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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
Birtinya lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends
As per AreaSearch's analysis of ABS population updates and new addresses validated since Feb 2026, Birtinya's estimated population is around 5,305. This figure represents a growth of 927 people (21.2%) from the 2021 Census count of 4,378 residents. The increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 5,294 residents based on June 2024 ABS ERP data release and an additional 315 validated new addresses since the Census date. Birtinya's population density stands at 1,657 persons per square kilometer, exceeding national averages assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate of 21.2% since the 2021 census surpassed Rest of Qld (9.1%) and the national average, positioning it as a regional growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 64.0% to overall population gains in recent periods, with all drivers including overseas migration and natural growth being positive factors.
AreaSearch employs ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. 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 adopted. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits; thus, AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023 using 2022 data) for each age cohort. Based on projected demographic shifts, a significant population increase is forecasted for the top quartile of Australia's regional areas. Birtinya is expected to gain an additional 1,300 persons by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 15.1% over the 17-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Birtinya among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide
Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, Birtinya has recorded around 83 residential properties granted approval per year over the past five financial years. This totals an estimated 417 homes. So far in FY-26148 approvals have been recorded. Over these five years, on average, 1.8 people moved to the area for each dwelling built. However, this has decreased to 1.2 people per dwelling over the past two financial years.
New properties are constructed at an average value of $453,000. In FY-26, $37.3 million in commercial approvals have been registered. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Birtinya shows moderately higher construction activity, with 28.0% above the regional average per person over the five-year period. Recent construction comprises 12.0% detached houses and 88.0% townhouses or apartments. Population forecasts indicate Birtinya will gain 802 residents by 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.
Population forecasts indicate Birtinya will gain 802 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Infrastructure
Birtinya has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally
Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 14 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Sunshine Coast Health Precinct, St Clair, Birtinya Social Housing Project, and Birtinya Town Centre. The following list details projects likely most relevant.
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INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
The Wave - Sunshine Coast Rail and Public Transport Project
The Wave is a transformative integrated transport project for the Sunshine Coast. It includes the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line (Stages 1 and 2), featuring a 19km dual-track heavy rail line from Beerwah to Caloundra with an extension to Birtinya. Stage 3 (Metro) provides a high-frequency Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) service from Birtinya to the Sunshine Coast Airport via the Maroochydore CBD. The project aims to reduce travel times to Brisbane by over 45 minutes, supporting the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games legacy. Pre-delivery activities including geotechnical investigations and utility relocations are underway, with major construction procurement and detailed designs expected in 2026.
Sunshine Coast Health Precinct
The Sunshine Coast Health Precinct is a premier integrated health hub comprising the Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH), Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital, and the Sunshine Coast Health Institute. The precinct is undergoing significant expansion, with SCUH increasing capacity to 738 beds by mid-2025. Key facilities include the Thompson Institute for mental health research, Vitality Village, and the newly completed Maroochy Private Hospital nearby, which serves as a clinical trials and surgical research ecosystem. The precinct focuses on tertiary-level healthcare, medical research, and workforce training in partnership with UniSC and Griffith University.
Sunshine Coast University Hospital
Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH) is a tertiary teaching public hospital in Birtinya, Queensland. Completed in 2017 as a $1.8 billion Public-Private Partnership with the Exemplar Health consortium, it reached its full capacity of 738 beds in 2021. The facility provides comprehensive acute, surgical, maternity, and rehabilitation services. Recent 2025 updates include the introduction of a perinatal mental health hub with 8 dedicated beds and multimillion-dollar digital infrastructure upgrades. SCUH is a core component of the Sunshine Coast Health Precinct, fostering collaboration in medical research and education.
The Wave - Birtinya Station (Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line)
Birtinya Station is a key component of 'The Wave' (formerly the Direct Sunshine Coast Rail Line), a 37.8km dual-track heavy rail extension. As part of Stage 2, the station will serve as a major interchange for the Sunshine Coast University Hospital and Kawana Health Precinct. The project includes approximately 7.7km of track from Caloundra to Birtinya, a 1.2km tunnel at Little Mountain, and a stabling yard. It aims to reduce travel times to Brisbane by over 45 minutes and support regional growth ahead of the 2032 Olympic Games.
Birtinya Town Centre
Birtinya Town Centre is a major regional activity centre spanning 18 hectares, designed as a transit-oriented mixed-use precinct. The project is being revitalized under a Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI) to address the housing crisis and 2032 Olympic Games preparations. Updated plans include increasing maximum building heights to 15 storeys (with at least six buildings capped at 12 storeys) and delivering up to 2,600 dwellings, nearly doubling previous allocations. Key features include a 60 percent increase in public open space, a new 'green spine,' and a 130-metre pedestrian bridge across Lake Kawana connecting to East Bank. The precinct integrates retail, office space, high-density residential, and a potential 4-star hotel.
Oceanside Birtinya
A large-scale master-planned community by Stockland, encompassing residential land, house and land packages, and townhomes. The community is designed around the Sunshine Coast Health Precinct and features extensive parks, waterways, and connections to retail and dining.
16 Bright Place Affordable Housing
An eight-storey waterfront development designed by Ellivo Architects providing 90 affordable apartments (12 studios, 66 one-bedroom, and 12 two-bedroom units) for local essential workers in the Sunshine Coast health and retail precincts. Features naturally cross-ventilated units, communal spaces with lake views, solar array, 82 car parks, and designed to achieve 7+ star NatHERS rating with livable housing standards. The project was approved via Ministerial Infrastructure Designation in September 2024 but that approval was repealed in March 2025, requiring the project to now seek Sunshine Coast Council approval through the standard development application process.
Birtinya Social Housing Project
A five-storey social housing development delivering 63 units with a mix of one, two, and three-bedroom options, designed to be fully accessible for seniors and people with disabilities. Located on a 2622sqm block near the Sunshine Coast University Hospital, the complex features communal areas to build community and includes at least 61 car parking spaces. The basement structure is now in place with completion due mid-2026.
Employment
The labour market strength in Birtinya positions it well ahead of most Australian regions
Birtinya has an educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 1.7% as per AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation. As of September 2025, there were 2,886 employed residents, with an unemployment rate 2.3% lower than Rest of Qld's 4.1%.
Workforce participation stood at 63.5%, below Rest of Qld's 65.7%. Census responses indicated that 15.8% of residents worked from home. Dominant employment sectors were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food, with healthcare notably concentrated at 1.9 times the regional average. Agriculture, forestry & fishing was under-represented, comprising only 0.3% of Birtinya's workforce compared to Rest of Qld's 4.5%.
The area functioned as an employment hub with 1.8 workers per resident. Over the year to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.6%, employment declined by 2.2%, and unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points, contrasting with Rest of Qld's trends. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Birtinya's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.7% over five years and 15.8% over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment
The suburb of Birtinya has a high national income level according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in Birtinya is $56,961 and the average income stands at $81,934. These figures compare to Rest of Qld's median income of $53,146 and average income of $66,593 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $62,606 (median) and $90,054 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Birtinya are at the 59th percentile nationally. Income analysis shows that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 31.8% of residents (1,686 people), similar to the surrounding region where this cohort also represents 31.7%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Birtinya, with only 77.5% of income remaining, ranking at the 46th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Birtinya features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region
Dwelling structure in Birtinya, as evaluated at the latest Census held on 28 August 2016, comprised 42.3% houses and 57.8% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings at the same time. Home ownership in Birtinya was at 15.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 20.5% and rented ones at 63.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Birtinya was $2,058, significantly higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655 recorded in the same Census. Weekly rent figures in Birtinya were recorded at $490, substantially above Non-Metro Qld's figure of $345 and the national average of $375 reported by the Australian Bureau of Statistics for 2016.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Birtinya features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size
Family households account for 63.1% of all households, consisting of 21.5% couples with children, 30.0% couples without children, and 10.7% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 36.9%, with lone person households at 27.2% and group households comprising 9.2%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Birtinya demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics
Educational attainment in Birtinya is notably high, with 34.9% of residents aged 15 years and above holding university qualifications. This compares favourably to the broader Queensland average of 20.6% and the South Australian Statistical Subdivision (SA3) area average of 23.6%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 24.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 7.3% and graduate diplomas at 3.0%. Vocational credentials are also common, with 33.8% of residents aged 15 years and above holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 11.6% and certificates for 22.2%.
Educational participation is high, with 29.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.1% in tertiary education, 7.1% in primary education, and 7.0% pursuing secondary 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
Birtinya has 11 operational public transport stops, all serving buses. These are covered by two routes offering a total of 381 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically living 363 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards daily. Car use dominates at 79%, followed by walking at 13% and cycling at 3%. On average, there are 1.2 vehicles per dwelling, below the regional norm.
According to the 2021 Census, 15.8% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 54 trips per day, equating to approximately 34 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health outcomes in Birtinya are marginally below the national average with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts
Health indicators suggest below-average outcomes in Birtinya based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are somewhat typical but higher than the national average among older cohorts.
The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 60% of the total population, which comprises 3,165 people. This compares to 52.5% across the rest of Queensland. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues and asthma, impacting 10.2 and 7.7% of residents respectively. 67.5% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 18.0% of residents aged 65 and over, which is lower than the 20.4% in the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Birtinya was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics
Birtinya's cultural diversity was above average, with 11.4% speaking a language other than English at home and 27.0% born overseas. Christianity was the primary religion in Birtinya at 45.5%. Hinduism showed overrepresentation at 1.4%, compared to Rest of Qld's 0.8%.
Top ancestry groups were English (30.4%), Australian (24.6%), and Irish (8.3%). Notable ethnic group divergences included Russian (Birtinya: 0.5%, regional: 0.2%), South African (Birtinya: 0.7%, regional: 0.5%), and Korean (Birtinya: 0.6%, regional: 0.2%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Birtinya's population is slightly younger than the national pattern
Birtinya's median age is 36, which is lower than the Rest of Qld figure of 41 and Australia's median age of 38. The 25-34 cohort in Birtinya is notably over-represented at 21.4%, compared to the Rest of Qld average, while the 5-14 year-olds are under-represented at 7.3%. This concentration of the 25-34 age group is well above the national figure of 14.4%. Between 2021 and the present, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 19.9% to 21.4%, while the 65 to 74 cohort increased from 8.3% to 9.4%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 9.5% to 7.3%, and the 55 to 64 group dropped from 10.6% to 9.3%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Birtinya's age profile will evolve significantly, with the 25 to 34 age cohort projected to expand by 276 people (24%) from 1,135 to 1,412. Conversely, both the 55 to 64 and 15 to 24 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.