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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach's population is around 6,338 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 205 people (3.3%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,133 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,317 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 80 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 301 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which contributed approximately 75.2% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers, including interstate migration and natural growth, were positive factors.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted. It should be noted that these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence, where utilised, AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort. Looking at population projections moving forward, a population increase just below the median of Australia's non-metropolitan areas is expected, with the area expected to expand by 540 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 8.2% in total over the 17 years.

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 around 21 new homes approved annually, totalling 106 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 23 approvals have been recorded. With an average of only 0.6 people per year moving to the area for each dwelling built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), new construction is matching or outpacing demand, offering buyers more options and enabling population growth that could exceed current expectations, while new dwellings are developed at an average construction cost of $294,000‡under regional levels‡indicating more accessible housing choices for buyers. There have also been $323,000 in commercial approvals this financial year, suggesting a predominantly residential focus.

Relative to the Rest of Qld, Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach shows substantially reduced construction (53.0% below regional average per person). This scarcity of new homes typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. This activity is also below average nationally, reflecting the area's maturity and pointing to possible planning constraints. Recent construction comprises 26.0% standalone homes and 74.0% townhouses or apartments. This skew toward compact living offers affordable entry pathways and attracts downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This marks a significant departure from existing housing patterns (currently 55.0% houses), suggesting diminishing developable land availability and responding to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. The estimated count of 1076 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment.

Looking ahead, Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach is expected to grow by 519 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

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 7 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include Navigation Drive Road Link, Half Moon Bay Estate, Woolworths Trinity Beach Shopping Centre, and Bluewater Living, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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 features a skilled workforce, with essential services sectors well represented, and an unemployment rate of 4.6%. As of December 2025, 3,475 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 0.6% above Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%, and workforce participation is on par with Regional Qld's 65.4%. Based on Census responses, a moderate 15.2% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and accommodation & food. The area demonstrates a particularly notable concentration in health care & social assistance, with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 1.1% versus the regional average of 4.5%. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of the Census working population versus the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.4% combined with employment decreasing by 3.3%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.9 percentage points. This compares to Regional Qld, where employment grew by 0.7%, labour force expanded by 1.0%, and unemployment rose 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.0% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account 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 FY-23, the 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 9.91% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $60,814 (median) and $71,811 (average) as of September 2025. From the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 47th percentile ($791 weekly), while household income sits at the 22nd percentile. Income analysis reveals 30.9% of the population (1,958 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, 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

Dwelling structure within Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 54.6% houses and 45.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Regional Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach was lagging that of Regional Qld, at 27.9%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (31.3%) or rented (40.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well below the Regional Qld average at $1,408, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $310, compared to Regional Qld's $1,655 and $345. Nationally, Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are substantially below 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 dominate at 57.3% of all households, comprising 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 of 2.1 people is smaller than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.

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

Educational qualifications in Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach trail regional benchmarks, with 24.8% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 30.4% in Australia. This gap highlights potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees lead at 17.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 42.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (12.8%) and certificates (29.7%).

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

Public transport analysis reveals 25 active transport stops operating within Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 4 individual routes, collectively providing 464 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 221 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward, and the car remains the dominant mode at 92%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, which is below the regional average. Some 15.2% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 66 trips per day across all routes, 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 sit close to national benchmarks, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. There is a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover slightly lags that of the average SA2 area at approximately 52% of the total population (~3,289 people).

The most common medical conditions in the area were found to be mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 8.9 and 8.6% of residents, respectively, while 68.3% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 22.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,441 people), which is higher than the 20.4% in Regional Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings 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 was found to be above average in terms of cultural diversity, with 9.7% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 24.7% born overseas. The main religion in Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach is Christianity, which makes up 39.7% of the population. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Judaism, which comprises 0.2% of the population, compared to 0.1% across Regional Qld.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach are English, comprising 29.2% of the population, Australian, comprising 22.2% of the population, and Irish, comprising 10.1% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: French is notably overrepresented at 0.9% of the population (vs 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 of 46 years stands significantly above Regional Qld's 41 as well as well above the 38-year national average. Relative to Regional Qld, Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach has a higher concentration of 65 - 74 residents (14.5%) but fewer 5 - 14 year-olds (8.1%). This 65 - 74 concentration is well above the national 9.5%. Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 4.9% to 6.8% of the population, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 12.5% to 14.0%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 16.4% to 13.9% and the 5 to 14 group dropped from 10.3% to 8.1%. By 2041, Yorkeys Knob - Machans Beach is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. Leading the demographic shift, the 25 to 34 group will grow by 23% (180 people), reaching 959 from 778. On the other hand, the 55 to 64 and 5 to 14 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.