Calliope (Qld)

Population growth drivers in Calliope are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, as of Feb 2026, Calliope's population is estimated at around 5,505. This reflects an increase of 242 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,263 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 5,472 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2024), along with an additional 13 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 30 persons per square kilometer. Calliope's 4.6% growth since census positions it within 2.2 percentage points of the SA4 region (6.8%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by natural growth, contributing approximately 59.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 based on 2021 data. These state projections do not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings are applied in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Examining future population trends, the suburb of Calliope (Qld) is projected to increase by 1,234 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 22.3% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Calliope according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Calliope has seen approximately 5 dwelling approvals annually based on AreaSearch analysis. Between FY21 and FY25, around 25 homes were approved, with an additional 2 in FY26 to date. This results in an average of 6.6 new residents per year for every home built over the past five financial years.

The average construction cost value for new homes is $444,000. In FY26, there have been $1.8 million in commercial approvals, indicating minimal commercial development activity. Compared to Rest of Qld, Calliope has 72.0% lower building activity per person. Recent development has consisted solely of detached dwellings, maintaining the area's low density character with a focus on family homes. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 1092 people.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Calliope is projected to grow by 1,226 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. Two projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to affect this region. Notable projects include Hughes Road Battery Energy Storage System, Calliope Residential Growth Area, Gladstone Project, and Port Of Gladstone Land And Sea Access Upgrade. Relevant details about these projects are provided below.

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Employment conditions in Calliope remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Calliope has a balanced workforce comprising white and blue-collar jobs. The construction sector is prominent, with an unemployment rate of 4.6% and stable employment over the past year, according to AreaSearch data aggregation. As of September 2025, 2740 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.6%, which is 0.5% higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation in Calliope stands at 71.9%, compared to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. Only 4.8% of residents work from home, considering Covid-19 lockdown impacts. Key industries are manufacturing, construction, and retail trade, with manufacturing employment at 2.4 times the regional average. Health care & social assistance employs just 9.6% of local workers, below Rest of Qld's 16.1%.

The area offers limited local employment opportunities, as shown by the Census working population vs resident population count. Over a 12-month period ending in September 2025, employment increased by 0.4%, while labour force grew by 1.2%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.8 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of Qld's figures: employment rose by 1.7%, labour force grew by 2.1%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but industry-specific projections suggest Calliope's employment should increase by 5.3% over five years and 11.6% over ten years.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023, the suburb of Calliope had a median income among taxpayers of $59,706. The average income stood at $73,299. This is higher than national averages of $53,146 and $66,593 for Rest of Qld respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% from financial year ended June 2023 to September 2025, current estimates would be approximately $65,623 (median) and $80,563 (average). Census data from 2021 shows household, family and personal incomes in Calliope cluster around the 53rd percentile nationally. In terms of income distribution, the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket dominates with 34.8% of residents, reflecting patterns seen in the surrounding region where 31.7% similarly occupy this range. After housing costs, 85.5% of income remains for other expenses.

Calliope is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

In Calliope, as per the latest Census evaluation, 94.6% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 5.4% consisting of semi-detached properties, apartments, and other types. This contrasts with Non-Metro Qld's dwelling structure, which was 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Calliope stood at 23.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 45.5% and rented ones at 30.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,733, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure for Calliope was $300, lower than Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Calliope's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially lower at $375 compared to the national figure.

Calliope features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 81.3% of all households, including 40.6% couples with children, 27.6% couples without children, and 12.2% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 18.7%, with lone person households at 16.6% and group households comprising 2.3%. The median household size is 2.9 people, which is larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 9.5%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both challenges and opportunities for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 7.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.2%) and graduate diplomas (1.1%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 46.0% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 7.5% and certificates at 38.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 33.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 15.3% in primary education, 9.7% in secondary education, and 2.4% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health outcomes in Calliope are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Calliope's health indicators show below-average outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were slightly higher than average across both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover was very high at approximately 56% of the total population (~3,096 people), compared to 52.5% in Rest of Qld. Mental health issues impacted 8.3% of residents, while asthma affected 8.1%. A total of 72.1% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among the working-age population were typical. The area had 12.3% of residents aged 65 and over (677 people), lower than the 20.4% in Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors were particularly strong, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

The latest Census data sees Calliope placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Calliope's population was found to be predominantly culturally homogeneous, with 90.8% of residents being citizens, 91.4% born in Australia, and 97.1% speaking English only at home as of the latest data. Christianity was identified as the primary religion in Calliope, comprising 46.4% of its population, compared to 52.2% across the rest of Queensland. In terms of ancestry, Australians were the largest group in Calliope, making up 35.7% of the population, significantly higher than the regional average of 26.5%.

The second and third most represented groups were English at 29.7% and Scottish at 7.8%, respectively. Notably, certain ethnicities showed significant variations: German was slightly overrepresented at 4.8% compared to the regional average of 4.7%, Australian Aboriginal was higher at 4.8% versus 3.9%, and Maori remained consistent at 0.8%.

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

Calliope's median age is 32 years, significantly lower than Queensland's average of 41 and Australia's median of 38. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Calliope has a higher proportion of residents aged 5-14 years at 18.0%, but fewer residents aged 75-84 years at 3.8%. This is notably higher than the national average for 5-14 year-olds, which stands at 12.1%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the proportion of residents aged 15 to 24 has increased from 10.5% to 11.8%, while those aged 75 to 84 have risen from 2.6% to 3.8%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 5 to 14 has decreased from 19.7% to 18.0%, and those aged 45 to 54 have dropped from 11.9% to 10.8%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Calliope's age profile will change significantly. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 35%, adding 270 residents to reach a total of 1,047. Meanwhile, the 15-24 age group is expected to grow by a modest 3%, adding just 19 people.