Woolloongabba
Statistical Area - sa2

Woolloongabba lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Woolloongabba's population, as per AreaSearch's analysis, is approximately 10,210 as of August 2025. This represents an increase of 1,613 people, or 18.8%, since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 8,597. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 10,068 in June 2024 and an additional 463 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 4,236 persons per square kilometer, placing Woolloongabba in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth exceeded the national average of 8.6%, making land highly sought after. Overseas migration contributed approximately 67.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all migration drivers being positive factors.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023 based on 2021 data are used, applying proportional growth weightings for age cohorts based on ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 using 2022 data. By 2041, Woolloongabba is projected to increase by 7,751 persons, representing a total gain of 74.5% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Woolloongabba when compared nationally

Woolloongabba has recorded approximately 275 residential properties granted approval annually. Development approval data is produced by the ABS on a financial year basis, with 1,379 homes approved over the past five financial years from FY-20 to FY-25, including 1 approval so far in FY-26. On average, 2.9 people have moved to the area per new home constructed over these five financial years, reflecting robust demand that supports property values. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $914,000, indicating a focus on the premium market with high-end developments.

This year has seen $90.8 million in commercial approvals, indicating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Woolloongabba shows 191.0% higher construction activity per person, offering buyers greater choice, though recent construction activity has eased somewhat. This is significantly above the national average, indicating robust developer interest in the area. Recent construction comprises 6.0% standalone homes and 94.0% townhouses or apartments, reflecting a trend toward denser development to provide accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This represents a notable shift from the area's existing housing composition of currently 30.0% houses, indicating decreasing availability of developable sites and reflecting changing lifestyles and the need for more diverse, affordable housing options. With around 2888 people per dwelling approval, Woolloongabba reflects a highly mature market. Looking ahead, Woolloongabba is expected to grow by 7,609 residents through to 2041.

Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

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

Area infrastructure changes significantly influence local performance. AreaSearch identified 59 potential impact projects. Key initiatives are Cross River Rail - Woolloongabba Station, Cross River Rail, Silk Lane Development, and The Gabba Stadium Redevelopment. Relevant projects are listed below.

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

Woolloongabba has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Woolloongabba has an educated workforce with professional services well-represented. The unemployment rate was 5.7% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 2.2%.

As of June 2025, 6,507 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.6% higher than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%, and workforce participation at 69.5%. Key industries for residents include health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and professional & technical services. The area specializes in accommodation & food, with employment share 1.9 times the regional level, but has lower representation in construction (4.7% vs Greater Brisbane's 9.0%). There are 1.9 workers per resident, indicating it functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas.

Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 2.2%, labour force grew by 1.8%, and unemployment decreased by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Brisbane experienced employment growth of 4.4% and a 0.4 percentage point drop in unemployment. State-level data to Sep-25 shows Queensland employment contracted by 0.23% (losing 8,070 jobs), with an unemployment rate of 4.2%, compared to the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia's forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Woolloongabba's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.2% over five years and 14.7% over ten years.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

In financial year 2022, Woolloongabba had a median income of $51,610 and an average income of $65,779 among taxpayers. These figures are slightly above the national averages of $55,645 and $70,520 respectively for Greater Brisbane. By March 2025, based on a Wage Price Index growth of 11.71%, estimated median income would be approximately $57,654 and average income $73,482. Census data shows that incomes in Woolloongabba cluster around the 59th percentile nationally. The predominant income bracket is $1,500 - 2,999, which spans 34.7% of locals (3,542 people), aligning with regional trends where this cohort also represents 33.3%. High housing costs consume 21.4% of income. Despite this, disposable income remains at the 50th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Woolloongabba features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The latest Census evaluation showed that Woolloongabba's dwelling structure consisted of 30.1% houses and 70.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Brisbane metro had 47.7% houses and 52.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Woolloongabba was at 10.2%, with the rest either mortgaged (17.2%) or rented (72.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, lower than Brisbane metro's average of $2,100. The median weekly rent in Woolloongabba was $440, compared to Brisbane metro's $390. Nationally, Woolloongabba's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,000 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially higher at $440 compared to the national figure of $375.

Woolloongabba features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 47.8% of all households, including 13.3% couples with children, 26.5% couples without children, and 5.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 52.2%, with lone person households at 32.5% and group households comprising 19.6%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.3.

Woolloongabba shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Educational attainment in Woolloongabba is notably higher than broader benchmarks. 51.1% of residents aged 15 and above have university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in Queensland and 30.4% nationally. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 34.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.8%) and graduate diplomas (3.5%). Vocational pathways account for 22.8% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 9.4% and certificates at 13.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 39.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 25.1% in tertiary education, 4.0% in primary education, and 3.0% pursuing secondary education. Woolloongabba's four schools have a combined enrollment of 589 students as of the latest data. The area demonstrates above-average socio-educational conditions with an ICSEA score of 1081. The educational mix includes two primary schools and two K-12 schools. However, local school capacity is limited at 5.8 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 20.4, leading many families to travel to nearby areas for schooling.

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

Woolloongabba has 40 active public transport stops. These are a mix of train and bus stations. They are served by 140 different routes.

Together, these provide 16,589 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport in the area is rated as excellent. Residents typically live 164 meters from the nearest stop. On average, there are 2,369 trips per day across all routes. This equates to approximately 414 weekly trips per individual stop.

Woolloongabba's residents are extremely healthy with younger cohorts in particular seeing very low prevalence of common health conditions

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Woolloongabba, with younger cohorts seeing particularly low prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover in the area is approximately 52% of the total population (~5,350 people), leading that of the average SA2 area but lower than Greater Brisbane's 61.3%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in Woolloongabba, impacting 11.0 and 7.7% of residents respectively, while 74.3% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 71.8% across Greater Brisbane. The area has 7.4% of residents aged 65 and over (758 people), lower than Greater Brisbane's 12.4%. Health outcomes among seniors in Woolloongabba require more attention than the broader population.

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

Woolloongabba has a high level of cultural diversity, with 34.5% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 42.9% born overseas. The dominant religion in Woolloongabba is Christianity, accounting for 31.9% of the population. Notably, Buddhism is overrepresented in Woolloongabba compared to Greater Brisbane, with 3.7% versus 2.5%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are English (21.0%), Australian (16.2%), and Other (12.6%). There are also significant differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Russian is overrepresented at 0.8%, Korean at 1.6%, and Spanish at 0.8%.

Woolloongabba hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Woolloongabba has a median age of 29, which is lower than the Greater Brisbane figure of 36 and also younger than the Australian median of 38. The age profile indicates that individuals aged 25-34 years are particularly prominent, making up 34.6% of the population, while those aged 5-14 years form a smaller group at 4.8%. This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national figure of 14.5%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 25 to 34 age group has increased from 32.3% to 34.6%, while the 35 to 44 cohort has risen from 12.7% to 14.7%. Conversely, the 15 to 24 age group has decreased from 25.3% to 21.1%. By the year 2041, Woolloongabba is projected to experience significant shifts in its age composition, with the 25 to 34 age cohort expected to rise substantially by 2,021 people (57%), from 3,532 to 5,554.