Westlake
Statistical Area - sa2

Westlake has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Westlake's population is approximately 4,524 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 80 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,444. The growth was inferred from the estimated resident population of 4,524 in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. Westlake's population density is around 2,381 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's 1.8% growth since the census is within 1.4 percentage points of the SA3 area (3.2%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 57.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, driving Westlake's population growth.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are used, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort. According to projected demographic shifts, Westlake's population is expected to decline by 357 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts are anticipated to grow, led by the 75 to 84 age group, which is projected to increase by 193 people over this period.

The level of residential development activity in Westlake is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Westlake has averaged approximately one new dwelling approval annually. Development approval data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) shows six dwellings approved over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25. There have been no dwelling approvals so far in FY26. The area's population decline suggests that new supply has likely kept pace with demand, providing good choices for buyers.

New properties are constructed at an average expected construction cost value of $516,000. This financial year, $390,000 worth of commercial approvals have been registered, indicating minimal commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Westlake records significantly lower building activity, 70.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings.

However, building activity has accelerated in recent years, although it remains under the national average, suggesting the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. Recent building activity consists solely of detached houses, maintaining Westlake's traditional suburban character focused on family homes. Population projections indicate stability or decline, which should reduce housing demand pressures, benefiting potential buyers.

Westlake has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified four projects likely affecting the region: Centenary Motorway Upgrade Planning, Middle Park Intersection Upgrade (Eumong Street/Riverhills Road), Metro Middle Park Mixed-Use Redevelopment, and McLeod Country Golf Club Retirement Village. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Westlake ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Westlake has an educated workforce with professional services well-represented, and an unemployment rate of 2.0% as of June 2025. There are 2,430 residents employed, with the unemployment rate being 2.1% lower than Greater Brisbane's 4.1%.

Workforce participation is similar to Greater Brisbane's 64.5%. The dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical, with the latter showing strong specialization at 1.4 times the regional level. Construction, however, is under-represented at 6.0% compared to Greater Brisbane's 9.0%. Limited local employment opportunities are indicated by the difference between Census working population and resident population.

From June 2024 to June 2025, Westlake's labour force decreased by 1.5%, with employment declining by 1.0%, leading to a 0.5 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. In contrast, Greater Brisbane saw employment growth of 4.4% and a 0.4 percentage point decrease in unemployment rate. State-level data from Sep-25 shows Queensland's employment contracted by 0.23%, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. Nationally, the unemployment rate is 4.5%, with employment growth at 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Westlake's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.8%% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

Westlake's median taxpayer income was $63,624 while the average was $79,900 according to AreaSearch data from the ATO for financial year 2022. This is notably higher than Greater Brisbane's median income of $55,645 and average income of $70,520. By March 2025, estimates suggest Westlake's median income could be approximately $71,074 and the average around $89,256, based on a Wage Price Index growth rate of 11.71% since financial year 2022. According to Census 2021 data, incomes in Westlake rank highly nationally, with household, family, and personal incomes between the 79th and 94th percentiles. The earnings profile shows that 30.2% of residents earn between $1,500-$2,999 weekly, consistent with broader trends in the surrounding region where 33.3% fall into this category. Notably, 44.9% of Westlake residents exceed $3,000 weekly earnings, indicating strong purchasing power within the community. After accounting for housing costs, residents retain 89.0% of their income, reflecting robust purchasing power in the area. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Westlake is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Westlake's latest Census data shows 96.9% of dwellings were houses, with 3.1% being other types such as apartments or semi-detached homes. In Brisbane metro, this ratio was 91.4% houses and 8.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Westlake stood at 44.0%, compared to mortgaged (44.8%) or rented (11.2%) dwellings. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Westlake was $2,275, higher than Brisbane metro's $2,000 and the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Westlake was $550, above Brisbane metro's $450 and the national figure of $375.

Westlake features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 88.1% of all households, including 47.2% that are couples with children, 31.7% that are couples without children, and 8.3% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 11.9%, with lone person households at 10.4% and group households comprising 1.5% of the total. The median household size is 3.0 people, which is larger than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.8.

The educational profile of Westlake exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Westlake's educational attainment significantly exceeds broader benchmarks. 44.9% of residents aged 15+ hold university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in Queensland (QLD) and 30.4% nationally. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 28.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.3%) and graduate diplomas (3.9%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 25.4% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas (11.3%) and certificates (14.1%).

Educational participation is high, with 29.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.7% in primary education, 8.8% in secondary education, and 6.7% pursuing tertiary education. Educational facilities appear to be located outside Westlake's immediate boundaries, requiring families to access schools in neighboring areas.

Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Transport analysis indicates eight active public transport stops operating within Westlake. These are served by a mix of buses along four individual routes, collectively offering 271 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically located 303 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 38 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 33 weekly trips per stop.

Westlake's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis shows Westlake's health metrics are strong with low prevalence of common conditions across all ages.

Private health cover is high at about 60%, covering approximately 2,705 people. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma and arthritis, affecting 7.4% and 6.5% respectively. Around 71.9% report no medical ailments, compared to 71.2% in Greater Brisbane. Westlake has 22.1% seniors (1,001 people), higher than Greater Brisbane's 20.4%. Senior health outcomes are strong, bettering the general population metrics.

Westlake is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Westlake's population shows high cultural diversity, with 26.0% speaking a language other than English at home and 36.6% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 51.0%. Hinduism is overrepresented at 4.7%, compared to 3.5% in Greater Brisbane.

The top ancestry groups are English (25.7%), Australian (19.3%), and Other (9.9%). Notable ethnic group divergences include Vietnamese (3.0% vs regional 2.6%), Sri Lankan (0.6% vs 0.5%), and Russian (0.5% vs 0.4%).

Westlake hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Westlake is 43 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Brisbane's average of 36 years and Australia's average of 38 years. The 65-74 age group comprises 13.2% of the population in Westlake, compared to Greater Brisbane. Conversely, the 25-34 age group makes up only 5.7%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 4.5% to 7.2%, while the 15 to 24 cohort has increased from 11.9% to 13.8%. However, the 25 to 34 cohort has declined from 8.2% to 5.7%, and the 55 to 64 group has dropped from 15.9% to 13.6%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes for Westlake. The 75 to 84 age group is expected to grow by 46%, reaching 478 people from 327. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 95% of total population growth, reflecting Westlake's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 15 to 24 and 0 to 4 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.