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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.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Townsville - South has an estimated 6,110 residents, up from 4,767 at the 2021 Census — a change of 1,343 people, or 28.2%. Growth has averaged 4.7% a year over five years, faster than 94% of areas nationally. 482 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Interstate and internal migration accounts for 80.7% of that increase. 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 population of Townsville - South stands at approximately 6,110 as of Aug 2026. This represents an expansion of 1,343 people (28.2%) relative to the 2021 Census, when 4,767 people were counted. This update draws on the ABS Estimated Resident Population of 5,861 as of June 2025 alongside 482 validated new addresses recorded after the Census date. With this resident count, the population density sits at 2.9 persons per square kilometer, ensuring a spacious living environment. Furthermore, the 28.2% expansion since the 2021 census positioned Townsville - South ahead of both the SA3 district and the broader SA4 region (7.2%), establishing it as a primary regional growth hub.
Interstate migration served as the principal engine of demographic growth, generating roughly 80.7% of recent population additions, though natural increase and overseas arrivals also made positive contributions. SA2 projections published jointly by ABS/Geoscience Australia in 2024 (anchored to 2022 as a base year) form the foundation of AreaSearch's demographic modelling. For locations lacking this coverage or extending beyond 2032, Queensland State Government SA2 series released in 2023 (utilising 2021 figures) are applied. Because these state figures omit age cohort breakdowns, AreaSearch incorporates cohort weightings derived from the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (published in 2023, using 2022 data). Demographic forecasts indicate extraordinary future growth that ranks within the top 10 percent of Australia's regional areas. Projections through 2041 indicate an addition of 5,376 persons based on recent annual ERP population counts, translating to an overall expansion of 83.9% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
437 new dwellings have been approved in Townsville - South over the past five years, an average of 87 a year. That places the area in the 93rd percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 14 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 88 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 100% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. 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 Townsville - South have averaged approximately 87 dwellings each year, amounting to 437 homes across the previous 5 financial years. Between FY-22 and FY-26, the area added an average of 2.8 new residents per year for each dwelling, highlighting steady demand that underpins housing values. Meanwhile, newly approved residential builds show an average value of $409,000, which sits below regional benchmarks and reflects comparatively attainable pricing. On the commercial front, non-residential approvals reached $4.4 million during this financial year, pointing to modest commercial construction activity. Per capita construction activity in Townsville - South exceeds the Rest of Qld benchmark by 297.0%, broadening dwelling options for incoming purchasers.
This rate also markedly outpaces the national average, signalling elevated developer enthusiasm. Furthermore, recent residential building approvals consist entirely of detached houses, preserving the neighbourhood's low-density profile and supplying standalone family properties suited to buyers seeking space. An approval ratio of around 57 people per dwelling approval underscores the location's status as an expanding growth precinct. According to the most recent AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Townsville - South is projected to grow by 5,127 residents by 2041. Should current construction volumes persist, housing supply could fall short of resident inflows, creating competitive market conditions and placing upward pressure on property values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Townsville - South
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| 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 one current infrastructure or development project inside Townsville - South, worth an estimated $74 million. A further 30 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $8.97 billion. 12 are already under construction and 10 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, retail 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 economic growth and residential demand are fundamentally shaped by capital works, major development initiatives, and regional planning schemes. AreaSearch has pinpointed 101 projects positioned to influence the surrounding district. Notable developments include the Queensland Resources Common User Facility, SunHQ Hydrogen Hub, Iluka, and the Wulguru Group Stuart Facility Expansion, which represent key projects within the local pipeline.
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
Queensland Resources Common User Facility
Australian-first critical minerals processing test facility being developed by the Queensland Government at Cleveland Bay Industrial Park, Townsville. The facility will enable demonstration-scale processing trials, initially for vanadium with future capability for cobalt, rare earth elements and other critical minerals. Construction and commissioning are progressing with Sedgman as managing contractor, with opening targeted for late 2026.
Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct
Townsville City Council's 2200-hectare Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct is being developed about 40 km south of Townsville as a long-term advanced manufacturing, processing, technology and low-emissions industry hub. Enabling infrastructure is underway, with internal road construction progressing, Stage 2 roads commencing in February 2026 for about eight months, and raw water infrastructure in design with water transmission main tenders expected in mid-2026 and construction scheduled from mid-2026. The Queensland Coordinator-General lists the precinct as a prescribed project with approvals progressing, road construction underway, and enabling water infrastructure expected to finish in Q3 2029.
Wulguru Group Stuart Facility Expansion
Multi-stage expansion of Wulguru Group's 17 hectare Stuart manufacturing and engineering facility. Stage 1, including an 8,500 sqm heavy fabrication workshop, 2,000 sqm paint and blast facility and new head office, was completed in 2025. Stage 2 has development approval and will deliver rail wagon maintenance, locomotive maintenance, rail wheel workshop and rolling stock paint and blast facilities. The balance of the site is currently being developed with operations targeted during 2027.
SunHQ Hydrogen Hub
Renewable hydrogen production and refuelling hub at the Sun Metals Zinc Refinery precinct featuring a 1 MW PEM electrolyser powered by the co-located Sun Metals Solar Farm, with compression, storage and dispensing infrastructure to supply Ark Energy/Townsville Logistics heavy vehicles and third-party users (up to ~155,000 kg p.a.).
Iluka
Masterplanned residential community to be delivered over 10 stages in Wulguru, Townsville. Promoted by PointCorp as large, mostly level lots with ocean views in proximity to Townsville CBD, hospital, ADF base, and James Cook University.
GEON Build-to-Rent at Fairfield & Co
Large-scale Build-To-Rent (BTR) project at Fairfield & Co, comprising two 12-storey apartment towers with 294 apartments and ground floor retail/commercial spaces. GEON plans North Queensland's first build-to-rent development featuring two towers, 294 apartments, and retail spaces at Fairfield & Co site. Part of the $125 million mixed-use Fairfield & Co precinct. Has received formal development approval from Townsville City Council.
Fairfield Business Precinct
Built business park within the Fairfield Precinct at Idalia, Townsville. Offers freehold and lease opportunities adjacent to major retailers including Bunnings and the Fairfield Central shopping centre. Tenants in the precinct include Liberty Fuel, Reece Plumbing, Bridgestone and Containers for Change. Ingenta indicates one prime allotment (Lot 2, 2/67 Lakeside Drive) remains for sale.
Riverway Arts Centre and Library
Modern cultural facility providing community access to arts, library services, and cultural programs along the scenic Ross River precinct.
2,773 residents of Townsville - South are employed, from a labour force of 2,848. Unemployment sits at 2.6%, with participation at 58.9%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.1% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth, so in an area growing as fast as this one it understates the likely rise in local jobs. The working-day population is estimated at 5,197, about 85% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Townsville - South features an experienced local workforce with prominent representation across essential service sectors and a low unemployment rate of 2.6%. As of March 2026, 2,773 residents hold employment, and local joblessness sits 1.3% below the Regional Qld benchmark of 3.9%. However, the local participation rate of 58.9% trails Regional Qld's 64.2%. Census figures also indicate that a modest 10.2% of workers operated from home, though this figure was influenced by Covid-19 restrictions. The primary industries employing local residents comprise health care & social assistance, construction, and public administration & safety.
Specialisation is particularly pronounced in public administration & safety, where the local concentration is 1.8 times the regional benchmark. Conversely, accommodation & food services accounts for only 3.6% of local employment compared to 8.3% across Regional Qld. A comparison of the Census local workplace count against the resident worker tally indicates that local employment capacity remains comparatively constrained within the immediate boundaries. AreaSearch evaluation of ABS and SALM metrics indicates that in the year to March 2026, both the local workforce and total employed residents contracted by 1.9%, keeping the jobless rate relatively unchanged. In contrast, Regional Qld recorded a 0.1% increase in employment, a 0.3% expansion in the labour force, and a 0.1 percentage points rise in unemployment. Long-term workplace trends can be evaluated using national industry outlooks from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26. Across Australia, workforce numbers are forecast to increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though trajectories diverge by sector. Applying these sector-specific paths to the local industry distribution suggests that employment among Townsville - South residents would grow by 6.1% over five years and 13.0% over ten years (note that this represents a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not incorporate local demographic forecasts).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Townsville - South is $1,886 a week (about $98,000 a year), with median personal income at $876 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $55,344 a year against an average of $66,464. 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
Taxation statistics from the ATO released at the postcode level for financial year 2023 show that taxpayers in the Townsville - South SA2 generated a median income of $55,344 alongside an average income of $66,464. These metrics track slightly below national figures, while sitting close to Regional Qld benchmarks of $53,146 (median) and $66,593 (average). Factoring in an 11.36% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, modelled values reach approximately $61,631 for the median and $74,014 for the average as of March 2026. Data from Census 2021 indicates that personal, family, and household earnings align around the 60th percentile across the country.
Earnings distributions show the largest concentration in the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly bracket, containing 34.5% of residents (2,107 people), matching regional patterns where 31.7% fall into the same tier. After meeting housing commitments, households preserve 88.5% of income, demonstrating healthy disposable capacity, with the area falling into the 5th decile on the SEIFA income index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Townsville - South had 1,663 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 100% detached houses and 0% apartments. 49% are owned with a mortgage, 8% rented and 43% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $270 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,733 a month. Rent absorbs 14.3% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.2%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the most recent Census, the residential landscape in Townsville - South was composed of 99.7% houses and 0.3% other dwellings (incorporating apartments, townhouses, and alternate forms), compared to 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings across Regional Qld. Outright home ownership reached 43.0%, considerably above the Regional Qld level, while mortgaged properties accounted for 48.7% and tenant-occupied dwellings made up 8.2%. Median monthly mortgage costs sat at $1,733, higher than the Regional Qld figure of $1,655, whereas median weekly rent was $270 compared to $345 regionally. Relative to national figures, local mortgage payments sit beneath the Australian median of $1,863, and rents remain substantially lower than the nationwide average of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Townsville - South counted 1,663 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 2,132 today, averaging 2.6 people each. 33% are couples with children, against 39% couples without children. 18% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.8 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
The domestic landscape is predominantly composed of family arrangements, which make up 79.4% of households. These consist of couples without children (39.1%), couples with children (32.6%), and single parent families (7.3%). Non-family living situations account for the remaining 20.6%, comprising lone person households at 18.2% and group households at 2.0%. The typical home accommodates a median household size of 2.6 people, marginally exceeding the Regional Qld average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
19.3% of adults in Townsville - South hold a university qualification, including 13.2% with a bachelor degree and 3.6% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 32.8% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 32 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 946 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
Attainment figures show that 19.3% of local residents possess a university qualification, tracking below the nationwide benchmark of 30.4% and highlighting a target area for higher education initiatives. Bachelor degrees constitute the largest share of higher education credentials at 13.2%, with postgraduate qualifications at 3.6% and graduate diplomas at 2.5%. Conversely, vocational and trade training is widespread, with 42.3% of community members aged 15+ holding practical certifications, split between certificates (32.8%) and advanced diplomas (9.5%). Formal study participation is substantial across the community, with 29.2% of residents enrolled in an educational course.
Broken down by level, primary schooling accounts for 10.3%, secondary education encompasses 9.4%, and 3.8% are enrolled in tertiary programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Townsville - South means driving: households keep an average of 2.0 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
68.2% of residents in Townsville - South report no long-term health condition. 4.9% need daily assistance with core activities, and 52.1% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.6 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health measures assessed by AreaSearch regarding mortality and illness point to below-average overall outcomes in Townsville - South, with standard conditions presenting at slightly elevated rates across both younger and older age brackets. In addition, private health insurance coverage sits slightly behind the typical SA2 level, encompassing approximately 52% of the population (~3,183 people). The primary chronic diagnoses reported in the district are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 9.1 and 8.3% of the community respectively. Meanwhile, 68.2% of residents stated they were free from long-term medical conditions, compared to 67.6% throughout Regional Qld.
Working-age adults exhibit an above-average incidence of long-term health issues. In contrast, older residents, who account for 19.9% of the population (1,214 people aged 65 and over), record positive health metrics that exceed both regional averages and nationwide benchmarks.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Townsville - South is largely Australian-born, at 89.2% of residents, with 3.6% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (33.1%) and English (30.8%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Townsville - South demonstrates lower cultural diversity than typical benchmarks, with Australian citizens making up 86.8% of the population, 89.2% of residents born in Australia, and 96.4% speaking solely English in the home. Regarding religious affiliation, Christianity represents the primary faith, accounting for 55.6% of residents relative to 52.2% across Regional Qld. Assessing parental birthplace, the primary ancestries in Townsville - South are Australian (33.1%, noticeably exceeding the regional benchmark of 26.5%), English (30.8%), and Irish (8.3%). Distinct proportional variations also emerge among other backgrounds: German ancestry represents 4.5% locally (versus 4.7% regionally), New Zealand stands at 0.8% (versus 0.9%), and Italian ancestry constitutes 3.5% (versus 2.4%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Townsville - South is 44, older than 78% of areas nationally. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 23.5% 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 age distribution of Townsville - South aligns closely with regional trends, showing a maximum variance of 1.7 percentage points from Regional Qld benchmarks. The estimated median age stands at 44, down from 45 at the 2021 Census, yet sitting 3 years above the Regional Qld benchmark of 41 recorded at that time and above the national median of 38. The most prominent demographic adjustment since the Census appears in the 45 - 64 age bracket, which fell from 31.4% to an estimated 26.3% of the population. Looking forward to 2041, residents aged 25 - 44 are projected to drive the bulk of local expansion, increasing by 1,496 residents (97%) to reach 3,036.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Townsville - South
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Sep 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 last month 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 last month 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 last month headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Sep 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 Sep 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Sep 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 Sep 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 6 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 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago 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 — 482 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (4,767 at the 2021 Census → 6,110 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 (318021489). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.