Woolloongabba

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 of May 2026, is approximately 10,367. This figure represents a growth of 1,770 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,597. The increase was inferred from the estimated resident population of 10,367 in June 2025 and an additional 514 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a population density ratio of 4,301 persons per square kilometer, placing Woolloongabba in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's growth rate of 20.6% since the 2021 Census exceeds the national average of 9.3%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 89.2% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth being positive factors.

AreaSearch uses 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 released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted. Projections indicate exceptional growth for the area, with an expected increase of 7,078 persons to 2041, reflecting a total gain of 68.3% over the 16-year period.

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

Woolloongabba has recorded approximately 160 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, a total of 804 homes were approved, with an additional 257 approved so far in FY26. This equates to an average of 2.9 people moving to the area per new home constructed over these five years, indicating solid demand that supports property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $140,000, which is under regional levels, offering more accessible housing choices for buyers. In FY26 alone, there have been $90.8 million in commercial approvals, suggesting strong commercial development momentum. When compared to Greater Brisbane, Woolloongabba shows 168.0% higher construction activity per person, indicating robust developer interest in the area despite a recent easing of construction activity. Recent construction comprises 6.0% standalone homes and 94.0% townhouses or apartments, reflecting a trend toward denser development that appeals to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. This represents a notable shift from the current housing mix of 30.0% houses in Woolloongabba. With around 2888 people per dwelling approval, Woolloongabba reflects a highly mature market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Woolloongabba is expected to grow by 7,078 residents through to 2041.

If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Woolloongabba has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 57 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones include Cross River Rail - Woolloongabba Station, Silk Lane Development, Brisbane Arena (Gabba Entertainment and Housing Precinct), and The Carter by Mosaic. Below is a list of those most relevant.

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

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.

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

Woolloongabba has a highly educated workforce with professional services well represented. The unemployment rate was 5.5% as of December 2021, with an estimated employment growth of 1.9% over the past year. As of December 2025, 6794 residents were employed, while the unemployment rate was 5.4%, and workforce participation was 74.7%.

Census responses indicated that 20.3% of residents worked from home. Leading employment industries included health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and professional & technical services. The area showed strong specialization in accommodation & food with an employment share of 1.9 times the regional level, but construction was under-represented at 4.7%. There were 1.9 workers for every resident as of the Census, indicating Woolloongabba functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas.

Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 1.9% while labour force grew by 2.7%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.7 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 estimate that Woolloongabba's employment should increase by 7.2% over five years and 14.7% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

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

AreaSearch reports that based on its aggregation of recent ATO data for financial year 2023, Woolloongabba SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $53,495 and an average level of $66,852. Nationally, these figures are approximately average, with Greater Brisbane's levels being $58,236 and $72,799 respectively. Considering Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be around $59,572 (median) and $74,446 (average). Woolloongabba's household, family, and personal incomes cluster around the 59th percentile nationally. Income brackets show that 34.7% of locals (3,597 people) predominantly fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 category, aligning with regional trends where this cohort also represents 33.3%. High housing costs consume 21.4% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 50th percentile. 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

Woolloongabba's dwelling structure in the latest Census showed 30.1% houses and 70.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Brisbane metro's 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Woolloongabba was 10.2%, with mortgages at 17.2% and rentals at 72.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, above Brisbane metro's average of $1,863. Median weekly rent was $440, higher than Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Woolloongabba's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,000 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above 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 2.6.

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

Woolloongabba's educational attainment is notably higher than broader averages. Among residents aged 15+, 51.1% hold university qualifications, compared to 25.7% in Queensland (QLD) and 30.4% nationally. This educational advantage is reflected in the types of qualifications held: bachelor degrees are most common at 34.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.8%) and graduate diplomas (3.5%). Vocational pathways account for 22.8% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas making up 9.4% and certificates 13.4%.

Educational participation is high in the area, 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.

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

Woolloongabba has 41 active public transport stops, serving a mix of train and bus routes. These stops are operated by 147 individual routes, collectively facilitating 18,599 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically residing 171 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward. Car remains the primary mode of transport at 55%, followed by bus at 18% and walking at 11%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.8 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 20.3% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 2,657 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 453 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Woolloongabba is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Woolloongabba faces substantial health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The prevalence of common health conditions is notable across both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover stands at approximately 52% of Woolloongabba's total population (~5,401 people), slightly lagging the average SA2 area figure of 55.8%. Mental health issues affect 11.0% of residents, while asthma impacts 7.7%. Conversely, 74.3% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane. Working-age residents display low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 7.1% of residents aged 65 and over (740 people), lower than the 15.1% in Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly inline with the general 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. Christianity is the predominant religion in Woolloongabba, comprising 31.9% of the population. Buddhism is overrepresented compared to Greater Brisbane, making up 3.7% versus 2.0%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (21.0%), Australian (16.2%), and Other (12.6%). Notably, Russian (0.8%) Korean (1.6%) and Spanish (0.8%) ethnicities are overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.3%, 0.5%, and 0.4% respectively.

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

Woolloongabba's median age is 28 years, which is lower than Greater Brisbane's average of 36 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Woolloongabba has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (36.9%), but fewer residents aged 5-14 (3.8%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.6%. According to the 2021 Census, the proportion of Woolloongabba's population aged 25 to 34 increased from 32.3% to 36.9%, while the proportion of those aged 35 to 44 rose from 12.7% to 14.9%. Conversely, the proportion of those aged 15 to 24 decreased from 25.3% to 20.2%, and the proportion of those aged 5 to 14 dropped from 4.9% to 3.8%. Population forecasts for Woolloongabba indicate significant demographic changes by 2041. Notably, the population aged 25 to 34 is projected to grow by 56%, reaching 5,964 people from its current figure of 3,826.