Gladstone Central

Gladstone Central is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, as of Nov 2025, Gladstone Central's estimated population is around 1,747. This reflects a 197 person increase from the 2021 Census figure of 1,550 people, indicating a growth rate of 12.7%. AreaSearch's estimate of 1,743 residents, based on June 2024 ABS ERP data and additional validated addresses since the Census date, shows this growth. The resulting population density is approximately 567 persons per square kilometer. Gladstone Central's growth exceeded both SA4 region (6.7%) and SA3 area figures, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed around 61% of overall population gains recently, though all drivers were positive factors.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections from 2023 are adopted, applying proportional growth weightings based on ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort. Projected demographic shifts indicate above median population growth in Australian non-metropolitan areas, with Gladstone Central expected to grow by 268 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 11.3% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Gladstone Central recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Gladstone Central had an average of 2 approvals per year for development activity between 2016 and 2020, totaling 13 approvals over the five years. This low level of development is typical of rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity. The small number of approvals means individual projects can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics.

Gladstone Central has substantially lower development levels than the rest of Queensland and under national averages. New building activity consists of 50% detached dwellings and 50% townhouses or apartments, reflecting a trend towards compact living that offers affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. This differs from current patterns where detached housing makes up only 32%, indicating ongoing robust demand for family homes despite increasing density pressures. The estimated population per dwelling approval in Gladstone Central is 413 people, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Gladstone Central is expected to grow by 198 residents by 2041.

At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified seven projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones are Gladstone Project, Port of Gladstone Gatcombe and Golding Cutting Channel Duplication Project, HPA First Project Stage 2, Harvey Road Sports and Events Precinct. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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.

Employment drivers in Gladstone Central are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Gladstone Central has a skilled workforce with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors. The unemployment rate was 13.1% as of September 2025, which is 9.1% higher than the Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation is similar to Rest of Qld at 59.1%. Leading employment industries include accommodation & food, health care & social assistance, and construction. The area specializes in accommodation & food with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level but has lower representation in education & training (4.6% compared to Rest of Qld's 9.1%). As of the Census, there is one worker for every resident, indicating that Gladstone Central hosts more jobs than residents and attracts workers from surrounding areas.

Between September 2024 and September 2025, the labour force increased by 1.5% while employment declined by 0.1%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 1.4 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment growth of 1.7% and labour force growth of 2.1%. State-level data as of 25-Nov-25 shows Queensland's employment contracted by 0.01%, with an unemployment rate of 4.2%. National employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Gladstone Central's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.6% over ten years.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Gladstone Central's median income among taxpayers is $58,723, with an average of $72,590. This is above the national average and compares to Rest of Qld's median of $53,146 and average of $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $64,542 (median) and $79,784 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals personal income ranks at the 46th percentile ($786 weekly), while household income sits at the 21st percentile. Distribution data shows the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 29.0% of the community (506 individuals), aligning with the broader area where this cohort likewise represents 31.7%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 84.5% of income remaining, ranking at the 23rd percentile.

Gladstone Central features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The dwelling structure in Gladstone Central, as per the latest Census, consisted of 32.1% houses and 67.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had 85.7% houses and 14.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Gladstone Central was at 16.1%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (14.7%) or rented (69.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,165, below Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,600 and the national average of $1,863. The median weekly rent figure was $240, lower than Non-Metro Qld's $275 and the national figure of $375.

Gladstone Central features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 40.3% of all households, including 14.1% couples with children, 17.1% couples without children, and 9.0% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 59.7%, with lone person households at 54.3% and group households comprising 4.6%. The median household size is 1.8 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Educational attainment in Gladstone Central aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

Educational attainment in Gladstone Central is notably higher than broader averages. Among residents aged 15 and above, 26.4% have university qualifications, compared to 14.5% in the SA3 area and 15.9% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most common at 19.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.1%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 38.5% of residents holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas account for 6.2%, while certificates make up 32.3%.

Educational participation is high in the area, with 28.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.0% in primary education, 7.3% in secondary education, and 5.3% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Gladstone Central has 12 operational public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by two distinct routes that together facilitate 95 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is considered good, with residents generally residing within 209 meters of the nearest stop.

On average, there are 13 daily trips across all routes, translating to roughly seven weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Gladstone Central is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Gladstone Central faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is high at approximately 56%, covering around 977 people. Mental health issues impact 10.7% of residents, while arthritis affects 8.2%. Approximately 67.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.4% across the Rest of Qld. The area has 12.4% of residents aged 65 and over, totaling 216 people, which is lower than the 15.2% in the Rest of Qld. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Gladstone Central was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Gladstone Central's cultural diversity was above average, with 25.2% of its population born overseas and 15.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Gladstone Central, accounting for 44.4%. Notably, Hinduism was overrepresented compared to the rest of Queensland, comprising 3.7% versus 0.7%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (30.1%), Australian (22.5%), and Irish (8.5%). Filipino ethnicity was notably higher in Gladstone Central at 2.3%, compared to 1.4% regionally. Maori and South African ethnicities also showed notable representation at 0.8% each.

Gladstone Central's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Gladstone Central is 38 years, which is slightly below Rest of Qld's average of 41 but matches Australia's median age of 38. The age group of 25-34 has a strong representation at 18.4% compared to Rest of Qld, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 8.0%. According to data from the 2021 Census, the 25-34 age group has increased from 16.7% to 18.4%, while the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 15.8% to 14.4%. Population forecasts for the year 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Gladstone Central, with the 25-34 group expected to grow by 33% (adding 106 people), reaching a total of 428 from the current 321. Conversely, the 5-14 and 55-64 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.