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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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Torres Strait Islands has an estimated 4,298 residents, up from 4,124 at the 2021 Census — a change of 174 people, or 4.2%. 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 Torres Strait Islands stands at approximately 4,298 as of May 2026. This indicates a growth of 174 people (4.2%) compared to the 2021 Census population of 4,124. This change is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 4,298 combined with 9 validated new addresses registered since the Census. With this population level, the density is 8.8 persons per square kilometer, suggesting a low-density environment with substantial space per inhabitant. The 4.2% expansion since the 2021 census outpaced the broader SA4 region (3.5%), positioning the area as a local growth leader.
The increase was mostly powered by natural growth, which accounted for roughly 99.0% of the overall population rise in recent times. Projections from ABS and Geoscience Australia, published in 2024 with a 2022 baseline, are utilized for each SA2 area. For locations lacking this coverage, and for any projections past 2032, figures from the Queensland State Government released in 2023 (utilizing 2021 data) are applied. Since these state-level projections omit age breakdowns, AreaSearch scales the cohorts proportionally using the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections (based on 2022 data). Looking at upcoming demographics, the area is anticipated to align with lower quartile growth trends seen outside capital cities, expanding by 146 persons by 2041 based on the most recent annual ERP statistics, which represents a total increase of 3.4% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Torres Strait Islands exhibits extremely quiet residential development, averaging 1 new dwellings approved annually (minimal dwellings over the five-year period). This minimal level of building is typical for rural localities where housing requirements remain low and building activity is restricted by local demand and the capacity of existing infrastructure. Because approvals are so low, individual development projects can have a major effect on yearly growth rates and comparison metrics. Torres Strait Islands displays a much lower level of residential construction activity relative to Rest of Qld. This pace of development is also below national averages.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Torres Strait Islands
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 56 current infrastructure and development projects close to Torres Strait Islands, worth an estimated $2.09 billion. 17 are already under construction and 15 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, tourism and communities, precincts & urban renewal. 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 infrastructure projects, major developments, and planning changes play a significant role in area performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 0 projects expected to impact the locality. Key initiatives include Queensland National Land Transport Network Maintenance, Queensland Energy Roadmap - SuperGrid Infrastructure Program, Queensland Energy Roadmap 2025, and Queensland Energy Roadmap 2025, with details on the most relevant projects provided in the following list.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Saila Terrace Townhouses
Masterplanned 20 townhouse development on Waiben (Thursday Island) commissioned by the Torres Strait Regional Authority, with climate responsive house types that follow the steep topography, maximise ocean views, and use robust materials and roof forms suited to remote tropical construction and severe weather.
Thursday Island Affordable Modular Homes
A partnership between the Queensland Government Housing Investment Fund, the Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust and modular builder Oly Homes has delivered eight affordable modular homes on Thursday Island. The project, located on church land at 6 Chester Street and 142 Douglas Street, includes a mix of one and two bedroom homes, studio units and accessible units designed for the local climate and cultural needs. The homes were factory built on the mainland, transported to Thursday Island and installed in around eight months, with tenants moving in from early 2025.
Victoria Parade Units
A three storey community housing complex on Thursday Island providing 16 two bedroom units on a single 2,783 m2 site for Queensland Government staff and community housing tenants. The project was delivered by Hutchinson Builders for the Queensland Department of Housing and Public Works, with a strong focus on Indigenous employment and local procurement, and was completed in 2016.
Cooktown Multi-Purpose Health Service Redevelopment
A $200 million redevelopment of the Cooktown Multipurpose Health Service (CMPHS) to replace the existing 1980s facility with a modern, culturally appropriate hospital serving Cook Shire and surrounding Cape York communities. Delivered by Health Infrastructure Queensland in partnership with Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service under the Crisafulli Government's Hospital Rescue Plan, the redevelopment will expand capacity to up to 24 beds including maternity, isolation, high dependency and short-stay beds. New facilities include an Emergency Department with medical imaging, resuscitation and treatment bays, shell space for future CT scanning, a new operating theatre and procedure room, an adjacent birthing suite to restore maternity services lost in 2022, ambulatory and specialist outpatient services, a culturally appropriate main entry, and a new support services building, alongside partial refurbishment of the existing hospital.Architecture firm BVN was appointed as design consultant in August 2025. Concept design is due by April 2026, schematic design by August 2026, and detailed design by January 2027, with phase one construction set to commence in 2026 and completion expected in the 2029-30 financial year. The project will improve access to care, restore birthing services, and support staff recruitment and retention in Far North Queensland.
Gigers Residential Subdivision
Greenfield residential subdivision at 2 Hope Street, Cooktown, reconfiguring one lot into 12 residential lots under Cook Shire DA/4310 with operational works approval DA/4590. Currently under construction as an elevated cul-de-sac offering lots from 902sqm to 1,756sqm. Supported by the Queensland Government's $1.1 million Residential Activation Fund to deliver trunk infrastructure including water, sewer, underground power, and NBN.
Nhulunbuy Master Plan
A strategic roadmap guiding the redevelopment and renewal of Nhulunbuy as it transitions from a mining town to a sustainable regional hub. The plan translates the Yolngu Traditional Owners' Vision into a framework for future land tenure, essential services, and infrastructure, ensuring long-term liveability post-2029 mine closure.
Bunggulwuy Close Housing Development
A landmark $7 million community-led housing initiative to deliver 11 new two-bedroom units (four duplexes and a triplex) in Nhulunbuy. The homes are designed to meet long-term accommodation needs for essential service providers like St John NT and Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation, and the project includes a strong commitment to Aboriginal employment and training opportunities, supporting the post-mining economic transition of the region.
Gunyangara (Gove Port) Tourism Precinct
A $9.3 million upgrade of marine and land tourism infrastructure at Inverell Bay, Gunyangara, near Nhulunbuy, to support tourism and marine industry growth in East Arnhem as the region diversifies away from mining. Works delivered over three packages included a new 100 metre extended rock groyne, careening facilities for vessel maintenance, a 60 metre detachable floating pontoon, a washdown bay, sealed car park and lighting upgrades, a new entry structure, toilet facilities, and shade and seating at Gove Boat Club.Early works were completed in 2022, with the main $6.9 million construction package running from September 2024 to August 2025. The project achieved 28 percent Aboriginal employment and was officially opened in December 2025. Gove Boat Club now operates the facilities in collaboration with the Ngarrariyal Aboriginal Corporation and Gumatj Corporation.
1,078 residents of Torres Strait Islands are employed, from a labour force of 1,328. Unemployment sits at 18.8%, with participation at 42.6%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.8% 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 in Torres Strait Islands is distributed between white-collar and blue-collar roles, with a strong presence in essential services, an unemployment rate of 18.8%, and steady employment levels over the last year. In March 2026, 1,078 residents were employed, while the unemployment rate was 14.9% higher than the Regional Qld rate of 3.9%, showing potential for progress, and workforce participation remained low (42.6% compared to Regional Qld's 64.3%). Census data indicates that only 2.2% of workers worked from home, though this figure may have been influenced by Covid-19 pandemic restrictions.
The resident workforce is heavily concentrated in public administration & safety, education & training, and health care & social assistance. Public administration & safety is highly specialized here, representing an employment share 5.9 times higher than the regional average. Conversely, accommodation & food provides jobs for only 2.7% of local workers, which is below the 8.3% recorded in Regional Qld. This mostly residential locality seems to provide few local employment options, as shown by the difference between the Census working population and the resident population. Based on analysis of SALM and ABS statistics by AreaSearch, employment figures stayed constant at 0.0% during the 12 months ending March 2026, while the overall labour force shrank by 1.0%, resulting in a 0.8 percentage point reduction in the unemployment rate. This differed from Regional Qld, which saw a 0.1% increase in employment, a 0.3% rise in the labour force, and a 0.1 percentage point increase in unemployment. National employment predictions from Jobs and Skills Australia dated May-25 offer additional context regarding future demand trends in Torres Strait Islands. These five-year and ten-year projections have been applied to the local industry mix to estimate future employment movements. Although national employment is predicted to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates vary by industry. Applying these trends to the local workforce composition suggests employment in Torres Strait Islands could rise by 5.8% over five years and 12.4% over ten years (note that this is a basic weighted extrapolation for demonstration purposes and does not incorporate local population forecasts).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Torres Strait Islands is $976 a week (about $51,000 a year), with median personal income at $411 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $52,725 a year against an average of $62,273. 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
Based on AreaSearch's compilation of postcode-level ATO statistics released for financial year 2023, taxpayers in the Torres Strait Islands SA2 recorded a median income of $52,725 and an average income of $62,273. These figures are below national averages and compare to median and average incomes of $53,146 and $66,593 in Regional Qld. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes would be around $58,715 (median) and $69,347 (average) as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census places household, family, and personal incomes in Torres Strait Islands in the bottom 1st to 2nd percentiles nationally.
The largest income group consists of 31.3% of residents (1,345 people) earning between $800 - 1,499 per week, whereas the regional trend is led by the $1,500 - 2,999 range at 31.7%. Since 40.1% of residents earn less than $800 weekly, the area experiences notable financial constraints that influence local consumption. Although housing costs are low, leaving residents with 87.6% of their income, total disposable income ranks in only the 5th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Torres Strait Islands had 1,013 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 96% detached houses and 1% apartments. 0% are owned with a mortgage, 93% rented and 7% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $130 a week. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
The mix of housing in Torres Strait Islands at the last Census consisted of 95.8% houses and 4.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional Qld where houses made up 76.4% and other dwellings accounted for 23.6%. Home ownership rates in Torres Strait Islands were below those of Regional Qld at 6.5%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (0.3%) or renting (93.1%). The median monthly mortgage payment was far below the Regional Qld average at $0, while the median weekly rent was recorded at $130, compared to Regional Qld averages of $1,655 and $345.
On a national level, monthly mortgage payments in Torres Strait Islands are much lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are significantly below the national average of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Torres Strait Islands counted 1,013 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 3.5 people each. 36% are couples with children, against 11% couples without children. 21% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.5 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family households represent the vast majority of households at 78.1%, consisting of couples with children at 36.4%, couples without children at 11.0%, and single parent families at 28.2%. Non-family households account for the remaining 21.9%, with single-person households at 21.4% and group households at 0.8%. The average household size of 3.5 people is larger than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
4.9% of adults in Torres Strait Islands hold a university qualification, including 3.3% with a bachelor degree and 0.3% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 86% of areas nationally. A further 41.7% hold a vocational qualification. 15 schools serve the area. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
The locality displays low rates of higher education, with university qualification levels (4.9%) far below the Australian average of 30.4%. This highlights a gap and a potential focus area for educational programs. Residents with a bachelor degree represent 3.3%, followed by graduate diplomas at 1.3% and postgraduate qualifications at 0.3%. Vocational and technical training is very common, with 48.1% of the population aged 15+ holding a vocational qualification, consisting of advanced diplomas (6.4%) and certificates (41.7%). A high proportion of the population is engaged in study, with 33.5% of residents currently enrolled in an educational institution.
This group comprises 21.2% in primary education, 6.7% in secondary education, and 0.4% in tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
82.0% of residents in Torres Strait Islands report no long-term health condition. 3.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 50.4% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.9 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 demonstrate positive trends for residents of Torres Strait Islands, with AreaSearch's study of mortality rates and medical conditions showing results that align with national averages. The prevalence of common illnesses is quite low across both youth and elderly cohorts, while the rate of private health insurance coverage is relatively low at approximately 50% of the population (~2,166 people). This compares to 52.5% in Regional Qld and a national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions recorded locally were diabetes and asthma, affecting 9.3 and 3.8% of the population, respectively, while 82.0% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 67.6% in Regional Qld.
People aged 65 and older make up 9.5% of the population (408 people), which is lower than the Regional Qld level of 20.4%. Senior citizens in the area experience strong health outcomes, ranking higher than the general population relative to national figures.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Torres Strait Islands is largely Australian-born, at 96.5% of residents, with 93.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Australian Aboriginal is the largest reported ancestry, at 14.8% of residents. 14.8% 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
Torres Strait Islands exhibits high cultural diversity, with 3.5% of the population born outside Australia and 93.1% speaking a language other than English at home. The predominant religion is Christianity, representing 86.6% of residents in Torres Strait Islands, compared to 52.2% across Regional Qld. In terms of parental country of birth, the three most common ancestry groups in Torres Strait Islands are Other at 79.3% of the population (much higher than the regional average of 6.9%), Australian Aboriginal at 14.8% of the population (much higher than the regional average of 3.9%), and Australian at 2.0% of the population (much lower than the regional average of 26.5%).
Other ethnic groups also show differences: Samoan is overrepresented at 0.3% of the Torres Strait Islands population, compared to 0.2% across the region.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Torres Strait Islands is 28, younger than 99% of areas nationally. That is 1 year older than at the 2021 Census. 27.4% 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 Torres Strait Islands is 28 years, which is younger than the Regional Qld average of 41 and the national average of 38 years. Compared to Regional Qld, Torres Strait Islands has a higher proportion of residents aged 5 - 14 (18.7%) but fewer people aged 75 - 84 (2.5%). This 5 - 14 cohort is also larger than the national average of 12.0%. Since the 2021 Census, demographic aging has occurred, with the median age rising from 27 to 28 years. Notable shifts include the 35 to 44 age cohort increasing from 12.8% to 14.8% of the population, and the 45 to 54 cohort increasing from 10.1% to 11.8%.
On the other hand, the 5 to 14 cohort decreased from 21.4% to 18.7% and the 0 to 4 group declined from 10.9% to 8.8%. Demographic projections suggest the age distribution in Torres Strait Islands will change by 2041, with the 45 to 54 age group projected to grow the most at 31%, adding 156 residents to reach a total of 663, while the 15 to 24 and 5 to 14 cohorts are expected to decrease in size.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Torres Strait Islands
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, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 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 May 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 — 9 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (4,124 at the 2021 Census → 4,298 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 (315011402). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.