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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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Gooburrum has an estimated 1,704 residents, up from 1,518 at the 2021 Census — a change of 186 people, or 12.3%. Growth has averaged 2.4% a year over five years, faster than 78% of areas nationally. Interstate and internal migration accounts for 64.0% of that increase. Density is about 61 people per 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
Demographic assessments by AreaSearch, drawing upon ABS regional updates and 53 validated new addresses recorded since the Census date, place the suburb of Gooburrum's population at approximately 1,704 as of Aug 2026. This represents an addition of 186 people (12.3%) relative to the 2021 Census tally of 1,518 people. These figures align with an estimated resident population of 1,699 established from the ABS June 2025 ERP release alongside post-Census address additions. The local population density stands at 61 persons per square kilometer, ensuring a spacious living environment. The suburb of Gooburrum outpaced both the broader SA3 area (9.3%) and the Rest of Qld with its 12.3% post-2021 Census expansion, positioning it among regional growth leaders.
Net interstate migration served as the primary growth catalyst, generating roughly 64.0% of recent population additions. Population modelling incorporates 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 projections with a 2022 baseline, supplemented by 2023 Queensland State Government SA2 figures (based on 2021 data) for post-2032 periods and non-covered localities. Because state releases lack age-specific breakdowns, AreaSearch applies proportional distributions from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections (2022 baseline) across respective age groups. Across aggregated SA2 projections, the suburb of Gooburrum is positioned for lower quartile regional growth, with an expected increase of 22 persons to 2041, constituting an overall rise of 1.0% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
67 new dwellings have been approved in Gooburrum over the past five years, an average of 13 a year. That places the area in the 51st percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 8 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 5, 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
An evaluation of ABS building approvals indicates that Gooburrum averages approximately 13 dwellings authorized per year, accumulating an estimated 67 homes across the previous 5 financial years. Within FY-25 to date, 5 approvals have been lodged. Between FY-21 and FY-25, the ratio reached 4.5 new residents annually for each newly constructed home, pointing to residential construction trailing local demand and fostering heightened buyer competition alongside upward price movement. The expected construction cost for new dwellings averages $418,000, tracking below the regional norm and providing relatively accessible entry points for buyers.
Furthermore, commercial approvals amounting to $1.9 million were registered in the current financial year, underscoring the locality's predominantly residential orientation. Residential building volume per capita in Gooburrum sits at roughly three-quarters of the level observed across Rest of Qld, placing the locality in the 49th percentile nationally; this limited construction pipeline restricts buyer selection while bolstering demand for established dwellings. Standalone detached houses accounted for all new building activity, preserving the suburb's established low-density urban fabric and catering to households pursuing spacious family accommodations. A metric of approximately 307 people per approval highlights an evolving residential market. According to the latest quarterly estimates from AreaSearch, Gooburrum is projected to welcome 17 residents by 2041. Prevailing building activity indicates that emerging housing supply will comfortably absorb projected population growth, fostering favorable purchasing conditions and potentially accommodating demographic expansion beyond baseline forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Gooburrum
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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 2 current infrastructure and development projects inside Gooburrum, worth an estimated $165 million. A further 24 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $3.86 billion. 12 are already under construction and 11 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities and communities, precincts & urban renewal. 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 capital projects, strategic planning, and infrastructure upgrades exert a decisive influence on regional growth. AreaSearch has identified 8 key initiatives positioned to shape the district. Notable projects underway or planned include Brookfield Estate, Bundaberg Solar Farm, Belle Eden Estate Extensions, and Edenbrook Estate, with key details summarized below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Brookfield Estate
Master planned residential land estate in Ashfield, Bundaberg by Santalucia Corporation. Current release Stage 2C is selling with 15 fully serviced lots (approx 787 to 865 sqm), rock free and easy to build, with wide 21m and 22m frontages, established surrounding homes and quick access to the Bundaberg Ring Rd.
Belle Eden Estate Extensions
Two residential development sites adjacent to the existing Belle Eden Estate. The 23-hectare northern site is located on the Bundaberg Ring Road and will yield over 150 home sites. The 34-hectare southern site will yield over 300 home sites. Both developments are undergoing final approval stages and will provide a total of 450 dwellings.
Young Street Residential Subdivision
Approved residential subdivision on a 12.4 ha site delivering 121 lots ranging from approximately 600 to 941 sqm. The site features a reconfiguration-of-lot approval with an operational works phase.
Bundaberg Integrated Transport Strategy
A joint strategy by the Department of Transport and Main Roads and Bundaberg Regional Council to plan for the future transport needs of the Bundaberg region, covering public transport, active transport, roads, and freight.
Bundaberg East Levee
A $174.7 million flood resilience project featuring a 1.7 km concrete levee along the Burnett River southern bank. The infrastructure includes floodgates, flood doors, and pump stations at Saltwater and Distillery Creeks, designed to protect over 600 properties in Bundaberg East, South, and the CBD from 1% AEP flood events. Recent milestones include the appointment of SMEC and CDM Smith as design consultants and the completion of detailed flood modelling. The project is currently in the detailed design phase following the 2024 Ministerial Infrastructure Designation process.
New Social Housing in Avoca, Bundaberg
Two-stage modular social housing development delivering 46 homes for Queenslanders experiencing or at risk of homelessness. Stage 1 comprising 6 family homes has been completed and occupied. Stage 2 comprising 40 apartments across seven two-storey and two three-storey buildings is now under construction after commencing in late 2025, with completion and tenant occupation expected during mid 2026. The development includes 7-star energy efficient modular homes, communal open space, accessible design and is managed by the Bundaberg Housing Service Centre.
New Bundaberg Hospital
The $1.2 billion New Bundaberg Hospital is a major greenfield development featuring a six-storey clinical building with over 400 beds. The facility includes an expanded emergency department, a rooftop helipad, mental health units, and teaching spaces. It serves as the centerpiece of the Bundaberg Health and Enterprise Precinct, aimed at providing level 5 health services to the growing Wide Bay region while mitigating flood risks associated with the existing hospital site.
Bundaberg Social Housing Program
Seven new social housing homes in Bundaberg South as part of Homes for Queenslanders plan. Additional social housing opportunities being assessed at government-owned Avoca site.
928 residents of Gooburrum are employed, from a labour force of 938. Unemployment sits at 1.1%, with participation at 64.0%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.7% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,951, about 115% of the resident population, so the area draws in more workers than it sends out. 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 from statistical area releases show Gooburrum with a well-represented essential services sector, an unemployment rate standing at a modest 1.1%, and annual employment expansion estimated at 7.4%. As of March 2026, employed residents total 928, while local unemployment tracks 2.8% lower than the 3.9% recorded across Regional Qld. Labor force participation matches the Regional Qld benchmark at 64.2%. Census figures indicated that 7.4% of employed locals worked from home, a figure influenced by prevailing Covid-19 restrictions. Local employment is predominantly concentrated across health care & social assistance, retail trade, as well as agriculture, forestry & fishing.
Concentration in health care & social assistance is particularly pronounced, tracking at 1.4 times regional figures. Conversely, accommodation & food provides jobs for 5.1% of working residents, trailing the 8.3% regional benchmark. A Census-recorded ratio of 0.8 workers for each resident demonstrates solid local employment opportunities. AreaSearch analysis of ABS and SALM records indicates that in the year to March 2026, resident employment rose by 7.4% while the labor pool grew by 6.5%, contributing to an unemployment decrease of 0.9 percentage points. Across Regional Qld over the same period, employment expanded by 0.1%, the workforce increased by 0.3%, and unemployment climbed by 0.1 percentage points. National forecasts released in Mar-26 by Jobs and Skills Australia project country-wide job growth of 6.6% across five years and 13.7% across ten years, with notable variance by industry. Projecting these industry trends against Gooburrum's employment base indicates potential local job increases of 6.7% over five years and 14.1% over ten years (representing a baseline industry weighting that excludes specific local demographic projections).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Gooburrum is $1,684 a week (about $88,000 a year), with median personal income at $693 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $51,149 a year against an average of $63,204. 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 for financial year 2023 indicates that median taxpayer income in the suburb of Gooburrum stands at $51,149, while the average reaches $63,204. These figures track below the Australian benchmarks and compare to a median of $53,146 and average of $66,593 across Regional Qld. Applying an 11.36% Wage Price Index increase since financial year 2023 yields estimated values of $56,960 (median) and $70,384 (average) as of March 2026. The 2021 Census placed weekly household earnings at $1,684 (46th percentile) and personal earnings in the 27th percentile. The $1,500 - 2,999 weekly bracket accounts for 30.9% of residents (526 individuals), closely mirroring the 31.7% recorded regionally.
Residents retain 91.3% of earnings following housing payments, maintaining solid discretionary funds, with the suburb sitting in the 5th decile of the SEIFA income index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Gooburrum had 527 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 100% detached houses and 0% apartments. 38% are owned with a mortgage, 8% rented and 54% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $300 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,400 a month. Rent absorbs 17.8% of household income here and mortgage repayments 19.2%. 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, residential dwellings in Gooburrum consisted entirely of 100.0% separate houses with no other dwellings (such as apartments or attached residences) recorded, contrasting with Regional Qld where houses comprised 76.4% and other property types 23.6%. Outright property ownership in Gooburrum reached 53.9%, well above regional standards, while mortgaged properties accounted for 38.1% and rental accommodations represented 8.0%. Median monthly mortgage commitments were $1,400, sitting below the Regional Qld figure of $1,655 and the Australian benchmark of $1,863. Median weekly rents stood at $300, compared to $345 across Regional Qld and $375 nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Gooburrum counted 527 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 592 today, averaging 2.7 people each. 33% are couples with children, against 42% couples without children. 13% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.0 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute the vast majority of local living arrangements at 84.4%, made up of couples without children (41.7%), couples with children (32.6%), and single parent families (8.1%). Non-family dwellings make up the remaining 15.6%, divided between single-occupant households (13.2%) and group dwellings (2.5%). Average household size is 2.7 people, exceeding the Regional Qld benchmark of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
18.2% of adults in Gooburrum hold a university qualification, including 14.0% with a bachelor degree and 2.3% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 75% of areas nationally. A further 30.6% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 130 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 973 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Tertiary attainment in the area sits at 18.2%, trailing the nationwide standard of 30.4% and highlighting a target area for educational policy. By qualification type, bachelor degrees account for 14.0%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 2.3% and graduate diplomas at 1.9%. Vocational and technical credentials remain strong, with 39.8% of individuals aged 15+ holding trade qualifications, comprising certificates (30.6%) and advanced diplomas (9.2%). Active participation in formal education involves 23.8% of the community. Within this group, secondary school students represent 10.0%, primary school enrollments comprise 7.5%, and 2.5% of residents are engaged in higher education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Gooburrum means driving: households keep an average of 2.1 vehicles, and scheduled services reach only a handful of stops. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transport services in Gooburrum comprise 1 active transit stop that accommodates bus networks. This infrastructure is served by 1 unique route providing a total of 12 weekly trips. Commuter accessibility is comparatively constrained, with local residents situated an average of 2021 meters from the nearest stop. Given the suburb's residential orientation, outbound travel is standard, with private vehicles accounting for 96% of trips. Households maintain an average of 2.1 vehicles, higher than regional figures. Census records from 2021 indicated that 7.4% of workers operated from home, potentially reflecting pandemic conditions.
Transit service across the network averages 1 trips per day per route, translating to roughly 12 weekly departures for each designated stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
58.8% of residents in Gooburrum report no long-term health condition. 7.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 52.3% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.8 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Mortality figures and chronic condition metrics compiled by AreaSearch reveal noticeable health challenges across Gooburrum, with common health ailments moderately elevated across the community, particularly within older demographics. Private healthcare insurance uptake slightly exceeds the SA2 norm, covering approximately 52% of the local population (~890 people). Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent health diagnoses in the locality, affecting 12.7 and 9.7% of residents, respectively. Meanwhile, 58.8% of the community reported having no chronic medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Chronic illness remains noticeable among working-age adults.
Residents aged 65 and over represent 24.8% of the community (422 people), tracking above the Regional Qld proportion of 20.3%, with senior health metrics presenting specific vulnerabilities despite comparing favorably against broader national trends.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Gooburrum is largely Australian-born, at 89.5% of residents, with 3.7% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (29.7%) and Australian (29.0%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity metrics show Gooburrum below national averages, with Australian-born residents accounting for 89.5% of the community, Australian citizens comprising 93.5%, and 96.3% speaking exclusively English at home. Christianity represents the predominant religious affiliation, claimed by 62.5% of residents, compared to 52.2% across Regional Qld. Regarding parental ancestry, the primary reported backgrounds in Gooburrum are English (29.7%), Australian (29.0%), and Scottish (9.0%). Certain other heritages exhibit distinctive local representations: German ancestry accounts for 8.4% (against 4.7% regionally), Maltese represents 1.1% (compared to 0.4%), and Hungarian stands at 0.5% (versus 0.2%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Gooburrum is 48, older than 90% of areas nationally. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 23.2% 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
Gooburrum presents an older demographic composition centered around mature family cohorts. As at August 2026, seniors and retirees aged 65+ make up 24.8% of the population, compared to 20.4% in Regional Qld, while residents aged 25 - 44 account for 20.6%, below the regional benchmark of 25.5%. The estimated median age sits at 48 as at August 2026, softening from 49 at the 2021 Census, but remaining 7 years higher than the Regional Qld Census median of 41 and well above the Australian Census figure of 38. The most significant post-Census shift occurred among residents aged 45 - 64, whose share declined from 31.7% to an estimated 28.6%.
Demographic projections indicate that by 2041, seniors and retirees will drive population expansion, adding 60 residents (14%) to total 483, while cohorts comprising children, young adults, and mature working-age residents are expected to shrink.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Gooburrum
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, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 last month 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 Aug 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 — 53 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (1,518 at the 2021 Census → 1,704 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 (SAL31183). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.