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 3,632 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 354 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,278 people. The latest resident population figure was estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the ABS's ERP data release in June 2025 and address validation since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,713 persons per square kilometer, which is above average national levels assessed by AreaSearch. Bellara's growth rate of 10.8% since the 2021 census exceeded both the SA3 area (8.3%) and the national average. Population growth in the suburb was primarily driven by interstate migration, contributing approximately 79.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Considering projected demographic shifts, a population increase just below the median of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch is expected for Bellara, with an increase of 403 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 11.1% over the 16 years.

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

Bellara has recorded 2 dwelling approvals over the past five years. The suburb is fully developed with limited new construction opportunities, reflecting its maturity. This lack of new supply generally supports demand for established properties and contributes to price stability in Bellara compared to Greater Brisbane.

Development activity in Bellara is significantly less than the national average, indicating possible planning constraints.

Bellara has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

AreaSearch has identified two projects that could impact the area, including major ones like Bribie Island Central, Solana Bribie Island Lifestyle Resort, Bribie Pines Island Village, and Moreton Bay Rail Link Stage 2. These are detailed below for their potential significance.

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.

AreaSearch assessment indicates Bellara faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Bellara's workforce is balanced across white and blue-collar jobs with diverse sector representation. The unemployment rate was 6.1% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 4.0%. As of December 2025, 1,238 residents are employed, but the unemployment rate is higher at 1.9%, and workforce participation lags significantly at 39.1%.

Only 11.3% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. Construction is particularly specialized with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level, while professional & technical services are under-represented at 3.9%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited.

During the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 4.0%, and labour force grew by 3.9%, with unemployment remaining unchanged. In comparison, Greater Brisbane recorded employment growth of 3.2% and a slight fall in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment to expand by 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 this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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

The median taxpayer income in Bellara is $38,820, and the average is $53,055 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is below the national average of $58,236 (median) and $72,799 (average). By March 2026, estimates suggest the median income will be approximately $43,230 and the average will be around $59,082, based on a 11.36% growth in wages since financial year 2023. The 2021 Census figures reveal that incomes in Bellara fall between the 1st and 4th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. In this suburb, 36.2% of residents (1,314 people) earn between $400 and $799 per week, unlike the surrounding region where the majority earn between $1,500 and $2,999. A significant portion of Bellara's residents (45.0%) have incomes below $800 per week, indicating financial constraints for many households in the suburb. Housing affordability is a severe issue, 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 dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 67.5% houses and 32.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Brisbane metro had 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bellara was at 45.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 20.8% and rented ones at 33.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,394, below Brisbane metro's average of $1,863. 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, 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 constitute 56.8% of all households, including 11.8% composed of couples with children, 30.9% consisting of couples without children, and 12.8% made up of single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 43.2%, with lone person households comprising 38.9% and group households making up 4.3%. The median household size is 2.0 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6 people.

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 the 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 - advanced diplomas at 10.8% and certificates at 31.4%. School and university attendance covers 19.3% of the community, including 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

Bellara has 20 operational public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are served by four different routes, offering a combined total of 283 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport in Bellara is rated as excellent, with residents typically living 146 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation for 90% of residents. On average, there's 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 might be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 40 trips per day, 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 range of health conditions affects both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is low at approximately 48% of the total population (~1,751 people), compared to 55.8% in Greater Brisbane and a 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, compared to 69.2% in Greater Brisbane. Working-age residents face notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. Bellara has a higher proportion of seniors, with 48.5% aged 65 and over (1,761 people), compared to 15.1% in Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among seniors are broadly in line with national rankings.

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

Bellara's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 79.0% of its population born in Australia, 88.4% being citizens, and 96.5% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Bellara is Christianity, comprising 55.6% of the population, compared to 47.8% across Greater Brisbane. In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups are English (35.2%), Australian (25.2%), and Scottish (9.9%).

Notably, New Zealanders make up 1.3% of Bellara's population, higher than the regional average of 1.0%. Similarly, Welsh people comprise 0.8%, compared to 0.5% regionally, and French people account for 0.6%, also higher than the regional average of 0.5%.

Bellara ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Bellara's median age stands at 60, significantly 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 75-84 (20.5%), but fewer individuals aged 25-34 (4.5%). This 75-84 concentration is well above the national figure of 6.1%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the median age has increased by 1.2 years from 59 to 60, indicating an aging population. Specifically, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 13.8% to 20.5%, while the 85+ cohort has increased from 4.5% to 7.1%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 11.7% to 9.2%, and the 5 to 14 age group has dropped from 7.5% to 5.3%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Bellara's age profile will evolve significantly. The 85+ age cohort is projected to expand substantially, increasing by 341 people (132%) from 257 to 599. This expansion reflects the aging population dynamic, with those aged 65 and above comprising all of the projected growth. Meanwhile, both the 55 to 64 and 45 to 54 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.