Blackwater

Blackwater has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

The estimated population of the suburb of Blackwater is around 5,076 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 4,702 people. The latest resident population estimate by AreaSearch following examination of ABS ERP data release in June 2024 was 5,033, with an additional 40 validated new addresses since the Census date contributing to this increase. This results in a population density ratio of 7.7 persons per square kilometer. Blackwater's population growth of 8.0% since the 2021 census exceeded that of its SA3 area (5.9%) and SA4 region, making it a growth leader in the region. Natural growth contributed approximately 84.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area as released in 2024 with 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. These state projections do not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings aligning with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data are applied for each age cohort. Considering projected demographic shifts, lower quartile growth of regional areas nationally is anticipated. The suburb of Blackwater is expected to increase by 232 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 2.4% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Blackwater, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Based on AreaSearch analysis using ABS building approval data, Blackwater has recorded approximately 4 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 20 homes have been approved, with no approvals yet in FY-26. On average, about 2.5 people moved to the area per new home constructed over these years, indicating solid demand supporting property values.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $501,000, which is moderately above regional levels, suggesting emphasis on quality construction. This year, there have been $4.4 million in commercial approvals, indicating limited commercial development focus. Comparatively, Blackwater shows approximately 68% of the construction activity per person when measured against the Rest of Qld. Nationally, it places among the 21st percentile of areas assessed, resulting in relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing properties.

However, recent construction activity has intensified. Recent development comprises 80.0% standalone homes and 20.0% townhouses or apartments, preserving the area's low density nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated count of 759 people per dwelling approval reflects Blackwater's quiet, low activity development environment. Looking ahead, AreaSearch estimates that Blackwater is expected to grow by 123 residents through to 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

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

AreaSearch has identified three projects that could potentially impact the region's performance. These include "Bringing Blackwater Back into the Planning Scheme", "Blackwater Multipurpose Health Service Renewal", "Blackwater Solar Farm", and "Blackwater South Coking Coal Project". The following list provides details on those projects likely to have the most relevance.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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The labour market performance in Blackwater lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Blackwater has a diverse workforce consisting of both white and blue collar jobs, with manufacturing and industrial sectors prominent. The unemployment rate in Blackwater is 8.3%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, there are 2,982 employed residents, with an unemployment rate of 4.2% above Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation in Blackwater is high at 83.1%, compared to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. Census responses indicate that only 3.5% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The leading employment industries among residents are mining, accommodation & food, and education & training. Blackwater has a strong specialization in mining, with an employment share 12.5 times the regional level.

However, health care & social assistance is under-represented, with only 3.7% of Blackwater's workforce compared to 16.1% in Rest of Qld. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, Blackwater's labour force increased by 1.0%, while employment declined by 1.2%. This resulted in a rise of 2.0 percentage points in the unemployment rate. In contrast, Rest of Qld experienced employment growth of 1.7% and labour force growth of 2.1%, with a rise of only 0.3 percentage points in the unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Blackwater's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 4.2% over five years and 10.4% over ten years. These projections are illustrative and do not take into account localised population projections.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

The median taxpayer income in Blackwater suburb was $91,875 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The average income was $105,278 during this period. Nationally, these figures are exceptionally high, contrasting with Rest of Qld's median income of $53,146 and average income of $66,593 in the same year. By September 2025, based on a Wage Price Index growth of 9.91%, current estimates would be approximately $100,980 (median) and $115,711 (average). Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Blackwater rank highly nationally, between the 86th and 93rd percentiles. The income brackets show that 36.3% of locals (1,842 people) fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 category, mirroring the regional trend where 31.7% occupy this bracket. Economic strength is evident with 37.7% of households earning high weekly incomes exceeding $3,000, supporting elevated consumer spending. After housing costs, residents retain 91.4% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power.

Blackwater is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The latest Census evaluation showed that 92.7% of dwellings in Blackwater were houses, with the remaining 7.3% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This compares to Non-Metro Qld's figures of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Blackwater stood at 11.1%, with mortgaged properties at 23.7% and rented ones at 65.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,083, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent in Blackwater was $220, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345 and the national average of $375 for rents. Nationally, Blackwater's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,083 compared to the Australian average of $1,863.

Blackwater has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 70.9% of all households, including 32.8% couples with children, 24.5% couples without children, and 12.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 29.1%, with lone person households at 25.9% and group households comprising 3.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Blackwater faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area has lower university qualification rates at 12.4%, significantly below the Australian average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 9.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.5%) and graduate diplomas (1.3%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 48.4% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (7.1%) and certificates (41.3%).

Educational participation is notably high at 39.0%, with 16.9% in primary education, 11.6% in secondary education, and 3.7% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Blackwater is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Blackwater faces significant health challenges according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 69% of the total population (3,497 people), compared to 52.5% across Rest of Qld and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, impacting 8.9% and 7.9% of residents respectively. 75.1% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 5.3% of residents aged 65 and over (269 people), which is lower than the 20.4% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

Blackwater is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Blackwater's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 77.9% of its population being citizens, 88.0% born in Australia, and 95.0% speaking English only at home. The dominant religion in Blackwater is Christianity, comprising 47.0% of the population, compared to 52.2% across the rest of Queensland. In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups are Australian (33.4%), English (26.9%), and Irish (7.3%).

Notably, Maori representation is higher in Blackwater at 2.3%, compared to 0.8% regionally. Similarly, Australian Aboriginal representation is higher at 7.2% versus the regional average of 3.9%. German ancestry is slightly lower in Blackwater at 4.0%, compared to 4.7% regionally.

Blackwater hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Blackwater's median age is 30 years, which is lower than Rest of Qld's average of 41 years and Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to Rest of Qld, Blackwater has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (20.4%), but fewer residents aged 65-74 (3.9%). This proportion for the 25-34 age group is notably higher than the national average of 14.4%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, Blackwater's population has seen an increase in the 25 to 34 age group from 18.0% to 20.4%, while the 45 to 54 age group has decreased from 13.6% to 11.8%. By 2041, Blackwater's population is projected to see significant demographic changes. The 25 to 34 age cohort is expected to grow by 15%, adding 160 residents to reach a total of 1,196. Conversely, populations in the 45 to 54 and 55 to 64 age cohorts are projected to decline.