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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
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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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 research conducted by AreaSearch, the resident population of Tablelands stands at approximately 6,429 as of Aug 2026. This represents an addition of 225 people (3.6%) relative to the 2021 Census tally of 6,204 people. Such growth has been calculated by combining the ABS estimated resident population figure of 6,420 as of June 2025 with 52 validated new addresses recorded post-Census. Consequently, population density sits at 0.10 persons per square kilometer, ensuring substantial living space across the district. Expanding by 3.6% since the 2021 census, Tablelands outpaced the wider SA4 region (3.5%), establishing itself as an outperforming growth area locally.
Inbound overseas migration served as the primary demographic catalyst, accounting for roughly 63.5% of total population additions over recent intervals. Projections utilised by AreaSearch incorporate ABS/Geoscience Australia models released in 2024 (taking 2022 as their starting baseline) across individual SA2 locations. Whenever an SA2 is omitted from this series, or for timeframes beyond 2032, Queensland State Government SA2 forecasts (issued in 2023 utilizing 2021 numbers) are implemented instead. Because these state figures omit age-bracket breakdowns, AreaSearch applies proportional growth distributions derived from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region data (based on 2022 benchmarks) across each demographic cohort. Based on anticipated demographic trajectories, regional growth is expected to align with the lower quartile across regional Australia, with projections indicating an expansion of 139 persons through to 2041 relative to latest annual ERP figures, translating to an overall rise of 2.0% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
50 new dwellings have been approved in Tablelands over the past five years, an average of 10 a year. That is 1.6 approvals per 1,000 residents. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Residential building approvals in Tablelands have averaged approximately 10 new dwellings each year, totaling 50 homes over the preceding 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26). Given that population intake averaged 3 people per year for every dwelling constructed over the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26), local demand comfortably outstrips incoming supply—a dynamic that typically fuels price appreciation and heightens buyer competition—even as new residential construction averages $364,000 in expected value (tracking underneath regional benchmarks and pointing to attainable building costs). Furthermore, commercial building approvals have reached $3.0 million this financial year, underlining the dominant residential orientation of the area.
When measured against Rest of Qld, per-capita residential construction in Tablelands is roughly half the rate, positioning the locality in the 16th percentile nationwide, which curtails available stock for purchasers and sustains buyer interest in established homes. This suppressed pipeline relative to national standards points toward a mature real estate market and possible development hurdles. Detached houses accounted for 90.0% of recent construction while attached dwellings made up 10.0%, preserving the traditional low-density footprint centered on spacious family living. An estimated ratio of 856 people per dwelling approval further underlines this restrained, quiet development setting. Moving forward, the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate projects that Tablelands will add 130 residents by 2041. Under current building volumes, incoming residential development appears well-positioned to satisfy future demand, sustaining balanced purchasing conditions and potentially accommodating population gains above existing forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Tablelands
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
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 $3.87 billion. 25 are already under construction and 26 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
Local economic momentum and regional performance are strongly steered by capital projects, infrastructure upgrades, and planning frameworks. AreaSearch has identified a total of 44 projects positioned to influence the area, led by significant initiatives including the Draft Far North Queensland Regional Plan 2025, the Enviroplas Recycling Plant, the Mareeba Retail Centre, and the Mareeba CBD Project Blueprint.
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
The Haren Street Residential Aged Care Facility is an approved 120-bed single-level aged care development designed across a 2.89-hectare site in Mareeba, North Queensland. Proposed by Croft Developments Pty Ltd, the facility comprises four distinct 30-bed residential wings, specialized memory and dementia support units, nurse stations, dining hubs, and landscaped courtyards. The development application was approved by Mareeba Shire Council and stands shovel-ready.
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 47.1%. 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 labour profile in Tablelands balances both white and blue collar occupations across a variety of sectors, maintaining a low unemployment rate of 2.9% alongside stable employment conditions over the preceding year. As of March 2026, employed residents total 2,541, with the local jobless rate tracking 1.0% beneath Regional Qld's benchmark of 3.9%, even though the labor participation rate of 47.1% falls markedly behind Regional Qld's 64.2%. Census figures also recorded 21.2% of workers operating from home, an outcome influenced by Covid-19 restrictions at the time. Resident employment is primarily anchored by agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and education & training.
The local economy demonstrates pronounced concentration in agriculture, forestry & fishing, where its employment proportion is 7.1 times higher than the broader region. Conversely, health care & social assistance accounts for only 9.9% of local employment, falling short of the 16.1% seen throughout Regional Qld. Comparing Census workforce totals to overall resident numbers points toward a limited pool of local employment opportunities within the boundary. AreaSearch assessment of ABS and SALM metrics indicates that in the twelve months leading to March 2026, the local workforce contracted by 1.0% alongside a 0.4% decline in employment, which reduced the local unemployment rate by 0.6 percentage points. Over the same timeframe across Regional Qld, employment edged up 0.1%, the workforce rose 0.3%, and unemployment lifted by 0.1 percentage points. Looking ahead, Jobs and Skills Australia's Mar-26 national employment projections provide a framework for evaluating future labour demand across Tablelands. Across Australia, employment is projected to expand by 6.6% across five years and 13.7% over ten years, with distinct variation by industry. Mapping these sector-specific trajectories to the Tablelands workforce suggests local job numbers could rise by 4.8% over five years and 11.0% across ten years (representing an illustrative weighting model that does not incorporate local demographic forecasts).
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
ATO postcode figures compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 indicate a median taxpayer income of $43,675 and an average of $52,450 across the Tablelands SA2. These numbers sit below nationwide averages, as well as Regional Qld's median of $53,146 and average of $66,593. Factoring in an 11.36% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, updated estimates suggest figures around $48,636 (median) and $58,408 (average) as of March 2026. Across the 2021 Census, local household, family, and individual earnings placed within the 11th to 13th percentiles nationally.
Roughly 26.3% of local earners (1,690 individuals) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, aligning with the 31.7% observed across the wider region. Although residents retain 88.2% of their income after housing costs, overall disposable income remains modest, ranking in the 16th percentile nationwide.
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
Census records reveal that standalone houses constituted 93.7% of all dwellings in Tablelands, with semi-detached properties, units, and other formats accounting for 6.3%, compared to 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings throughout Regional Qld. Full home ownership was exceptionally high at 50.0% (well above regional levels), while mortgaged homes accounted for 29.8% and rental properties comprised 20.2%. Typical monthly mortgage payments stood at $1,329, substantially lower than the Regional Qld benchmark of $1,655 and the nationwide average of $1,863. Similarly, median weekly rents of $230 were well below Regional Qld's $345 and the Australian figure 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
Family units comprise 67.1% of all local households, divided between couples without children (32.3%), couples with children (25.3%), and single parent arrangements (8.8%). Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 32.9%, led by single-person dwellings at 29.4% alongside group living arrangements at 3.4%. The area records a median household occupancy of 2.4 people, marginally below the Regional Qld figure 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
Educational attainment in the district shows an opportunity for development, as tertiary qualification rates of 11.3% track well below the nationwide benchmark of 30.4%. Within tertiary completions, bachelor degrees account for 9.2%, postgraduate credentials make up 1.3%, and graduate diplomas represent 0.8%. In contrast, vocational and technical pathways are prevalent, with 33.9% of residents aged 15+ possessing vocational qualifications, comprising certificates (26.0%) and advanced diplomas (7.9%). Formal study engagement is substantial throughout the community, with 41.8% of residents enrolled in an educational course. Broken down by level, primary schooling accounts for 17.1%, secondary education represents 15.8%, and tertiary programs comprise 2.9%.
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 indicators across Tablelands generally align with nationwide patterns according to AreaSearch evaluations of mortality and morbidity, showing a low prevalence of common chronic conditions across both younger and older residents. Concurrently, private health insurance uptake is comparatively low, with approximately 46% of the population (~2,944 people) covered, trailing Regional Qld's 52.5% and the nationwide average of 55.7%. Arthritis and mental health challenges represent the most frequently reported diagnoses in the district, affecting 8.2 and 6.3% of the community respectively, while 72.6% of residents reported no medical ailments, outperforming the Regional Qld rate of 67.6%.
Health metrics for the under-65 age group remain favorable, while outcomes among the 1,320 seniors aged 65 and over (20.5% of the population) are particularly strong, achieving higher national percentile ranks than the general community.
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 metrics for Tablelands sit below national norms, with Australian citizens comprising 67.4% of residents, 85.0% born domestically, and 89.9% speaking only English at home. Christianity forms the predominant religious affiliation, encompassing 54.3% of the local population compared to 52.2% across Regional Qld. Evaluating parental country of birth, the primary ancestries reported across Tablelands are Australian (27.1%), English (26.9%), and Irish (8.2%). The community also displays notable concentrations of specific backgrounds relative to regional benchmarks, including Italian heritage at 7.9% (versus 2.4% regionally), alongside South Australian at 0.9% (versus 0.5%) and Croatian at 0.9% (versus 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
Demographically, Tablelands is heavily weighted toward mature and pre-retirement age brackets. As of August 2026 estimates, residents aged 45 - 64 make up 28.7% of the locality (versus 24.6% in Regional Qld), whereas younger cohorts aged 0 - 24 represent 23.0% (compared to 29.6% regionally). The median age is estimated at 43 as at August 2026, matching the 2021 Census result, which stood 2 years older than Regional Qld (41) and above the national median of 38 at that Census. Seniors and retirees aged 65+ expanded from 17.7% at the Census to an estimated 20.5% of residents, and are forecast to drive future growth by adding 132 individuals (10%) to reach 1,453 by 2041, whereas youth and child cohorts are projected to contract.
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 Oct 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) | Aug 2026 2 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 Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| 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 Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 2 months ago 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 7 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) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 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 — 52 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 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 Aug 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.