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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
Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, the estimated population of the suburb of Birtinya is around 5,223 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 845 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,378 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 5,209 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 316 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,632 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb of Birtinya's growth of 19.3% since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of Qld (9.2%) and the national average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by interstate migration that contributed approximately 64.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including overseas migration and natural growth were positive factors.
AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data. Considering the projected demographic shifts, a significant population increase in the top quartile of Australia's regional areas is forecast, with the suburb of Birtinya expected to increase by 1,213 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 23.0% in total over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
The level of residential development activity in Birtinya was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country
Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data, Birtinya recorded around 81 residential properties granted approval per year over the past five financial years ending FY25. This totals an estimated 405 homes. As of FY26 so far, 151 approvals have been recorded. On average, 4.4 new residents moved into every home built annually between FY21 and FY25 in Birtinya.
Demand for housing significantly outpaces supply, which typically influences prices upwards and increases competition among buyers. New homes are being constructed at an average value of $453,000, moderately above regional levels, indicating a focus on quality construction. In FY26 to date, $37.3 million in commercial approvals have been registered, suggesting robust local business investment. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Birtinya shows moderately higher construction activity, with 25.0% more approvals per person over the five-year period ending FY25. This level is well above average nationally, reflecting strong developer confidence in the area. Recent construction comprises 13.0% detached houses and 87.0% townhouses or apartments, indicating a shift towards higher-density living to create more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.
This change reflects reduced availability of development sites and shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements, compared to the current housing mix of 42.0% houses. With around 64 people per approval, Birtinya is developing as an area. Population forecasts indicate Birtinya will gain 1,199 residents by 2041 (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
Development applications around Birtinya
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Infrastructure
Birtinya has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally
Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects likely to impact the region. Notable initiatives include Sunshine Coast Health Precinct, Birtinya Town Centre, St Clair, and Birtinya Social Housing Project. The following list details those expected to have the most influence.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Sunshine Coast Health Precinct
The Sunshine Coast Health Precinct at Birtinya is one of Australia's largest health and medical hubs, anchored by the Sunshine Coast University Hospital (SCUH), the Sunshine Coast University Private Hospital (operated by Ramsay Health Care), and the Sunshine Coast Health Institute. SCUH opened in March 2017 with 450 beds and had expanded to 728 inpatient beds by mid-2025, with a planned final capacity of 738 beds. The precinct serves a catchment of around 450,000 residents across the Sunshine Coast and Gympie regions and supports tertiary services including a comprehensive cancer centre, regional trauma service, the Thompson Institute for mental health research, the Adem Crosby Centre, and the Kamala mental health unit. Adjacent facilities include the Vitality Village integrated community health building (opened mid-2021) and the 17-hectare Health Hub greenfield precinct, which is being progressively developed with up to 32,000 square metres of medical, research, allied health and consulting space. Clinical training and research are delivered in partnership with the University of the Sunshine Coast, Griffith University and TAFE Queensland. The neighbouring Birtinya Town Centre masterplan (Stockland) continues to add retail, residential and commercial floorspace surrounding the precinct, with a refreshed Temporary Local Planning Instrument approved by the State in September 2025 to lift residential density.
The Wave - Sunshine Coast Rail and Public Transport Project
The Wave is an integrated transport initiative for the Sunshine Coast. Stage 1 involves a 19km dual-track heavy rail line from Beerwah to Caloundra. Stage 2 extends this rail 7km to Birtinya, including a 1km tunnel. Stage 3 (Metro) delivers a 12km Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network connecting Birtinya to the Sunshine Coast Airport via Maroochydore CBD. The project aims to reduce travel times to Brisbane by 45 minutes and support the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
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.
Birtinya Town Centre
Birtinya Town Centre is a significant 18-hectare transit-oriented development within the Kawana Health Precinct. Under the Temporary Local Planning Instrument (TLPI), the masterplan has been enhanced to support the 2032 Olympic Games and housing demand. The project features high-density living with up to 2,600 dwellings across buildings reaching 15 storeys. It integrates the Birtinya Shopping Centre, commercial office spaces, a 4-star hotel, and extensive green space including a 'green spine' and a 130-metre pedestrian bridge linking to East Bank across Lake Kawana.
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.
St Clair
Absolute waterfront apartment development on Lake Kawana comprising two eight-level towers with a total of 200 luxury 2, 3 and 4-bedroom apartments plus penthouses. Resort-style amenities include a 25m pool, BBQ pavilion and fire pit, exclusive residents' dining room with chef's kitchen, nearly 1,000sqm private parklands with direct lake access, and a level-9 rooftop terrace with outdoor kitchen and panoramic ocean/hinterland views. The project topped out in July 2025, is over 75% sold and scheduled for completion in Q1 2026.
Employment
AreaSearch analysis reveals Birtinya significantly outperforming the majority of regions assessed nationwide
Birtinya has a well-educated workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate is 1.9% based on AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, there are 3,107 residents in work while the unemployment rate is 2.1% lower than Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%.
Workforce participation stands at 69.3%, slightly higher than Regional Qld's 64.5%. According to Census responses, 15.8% of residents work from home. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. Health care & social assistance is particularly notable, with employment levels at 1.9 times the regional average.
Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, comprising only 0.3% of Birtinya's workforce compared to Regional Qld's 4.5%. There are 1.8 workers for every resident in the area, indicating it functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the 12 months to December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 1.2% and employment declined by 0.9%, resulting in a fall of 0.2 percentage points in the unemployment rate. This contrasts with Regional Qld where employment rose by 0.7%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is expected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. 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 had a high national income level according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers was $56,961 and the average income stood at $81,934. These figures compared to Regional Qld's of $53,146 and $66,593 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $63,432 (median) and $91,242 (average) as of March 2026. According to 2021 Census figures, incomes in Birtinya clustered around the 59th percentile nationally. Income analysis revealed that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominated with 31.8% of residents (1,660 people), aligning with surrounding regions where this cohort likewise represented 31.7%. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 77.5% of income remaining, ranking at the 46th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed 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
Birtinya's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census data, consisted of 42.3% houses and 57.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This is in contrast to Regional Qld's structure of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Birtinya stood at 15.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 20.5% and rented ones at 63.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,058, higher than Regional Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent in Birtinya was $490, compared to Regional Qld's $375. Nationally, Birtinya's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,058 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.
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, including 21.5% couples with children, 30.0% couples without children, and 10.7% single parent families. Non-family households constitute 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 Regional 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 notable, with 34.9% of residents aged 15 years and above holding university qualifications as of the latest data. This figure exceeds the broader benchmarks of 20.6% for the rest of Queensland and 23.6% for the SA3 area. The breakdown shows bachelor degrees at 24.6%, postgraduate qualifications at 7.3%, and graduate diplomas at 3.0%. Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 33.8% of residents aged 15 years and above holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (11.6%) and certificates (22.2%).
Educational participation is high, with 29.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 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 active public transport stops, served by two bus routes offering 381 weekly passenger trips. Residents have good access to these stops, typically living 363 meters from the nearest one. In this residential area, most commuters travel outward. Cars are the primary mode of transport, used by 79% of residents, while 13% walk and 3% cycle. 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.
The service frequency averages 54 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 34 weekly trips per 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 were found to be higher than the national average among older cohorts, although the level of common health conditions among the general population was somewhat typical.
Mental health issues impacted 10.2% of residents, while asthma affected 7.7%. A total of 67.5% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across Regional Queensland. The rate of private health cover was exceptionally high at approximately 60% of the total population (3,116 people), compared to 52.5% across Regional Queensland. Health outcomes among the working-age population were broadly typical. The area has 18.7% of residents aged 65 and over (976 people), which is lower than the 20.4% in Regional Queensland. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, ranking 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 predominant religion, accounting for 45.5%. Hinduism was overrepresented at 1.4%, compared to Regional Qld's 0.8%.
The top three ancestry groups were English (30.4%), Australian (24.6%), and Irish (8.3%). Notably, Russian (0.5%) South Australian (0.7%), and Korean (0.6%) ethnicities were overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.2%, 0.5%, and 0.2% respectively.
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 Regional Qld's figure of 41 and marginally lower than Australia's 38 years. The 25-34 cohort is notably over-represented in Birtinya at 20.6%, compared to the Regional Qld average, while the 5-14 age group is under-represented at 7.8%. This concentration of the 25-34 age group is well above the national figure of 14.6%. Between 2021 and present, the 65 to 74 age group has grown from 8.3% to 9.6% of the population. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 9.5% to 7.8%, and the 55 to 64 age group has dropped from 10.6% to 9.4%. Demographic modeling suggests Birtinya's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to expand by 363 people (34%) from 1,075 to 1,439. Meanwhile, the 15 to 24 cohort grows by a modest 1% (4 people).