Bellara

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

The population of Bellara is estimated at around 3,247 as of February 2026, based on analysis of ABS updates and AreaSearch validation. This represents a decrease of 31 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 3,278. The current estimate is inferred from AreaSearch's resident population figure of 3,244, derived from examination of ABS ERP data released in June 2024 and validation of one new address post-Census. This results in a density ratio of 1,531 persons per square kilometer, higher than the national average according to AreaSearch assessments. Over the past decade, Bellara has shown resilient growth with an annual compound growth rate of 1.6%, surpassing the national average. Interstate migration contributed approximately 79.0% of overall population gains in recent periods.

For projections, AreaSearch employs ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 using a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area. 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 used, with proportional growth weightings applied for age cohorts based on ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 using a base year of 2022. Future population dynamics anticipate an increase just below the median of Australian statistical areas, with Bellara expected to grow by 267 persons to reach a total of 3,514 by 2041, reflecting a 15.8% increase over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Bellara is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Bellara has recorded no new dwelling approvals over the past five years. The suburb is fully developed with limited opportunities for new construction. This lack of new supply generally supports demand for established properties, contributing to price stability.

Compared to Greater Brisbane, Bellara records markedly lower building activity. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established homes. Nationally, this is also lower, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints.

Bellara has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project likely affecting the region: Solana Bribie Island Lifestyle Resort, Bribie Pines Island Village, Moreton Bay Rail Link Stage 2, and Queensland Energy Roadmap 2025 are key projects, with the following list detailing 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.

The employment landscape in Bellara shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Bellara maintains a balanced workforce with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate was 4.5% in September 2025, having grown by an estimated 9.5% over the preceding year. This rate is 0.5% higher than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation in Bellara stands at 44.0%, significantly lower than Greater Brisbane's 70.7%. Only 11.3% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts may have influenced this figure. The dominant employment sectors are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction is particularly specialized, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, professional & technical services employ only 3.9% of local workers, below Greater Brisbane's 8.9%. Between September 2024 and 2025, employment levels increased by 9.5%, while labour force grew by 6.3%, leading to a 2.7 percentage point decrease in unemployment. In comparison, Greater Brisbane saw employment growth of 3.8% and labour force expansion of 3.3%, with unemployment falling by 0.5 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Bellara's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023, Bellara had a median income among taxpayers of $38,820. The average income stood at $53,055. This is lower than national averages which were $58,236 and $72,799 across Greater Brisbane respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% from financial year ended June 2023 to September 2025, current estimates for Bellara would be approximately $42,667 (median) and $58,313 (average). Census data from 2021 shows household, family and personal incomes in Bellara all fall between the 1st and 4th percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate that 36.2% of the population, which is 1,175 individuals, fall within the $400 - $799 income range, differing from regional patterns where $1,500 - $2,999 dominates with 33.3%. With 45.0% earning under $800 per week, Bellara faces significant income constraints affecting local spending habits. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Bellara, with only 80.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 3rd percentile nationally.

Bellara displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Bellara's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 67.5% houses and 32.4% other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and others. This compares to Brisbane's metropolitan area where 73.5% were houses and 26.5% were other dwellings. Home ownership in Bellara stood at 45.9%, with mortgaged properties at 20.8% and rented ones at 33.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,394, below Brisbane's average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Bellara was $320, lower than Brisbane's $380. Nationally, Bellara's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 56.8% of all households, including 11.8% couples with children, 30.9% couples without children, and 12.8% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 43.2%, with lone person households at 38.9% and group households comprising 4.3%. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

The educational profile of Bellara exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 11.2%, significantly lower than Greater Brisbane's average of 30.5%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 8.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.0%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 42.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (10.8%) and certificates (31.4%).

School attendance encompasses 19.3% of the community, including secondary education (6.8%), primary education (6.7%), and tertiary education (1.6%).

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

Bellara has 20 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by four different routes that together offer 283 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents located an average of 146 meters from their nearest transport stop. As a predominantly residential area, most residents commute outwards, with cars being the primary mode of transportation at 90%. On average, there is one vehicle per dwelling, which is below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, only 11.3% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 40 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 14 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Bellara is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Bellara faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. A variety of health conditions affect both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low, at approximately 48% of Bellara's total population (~1,566 people), compared to Greater Brisbane's 55.8% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (15.4%) and mental health issues (10.5%), while 50.1% of residents report no medical ailments, lower than Greater Brisbane's 69.2%. Working-age population health presents notable challenges due to high chronic condition rates. Bellara has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 47.8% (1,552 people), compared to Greater Brisbane's 15.2%. Senior health outcomes present some challenges, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Bellara ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Bellara, as per the census conducted on the 27th of August, 2016, exhibited lower cultural diversity with 79.0% of its population born in Australia, 88.4% being citizens, and 96.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Bellara, comprising 55.6%, compared to the regional average of 47.8%. The top three ancestry groups were English at 35.2%, Australian at 25.2%, and Scottish at 9.9%.

Notably, New Zealanders made up 1.3% of Bellara's population, Welsh comprised 0.8%, and French constituted 0.6%, each exceeding their respective regional averages by 0.3%, 0.3%, and 0.1%.

Bellara ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Bellara has a median age of 60, which is higher than Greater Brisbane's figure of 36 and the national norm of 38. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Bellara has a higher percentage of residents aged 65-74 (22.5%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (4.6%). This concentration of 65-74 year-olds is significantly above the national figure of 9.5%. Between the 2016 and 2021 censuses, Bellara's median age increased by 1.4 years, from 59 to 60, indicating an aging population. During this period, the proportion of residents aged 75-84 grew from 13.8% to 19.3%, and those aged 85+ increased from 4.5% to 6.0%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 25-34 decreased from 6.6% to 4.6%, and those aged 5-14 dropped from 7.5% to 5.7%. Demographic projections suggest significant changes in Bellara's age profile by 2041. The number of residents aged 75-84 is projected to increase by 320 people, from 626 to 947, a growth of 51%. This aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above accounting for 99% of the projected growth. Meanwhile, both the 45-54 age group and those aged 0-4 are expected to decrease in number.