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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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Wambo has an estimated 17,987 residents, up from 17,015 at the 2021 Census — a change of 972 people, or 5.7%. Growth has averaged 0.5% a year over five years. 223 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Natural increase accounts for 53.1% 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 the analysis by AreaSearch, the population of Wambo is approximately 17,987 as of May 2026. This represents an expansion of 972 people (5.7%) compared to the 17,015 people recorded in the 2021 Census. This adjustment is calculated using the ABS estimated resident population of 17,853 from June 2025 and 223 validated new addresses recorded since the Census. Based on these numbers, the population density stands at 3.2 persons per square kilometer, ensuring a spacious environment for residents. The 5.7% rate of growth since the 2021 census outpaced the SA4 region (5.0%) and the SA3 area, positioning Wambo as a frontrunner for growth locally.
Natural increase was the primary driver of this growth, accounting for roughly 53.1% of the overall population rise in recent times. AreaSearch utilises projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for individual SA2 areas, which were published in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline. For any SA2 regions excluded from these datasets, and for periods after 2032, projections from the Queensland State Government released in 2023 based on 2021 data are used instead. Because the state-level figures do not detail age group breakdowns, AreaSearch redistributes growth proportionally across age groups using the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections, which are based on 2022 data. Looking ahead, regional demographics are projected to align with the lower quartile of national trends, with Wambo's population forecast to grow by 424 residents by 2041 based on recent annual ERP statistics, indicating a total rise of 1.6% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
136 new dwellings have been approved in Wambo over the past five years, an average of 27 a year. That is 1.6 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 29, broadly in line with 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
Wambo registers approximately 27 new residential approvals each year, summing to 136 homes over the last 5 financial years. In the current FY-26 period, 27 approvals have been logged. With an average of 3.5 new residents per year moving in per completed dwelling over the past 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25), demand is outstripping new supply, which typically drives up prices and intensifies buyer competition. Meanwhile, new builds have an average estimated value of $306,000, which sits below the regional average, pointing to more affordable options for home buyers.
Additionally, commercial approvals have reached $10.4 million this financial year, showing ongoing business investment. When compared to the Rest of Qld, construction activity per person in Wambo is around 57%, placing it in the 20th percentile of all assessed locations nationwide, which indicates restricted options for buyers and bolsters demand for existing properties. This level is also below the national average, reflecting a mature local market and hinting at potential planning limitations. Furthermore, new residential builds have consisted entirely of detached houses, maintaining the low density layout of the area and appealing to buyers seeking extra space. The metric of 788 people in the area per dwelling approval underscores a quiet, low-scale development environment. Demographic projections indicate that Wambo's population will expand by 290 residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch. At the current pace of construction, residential supply should be sufficient to meet this demand, offering positive conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth that surpasses current projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Wambo
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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 11 current infrastructure and development projects inside Wambo, worth an estimated $4.57 billion. A further 86 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $27.9 billion. 40 are already under construction and 36 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans energy, residential development and health & medical. 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, planning choices, and major developments can significantly impact an area's trajectory. AreaSearch has identified 21 projects expected to influence this region. Key developments include the Within Energy Dalby Geothermal Project (EPG 2031), the Dalby Cultural Centre, the Dalby Water Supply Upgrade - Treatment Development, and the Dalby Police Station Redevelopment, with details provided for the most significant ones.
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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
Dalby Water Supply Upgrade - Treatment Development
The Dalby Water Supply Upgrade Project is a multi-million-dollar initiative to secure long-term water reliability for Dalby. It addresses declining yields from alluvial aquifers and enhances flood resilience. Key components include new Great Artesian Basin bores, trunk pipelines, and an advanced potable water treatment facility with desalination (reverse osmosis) capabilities, providing an additional 2.2 megalitres per day. Current 2026 works include the construction of three 12-hectare evaporation ponds to manage brine concentrate and process waste.
Within Energy Dalby Geothermal Project (EPG 2031)
A geothermal exploration project targeting shallow geothermal resources from permeable formations in the Darling Downs region. The project is part of EPG 2031 and aims to develop commercial-scale renewable baseload power generation using binary power plant technology suitable for lower temperature geothermal resources.
Dalby Cultural Centre
New regional cultural centre within the Thomas Jack Park Precinct including a library, art gallery, 121-seat multipurpose cinema, visitor information centre and community gathering spaces. Following completion of design and tendering, construction commenced in 2026 as part of the wider Thomas Jack Park revitalisation.
ALDI Dalby Store
Construction of a new ALDI store in the innovative ALDI Fresh format, being the first of its kind in Queensland. The project involved demolition of five existing houses, removal of asbestos materials, and construction on challenging reactive soil conditions using suspended slab and bored pier foundation design. The store opened on August 1, 2018, featuring modern interior design, improved navigation, and enhanced product displays.
Mary's Place
Award-winning transformation of the former Commercial Hotel site into a vibrant public square honoring local icon Mary Barry. Features outdoor cinema screen, abstract replica of Mary's famous bar, colorful flowered arbours, spectacular lighting, seating areas, and spaces for markets and community events. Winner of 2025 Australian Urban Design Award and 2024 AILA Queensland Landscape Architecture Award.
Dalby Police Station Redevelopment
The upgraded Dalby Police Facility has been completed following a $19 million redevelopment, enhancing policing capabilities in the Dalby community. It accommodates 60 operational staff, including officers from the Western Downs Patrol Group, Criminal Investigation Branch, Child Protection and Investigation Unit, Highway Patrol, a state-of-the-art Scenes of Crime section with an investigative laboratory, training capacity, a major incident room, and upgraded watchhouse facilities. The facility also features a memorial honoring fallen police officers Constable Matthew Arnold and Constable Rachel McCrow.
Dalby Hybrid PV+BESS
A pioneering hybrid solar PV and battery storage project featuring a 2.45MW dc solar array with 2.54MW/5MWh BESS, representing one of Australia's first co-located PV and battery developments sharing the same grid connection point. The facility supplies clean electricity to over 1,680 households and avoids 3,553 tonnes of CO2 emissions annually.
Jimbour East Solar Farm
The Jimbour East Solar Farm is a 200MW renewable energy project featuring approximately 500,000 solar panels. Under the 2025 Planning Act updates, the project is advancing through the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) and Community Benefit Agreement (CBA) phase with the Western Downs Regional Council to ensure local economic and workforce benefits.
9,250 residents of Wambo are employed, from a labour force of 9,622. Unemployment sits at 3.9%, with participation at 68.1%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.3% 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 well-distributed between white and blue collar occupations across diverse industries, featuring an unemployment rate of just 3.9% and an estimated annual job growth rate of 1.0%. As of March 2026, 9,250 residents are employed. The unemployment rate matches the Regional Qld benchmark of 3.9%, while labor force participation is moderately high at 68.1% compared to 64.3% in Regional Qld. Census data shows a low proportion of residents working from home at 10.7%, though this figure may have been influenced by Covid-19 restrictions. The primary employment sectors for residents are agriculture, forestry & fishing, retail trade, and health care & social assistance.
The local economy is heavily oriented toward agriculture, forestry & fishing, where the proportion of workers is 3.7 times higher than the regional average. Conversely, health care & social assistance is less prominent, employing 11.2% of the workforce compared to 16.1% regionally. Although there are local employment options, the ratio of the Census working population to the total local population suggests a significant number of residents travel outside the area for work. According to AreaSearch's evaluation of SALM and ABS statistics, during the 12 months ending March 2026, the number of employed individuals rose by 1.0% while the total labor force grew by 2.3%, leading to a 1.3 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. In comparison, Regional Qld experienced employment growth of 0.1% and labor force growth of 0.3%, with its unemployment rate rising by 0.1 percentage points. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia as of May-25 provide context for Wambo's future labor demand. These five and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce structure to model potential trends. Nationwide employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates vary significantly by sector. Applying these industry projections to Wambo's specific workforce suggests local employment could grow by 5.3% over five years and 11.7% over ten years, representing a basic weighted projection that does not factor in localized population changes.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Wambo is $1,410 a week (about $73,000 a year), with median personal income at $725 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $51,383 a year against an average of $60,020. 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 latest postcode-level ATO data from AreaSearch for financial year 2023 indicates that Wambo SA2 residents earn less than the national average, recording a median income of $51,383 and an average of $60,020. This is lower than the Regional Qld figures, where the median is $53,146 and the average is $66,593. Factoring in a Wage Price Index rise of 11.36% since financial year 2023, the updated figures would be roughly $57,220 for the median and $66,838 for the average as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census places Wambo's household, family, and individual incomes at a modest level, ranking between the 29th and 33rd percentiles.
The $1,500 - 2,999 weekly income bracket is the most common, accounting for 32.7% of residents (5,881 people), which aligns with the regional trend of 31.7% in this bracket. Housing expenses are manageable, with residents keeping 87.0% of their earnings, though disposable income remains below average at the 33rd percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Wambo had 6,064 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 93% detached houses and 0% apartments. 34% are owned with a mortgage, 33% rented and 34% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $250 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,300 a month. Rent absorbs 17.7% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.3%. 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 types in Wambo at the time of the latest Census consisted of 92.7% houses and 7.3% other dwelling types like townhouses, apartments, and alternative structures, compared to Regional Qld's breakdown of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other options. The rate of home ownership was matching the regional average of 33.5%, with mortgaged properties making up 33.6% and rented properties accounting for 32.9%. The median monthly mortgage payment was lower than the regional average at $1,300, and the median weekly rent was $250, compared to Regional Qld figures of $1,655 and $345.
On a national level, Wambo's mortgage payments are significantly below the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are also well below the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Wambo counted 6,064 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 6,410 today, averaging 2.5 people each. 29% are couples with children, against 29% couples without children. 25% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.1 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 71.8%, which includes 29.4% couples with children, 28.9% couples without children, and 12.3% single parent households. The remaining 28.2% are non-family households, with single-person homes at 25.4% and group homes making up 2.8%. The median household size is 2.5 people, matching the average for Regional Qld.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
13.6% of adults in Wambo hold a university qualification, including 10.8% with a bachelor degree and 1.2% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 83% of areas nationally. A further 31.7% hold a vocational qualification. 11 schools serve the area, with 3,451 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 953 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 presents challenges in the area, with tertiary qualification rates at 13.6%, which is much lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This situation presents opportunities for targeted education programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 10.8%, followed by graduate diplomas at 1.6% and postgraduate degrees at 1.2%. Practical and vocational skills are prominent, with 40.2% of residents aged 15 and over holding a vocational qualification, consisting of advanced diplomas (8.5%) and certificates (31.7%). Participation in education is quite high, with 30.8% of the population enrolled in some form of study.
This includes 12.8% attending primary school, 10.1% in secondary education, and 2.3% enrolled in tertiary institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Wambo means driving: households keep an average of 1.6 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
64.2% of residents in Wambo report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 80% of areas nationally. 6.7% need daily assistance with core activities, and 48.9% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.1 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 point to notable challenges in Wambo, according to AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and chronic health conditions, which affect both younger and older cohorts. The proportion of residents with private health insurance is low at approximately 49% of the population (~8,795 people), compared to 52.5% in Regional Qld and a national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent health issues in the area are asthma and mental health concerns, affecting 9.8% and 9.5% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 64.2% of the population reported no chronic medical conditions, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld.
Chronic condition rates are elevated among the working-age population. Residents aged 65 and over make up 18.3% of the community (3,288 people), which is lower than the Regional Qld average of 20.4%. Health profiles for older residents show some difficulties, with national rankings generally matching those of the broader community.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Wambo is largely Australian-born, at 91.9% of residents, with 4.4% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (32.5%) and English (29.5%). 5.7% 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
Wambo displays lower levels of cultural diversity, with citizens making up 89.3% of the population, 91.9% of residents born in Australia, and 95.6% speaking only English at home. The predominant religion is Christianity, representing 66.5% of the population, compared to 52.2% across Regional Qld. In terms of parental heritage, the top three groups represented are Australian at 32.5% of the population (notably higher than the regional average of 26.5%), English at 29.5%, and Irish at 8.3%. There are also distinct variations in other backgrounds: German ancestry is overrepresented at 7.4% (compared to 4.7% regionally), Australian Aboriginal is at 5.7% (compared to 3.9%), and Filipino ancestry is at 1.7% (compared to 0.9%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Wambo is 37. 25.4% 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
Wambo's median age is 37 years, which is lower than the Regional Qld average of 41 and close to the Australian median of 38. The 5 - 14 age group is over-represented locally at 14.1% compared to the regional benchmark, while the 45 - 54 bracket is under-represented at 11.2%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 has increased from 5.3% to 6.2%. In contrast, the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 12.9% to 11.2%, and the 5 to 14 group decreased from 15.6% to 14.1%.
Demographic modeling indicates the local age profile will shift by 2041, with the 75 to 84 cohort projected to grow the most at 26%, adding 296 people to reach 1,417. Conversely, the 45 to 54 and 55 to 64 cohorts are expected to shrink.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Wambo
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 | Jul 2026 last month all 11 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 Jul 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 — 223 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (17,015 at the 2021 Census → 17,987 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 (307021183). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.