Chart Color Schemes
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
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
Find a Recent Sale
Sales Detail
Gailes has an estimated 1,949 residents, up from 1,831 at the 2021 Census — a change of 118 people, or 6.4%. Growth has averaged 0.9% a year over five years. Natural increase accounts for 59.0% of that increase. That puts 1,585 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 and new post-Census address validations, the population of the suburb of Gailes is placed at approximately 1,949 as of Aug 2026. This represents an addition of 118 residents (6.4%) compared to the 2021 Census tally of 1,831 people. That adjustment stems from an Estimated Resident Population figure of 1,948 determined via the ABS release of June 2025 alongside subsequent address verification. With 1,584 persons per square kilometer, the local density surpasses the typical benchmark across nationwide locations monitored by AreaSearch. Organic expansion served as the primary growth engine, accounting for roughly 59.0% of recent population increases.
Demographic projections for the suburb of Gailes rely on 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia datasets using 2022 as a base year. Where SA2 coverage is absent or extends beyond 2032, 2023 Queensland State Government projections based on 2021 data are used instead, with age cohorts weighted using the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region series (2022 base data). These models indicate lower quartile expansion nationally for the suburb of Gailes, forecasting an increase of 72 persons to 2041 across aggregated SA2 data, corresponding to an overall gain of 3.6% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Dwelling approvals in Gailes have been exceptionally sparse according to ABS figures compiled by AreaSearch, with only 3 residential units permitted across the 5 financial years between FY-21 and FY-25, alongside 3 approved to date in FY-25. Because an average of 13 incoming residents arrived annually for every home delivered between FY-21 and FY-25, construction has fallen well short of demand, typically intensifying buyer rivalry and driving upward value pressure. Newly approved homes carry an estimated construction cost averaging $367,000, aligning with regional benchmarks, while commercial planning activity stands at $96,000 this financial year to maintain a clear residential focus.
Gailes records subdued residential development relative to Greater Brisbane, lagging the regional per-person benchmark by 93.0%. Such restricted new building volume generally supports pricing and interest in established stock, despite a recent pickup in building activity. Construction rates also sit below nationwide averages, underscoring both local market maturity and potential zoning or planning hurdles. Furthermore, all recent building permits have been for standalone houses, preserving the neighbourhood's low-density profile of spacious family properties. A ratio of roughly 968 persons per approved dwelling highlights the established nature of the local area.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Gailes
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 77 current infrastructure and development projects close to Gailes, worth an estimated $140.2 billion. 12 are already under construction and 15 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and retail. 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
Infrastructure investments, planning schemes, and major civic projects exert significant influence on local community development. In total 1 major development has been pinpointed by AreaSearch as likely to affect the area. Notable regional projects include the Springfield Parkway and Springfield Greenbank Arterial Duplication, Goodna Central Mixed Use Development, Abadi Gaia Adult Residential Village, and Waterford Business Park, with the primary initiatives outlined below.
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
Goodna Central Mixed Use Development
Master planning of a $90 million mixed use development to provide the New Town Centre for the CBD of Goodna. Over 2 hectares of land will be converted into a vibrant Community Hub featuring Education and Training Facilities, Medical services, Child Care, Retail, and Affordable housing.
Wacol Warehouse Complex - 200 Tile Street
The project comprises a multi-building industrial and warehousing complex across three stages, featuring five buildings accommodating 29 warehouse units with a combined gross floor area of 10,148 square metres. Development approval was granted by Brisbane City Council under Application A006248488. The scheme incorporates civil earthworks, dedicated car parking, and an integrated ecological corridor to preserve local biodiversity.
Camira Springs Estate Stage 3 & 4
Final stages of the boutique Camira Springs residential estate delivering elevated land lots with city views, directly within Camira suburb.
Springfield Parkway and Springfield Greenbank Arterial Duplication
Major staged duplication of Springfield Parkway and Springfield Greenbank Arterial from two to four lanes to support rapid population growth in Greater Springfield. Stages 1 and 3 are complete while Stage 2 early works, including utility relocations, retaining walls and drainage upgrades, are underway ahead of full civil road widening. The project includes upgraded signalised intersections, shared pathways, on-road cycle lanes, bridge and drainage improvements and is jointly funded by Ipswich City Council and the Queensland Government.
Abadi Gaia Adult Residential Village
Abadi Gaia integrates resort living, sustainability, and medical services into a retirement eco-village with diverse dwelling options.
Maplewood Estate
An exclusive residential development offering 12 premium lots in Wacol, with sizes ranging from 456sqm to 1528sqm. The estate is located with direct frontage onto a golf course, offering a modern and convenient lifestyle.
Bundamba Industrial Precinct Upgrade
Ongoing infrastructure upgrades supporting the Bundamba industrial precinct, including road improvements, water and sewer servicing, telecommunications and stormwater infrastructure to improve industrial land capacity and freight access. Public information indicates surrounding utility and transport works continue across the Bundamba and Swanbank industrial corridor.
Progress Road Neighbourhood Shopping Centre
Proposed neighbourhood shopping centre anchored by a full-line Coles supermarket with approximately 18 specialty retail tenancies, food and service outlets, around 265 car parking spaces and associated access works. As of the latest publicly available information, the proposal remains in the planning phase with no confirmed construction commencement announced.
833 residents of Gailes are employed, from a labour force of 931. Unemployment sits at 10.5%, with participation at 59.7%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.7% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,521, about 78% 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
Gailes has a balanced workforce spanning white and blue collar employment, with manufacturing and industrial sectors strongly represented, an unemployment rate of 10.5%, and 12.6% in estimated employment growth over the past year, based on AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. As of March 2026, 833 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 6.2% above Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.3%, showing room for improvement, and workforce participation lags significantly (59.7% compared to Greater Brisbane's 70.1%). Based on Census responses, a low 9.3% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.
The primary employment fields for local workers are health care & social assistance, manufacturing, and retail trade. Industrial manufacturing is especially prominent, capturing a workforce share 2.4 times that of the surrounding region. Conversely, professional & technical roles are underrepresented, engaging just 3.1% of local workers compared to 8.9% throughout Greater Brisbane. Comparing Census resident counts against locally based positions suggests that employment opportunities within the immediate residential community remain restricted. Data from SALM and the ABS assessed by AreaSearch shows that in the twelve months to March 2026, local employment expanded by 12.6% while the labour pool enlarged by 9.1%, reducing the jobless rate by 2.7 percentage points. Across Greater Brisbane over the identical period, employment increased 3.2%, the workforce grew 3.4%, and unemployment ticked up 0.1 percentage points. Looking ahead, Jobs and Skills Australia's Mar-26 industry projections provide a framework for future workforce trends in Gailes. Nationally, employment is projected to grow 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with performance varying by sector. Mapped against the local occupational profile, these trends point to potential local employment gains of 5.7% over five years and 12.6% over ten years (representing a proportional weighting calculation rather than a localised demographic projection).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Gailes is $1,141 a week (about $59,000 a year), with median personal income at $571 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $33,745 a year against an average of $38,424. 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 postcode data compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 indicates a median taxpayer income of $33,745 and an average of $38,424 in Gailes, both below the national baseline and trailing Greater Brisbane's median of $58,236 and average of $72,799. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, March 2026 estimates place median earnings at approximately $37,578 and average earnings at $42,789. The 2021 Census places local personal, family, and household earnings between the 8th and 9th national percentiles. The single largest earnings bracket encompasses 30.3% of residents (590 people) earning between $800 - 1,499, differing from the broader regional profile where $1,500 - 2,999 leads at 33.3%.
Severe housing cost pressures leave residents with 80.3% of income after accommodation, ranking at the 8th percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Gailes had 649 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 87% detached houses and 0% apartments. 33% are owned with a mortgage, 46% rented and 21% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $290 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,213 a month. Rent absorbs 25.4% of household income here and mortgage repayments 24.5%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census data reveals that standalone houses make up 87.0% of the housing stock in Gailes, with townhouses, apartments, and other categories accounting for 13.0%, in contrast to Brisbane metro where separate houses represent 73.5% and other structures make up 26.5%. Outright home ownership sits at 21.4%, lagging the metropolitan level, while 32.5% of homes carry a mortgage and 46.1% are tenanted. Typical mortgage commitments run at a median of $1,213 monthly, well below the Brisbane metro benchmark of $1,863, and median rents are $290 weekly compared to $380 across the metropolitan area.
On a nationwide basis, local mortgages sit considerably below the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents track well under the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Gailes counted 649 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 691 today, averaging 2.5 people each. 23% are couples with children, fewer than in 77% of areas nationally, against 20% couples without children. 28% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.9 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute the majority of households at 67.0%, consisting of couples with children (22.9%), couples without children (20.3%), and single parent families (22.0%). Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 33.0%, made up of single-person households at 27.7% and shared group dwellings at 4.5%. An average of 2.5 residents reside in each household, slightly below the Greater Brisbane figure of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
13.7% of adults in Gailes hold a university qualification, including 8.7% with a bachelor degree and 3.2% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 28.4% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Tertiary educational attainment in the locality is relatively low, with 13.7% of residents holding higher education degrees compared to the Greater Brisbane average of 30.5%. Within this group, bachelor degrees account for 8.7%, postgraduate qualifications represent 3.2%, and graduate diplomas make up 1.8%. Conversely, vocational and practical trades are widespread, with 37.6% of residents aged 15+ possessing technical qualifications, including 9.2% with advanced diplomas and 28.4% holding certificate-level awards. A significant share of the community is engaged in study, with 31.8% of residents enrolled in an educational institution. Specifically, primary schooling accounts for 13.3%, secondary education encompasses 9.2%, and tertiary studies involve 3.6% of the local population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Gailes means driving: households keep an average of 1.1 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
59.0% of residents in Gailes report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 95% of areas nationally. 9.2% need daily assistance with core activities, and 42.4% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 7.2 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health assessments from AreaSearch highlighting chronic illnesses and mortality figures reveal notable medical pressures across all age brackets in Gailes, alongside very low private health insurance uptake of approximately 42% (~826 people). This level trails both the Greater Brisbane benchmark of 55.8% and the nationwide average of 55.7%. Mental health conditions and asthma represent the most widespread diagnoses locally, reported by 12.4 and 11.0% of the population, while 59.0% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions compared to 69.2% throughout Greater Brisbane. Working-age adults exhibit elevated rates of chronic illness, while seniors aged 65 and over constitute 15.5% of the community (302 people) and record health outcomes broadly matching national senior benchmarks.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
30.5% of Gailes residents were born overseas and 23.5% speak a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (25.0%) and Australian (20.9%). 4.9% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in Gailes is pronounced relative to most domestic markets, with 30.5% of residents born abroad and 23.5% using a non-English language at home. Christianity forms the predominant faith group, encompassing 50.2% of the local population. Buddhism shows the clearest relative concentration, accounting for 3.1% of community members compared to 2.0% across Greater Brisbane. Looking at parental country of birth, the leading ancestral backgrounds in Gailes are English at 25.0%, Australian at 20.9%, and Other at 12.2%. Noticeable variations from broader regional figures also appear across specific groups: Samoan heritage is represented at 5.5% (against 0.9% regionally), Spanish at 0.9% (vs 0.4%), and Vietnamese at 3.5% (vs 0.8%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Gailes is 35, younger than 76% of areas nationally. 28.2% 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
Age distributions in Gailes align closely with Greater Brisbane figures, with the widest variance in any single cohort measuring 3.1 percentage points. The median age remains steady from the 2021 Census at an estimated 35, tracking 1 year younger than the Greater Brisbane Census benchmark of 36. Seniors and retirees aged 65+ have expanded from 12.7% at the Census to an estimated 15.5%, and this older cohort is projected to see the strongest growth through to 2041, increasing by 130 residents (43%) to 432 while younger cohorts, children, and middle-aged adults contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Gailes
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, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 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 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. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (1,831 at the 2021 Census → 1,949 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 (SAL31093). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.