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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
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Chifley (ACT) has an estimated 2,785 residents, up from 2,680 at the 2021 Census — a change of 105 people, or 3.9%. Growth has averaged 1.1% a year over five years. That puts 1,752 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to AreaSearch's evaluation of broader ABS demographic releases alongside post-Census address verification, the suburb of Chifley (ACT) has reached an estimated population of 2,785 as of Aug 2026. Compared to the 2,680 residents recorded at the 2021 Census, this marks an expansion of 105 people (3.9%). The updated figure draws on the ABS June 2025 ERP release combined with 44 validated new addresses added following the Census. Local population density stands at 1,751 persons per square kilometer, which exceeds the national benchmark across locations tracked by AreaSearch. Inbound overseas migration served as the primary growth driver, generating roughly 86.0% of recent population additions.
Projections for the suburb of Chifley (ACT) utilize the 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 dataset (using 2022 as its baseline), supplemented by ACT Government SA2 age-cohort projections (2022 base) for post-2032 periods and non-covered areas. Under these forward-looking estimates, overall headcount is forecast to contract by 123 persons by 2041. Despite the headline decline, certain demographics will expand, most notably residents aged 85 and over, who are expected to gain 30 people. <i>See the age section for more details.</i>
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
71 new dwellings have been approved in Chifley (ACT) over the past five years, an average of 14 a year. That is 4.8 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 12, broadly in line with that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Statistical building consent figures evaluated by AreaSearch show that building approvals in Chifley have averaged roughly 14 residential units per year, accumulating 71 approved homes across the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) with 12 approved during FY-25 to date. Over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), an average of 2.2 additional residents arrived for each completed dwelling, underpinning local real estate values. Furthermore, approved residential construction averages $418,000 in expected building cost per dwelling—exceeding regional benchmarks and highlighting an emphasis on higher-specification builds. Residential building activity in Chifley is markedly subdued compared to Australian Capital Territory, running 73.0% below the broader territory's per-capita rate.
Constrained supply of newly built stock generally bolsters pricing power and interest in established dwellings. Recent building consents break down into 62.0% separate houses and 38.0% attached dwellings, delivering a diverse range of medium-density townhouses and multi-unit complexes alongside freestanding houses. With approximately 323 people per dwelling approval, the local construction sector reflects an established urban profile. Given expectations of a flat to contracting population base, residential demand pressure across Chifley should moderate, which may present favorable buying conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Chifley (ACT)
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 38 current infrastructure and development projects close to Chifley (ACT), worth an estimated $4.23 billion. 6 are already under construction and 8 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and health & medical. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Regional performance and property demand are heavily shaped by civil works, major urban schemes, and planning decisions. AreaSearch has pinpointed 13 major development initiatives with the capacity to influence the local area, including the Woden Town Square Precinct Redevelopment, Ivy by Morris (Section 54 Phillip), Skye by Trilogy (Section 117 Phillip), and the Woden Community Services Hub.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Woden Community Services Hub
A new four-storey facility in Woden Town Centre that will centralise community and government services under one roof, bringing together services currently operating from multiple buildings in the region. It will include child and family services, meeting rooms, a multi-purpose hall, and workshop spaces. Construction is expected to commence in 2026-27.
Ivy by Morris (Section 54 Phillip)
A premium 18-storey residential tower offering 212 apartments with rooftop amenities, ground-floor retail and direct connection to the redeveloped Woden Town Square.
Skye by Trilogy (Section 117 Phillip)
A landmark 20-storey mixed-use residential tower comprising 188 luxury apartments with ground-floor retail and commercial space, located directly opposite Westfield Woden in the Phillip town centre. Developed by Zapari, the project forms part of the broader high-rise transformation of the Woden Town Centre precinct.
Woden Pool Project (Phillip Swimming and Ice-Skating Centre Redevelopment)
Staged redevelopment of the Phillip Swimming and Ice-Skating Centre site in Woden by Geocon. Stage one, approved by the ACT Territory Planning Authority on 16 December 2025, comprises two 13-storey residential towers with 286 apartments above a new public aquatic centre featuring a 25-metre, eight-lane indoor lap pool, warm water program pool, splash pad, learn-to-swim and toddler areas, cafe, and steam and sauna facilities. The existing outdoor 50-metre pool and the ice-skating rink will remain operational during stage one construction, with their future considered in later stages.Geocon intends to eventually deliver around 696 to 700 apartments across five buildings in three stages on the 1.29 hectare site. Minor structural amendments to the approved stage one design remain under assessment.
Woden Pool Redevelopment
Mixed-use redevelopment of the Phillip Swimming and Ice Skating Centre (Woden Pool) comprising a new public indoor aquatic centre with 25m lap pool, learn-to-swim pool, leisure and toddler pools, splash pad, sauna, steam room and cafe, together with two residential towers containing 286 apartments in Stage 1. The broader masterplanned redevelopment is proposed to ultimately deliver around 696 dwellings across three stages.
Woden Town Centre Public Realm Upgrades
ACT Government public realm improvements to Woden Town Square and surrounding streets in Phillip, delivered in stages as part of the broader Woden renewal program. Works include new landscaping and tree planting, street furniture, wayfinding signage, improved pedestrian connectivity and active travel links around the CIT Woden Campus and town centre. The initial Woden Experiment placemaking activation (2019) informed subsequent permanent upgrades. The new Woden Public Transport Interchange became operational in April 2026, completing the active travel connectivity precinct.
Canberra Hospital Master Plan
The Canberra Hospital Master Plan is a 20-year strategic development blueprint prepared by Canberra Health Services and the ACT Government to guide campus expansion through 2041. Organized into seven specialized clinical and research precincts, the plan builds upon the recent $660 million Critical Services Building (Building 5) and Yamba Drive entrance upgrades. Future stages focus on a new pathology and clinical support facility, mental health precinct enhancements, and consolidated parking infrastructure.
Woden Bus Depot and Transport Interchange
The Woden Bus Depot and Transport Interchange are fully completed and operational as of April 2026. The new interchange on Callam Street serves over 10,000 Canberrans daily with 10 platforms, improved amenities, and future-proofed light rail capabilities. The Woden Bus Depot is Australia's largest electric bus depot, featuring charging infrastructure for up to 100 zero-emission buses alongside modern maintenance facilities.
1,549 residents of Chifley (ACT) are employed, from a labour force of 1,610. Unemployment sits at 3.8%, with participation at 68.2%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.6% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,126, about 76% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Workforce metrics compiled by AreaSearch indicate that Chifley is characterized by an educated labor pool, considerable public sector representation, an unemployment rate of just 3.8%, and steady job conditions over the trailing twelve months. As of March 2026, employed residents stand at 1,549, and local joblessness sits 0.3% below the Australian Capital Territory mark of 4.1%, whereas labor force participation is lower than the broader territory at 68.2% versus 70.6%. Census findings showed 12.9% working from home, though this metric was subject to COVID-19 pandemic restrictions. The leading industries employing local residents are public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, alongside professional & technical services.
In contrast, education & training accounts for only 7.3% of the workforce, lagging the 9.6% territory standard. Comparing local resident workers with the Census working population highlights that this largely residential community provides limited local employment opportunities. AreaSearch's evaluation of SALM and ABS statistical releases shows that in the year leading to March 2026, resident employment rose by 0.1% while the workforce base grew 1.1%, lifting local unemployment by 1.0 percentage points. Across Australian Capital Territory over the same timeframe, employment expanded by 0.3%, the labor force increased by 1.1%, and unemployment climbed 0.7 percentage points. Looking ahead, Jobs and Skills Australia national industry projections from Mar-26—which forecast 6.6% job growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years across the country—indicate how sector changes may affect local residents. Weighting these sectoral forecasts against Chifley's occupational breakdown implies potential local employment expansion of 6.6% over five years and 13.5% over ten years (note that this weighting is purely illustrative and does not incorporate local demographic projections).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Chifley (ACT) is $2,347 a week (about $122,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,191 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $64,273 a year against an average of $80,270. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
ATO taxation statistics for financial year 2023 aggregated by AreaSearch indicate that taxpayers in the suburb of Chifley recorded a median income of $64,273 and an average income of $80,270, ranking among the top tiers nationally against Australian Capital Territory benchmarks of $72,206 and $85,981. Factoring in subsequent Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% through to March 2026 elevates estimated median and average personal earnings to roughly $70,983 and $88,650. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual incomes all placed between the 85th and 90th percentiles across Australia. The single largest income bracket comprises 30.8% of individuals earning between $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (857 residents), mirroring the regional share of 34.3%.
High-income earners taking home more than $3,000 weekly make up 38.1% of the cohort, reflecting substantial household wealth. Housing costs consume 14.5% of income, net earnings place residents in the 86th percentile for disposable funds, and the SEIFA index puts the area in the 9th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Chifley (ACT) had 1,059 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 68% detached houses and 6% apartments. 35% are owned with a mortgage, 32% rented and 32% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $450 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,383 a month, a total housing cost higher than 78% of areas nationally. Rent absorbs 19.2% of household income here and mortgage repayments 23.4%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the most recent Census, the local housing stock in Chifley was split between 67.7% detached houses and 32.3% medium-to-high density or other homes (such as semi-detached residences, flats, and 'other' dwellings), relative to 63.3% houses and 36.7% alternative formats across Australian Capital Territory. Outright home ownership stood at 32.3%, well ahead of the territory average, while 35.2% of homes carried a mortgage and 32.4% were rented. Median monthly home loan repayments reached $2,383, surpassing the Australian Capital Territory baseline of $2,080, while median weekly rent matched the territory at $450.
Across Australia as a whole, Chifley's monthly repayments substantially exceed the national benchmark of $1,863, and weekly rents sit well above the $375 national figure.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Chifley (ACT) counted 1,059 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.4 people each. 28% are couples with children, against 26% couples without children. 31% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.3 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute 64.2% of all households across the suburb, broken down into couples with offspring (28.1%), childless couples (25.6%), and single-parent households (8.7%). The remaining 35.8% of residences are non-family setups, consisting of single-person dwellings (30.7%) and shared group accommodation (4.7%). The average household contains 2.4 people, slightly below the Australian Capital Territory figure of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
52.2% of adults in Chifley (ACT) hold a university qualification, including 29.5% with a bachelor degree and 16.5% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 99% of areas nationally. A further 12.1% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Higher educational attainment among Chifley residents substantially exceeds both state and national benchmarks, as 52.2% of adults aged 15+ hold tertiary degrees compared to 46.8% across the broader SA4 region and 30.4% across Australia. This educational profile underpins strong capability within professional and knowledge-intensive industries. By credential level, bachelor degrees account for 29.5%, postgraduate awards represent 16.5%, and graduate diplomas total 6.2%. Furthermore, technical and vocational training accounts for 22.9% of adult qualifications, comprising advanced diplomas (10.8%) and certificates (12.1%). Learning engagement is exceptionally strong throughout the suburb, with 28.9% of the local population actively participating in academic or vocational study.
Among students, 8.1% attend primary school, 7.9% are enrolled in tertiary education, and 5.9% are in secondary schooling.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Chifley (ACT) reaches 6 stops on 5 routes, timetabled for about 620 services a week. The typical home sits about 230 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.2 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Chifley's public transport framework comprises 6 operational bus stops across 5 routes, which collectively generate 617 weekly passenger services. Transit accessibility is strong, with typical walking distances to the nearest stop averaging 231 meters. As an established commuter suburb, most workers travel out of the area, with 82% driving by car, 8% utilizing buses, and 5% commuting on foot. Dwellings accommodate an average of 1.2 vehicles. In the 2021 Census, 12.9% of workers worked from home, a metric influenced by pandemic conditions. Bus routes running through the suburb deliver an average frequency of 88 trips per day across the network, translating to around 102 weekly departures per stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
70.7% of residents in Chifley (ACT) report no long-term health condition. 4.6% need daily assistance with core activities, and 58.9% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.9 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality patterns and chronic illness rates, Chifley achieves favorable health outcomes, showing low rates of common medical ailments among the general population and near-national-average levels for older and higher-risk cohorts. Furthermore, private health insurance uptake is notably widespread, covering approximately 59% of the population (1,640 people) relative to 62.4% across Australian Capital Territory. Mental health conditions and arthritis represent the two most frequently diagnosed illnesses locally, recorded among 8.6 and 7.6% of inhabitants respectively, whereas 70.7% of residents report having no diagnosed medical conditions, compared with 70.2% across Australian Capital Territory.
Working-age cohorts display strong general vitality and low chronic disease rates. Senior residents aged 65 and over make up 16.3% of the community (453 people), above the 14.2% territory share; their health outcomes remain above average, though slightly below the national ranking achieved by younger age groups.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
30.9% of Chifley (ACT) residents were born overseas and 26.5% speak a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (23.6%) and Australian (20.8%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Chifley displays high cultural diversity relative to most surrounding areas, with 30.9% of inhabitants born abroad and 26.5% using a primary language other than English in the home. Christianity represents the most common faith, accounting for 40.0% of residents. Hinduism shows a notable local concentration, embracing 8.1% of the population compared to 4.8% across Australian Capital Territory. Evaluating parental country of birth reveals that the top three ancestral backgrounds in Chifley are English (23.6%), Australian (20.8%), and Other backgrounds (14.3%). Several other cultural backgrounds also show distinctive representations, including Spanish heritage at 0.8% (versus 0.5% across the territory), Serbian at 0.7% (versus 0.4%), and Croatian at 0.9% (versus 0.9%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Chifley (ACT) is 36. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 29.9% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The age profile of Chifley aligns closely with broader Australian Capital Territory patterns, diverging by at most 3.6 percentage points across any single broad age bracket. The estimated median age is 36, slightly down from 37 at the 2021 Census and 1 year higher than the territory median of 35 recorded during that Census. Mature adults and pre-retirees aged 45 - 64 have seen their demographic share decline from 22.4% to an estimated 20.8%. Looking forward to 2041, the largest numerical gain is anticipated among seniors aged 65+, who are projected to increase by 14 residents (3%) to 468, while young-to-middle-aged cohorts, children, and young adults are forecast to decrease.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Chifley (ACT)
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · Jun 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 last month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 4 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 6 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 44 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,680 at the 2021 Census → 2,785 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL80036). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.