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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
Population growth drivers in Burnett Heads are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends
The population of Burnett Heads is estimated at around 3,284 as of May 2026. This figure reflects an increase of 376 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,908 people. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 3,233 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025, along with an additional 90 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 204 persons per square kilometer. Burnett Heads' growth rate of 12.9% since the 2021 census exceeded both the Rest of Qld's 9.2% and the national average, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 83.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.
AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, 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 lack age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data are applied where utilized. Projected demographic shifts indicate an above median population growth for locations outside capital cities, with Burnett Heads expected to grow by 518 persons to 2041, reflecting a 16-year increase of 14.2% in total.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Recent residential development output has been above average within Burnett Heads when compared nationally
AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Burnett Heads shows around 25 residential properties granted approval per year over the past five financial years. This totals an estimated 129 homes from FY-21 to FY-25. As of FY-26, 47 approvals have been recorded.
On average, two people move to the area for each dwelling built annually during this period. The average construction value is $494,000.
Recent construction comprises 88% standalone homes and 12% medium and high-density housing. Burnett Heads has around 112 people per approval, reflecting a developing area. Population forecasts indicate an increase of 467 residents by 2041. Current construction levels should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Burnett Heads
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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
Burnett Heads has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally
Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified five projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include Port of Bundaberg Expansion, Bundaberg State Development Area, GemLife Lighthouse Bay Retirement Village - Burnett Heads, and Bundaberg State Development Area. The following details those most relevant.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Queensland Energy Roadmap 2025
A statewide five-year energy transformation program released by the Crisafulli Government on 10 October 2025, replacing the former Labor government's 2022 Energy and Jobs Plan. The Roadmap centres on three objectives: affordability, reliability and sustainability. Key commitments include a $1.6 billion Electricity Maintenance Guarantee to maintain state-owned coal assets operating to at least their technical lives (some to 2046 and potentially beyond), a $400 million Queensland Energy Investment Fund and QIC Investor Gateway to attract private sector capital into new generation and storage, and a Central Queensland Gas Power Tender for at least 400 MW of new gas-fired generation. Queensland's existing renewable energy targets have been formally repealed, while a net zero by 2050 commitment is retained. Active transmission priorities include the QIC-led CopperString Eastern Link (330 kV, major construction from 2028, commercial operations by 2032) and Powerlink's Gladstone Grid Reinforcement project. Battery storage targets include at least 3.1 GW of short-duration storage by 2030 and up to 4 GW of medium-duration storage by 2035. The Roadmap is estimated to reduce energy system costs by $26 billion to 2035 compared to Labor's early-closure plan.
Port of Bundaberg Expansion
Major port expansion and infrastructure overhaul at the Port of Bundaberg to boost export capabilities for bulk commodities, minerals, and agricultural goods. A $21.9 million bulk goods conveyor system (funded jointly by the Australian Government, Sugar Terminals Limited, and GPC) was completed and officially opened in April 2024, enabling efficient loading of silica sand, sugar, wood pellets, and other commodities. The Break Bulk Shipping Terminal (BBST) at 141 Buss Street, Burnett Heads, developed by Pacific Marine Base Bundaberg Pty Ltd (Pacific Tug Group), features a 200m wharf extension and a -9.5m LAT berth pocket. Stage 1 of the BBST is operational; Stage 2 - incorporating an oversize overmass cargo facility and Ro-Ro access - is under construction and was targeting open for shipping in early 2026, with a council-imposed completion deadline of 30 September 2028. Bundaberg Regional Council approved a 100% infrastructure charges discount (valued at $323,712) as a Project of Regional Significance. The overall expansion is estimated to support up to 24,000 regional jobs through enhanced trade connectivity serving mining, agriculture, defence, and renewables sectors.
Bundaberg State Development Area
The Bundaberg State Development Area (SDA) is a 6,076-hectare industrial and port-related hub declared in February 2017 to facilitate economic growth in the Wide Bay Burnett region. Located approximately 17 kilometres north of Bundaberg city near Burnett Heads, the SDA is divided into five precincts: Port-related industry, Industrial, Support industry, Infrastructure and corridors, and Environmental management. The development scheme, approved by the Governor in Council in December 2017, controls all planning and development within the SDA. Key investment activity includes the Break Bulk Shipping Terminal (BBST) at 141 Buss Street, Burnett Heads, approved by Council in October 2025 with a $35-40 million cost estimate and a required completion date of 30 September 2028. Pacific Marine Base Bundaberg Stage 2, a 200-metre wharf extension, was on track for commercial shipping operations from early 2026. The Bundaberg Region Economic Development Strategy 2025-2035 and the Bundaberg Integrated Transport Strategy both prioritise freight access and industrial investment in the SDA.
Queensland Energy Roadmap 2026
The Queensland Energy Roadmap 2026 is a state policy framework released on 10 October 2025. It reverses earlier plans by extending state-owned coal asset operations until at least 2046 supported by a 1.6 billion dollar maintenance guarantee. The plan focuses on a market-driven approach to Regional Energy Hubs, doubling gas capacity to 8.3GW by 2035, and accelerating large-scale battery storage. Significant infrastructure includes the 400MW Central Queensland Gas Power Tender and the CopperString Eastern Link (330kV) transmission project.
Queensland Energy Roadmap 2026
The Queensland Energy Roadmap 2026 is a strategic policy framework released by the Crisafulli Government on 10 October 2025. It replaces the previous SuperGrid Infrastructure Blueprint, shifting focus toward a market-based approach to power reliability and affordability. Key pillars include extending the operating life of state-owned coal power stations until 2046, doubling gas-fired generation capacity to 8.3GW by 2035, and transitioning 'Renewable Energy Zones' into 'Regional Energy Hubs' to integrate solar, wind, and storage with existing grid infrastructure. Major active components include the $1.6 billion Electricity Maintenance Guarantee, a 400MW gas generation tender in Central Queensland, and the CopperString Eastern Link (330kV) targeted for 2032 completion.
Mt Rawdon Pumped Hydro Project
The Mt Rawdon Pumped Hydro Project is a 2 GW / 20 GWh energy storage facility designed to repurpose the Mount Rawdon gold mine's open pit into a lower reservoir. The project includes a new upper reservoir, underground power station, and a transmission line connecting to the Powerlink network. As of May 2026, the project has received a 50 million dollar investment from the Queensland Government through CleanCo and is undergoing feasibility and environmental assessments, with construction targeted to begin in 2027.
Building Future Hospitals Program
Now referred to as the Hospital Rescue Plan, this $18.5 billion program is the largest health infrastructure investment in Queensland history. It aims to deliver over 2,600 new public hospital beds by 2032 through three new hospitals (Coomera, Bundaberg, Toowoomba) and major expansions at 10 existing facilities including QEII, Logan, and Princess Alexandra hospitals. Recent milestones in 2026 include the completion of the concept design for the 600-bed Coomera Hospital and the final concrete pour for the QEII Hospital expansion clinical building.
Bruce Highway Targeted Safety Program
A jointly funded Australian and Queensland Government road safety program delivering priority upgrades on high-risk sections of the Bruce Highway north of Gympie. The program includes wide centre line treatments, road widening, pavement strengthening, intersection upgrades, overtaking lanes, narrow structure widening and rest areas. Current works include early start and accelerated construction packages, with 22 new design and construction contracts released to market in 2026 and delivery targeted by 2030.
Employment
Employment performance in Burnett Heads exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators
Burnett Heads has a balanced workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. Key sectors include essential services. The unemployment rate is 3.0%, with an estimated employment growth of 8.8% over the past year.
As of December 2025, there are 1,470 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.0% below Regional Queensland's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation in Burnett Heads is lower at 53.2%, compared to Regional Queensland's 64.5%. Only 8.0% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts may have affected this figure. The main industries of employment are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.
Burnett Heads has a strong specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level. However, education & training is under-represented, with only 6.9% of the workforce compared to Regional Queensland's 9.1%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities due to its predominantly residential nature. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 8.8%, while the labour force grew by 8.6%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Regional Queensland saw employment rise by 0.7% and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Burnett Heads' employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections against the local employment mix.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
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 ended June 2023 shows that median income in Burnett Heads is $39,709 and average income is $49,067. This is lower than national averages of $53,146 (median) and $66,593 (average). In Regional Qld, the median income is $53,146 and average income is $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth from June 2023 to March 2026 of 11.36%, estimated incomes for Burnett Heads are approximately $44,220 (median) and $54,641 (average). According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Burnett Heads rank between the 5th and 6th percentiles nationally. The largest income segment is 28.9% earning $400 - $799 weekly, with 949 residents falling into this bracket. In contrast, the region's largest income bracket is $1,500 - $2,999 at 31.7%. After housing costs, 85.7% of income remains in Burnett Heads, ranking at the 7th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Burnett Heads is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership
Burnett Heads' dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 94.1% houses and 5.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Burnett Heads stood at 49.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 27.9% and rented ones at 23.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, below Regional Qld's average of $1,655. Median weekly rent in Burnett Heads was $290, compared to Regional Qld's $345. Nationally, mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,863 and rents substantially below the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Burnett Heads features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size
Family households account for 68.4% of all households, including 17.0% couples with children, 39.0% couples without children, and 11.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 31.6%, with lone person households at 26.2% and group households comprising 5.3%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Burnett Heads faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally
The area's university qualification rate is 12.5%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 9.3%, followed by graduate diplomas (1.7%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.5%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 42.3% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (9.8%) and certificates (32.5%). A total of 20.8% of the population is engaged in formal education, comprising 8.0% in primary, 7.0% in secondary, and 2.4% in tertiary education.
A substantial 20.8% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 8.0% in primary education, 7.0% in secondary education, and 2.4% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is very low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Burnett Heads has 15 operational public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by one route in total, offering 32 weekly passenger trips combined. Transport access is considered good, with residents on average being 305 meters away from the nearest stop. Burnett Heads, predominantly residential, sees most residents traveling outwards for work. Cars remain the primary commuting mode at 95%. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling.
According to the 2021 Census, only 8% of residents work from home, which may be due to COVID-19 conditions. Buses run approximately four times daily across all routes, translating to about two weekly trips per stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health performance in Burnett Heads is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts
Burnett Heads faces significant health challenges as assessed by AreaSearch. Mortality rates and prevalence of chronic conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is extremely low at approximately 47% of the total population (~1531 people), compared to Regional Qld's 52.5%, and the national average of 55.7%.
The most common medical conditions are arthritis (13.7%) and mental health issues (9.9%). 54.9% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Regional Qld's 67.6%. Working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. Burnett Heads has 34.2% of residents aged 65 and over (1123 people), higher than Regional Qld's 20.4%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with national rankings for the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Burnett Heads is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics
Burnett Heads, surveyed in June 2016, had a low cultural diversity with 84.8% of its population born in Australia, 90.5% being citizens, and 96.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 52.4%, similar to Regional Qld's 52.2%. The top three ancestry groups were English (33.8%), Australian (29.5%), and Scottish (8.9%).
Notably, German (6.0%) was overrepresented compared to regional levels (4.7%), as were New Zealanders (1.0% vs 0.9%) and French (0.6% vs 0.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Burnett Heads ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide
Burnett Heads has a median age of 55, which is considerably higher than the Regional Qld figure of 41 and substantially exceeds the national norm of 38. Relative to Regional Qld, Burnett Heads has a higher concentration of residents aged 65-74 (21.1%) but fewer residents aged 25-34 (7.6%). This 65-74 concentration is well above the national figure of 9.4%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 9.1% to 10.4%, while the 85+ cohort increased from 1.5% to 2.7%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 9.7% to 8.1%, and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 12.0% to 10.7%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Burnett Heads's age structure. Leading this shift, the 65 to 74 group is projected to grow by 18%, reaching 816 from 692. The aging population trend is clear, with those aged 65+ comprising 62% of projected growth. Conversely, both the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 age groups are projected to see reduced numbers.