Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach

Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As per AreaSearch's analysis, Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach had a population of 6,327 as of May 2026. This figure represents an increase of 194 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,133. The change is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 6,319 in June 2025 and an additional 84 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 301 persons per square kilometer. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 91.8% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are used, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. Looking ahead, population projections indicate an increase just below the median for Australia's non-metropolitan areas by 2041. The latest annual ERP population numbers suggest a growth of 522 persons by then, reflecting an overall increase of 8.1% over the 16-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach has seen approximately 21 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 106 homes. In FY-26, 27 approvals have been recorded so far. On average, 0.6 people per year moved to the area for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25. The average construction value of new dwellings was $294,000.

There were $323,000 in commercial approvals this financial year. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach shows substantially reduced construction, being 52.0% below the regional average per person. Recent construction comprised 26.0% standalone homes and 74.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a significant shift from existing housing patterns where currently 55.0% are houses. The estimated population count per dwelling approval is 1076 people. By 2041, the area is projected to grow by 514 residents according to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand.

Looking ahead, Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach is expected to grow by 514 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach 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 identified seven projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones are Navigation Drive Road Link, Half Moon Bay Estate, Woolworths Trinity Beach Shopping Centre, and Bluewater Living. The following details 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.

Employment performance in Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach has a skilled workforce with prominent essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.6% as of December 2025. There were 3,475 residents employed while the unemployment rate was 0.6% higher than Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation was similar to Regional Qld's 64.5%. According to Census responses, 15.2% of residents worked from home, considering Covid-19 lockdown impacts. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and accommodation & food services. Health care & social assistance has notably high representation at 1.3 times the regional average, while agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 1.1% versus Regional Qld's 4.5%.

The area may have limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the ratio of Census working population to resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.4%, with employment decreasing by 3.3%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.9 percentage points. In contrast, Regional Qld saw employment grow by 0.7% and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not consider localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 30, 2023, Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $55,331 with the average level standing at $65,336. This is slightly lower than average on a national basis and compares to levels of $53,146 and $66,593 across Regional Qld respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% from July 2023 to March 2026, current estimates would be approximately $61,617 (median) and $72,758 (average). According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 47th percentile ($791 weekly), while household income sits at the 22nd percentile. Income analysis reveals that 30.9% of the population, which totals 1,955 individuals, fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, mirroring the region where 31.7% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 82.8% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 21st percentile.

Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach, as per the latest Census, 54.6% of dwellings were houses while 45.4% were other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This compares to Regional Qld's figures of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach stood at 27.9%, with mortgaged properties at 31.3% and rented dwellings at 40.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,408, lower than Regional Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent was recorded at $310, compared to Regional Qld's $345. Nationally, Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach had significantly lower mortgage repayments at $1,408 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and substantially lower rents at $310 compared to the national figure of $375.

Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 57.3% of all households, including 16.3% couples with children, 26.1% couples without children, and 14.2% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 42.7%, with lone person households at 37.4% and group households comprising 5.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5.

Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

In Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach trail region, 24.8% of residents aged 15+ have university degrees, compared to Australia's 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 17.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials are held by 42.5% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 12.8% and certificates at 29.7%. Educational participation is high, with 28.1% currently enrolled in formal education: 8.9% in primary, 7.9% in secondary, and 4.9% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.9% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 4.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach has 25 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by four different routes that together facilitate 464 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is considered good, with residents on average located 221 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential region, most inhabitants commute outside the area, primarily using cars (92%). On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per dwelling, which is below the regional norm. According to the 2021 Census, 15.2% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 66 trips daily, equating to approximately 18 weekly trips per individual stop.

Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach's health metrics align closely with national benchmarks.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are assessed as fairly standard across both young and old age cohorts. Private health cover is slightly lower at approximately 52% of the total population (~3,283 people), compared to the average SA2 area. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues (8.9%) and arthritis (8.6%). A majority, 68.3%, report being completely clear of medical ailments, similar to Regional Qld's 67.6%. Health outcomes among working-age residents are typical. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 23.3% (1,472 people), compared to Regional Qld's 20.4%. Health outcomes among seniors rank nationally even higher than the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Yorkeys Knob-Machans Beach had a cultural diversity level above average, with 9.7% of its population speaking languages other than English at home and 24.7% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Yorkeys Knob-Machans Beach, making up 39.7% of the population. Notably, Judaism had a higher representation in Yorkeys Knob-Machans Beach at 0.2%, compared to 0.1% across Regional Qld.

In terms of ancestry, English was the top group with 29.2%, followed by Australian at 22.2% and Irish at 10.1%. Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: French was overrepresented at 0.9% compared to 0.5% regionally, Scottish at 9.1% vs 7.8%, and German at 4.5% vs 4.7%.

Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach's median age is 46 years, which is significantly higher than Regional Qld's 41 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Regional Qld, Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach has a higher proportion of residents aged 65-74 (14.5%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (8.3%). This 65-74 concentration is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 4.9% to 7.2%, while the 35 to 44 cohort has grown from 12.5% to 14.2%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 age group has declined from 10.3% to 8.3%, and the 45 to 54 age group has decreased from 16.4% to 14.4%. By 2041, Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach is projected to experience notable shifts in its age composition. The 25 to 34 age group is expected to grow by 23%, reaching 895 from 729. Meanwhile, the 55 to 64 and 5 to 14 age groups are anticipated to decrease in population.