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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
Sales Activity
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Population
Avenell Heights 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 ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, the estimated population of the suburb of Avenell Heights is around 5,199 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 171 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,028. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimated resident population of 5,195 following examination of ABS data released in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 1,704 persons per square kilometer, above the national average assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 56% of overall population gains during recent periods.
For projections, AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are used. These state projections do not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data are applied where utilized. Looking ahead, the suburb is expected to grow by 445 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of approximately 8.5% over the 17 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Residential development activity is lower than average in Avenell Heights according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets
Avenell Heights had an average of three dwelling approvals per year between 2015 and 2019, totaling 16 dwellings over the five-year period. This limited development activity reflects the rural nature of the area, where housing needs rather than market demand typically drive development. The small sample size means individual projects can significantly influence annual growth statistics.
Avenell Heights has substantially lower development levels compared to the rest of Queensland and is below national averages. New building activity comprises 67% detached dwellings and 33% townhouses or apartments, indicating an expanding range of medium-density options. With around 1035 people per approval, Avenell Heights shows a mature, established area. Population forecasts estimate an increase of 441 residents by 2041.
At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Infrastructure
Avenell Heights has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally
Five projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. These include New Bundaberg Hospital, St Vincent de Paul Social Housing Walkervale Bundaberg, Walkervale Social Housing Development, and 432-434 Goodwood Road Land Lease Community Site. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.
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INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Queensland Energy Roadmap 2025
The Queensland Energy Roadmap 2025 is a strategic framework focused on delivering affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy through 2035. Key initiatives include a $1.6 billion Electricity Maintenance Guarantee for existing assets, a $400 million Energy Investment Fund to catalyze private sector renewables (solar, hydro) and storage, and a mandate for at least 2.6 GW of new gas generation by 2035. The plan formally repealed previous state renewable energy targets via the Energy Roadmap Amendment Act 2025 while maintaining a net-zero by 2050 commitment. It prioritizes the CopperString transmission project and renames Renewable Energy Zones to 'Regional Energy Hubs' to facilitate market-led development.
Mt Rawdon Pumped Hydro Project
The Mt Rawdon Pumped Hydro Project is a 2 GW / 20 GWh energy storage facility designed to repurpose the Mount Rawdon gold mine's open pit into a lower reservoir. The project includes a new upper reservoir, underground power station, and a transmission line connecting to the Powerlink network. It is designated as a Coordinated Project by the Queensland Government and is currently undergoing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) process, with a project declaration lapse date of 16 December 2026.
New Bundaberg Hospital
The $1.2 billion New Bundaberg Hospital is a six-storey greenfield public hospital development in Thabeban. It will feature a rooftop helipad, an expanded emergency department, and over 400 beds including acute, mental health, and intensive care services. The facility serves as the anchor for the broader Bundaberg Health and Enterprise Precinct, incorporating teaching, training, and research spaces to support the growing Wide Bay region.
Paradise Dam Improvement Project (New Dam Wall)
The project involves the construction of a new roller-compacted concrete dam wall approximately 90m downstream of the existing structure to restore the dam to its original 300,000 ML capacity. Following the identification of irreparable foundation and concrete durability issues in the original wall, the replacement structure will be built to modern safety standards with a 100-year design life. Works include the partial demolition of the existing spillway, construction of a new secondary spillway, and significant river diversion. Early works including road upgrades were completed in late 2025, with main wall construction scheduled to commence in 2028.
Building Future Hospitals Program
Queensland's Hospital Rescue Plan is a landmark $18.5 billion infrastructure initiative delivering over 2,600 new and refurbished public hospital beds by 2032. The program includes the construction of three new hospitals in Coomera, Bundaberg, and Toowoomba, alongside major expansions at Ipswich (Stage 2), Logan, Princess Alexandra, and Townsville University hospitals. It also encompasses satellite hospitals and a statewide cancer network to address the needs of a growing and aging population.
Bruce Highway Upgrade Program
The Bruce Highway Upgrade Program is a multi-decade infrastructure initiative improving the 1,677km corridor between Brisbane and Cairns. As of early 2026, the program is focused on the $9 billion Targeted Safety Program, which includes over 80 active or planned projects such as the Rockhampton Ring Road, Tiaro Bypass, and extensive wide centre line treatments. The program aims to achieve a minimum three-star safety rating by 2032 through road widening, flood immunity upgrades, and intersection improvements.
Bundaberg Aquatic Centre
A state-of-the-art year-round aquatic facility featuring a covered 50m FINA-standard 10-lane competition pool, an indoor 25m lap pool, a heated program/hydrotherapy pool with accessible ramp entry, multipurpose rooms, Reformer Pilates studio, cafe, and equitable access features including ramps, lifts, and hoists. Co-located with the Bundaberg Multiplex to form a high-performance sports precinct. Includes sustainability features such as solar arrays, hybrid heating, and rainwater harvesting. Provides fitness, education, therapy, competition, and recreation opportunities for all ages and abilities, with approximately 165 parking spaces.
Bundaberg Solar Farm
A 100 MW solar photovoltaic farm located in the Bundaberg region, approximately 360 kilometers north of Brisbane. The facility features 168,399 solar modules installed across 146 hectares and is expected to have a 25-year lifespan. The project will generate approximately 200 GWh of clean energy annually, enough to power around 36,000 homes and offset 104,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year. Construction is being delivered by Monford Group as EPC contractor, with commercial operation expected to commence in Q3-Q4 2025. The project includes a Power Purchase Agreement with Telstra for 153 GWh per annum.
Employment
Avenell Heights has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks
Avenell Heights has a balanced workforce comprising white and blue collar jobs, with essential services sectors well-represented. The unemployment rate was 5.4% in December 2025, up from the Regional Qld rate of 4.0%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 9.2%.
As of December 2025, 2,376 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.4% above Regional Qld's rate. Workforce participation was lower at 56.9%, compared to Regional Qld's 65.4%. Only 4.3% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Dominant employment sectors were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training.
The area showed strong specialization in health care & social assistance (1.3 times the regional level) but lower representation in construction (7.6% vs regional average of 10.1%). Employment opportunities appeared limited locally, with a higher resident population than working population count. Over the year to December 2025, employment increased by 9.2%, while labour force increased by 8.8%, reducing unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. In contrast, Regional Qld had employment growth of 0.7% and labour force growth of 1.0%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. National employment forecasts from May-25 project national growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Avenell Heights' employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, assuming constant population projections for illustrative purposes only.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis
In AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023, the median income among taxpayers in Avenell Heights was $41,775. The average income was $51,621. This is lower than national averages. In Regional Queensland, the median income was $53,146 and the average was $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year ended June 2023, current estimates for Avenell Heights would be approximately $45,915 (median) and $56,737 (average) as of September 2025. Census data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Avenell Heights all fall between the 5th and 8th percentiles nationally. Income distribution data indicates that 30.0% of residents (1,559 people) earn within the $400 - $799 bracket, unlike regional trends where 31.7% fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Avenell Heights, with only 84.1% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 7th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Avenell Heights is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership
In Avenell Heights, as per the latest Census evaluation, 80.0% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 20.0% comprising semi-detached units, apartments, and other types. This compares to Regional Queensland's figures of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Avenell Heights stood at 37.7%, with mortgaged properties at 26.3% and rented ones at 36.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,200, below Regional Queensland's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent in Avenell Heights was $270, compared to Regional Queensland's $345. Nationally, Avenell Heights' mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, with rents substantially below the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Avenell Heights features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size
Family households account for 64.3% of all households, including 18.8% couples with children, 28.7% couples without children, and 15.4% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 35.7%, with lone person households at 32.8% and group households comprising 3.0%. The median household size is 2.3 people, smaller than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
The educational profile of Avenell Heights exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics
The area's university qualification rate is 12.4%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common among residents with higher education qualifications at 9.1%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.8%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.5%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 37.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (7.7%) and certificates (29.7%). Educational participation is high, with 25.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 8.9% in primary, 8.8% in secondary, and 2.8% in tertiary education.
Educational participation is notably high, with 25.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.9% in primary education, 8.8% in secondary education, and 2.8% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Avenell Heights has 20 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by two routes that together provide 83 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 172 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the dominant mode of transport, used by 96% of residents. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, which is below the regional average.
According to the 2021 Census, only 4.3% of residents work from home, a figure that may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 11 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately four weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health performance in Avenell Heights is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts
Avenell Heights faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Several health conditions affect both younger and older age cohorts, with a notably low private health cover rate of approximately 48% among the total population of around 2,477 people, compared to Regional Qld's 52.5% and the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (12.1%) and mental health issues (10.7%), while 54.7% of residents claim to be free from medical ailments, lower than Regional Qld's 67.6%.
Working-age individuals in the area face substantial health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The population aged 65 and over stands at 28.1%, comprising approximately 1,460 people, which is higher than Regional Qld's 20.4%. Senior health outcomes present certain challenges, generally aligning with national rankings for the overall population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Avenell Heights is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics
Avenell Heights had low cultural diversity, with 90.6% citizens, 90.1% born in Australia, and 95.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, at 59.3%, compared to 52.2% regionally. Top ancestral groups were English (31.9%), Australian (30.5%), and German (7.5%).
Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation was higher at 4.8% (vs regional 3.9%), Maltese was the same at 0.4%, and Korean also identical at 0.2%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Avenell Heights hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide
Avenell Heights' median age of 46 years is significantly higher than Regional Qld's 41 and the national average of 38 years. Compared to Regional Qld, Avenell Heights has a higher percentage of residents aged 75-84 (10.7%) but fewer residents aged 35-44 (10.8%). Between the 2021 Census and the present, the population aged 25 to 34 has grown from 10.0% to 12.1%, while the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 13.4% to 12.1% and the 5 to 14 age group has dropped from 11.5% to 10.4%. By 2041, Avenell Heights is expected to experience notable changes in its age composition. The 25 to 34 age group is projected to grow by 23%, increasing from 629 to 776 people. Conversely, the 55 to 64 and 5 to 14 cohorts are expected to decrease in population.