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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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Wavell Heights has an estimated 11,240 residents, up from 10,344 at the 2021 Census — a change of 896 people, or 8.7%. Growth has averaged 1.5% a year over five years. Overseas migration accounts for 42.6% of that increase. That puts 3,140 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
AreaSearch evaluations estimate the population of Wavell Heights at approximately 11,240 as of Aug 2026. This marks an expansion of 896 people (8.7%) from the 10,344 people recorded in the 2021 Census. The updated total is derived from the ABS estimated resident population figure of 11,227 as of June 2025 alongside 20 validated new addresses added post-Census. With a resulting density of 3,139 persons per square kilometer, the locality ranks in the upper quartile across nationwide areas reviewed by AreaSearch. Outpacing the broader SA3 area (8.0%), Wavell Heights's 8.7% rise established it as a primary regional growth hub.
Inbound overseas migration served as the foremost catalyst, generating roughly 42.6% of recent net gains, while interstate arrivals and natural increase also provided positive contributions. Projections generated by ABS/Geoscience Australia (published in 2024 using 2022 baseline figures) are utilized for SA2 regions. In instances where SA2 boundaries are excluded or timelines extend past 2032, Queensland State Government SA2 forecasts (issued in 2023 utilizing 2021 baselines) are referenced. Because state datasets omit age-specific breakdowns, AreaSearch allocates proportional cohort weighting derived from ABS Greater Capital Region projections (published in 2023 from 2022 data). Demographic trajectories point toward long-term gains sitting marginally under the national median, with the community anticipated to add 642 persons by 2041 according to the newest annual ERP figures, representing cumulative 16-year growth of 5.6%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
262 new dwellings have been approved in Wavell Heights over the past five years, an average of 52 a year. That places the area in the 75th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 5 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 53 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 96% 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 planning permissions in Wavell Heights have averaged roughly 52 new homes annually, totaling 262 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26). Over this same span (between FY-22 and FY-26), the suburb added an average of 3 new residents per year for each completed home, reflecting steady buyer interest that reinforces asset values. Developers are concentrating on upscale offerings, with new builds recording an average value of $818,000. Meanwhile, commercial construction activity remains subdued, registering approvals valued at $794,000 this financial year. Per capita building approval volumes in Wavell Heights parallel those of Greater Brisbane, sustaining regional market equilibrium.
Standalone houses dominate new residential building approvals at 96.0%, with medium and high-density housing comprising the remaining 4.0%, thereby preserving the suburb's traditional low-density residential profile tailored to families prioritizing space. Registering approximately 199 people per approval, the local market exhibits steady transitional characteristics. According to the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch, Wavell Heights is projected to expand by 629 residents by 2041. Prevailing building activity indicates residential supply is positioned to absorb incoming demand comfortably, creating favorable purchasing conditions and potentially enabling demographic growth to exceed baseline expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Wavell Heights
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 88 current infrastructure and development projects close to Wavell Heights, worth an estimated $20.8 billion. 15 are already under construction and 23 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics 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
Urban planning initiatives, capital works, and major civic projects play a pivotal role in shaping local performance. AreaSearch has pinpointed 27 key infrastructure developments with potential influence over the area, including the Danby Lane project, Sandgate Road Intersection Upgrade, The Prince Charles Hospital Expansion, and the Brisbane Housing Company - Chermside Development.
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
Danby Lane - Nundah Village
Mixed-use development at the corner of Danby Lane, Buckland Road and Sandgate Road in Nundah Village, comprising a 12-storey tower of 93 apartments (one to four bedrooms) above ground-floor retail and first-floor commercial space. Amenities include a podium pool, gym, function room and rooftop terrace with city views, plus 135 car spaces across five basement levels. Building height is 40m. Art Deco-inspired brick archway podium references Nundah's architectural heritage. Developer Gardner Vaughan Group will relocate its head office into the development.Construction commenced February 2025 with completion targeted for mid-2027.
Danby Lane
12-storey mixed-use project in Nundah Village delivering 84 apartments above ground floor retail with resident amenities including pool deck, gym, function room and rooftop terrace. Construction commenced in Feb 2025 with completion targeted for early 2027.
The Prince Charles Hospital Expansion
The Prince Charles Hospital Expansion is a major health project delivered by Queensland Health and Metro North Health, with Hutchinson Builders leading detailed design and construction. The project delivers a new multi-storey acute services building adding 93 inpatient beds, a significantly expanded emergency department with 53 treatment bays, new operating theatres, and paediatric outpatient services. Site works and construction activities are actively underway at the Chermside campus.
Sandgate Road and Hamilton Road Intersection Upgrade
Traffic capacity and safety upgrade at the key intersection of Sandgate Road and Hamilton Road in Wavell Heights. Works include signal optimization, dedicated turning lane improvements, and upgraded active transport pedestrian crossings to reduce congestion along the arterial corridor.
Clayfield Residential Development Program
Ongoing program of medium-density residential redevelopment across Clayfield comprising apartment buildings, townhouses and infill housing on multiple privately owned sites. Numerous approved developments are progressing through construction while additional applications continue to be lodged under Brisbane City Plan, supporting gradual urban renewal and increased housing supply within the established suburb.
26-30 Kuran Street Development
Proposed 6-storey residential building with 29 apartments. Existing dwellings will be demolished to make way for the new development.
23-25 Sammells Drive Residential Development
Development approval for a multi-unit residential project comprising 33 apartments (10 one-bedroom and 23 two-bedroom configurations) across a 1,093 sqm site. The proposal involves the demolition of two existing residential dwellings to facilitate the mid-rise apartment complex. The site represents an infill development opportunity close to Westfield Chermside and key transport corridors.
12 Kelso Street Build-to-Rent
A proposed 10-storey build-to-rent residential development featuring 226 studio, one, two, and three-bedroom apartments tailored for key worker housing. The scheme includes communal co-working spaces, landscaped ground-floor gardens, outdoor areas, and a rooftop amenity deck. The application was submitted to Brisbane City Council under development application A006388483.
7,238 residents of Wavell Heights are employed, from a labour force of 7,403. Unemployment sits at 2.2%, with participation at 82.7%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.9% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 8,376, about 75% 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
The local labor market is defined by a skilled workforce, significant professional services representation, an unemployment rate of only 2.2%, and yearly job growth estimated at 7.2%. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 7,238, while the local jobless rate sat 2.1% under the Greater Brisbane benchmark of 4.3%. Labor force engagement is particularly elevated, reaching 82.7% against 70.1% across Greater Brisbane. Census findings indicated that 25.6% of workers operated from home, a metric influenced in part by prevailing Covid-19 restrictions. Local workers are predominantly engaged in health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training.
Professional & technical roles display exceptional prominence, tracking at 1.3 times the regional average. Conversely, manufacturing comprises a smaller share at 4.1% of employment, below the 6.4% regional level. Comparisons between resident workers and local job counts suggest the suburb remains predominantly residential with limited on-site employment capacity. AreaSearch evaluations of ABS and SALM figures show matching 7.2% expansions in both employment and labor force across the 12 months to March 2026, preserving unemployment stability. Over the identical timeframe, Greater Brisbane saw employment rise by 3.2% and the labor force climb 3.4%, alongside a 0.1 percentage point increase in unemployment. National outlooks from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 provide context for future workforce trajectory. While nationwide jobs are projected to rise by 6.6% across five years and 13.7% across ten years, structural variations exist across sectors. Applying these industry benchmarks to the local profile suggests employment among residents could increase by 6.9% across five years and 14.1% across ten years (representing an illustrative weighting model that excludes localized population adjustments).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Wavell Heights is $2,638 a week (about $137,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,154 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $68,316 a year against an average of $85,085. 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 data compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 positions Wavell Heights SA2 among the highest-earning Australian communities, recording a median income of $68,316 and an average income of $85,085, compared to $58,236 and $72,799 across Greater Brisbane. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, baseline figures adjust to approximately $76,077 (median) and $94,751 (average) as of March 2026. Across personal, family, and household levels, Census earnings place the area between the 88th and 93rd percentiles nationally. The largest income tier covers 27.5% of residents (3,091 people) earning between $1,500 - 2,999, mirroring the wider district where 33.3% fall in this bracket.
Affluence is underlined by 43.9% taking home over $3,000 per week, fostering high-end commerce. Housing expenses absorb 13.7% of income, while disposable earnings rank in the 93rd percentile and SEIFA income status sits in the 9th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Wavell Heights had 3,717 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 92% detached houses and 5% apartments. 44% are owned with a mortgage, 27% rented and 29% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $430 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,450 a month, a total housing cost higher than 85% of areas nationally. Rent absorbs 16.3% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.4%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census assessments show single detached houses constitute 92.1% of residential dwellings in Wavell Heights, while semi-detached dwellings, apartments, and other configurations make up 7.9%, contrasting with Brisbane metro splits of 73.5% and 26.5%. Outright home ownership stands at 29.4%, outperforming metropolitan levels, while remaining residences are under mortgage (43.6%) or leased (27.0%). Monthly mortgage commitments average a median of $2,450, surpassing the Brisbane metro benchmark of $1,863, while median weekly rent is $430 compared to $380 regionally. Nationally, local repayments exceed the Australian average of $1,863, and rents remain above the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Wavell Heights counted 3,717 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 4,039 today, averaging 2.7 people each. 41% are couples with children, more than in 82% of areas nationally, against 24% couples without children. 20% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.4 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute the bulk of the community at 76.1% of all households, encompassing couples with children (41.3%), couples without children (23.9%), and single parent families (9.6%). Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 23.9%, consisting of single-person households at 20.2% and group living arrangements at 3.6%. The typical household size sits at a median of 2.7 people, exceeding the 2.6 Greater Brisbane average.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
40.2% of adults in Wavell Heights hold a university qualification, including 27.5% with a bachelor degree and 8.3% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 17.5% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 2,596 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,040 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
Tertiary attainment in Wavell Heights significantly outpaces state and national figures, with 40.2% of residents aged 15+ holding higher education credentials compared to 25.7% across QLD and 30.4% nationwide. Bachelor degrees represent the most prevalent qualification at 27.5%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 8.3% and graduate diplomas at 4.4%. Vocational qualifications are also well represented, with 29.1% of the cohort aged 15+ possessing trade or technical credentials, including certificates (17.5%) and advanced diplomas (11.6%). Formal study engagement is substantial throughout the community, with 30.3% of locals participating in an educational course.
Primary schooling accounts for 10.3% of residents, secondary education comprises 8.5%, and tertiary pathways involve 6.2%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Wavell Heights means driving: households keep an average of 1.5 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
74.0% of residents in Wavell Heights report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 82% of areas nationally. 3.7% need daily assistance with core activities, and 61.6% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 3.9 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Public health metrics compiled by AreaSearch indicate strong outcomes across Wavell Heights, highlighted by low mortality and minimal chronic illness rates, particularly among younger residents. Coverage for private health insurance is exceptionally prevalent, encompassing approximately 62% of all residents (6,923 people), surpassing both Greater Brisbane (55.8%) and the national benchmark (55.7%). Asthma and mental health issues represent the primary reported health conditions, affecting 7.2% and 7.6% of residents, respectively. A significant 74.0% of the population reported no long-term medical ailments, exceeding the 69.2% rate across Greater Brisbane. Working-age adults display strong general vitality with low chronic illness rates.
Residents aged 65 and over comprise 12.4% of the population (1,396 people), tracking below Greater Brisbane's 15.0% and lower than national age profiles.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Wavell Heights is largely Australian-born, at 80.5% of residents, with 11.4% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (26.9%) and Australian (25.1%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural demographics in Wavell Heights broadly align with metropolitan patterns, with 80.5% of residents born in Australia, 91.0% holding Australian citizenship, and 88.6% speaking solely English at home. Christianity forms the primary faith affiliation, encompassing 54.6% of residents. The most noticeable deviation occurs in Judaism, which represents 0.2% of the local community compared to 0.1% across Greater Brisbane. Regarding parental origins, the leading ancestries across Wavell Heights are English (26.9%), Australian (25.1%), and Irish (10.7%). Other ancestral groups show variations from regional shares, including German representation at 4.4% (vs 4.2% regionally), Scottish at 8.6% (vs 7.4%), and Samoan at 0.3% (vs 0.9%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Wavell Heights is 37. 25.7% 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
Age distributions in Wavell Heights mirror Greater Brisbane across major cohorts, differing by no more than 2.6 percentage points within any single band. The estimated median age is 37, matching the 2021 Census baseline and sitting 1 year older than the Greater Brisbane median of 36 recorded at the same Census. By 2041, the largest numerical expansion is projected within the senior and retiree bracket (65+), increasing by 557 residents (40%) to reach 1,953, while young to middle-aged adults, children, and young adults are forecast to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Wavell Heights
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, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 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 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 — 20 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (10,344 at the 2021 Census → 11,240 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 (302021034). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.