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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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Forestdale has an estimated 2,691 residents, up from 2,560 at the 2021 Census — a change of 131 people, or 5.1%. Interstate and internal migration accounts for 50.0% of that increase. That puts 443 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
As of Aug 2026, the suburb of Forestdale has an estimated population of around 2,691, according to AreaSearch assessment combining ABS wider-area population updates with 30 validated new addresses recorded since the Census. Compared to the 2,560 people documented in the 2021 Census, this indicates an expansion of 131 people (5.1%). The revised estimate follows AreaSearch evaluation of the June 2025 ABS ERP release alongside local address additions, which established a benchmark resident count of 2,679. This demographic total yields a density of 442 persons per square kilometer, providing residents with considerable room alongside capacity for future development.
While all components including natural growth and overseas migration were positive contributors, interstate migration served as the primary growth engine by generating approximately 50.0% of recent population additions. Population modelling by AreaSearch incorporates 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for individual SA2 localities using 2022 as the base year. In locations lacking coverage from this series or extending post-2032, Queensland State Government SA2 projections released in 2023 (utilising 2021 data) are adopted. Because state datasets omit age cohort breakdowns, AreaSearch applies age-specific weighting aligned with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections from 2023 based on 2022 data. Aggregated SA2-level figures indicate an above median population trajectory across AreaSearch statistical areas, with the suburb of Forestdale projected to increase by 557 persons by 2041, representing an overall gain of 20.2% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
20 new dwellings have been approved in Forestdale over the past five years, an average of 4 a year. That is 1.2 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 2, well below 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
Building approval records compiled by AreaSearch from ABS statistical area data indicate that Forestdale has averaged approximately 4 new residential approvals per year, generating an estimated 20 homes across the past 5 financial years. During FY-25 to date, 2 approvals have been lodged. Between FY-21 and FY-25, the arrival of only 0.5 new residents annually per new dwelling demonstrates that residential construction has matched or exceeded incoming demand, expanding purchaser options, facilitating residential expansion beyond expectations, and registering an average construction value of $413,000 per dwelling. Furthermore, the submission of $227,000 in commercial approvals during this financial year highlights the locality's predominantly residential character.
Residential development intensity in Forestdale remains quiet and subdued, sitting 92.0% below the regional average per person compared to Greater Brisbane and trailing national benchmarks, which reinforces value retention for established dwellings while pointing to potential planning constraints. The current pipeline of new construction is divided between 50.0% detached houses and 50.0% attached dwellings, offering attainable price points for downsizers, entry-level buyers, and investors. This represents a distinct shift from the existing housing stock of 99.0% houses, responding to changing affordability requirements, evolving lifestyle preferences, and a shortage of development land. A high ratio of 882 people per approved dwelling highlights the low-volume development setting. Based on the most recent AreaSearch quarterly release, Forestdale is projected to add 545 residents by 2041. Should current construction volumes persist, housing supply could struggle to satisfy population increases, potentially intensifying buyer competition and reinforcing price appreciation.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Forestdale
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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 one current infrastructure or development project inside Forestdale, worth an estimated $60 million. A further 46 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $27.2 billion. 13 are already under construction and 11 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and sports & recreation. 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
Local infrastructure investment and strategic planning schemes significantly shape property performance, with AreaSearch identifying 7 major projects likely to influence the area. Key developments include Ember by Azure (formerly Augusta Parkway Estate Expansion), Logan Metro Sports Park, Banksia Rise Estate, and Loganlea Station Relocation Project.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Ember by Azure
A residential development by Azure comprising 74 three and four-bedroom terrace homes. The gated community features communal amenities known as AClub, including a 20-metre wet-edge pool, a kids splash pool, sun lounges, and shaded cabanas. The development is located in Augustine Heights, part of the Greater Springfield growth corridor, and is being built by Azure Build.
Loganlea Station and Park 'n' Ride Relocation
Joint Australian and Queensland Government project to relocate Loganlea station about 500m south opposite Logan Hospital and upgrade the park 'n' ride. The new station will improve access to Logan Hospital, Loganlea TAFE and Loganlea State High School, with ramps, stairs, lifts, a pedestrian overpass, raised platforms, lighting, CCTV, real-time passenger information, bus stops, kiss 'n' ride, bicycle parking and provision for future Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail expansion. Major construction is underway and completion is targeted for 2027, subject to conditions.
Paradise in Parkinson
Paradise in Parkinson is a masterplanned residential land estate comprising 118 residential lots delivered across multiple stages. Civil works and staged land releases have progressed, with the estate being marketed for house and land packages within the Stretton College catchment. The development includes landscaped open space, green corridors and new local road infrastructure.
Grand Plaza Shopping Centre Amenities Refurbishment
Internal upgrade program at Grand Plaza, the regional shopping centre at Browns Plains in Logan. The current scope, lodged with Logan City Council in May 2025 (reference PDCOM/1509/2025), covers a commercial amenities refurbishment refreshing customer washrooms and supporting facilities. The works form part of an ongoing centre renewal program led by co-owners Vicinity Centres and EG Funds Management, building on the recently completed food court refurbishment which introduced new ceramic and timber finishes, additional seating and a kids play zone.A steady stream of specialty store fitouts is also progressing through 2025 and 2026 (including Pandora, Essential Beauty and Sunshine Kitchen), reflecting active tenancy reconfiguration across the centre. Grand Plaza spans around 53,000 square metres of gross lettable area and is anchored by Big W, Kmart, Target, Coles, Woolworths, Aldi and Event Cinemas. The centre has previously trialled rooftop drone deliveries with Wing.
Browns Plains Central
Browns Plains Central is a major mixed-use urban renewal project located opposite Grand Plaza. The masterplanned community is designed to deliver approximately 1200 apartments and townhouses integrated with retail and commercial spaces. The development aligns with the Browns Plains Local Plan to transform the site into a high-density urban hub, fostering local employment and residential growth within the Logan City Council region.
The Avenues at Browns Plains
Boutique collection of 128 luxury townhomes and apartments with rooftop terraces, located directly opposite Grand Plaza Shopping Centre in Browns Plains. Developed by Turrisi Properties, the project targets owner-occupiers and investors seeking premium finishes and an inner-suburban lifestyle close to retail, transport and schools.
Logan Metro Sports Park
Redeveloped and expanded sports facility in Browns Plains featuring four new rectangular sports fields, two clubhouses, training base for Brisbane Roar A-League team, and home ground for Football Brisbane. Includes full-size football pitch, change rooms, medical facilities, and spectator areas.
Regents Park Principal Activity Centre Plan
Long-term aspirational plan identified since the 2000s to develop Regents Park into a Principal Activity Centre, creating a hub for businesses, services, and residential areas to boost the local economy and quality of life. The suburb is primarily residential with a population of approximately 11,100 people (2021 census). Development is guided by the Logan Planning Scheme. The draft Logan Plan (the replacement planning scheme) was endorsed by Council in March 2025 and resubmitted to the Queensland Government for the State Interest Review.Public consultation ran from September to October 2025 across more than 50 community engagement events. Submissions are now closed and Council is reviewing feedback, with further updates expected in 2026 before the scheme can be formally adopted.
1,483 residents of Forestdale are employed, from a labour force of 1,515. Unemployment sits at 2.1%, with participation at 67.8%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.3% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,074, about 77% 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 from statistical area data highlight a qualified local labour market with an unemployment rate of just 2.1% and substantial representation in the construction sector. As of March 2026, employed residents total 1,483, while the jobless rate sits 2.2% below the Greater Brisbane figure of 4.3%. Labour force participation is slightly subdued at 67.8% relative to 70.1% across Greater Brisbane. Census findings also reveal that 18.0% of workers operated from home, though pandemic lockdown measures should be kept in mind. Resident employment is primarily clustered in construction, health care & social assistance, and manufacturing.
Construction forms a clear local specialty, capturing a workforce proportion 1.6 times the regional average. In contrast, accommodation & food demonstrates lower involvement, employing 4.2% of residents compared to 6.7% regionally. Discrepancies between the Census resident workforce and local working population indicate that this predominantly residential district provides limited employment positions within its borders. AreaSearch assessment of SALM and ABS statistical data shows that the local labour force contracted by 4.7% over the 12-month period alongside a 4.9% decline in employment, lifting the jobless rate by 0.2 percentage points. Over the same timeframe, Greater Brisbane recorded a 3.4% rise in its labour force, 3.2% employment growth, and a 0.1 percentage points rise in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 project nationwide employment expansion of 6.6% across five years and 13.7% over ten years, with performance varying by industry. Weighting these sectoral projections against the local workforce mix suggests Forestdale employment could grow by 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, noting this extrapolation serves illustrative purposes and excludes local population dynamics.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Forestdale is $2,675 a week (about $139,000 a year), with median personal income at $882 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $56,912 a year against an average of $63,090. 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
According to AreaSearch aggregation of postcode ATO records for financial year 2023, the suburb of Forestdale recorded a median taxpayer income of $56,912 and an average of $63,090, trailing the Greater Brisbane median of $58,236 and average of $72,799 as well as national benchmarks. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, March 2026 estimates stand at approximately $63,377 for median income and $70,257 for average income. In the 2021 Census, local household income achieved the 93rd percentile ($2,675 weekly), whereas individual income sat at the 64th percentile.
Earnings between $1,500 - 2,999 account for 27.6% of residents (742 individuals), compared to 33.3% across the wider region, while 44.8% of households earn over $3,000 weekly. After meeting accommodation expenses, residents retain 89.0% of income, placing the locality in the 8th decile for SEIFA income.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Forestdale had 785 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 99% detached houses and 1% apartments. 49% are owned with a mortgage, 6% rented and 46% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $500 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,383 a month. Rent absorbs 18.7% of household income here and mortgage repayments 20.6%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the latest Census, Forestdale's residential landscape consisted of 99.0% houses and 1.0% other dwellings (apartments, semi-detached, and 'other' dwellings), contrasting with the Brisbane metro distribution of 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Outright home ownership reached 45.8%, substantially exceeding Brisbane metro levels, while mortgaged properties accounted for 48.7% and rented dwellings comprised 5.5%. Typical monthly mortgage commitments stood at $2,383, notably above the Brisbane metro average of $1,863 and national average of $1,863. Median weekly rents were recorded at $500, higher than both the Brisbane metro benchmark of $380 and the Australian average of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Forestdale counted 785 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 825 today, averaging 3.1 people each. 47% are couples with children, more than in 92% of areas nationally, against 33% couples without children. 9% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.8 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family households represent 88.7% of all residences, consisting of 47.3% couples with children, 32.6% couples without children, and 7.5% single parent families. Non-family arrangements account for the remaining 11.3%, including 9.3% lone person households and 1.1% group households. The median household occupancy of 3.1 people exceeds the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
26.6% of adults in Forestdale hold a university qualification, including 19.2% with a bachelor degree and 5.0% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 83% of areas nationally. A further 25.3% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Educational attainment levels in Forestdale are notably high, with 26.6% of residents aged 15+ holding tertiary degrees, outperforming the SA3 area figure of 14.3% and the SA4 region benchmark of 16.2%. Qualifications are led by bachelor degrees at 19.2%, postgraduate qualifications at 5.0%, and graduate diplomas at 2.4%. Vocational and technical qualifications are also strongly represented, with 36.3% of residents aged 15+ possessing trade credentials, comprising certificates at 25.3% and advanced diplomas at 11.0%. Formal education enrolments engage 27.8% of the local population. Primary schooling accounts for 9.3% of residents, secondary education represents 9.3%, and tertiary studies involve 5.5%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Forestdale means driving: households keep an average of 2.5 vehicles, and no scheduled public transport appears in the current timetable feeds. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
73.1% of residents in Forestdale report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 87% of areas nationally. 3.7% need daily assistance with core activities, and 52.2% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 3.6 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Analysis of mortality rates and chronic health conditions by AreaSearch shows strong health outcomes throughout Forestdale, characterized by very low rates of common health ailments across all age demographics. Private health insurance coverage stands at approximately 52% of the population (~1,404 people), slightly higher than the typical SA2 area average but below the 55.8% recorded for Greater Brisbane. The primary medical diagnoses recorded among residents are arthritis at 7.4% and asthma at 7.2%, with 73.1% of the community reporting complete freedom from chronic conditions, compared to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane.
Favourable health metrics are evident among residents under 65, while the 18.6% of residents aged 65 and over (500 people), exceeding the Greater Brisbane proportion of 15.0%, also maintain strong health profiles aligned with national benchmarks.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
28.5% of Forestdale residents were born overseas and 19.8% speak a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (26.6%) and Australian (22.1%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Forestdale exhibits notable cultural diversity, with 28.5% of its resident population born overseas and 19.8% using a non-English language at home. Christianity forms the predominant faith at 56.0% of residents. Judaism shows the most pronounced relative concentration, representing 0.5% of local residents compared to 0.1% across Greater Brisbane. Ancestry data indicates that English is the most common background at 26.6%, followed by Australian at 22.1%, and Scottish at 7.9%. Higher proportional representation is also evident among several other heritages, including Vietnamese at 3.7% compared to 0.8% regionally, South Australian at 1.0% compared to 0.6%, and Hungarian at 0.4% versus 0.2%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Forestdale is 43. 22.2% 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 distribution in Forestdale tracks broadly in line with Greater Brisbane benchmarks, with a maximum divergence of 10.0 percentage points across the four main demographic brackets. As at August 2026, the estimated median age is 43, matching the 2021 Census level and standing 7 years higher than the Greater Brisbane median of 36 and above the Australian Census median of 38. The 45 - 64 age bracket has decreased from 31.1% to an estimated 29.2% since the Census. By 2041, seniors aged 65+ are projected to drive local growth, increasing by 226 residents (45%) to reach a total of 727.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Forestdale
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 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 2 months ago 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 2 months ago 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 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| 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 Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 2 months ago all 1 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 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) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month 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 — 30 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,560 at the 2021 Census → 2,691 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 (SAL31067). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.