployment rate sitting 1.0% lower than the 3.9% rate of Regional Qld, though the participation rate remains low (47.2% compared to 64.3% in Regional Qld). Census data indicates that a moderate 21.2% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure reflects the influence of Covid-19 restrictions. Local employment is largely centered around agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and education & training.
The region exhibits a strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with representation 7.1 times higher than the regional average. Conversely, health care & social assistance is underrepresented, employing 9.9% of the workforce compared to 16.1% across the wider region. Comparing the resident workforce against the count of local jobs suggests that the immediate area offers sparse employment options. AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics shows that during the 12 months leading to March 2026, the local workforce contracted by 1.0% and overall employment fell by 0.4%, leading to a 0.6 percentage point decrease in the unemployment rate. By comparison, Regional Qld saw employment rise by 0.1% and the labor force expand by 0.3%, resulting in a 0.1 percentage point increase. National forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia issued in May-25 offer additional context for future demand trends in Tablelands. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce structure to model potential growth. Nationally, employment is predicted to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates vary by industry. Applying these industry projections to the local occupational structure indicates that employment in Tablelands is modeled to rise by 4.8% over five years and 11.0% over ten years (note that this is a basic weighted calculation for demonstration and does not integrate local population projections).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Tablelands is $1,171 a week (about $61,000 a year), with median personal income at $611 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $43,675 a year against an average of $52,450. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
The Tablelands SA2 recorded a median taxpayer income of $43,675 and an average of $52,450, based on the latest postcode-level ATO data compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. These figures sit below the national average, contrasting with Regional Qld's median of $53,146 and average of $66,593. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, updated estimates suggest figures of roughly $48,636 (median) and $58,408 (average) as of March 2026. The 2021 Census places household, family, and individual incomes in Tablelands between the 11th and 13th percentiles nationally.
Income distribution shows that the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly bracket accounts for 26.3% of the population (1,690 people), compared to 31.7% in the surrounding region. Although households retain 88.2% of their income due to low living costs, total disposable income sits in the 16th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Tablelands had 1,819 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 94% detached houses and 1% apartments. 30% are owned with a mortgage, 20% rented and 50% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $230 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,329 a month. Rent absorbs 19.6% of household income here and mortgage repayments 26.2%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
The local housing stock at the time of the latest Census consisted of 93.7% separate houses and 6.3% alternative housing types (such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and other dwellings), compared to 76.4% houses and 23.6% other options in Regional Qld. Home ownership rates in Tablelands were high at 50.0%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (29.8%) or renting (20.2%). The median monthly mortgage payment was $1,329, which is below the Regional Qld average, while the median weekly rent was $230, compared to Regional Qld averages of $1,655 and $345 respectively.
On a national scale, mortgage payments in Tablelands are lower than the Australian median of $1,863, and rental costs are below the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Tablelands counted 1,819 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.4 people each. 25% are couples with children, against 32% couples without children. 29% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.9 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up the majority of households at 67.1%, consisting of couples with children at 25.3%, couples without children at 32.3%, and single-parent homes at 8.8%. Non-family households account for 32.9%, with single-person households at 29.4% and group living situations making up 3.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 residents, which is slightly smaller than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
11.3% of adults in Tablelands hold a university qualification, including 9.2% with a bachelor degree and 1.3% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 93% of areas nationally. A further 26.0% hold a vocational qualification. 8 schools serve the area, with 354 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 921 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
The region presents low rates of higher education, with university qualification levels (11.3%) remaining well under the Australian benchmark of 30.4%. This situation highlights a key area for targeted educational strategies. Bachelor degrees represent the main qualification at 9.2%, with postgraduate degrees at 1.3% and graduate diplomas at 0.8%. Vocational qualifications are common, with 33.9% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (7.9%) and certificate-level qualifications (26.0%). Enrolment rates are high, with 41.8% of the local population actively participating in formal study. This cohort comprises 17.1% in primary schools, 15.8% in secondary education, and 2.9% enrolled in tertiary institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Tablelands means driving: households keep an average of 1.8 vehicles, and no scheduled public transport appears in the current timetable feeds. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
72.6% of residents in Tablelands report no long-term health condition. 4.8% need daily assistance with core activities, and 45.8% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.4 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health outcomes for residents in Tablelands are positive, with AreaSearch's study of mortality statistics and illnesses showing results that align with national averages. The incidence of common illnesses remains low in both younger and older cohorts, while the proportion of residents with private health insurance is low at approximately 46% of the population (~2,944 people). This contrasts with 52.5% across Regional Qld and a national average of 55.7%. Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent medical issues, affecting 8.2% and 6.3% of the community respectively, while 72.6% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld.
The population under 65 years of age shows better health outcomes than the national average. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 20.1% of the population (1,290 people), and this older cohort exhibits health rankings that exceed the broader population averages.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Tablelands is largely Australian-born, at 85.0% of residents, with 10.1% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (27.1%) and English (26.9%). 4.3% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in Tablelands is low compared to national benchmarks, with citizens making up 67.4% of the population, 85.0% born in Australia, and 89.9% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 54.3% of the population, which is slightly higher than the 52.2% recorded across Regional Qld. Looking at ancestral backgrounds, the three most common heritages in Tablelands are Australian at 27.1%, English at 26.9%, and Irish at 8.2%. The area shows significant variations in other backgrounds, with Italian ancestry overrepresented at 7.9% of the population (compared to 2.4% regionally), South Australian at 0.9% (compared to 0.5%), and Croatian at 0.9% (compared to 0.2%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Tablelands is 43. 22.5% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The median age of Tablelands is 43 years, which is older than the Regional Qld average of 41 and the national average of 38. The 55 - 64 age bracket is highly represented at 15.2% compared to Regional Qld, while the 5 - 14 group is less common at 8.9%. Post-2021 Census statistics indicate the 35 to 44 age cohort rose from 13.2% to 15.3% of the population, and the 65 to 74 group grew from 11.0% to 12.4%. Conversely, the 15 to 24 age bracket fell from 11.3% to 9.6% and the 45 to 54 cohort decreased from 15.0% to 13.3%.
Population modeling suggests significant changes by 2041, with the 35 to 44 age cohort projected to grow by 9%, adding 91 residents to reach 1,074, while the 55 to 64 and 25 to 34 cohorts are expected to decrease.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Tablelands
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 this month all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 43 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (6,204 at the 2021 Census → 6,429 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (315011400). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.