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

Bellara's population is estimated at around 3,247 as of Feb 2026. This reflects a decrease since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 3,278 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch data, with a resident population estimate of 3,244 following examination of ABS ERP data release in June 2024 and one additional validated new address since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 1,531 persons per square kilometer, above average national levels assessed by AreaSearch. Interstate migration contributed approximately 79.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

For projections, AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia figures 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, applying proportional growth weightings from ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data for age cohorts. Future population dynamics anticipate a median increase with the suburb expected to grow by 258 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 7.8%.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Bellara according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Bellara has recorded only 2 dwelling approvals in the past five years. This indicates a fully developed suburb with limited potential for new construction. The scarcity of new supply typically supports demand for established properties, potentially contributing to price stability.

Compared to Greater Brisbane, Bellara's building activity is significantly lower. This limited new supply generally boosts demand and values for established homes, although development activity has increased in recent periods. However, this activity remains lower than the national average, suggesting 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 identified one major project expected to affect this region: Solana Bribie Island Lifestyle Resort, Bribie Pines Island Village, Moreton Bay Rail Link Stage 2, and Queensland Energy Roadmap 2025 are key projects. The following details those likely 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.

Bellara shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Bellara's workforce is balanced across white and blue-collar jobs with diverse sector representation. The unemployment rate was 5.5% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 4.5%. As of December 2025, 1,264 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.4% higher than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation was significantly lower at 44.5%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 71.2%. Only 11.3% of residents worked from home, according to Census responses, considering Covid-19 lockdown impacts. The dominant employment sectors were health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Bellara had a particular specialization in construction, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

However, professional & technical services were under-represented at 3.9%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 8.9%. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 4.5% and labour force by 4.3%, reducing unemployment by 0.2 percentage points. In Greater Brisbane, employment grew by 3.2%, labour force expanded by 3.0%, and unemployment fell by 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggested potential future demand within Bellara. These projections estimated national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Bellara's employment mix indicated local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Bellara's median income among taxpayers is $38,820, with an average of $53,055. This is below the national average and compares to Greater Brisbane's median of $58,236 and average of $72,799. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, estimates for September 2025 would be approximately $42,667 (median) and $58,313 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in Bellara fall between the 1st and 4th percentiles nationally. The earnings profile shows 36.2% of the population earning within the $400-$799 income range, differing from regional levels where the $1500-$2999 category predominates at 33.3%. With 45.0% earning under $800 per week, Bellara faces significant income constraints affecting local spending patterns. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 80.4% of income remaining, ranking at the 3rd percentile nationally.

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

Bellara's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 67.5% houses and 32.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Brisbane metro had 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bellara stood at 45.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 20.8% and rented at 33.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,394, lower than Brisbane metro's average of $1,863. The median weekly rent in Bellara was $320, compared to Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Bellara's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while 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 constitute 56.8 percent of all households, including 11.8 percent couples with children, 30.9 percent couples without children, and 12.8 percent single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 43.2 percent, with lone person households at 38.9 percent and group households making up 4.3 percent of the total. 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%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 8.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.0%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 42.2% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.8%) and certificates (31.4%). School and university attendance accounts for 19.3% of the community, comprising 6.8% in secondary education, 6.7% in primary education, and 1.6% pursuing tertiary education.

School and university attendance encompasses 19.3% of the community. This includes 6.8% in secondary education, 6.7% in primary education, and 1.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows 20 active stops operating within Bellara. These are mixed bus services. Four routes serve these stops, providing a total of 283 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 146 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily due to its residential nature. Cars remain the dominant mode at 90%.

Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, only 11.3% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 40 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 14 weekly trips per 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. Multiple 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% report no medical ailments, lower than Greater Brisbane's 69.2%. Working-age residents face notable health challenges due to high chronic condition rates. Bellara has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 46.2% (1,500 people), compared to Greater Brisbane's 15.2%. Senior health outcomes present some challenges but align 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 had a cultural diversity index below the average, 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% of people, compared to 47.8% across Greater Brisbane. The top three ancestry groups were English (35.2%), Australian (25.2%), and Scottish (9.9%).

Notably, New Zealanders made up 1.3%, Welsh 0.8%, and French 0.6%, all higher than the regional averages of 1.0%, 0.5%, and 0.5% respectively.

Bellara ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Bellara's median age is 60, which is considerably higher than Greater Brisbane's figure of 36 and substantially exceeds the national norm of 38. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Bellara has a higher concentration of residents aged 65-74 (21.8%), but fewer residents aged 25-34 (4.9%). This 65-74 concentration is well above the national figure of 9.5%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the median age has increased by 1 year from 59 to 60, reflecting an aging population. Specifically, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 13.8% to 18.6%, while the 85+ cohort has increased from 4.5% to 5.8%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort has declined from 6.6% to 4.9%, and the 5 to 14 group has dropped from 7.5% to 5.9%. Demographic modeling suggests that by 2041, Bellara's age profile will evolve significantly. The 75 to 84 age cohort is projected to grow steadily, expanding by 261 people (43%) from 603 to 865. The aging population dynamic is clear, with those aged 65 and above comprising all of the projected growth. Meanwhile, both the 45 to 54 and 55 to 64 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.