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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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Harrison has an estimated 8,023 residents, down from 8,244 at the 2021 Census — a change of 221 people, or 2.7%. The population has thinned by an average 1.2% a year over five years, slower than 98% of areas nationally. That puts 2,748 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 Harrison has an estimated population of approximately 8,023, determined through AreaSearch address validation and ABS updates since the Census. In comparison to the 8,244 residents recorded in the 2021 Census, this indicates a decline of 221 people (2.7%). AreaSearch calculated this 8,023 resident count using the ABS ERP release from June 2025 alongside ongoing address validations. With a density of 2,747 persons per square kilometer, the suburb of Harrison sits within the upper quartile of assessed locations nationwide. Overseas migration served as the primary growth driver, accounting for roughly 66.0% of recent population additions.
Projections for the suburb of Harrison utilize ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 models released in 2024 with a 2022 baseline, supplemented by ACT Government SA2 cohort projections for subsequent years and areas post-2032. Under these projections, overall numbers in the suburb of Harrison are slated to contract by 1,014 persons by 2041. In contrast to this broader contraction, particular brackets are set to expand, most notably the 55 to 64 age group, which is projected to gain 84 people.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential building approvals in Harrison have totaled just 2 over the preceding five years, pointing to a substantially built-out urban environment with scarce undeveloped land. Because buyers encounter very few new construction options in such established localities, steady demand typically centers on existing homes. New residential construction in Harrison tracking well below Australian Capital Territory benchmarks illustrates the suburb's fully established character and potential planning constraints. This subdued construction volume sits beneath the national average as well, serving to restrict new supply while underpinning demand and valuations for established properties.
Given that the local population is projected to stabilize or contract, reduced pressure on the residential market may yield favorable conditions and opportunities for prospective purchasers in Harrison.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Harrison
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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 15 current infrastructure and development projects inside Harrison, worth an estimated $613 million. A further 77 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $5.55 billion. 15 are already under construction and 35 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, sports & recreation and education & training. 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
Community performance and urban development remain closely tied to civic infrastructure, major public projects, and regional planning schemes. AreaSearch has pinpointed 27 active initiatives relevant to the district, highlighted by the Throsby District Playing Fields, Harrison Group Centre (Town Centre), Harrison Local Centre Expansion (Harrison 5 Precinct), and Moncrieff East Residential Estate.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Harrison Group Centre (Town Centre)
Proposed mixed-use Group Centre development at Harrison, part of the broader Gungahlin district expansion plan. The town centre will feature retail, commercial, and residential components including neighbourhood shops, cafes, service businesses, and community amenities to serve Harrison residents and the broader Gungahlin region.
Harrison Local Centre Expansion (Harrison 5 Precinct)
Proposed mixed-use local centre expansion within the Harrison 5 Precinct as identified in the Gungahlin District Strategy. The precinct envisions ground-floor retail and commercial uses, up to approximately 150 apartments, and a new community facility adjacent to the existing Harrison local shops on Katherine Avenue and Moonlight Avenue. The project is subject to ACT Suburban Land Agency land release before a private developer can be engaged and a development application lodged.
Throsby District Playing Fields
ACT Government project to deliver multi-sport district playing fields on the former Home of Football site in Throsby, serving the wider Gungahlin region. Following Capital Football's withdrawal from the original Home of Football partnership in 2024, the project was redesigned as a shared multi-code facility accommodating rugby league, rugby union, football, and cricket, plus at least one pavilion and floodlit fields covering a minimum of eight hectares. A revised detailed design costing $1.5 million is underway with a contractor to be engaged once design is finalised.Construction is scheduled to commence in 2026 as a staged project, with part of the site reserved for future sporting infrastructure.
Franklin Residential Development
New residential development in Franklin offering mixed housing typologies including apartments, townhouses and detached homes. Planned community with parks, walking trails and local retail amenities.
Moncrieff East Residential Estate
Large greenfield residential release delivering over 850 dwellings, new local parks, and community facilities. The Moncrieff East Estate development plan aims for approximately 1250 dwellings, public open space, and includes master planning and detailed design for a subdivision in the eastern part of Moncrieff. Civil works contracts have been awarded to Group 1 and Canberra Contractors.
Walk Street Franklin
Walk Street is a mixed-density masterplanned residential development situated across Block 1 Section 127 in Franklin. The proposal encompasses 323 dwellings comprising 236 apartments across mid-rise buildings and 87 townhouses, alongside integrated landscaping and pedestrian linkages. Delivered by Pod Projects Group, the development was formally assessed and approved under ACT planning applications.
Franklin Aged Care Facility
New 120-bed aged care facility with specialized dementia care units, rehabilitation services and community health programs.
Olea Gungahlin Townhouses
Approved medium-density project branded Olea by Dish Developments. Original DA 202038102 approved on 5 Jul 2021 for 99 dwellings (70 townhouses, 29 units), later amended in Dec 2021 to a total of 109 dwellings with a single level basement (approx. 189 car spaces). Site fronts Camilleri Way and Kate Crace Street near Gungahlin Marketplace and the light rail, with outlook to Mulanggari Grasslands Nature Reserve.
5,139 residents of Harrison are employed, from a labour force of 5,266. Unemployment sits at 2.4%, with participation at 83.3%. 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 5,761, about 72% 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
The local labour market in Harrison is distinguished by an exceptionally qualified talent pool, an unemployment rate of only 2.4%, strong representation across essential services, and annual employment growth of 0.7% per AreaSearch statistical aggregation. In March 2026, 5,139 residents were employed, while local unemployment sat 1.6% lower than the 4.1% recorded for Australian Capital Territory. Labour force participation reached a high 83.3%, surpassing the 70.6% rate across Australian Capital Territory, while Census records showed only 11.8% working from home, reflecting period-specific Covid-19 lockdown conditions. Major employment sectors for local workers comprise public administration & safety, professional & technical, and health care & social assistance.
Local workforce concentration is especially pronounced in accommodation & food, where the employment share reaches 1.4 times the regional standard. Conversely, health care & social assistance accounts for 9.5% of local employment, trailing the 11.7% benchmark for Australian Capital Territory. The comparison between Census resident workers and local jobs indicates Harrison functions primarily as a residential district with limited domestic employment capacity. Over the recent 12-month period, aggregated SALM and ABS figures show local employment grew by 0.7% while the labour force expanded by 1.1%, leading to an unemployment rise of 0.3 percentage points. By comparison, Australian Capital Territory experienced a 0.3% rise in employment, a 1.1% increase in the labour force, and a 0.7 percentage point increase in unemployment. According to Jobs and Skills Australia national projections from Mar-26, overall employment is expected to increase by 6.6% across five years and 13.7% over ten years. Weighting these sectoral forecasts against Harrison's existing industry mix points to projected local employment gains of 6.3% over five years and 12.9% across ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Harrison is $2,636 a week (about $137,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,207 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $67,228 a year against an average of $76,926. 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
Aggregated ATO taxpayer statistics for financial year 2023 show Harrison recording a median income of $67,228 and an average income of $76,926, which sit at elevated levels nationally compared to respective Australian Capital Territory benchmarks of $72,206 and $85,981. Applying Wage Price Index growth of 10.44% since financial year 2023 generates updated March 2026 estimates of $74,247 for the median and $84,957 for the average. Census data places household, family, and personal earnings within the 91st to 93rd percentiles across the country. In terms of distribution, 35.8% of individuals (2,872 people) earn between $1,500 - 2,999 weekly, closely aligned with the 34.3% regional benchmark, while 42.9% earn more than $3,000 per week.
Although housing costs absorb 15.4% of income, disposable earnings remain in the 92nd percentile and the SEIFA income rank stands in the 9th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Harrison had 2,768 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 55% detached houses and 30% apartments. 43% are owned with a mortgage, 46% rented and 11% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $450 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,000 a month, a total housing cost higher than 92% of areas nationally. Rent absorbs 17.1% of household income here and mortgage repayments 17.5%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census records indicate Harrison's residential stock is divided between 55.4% separate houses and 44.7% medium-to-high density or other dwellings, contrasting with 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings across Australian Capital Territory. Outright home ownership accounted for 10.7% of dwellings, which is lower than the wider territory, while mortgaged properties represented 42.8% and rental accommodation made up 46.4%. The median monthly mortgage payment stood at $2,000 compared to $2,080 across Australian Capital Territory, while median weekly rent was $450, matching the Australian Capital Territory figure of $450. Across Australia, Harrison exceeds the national median mortgage payment of $1,863 and the national weekly rent of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Harrison counted 2,768 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.9 people each. 42% are couples with children, more than in 82% of areas nationally, against 23% couples without children. 19% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.2 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family households represent 74.7% of the community, consisting of couples with children at 41.7%, couples without children at 23.0%, and single parent families at 9.0%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 25.3%, made up of lone person households at 18.8% and group households at 6.2%. The typical household size is 2.9 people, exceeding the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
51.7% of adults in Harrison hold a university qualification, including 27.3% with a bachelor degree and 20.9% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 93% of areas nationally. A further 11.9% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 2,114 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,080 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
Harrison demonstrates exceptional academic achievements, with 51.7% of individuals aged 15+ possessing university qualifications, outperforming the SA3 area figure of 46.3% and the national rate of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees form the largest segment at 27.3%, alongside postgraduate qualifications at 20.9% and graduate diplomas at 3.5%. Vocational credentials represent 22.7% of attainments among residents aged 15+, consisting of certificates at 11.9% and advanced diplomas at 10.8%. Formal study engagement is substantial across the suburb, with 37.2% of residents enrolled in an educational course. Primary school attendance represents 12.5% of the population, tertiary studies comprise 8.6%, and secondary education accounts for 7.9%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Harrison reaches 21 stops on 25 routes, timetabled for about 2,100 services a week. The typical home sits about 240 m from its nearest stop. Trams carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.4 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transport connectivity within Harrison includes 21 operational stops providing combined bus and light rail access. These hubs support 25 distinct routes that generate 2,076 passenger trips each week, with local commuters averaging a walk of 236 meters to their nearest boarding point. As an outward-commuting residential community, private vehicles remain the dominant travel mode at 79%, while buses account for 7%, and dwellings maintain an average of 1.4 vehicles. Working from home accounted for 11.8% of workers in the 2021 Census, reflecting prevailing COVID-19 circumstances. Transit route frequency delivers an average of 296 scheduled journeys daily across the network, translating to roughly 98 departures per week for each transit stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
80.5% of residents in Harrison report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 83% of areas nationally. 2.3% need daily assistance with core activities, and 57.6% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.7 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 statistics and chronic disease rates by AreaSearch indicates excellent overall health outcomes in Harrison, with minimal incidence of common medical conditions across all age cohorts. Private health insurance coverage is notably strong, held by approximately 58% of residents (~4,619 people), compared to 62.4% across Australian Capital Territory. Mental health concerns and asthma represent the most widely reported health issues in the locality, affecting 7.2 and 6.6% of residents respectively, while 80.5% reported no diagnosed long-term conditions, exceeding the 70.2% mark across Australian Capital Territory. Residents aged 65 and over constitute 5.3% of the populace (425 people), below the Australian Capital Territory level of 14.2%, with senior cohorts recording particularly strong health metrics relative to national averages.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
42.6% of Harrison residents were born overseas and 44.1% speak a language other than English at home, more culturally diverse than 85% of areas nationally. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (20.0%) and English (18.4%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Harrison exhibits high cultural diversity, with overseas-born individuals comprising 42.6% of the population and 44.1% speaking a non-English language at home. Christianity is the most widespread religious affiliation at 34.2%. Hinduism shows significant local concentration, representing 11.3% of residents compared to 4.8% across Australian Capital Territory. Ancestry figures based on parental birthplace show Australian at 20.0%, English at 18.4%, and Other backgrounds at 17.6%, tracking above the regional level of 12.2%. Notable specific ethnic representations include Indian ancestry at 6.5% (versus 3.3% regionally), Korean at 2.0% (versus 0.6%), and Croatian at 1.1% (versus 0.9%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Harrison is 32, younger than 93% of areas nationally. That is 1 year older than at the 2021 Census. 32.1% 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 demographic profile of the suburb of Harrison is heavily centered around family formation, with August 2026 AreaSearch estimates indicating 38.4% of residents belong to the 25 - 44 age bracket compared to 32.8% across Australian Capital Territory. Seniors aged 65+ make up 5.3% of the community versus 14.2% regionally. The estimated median age in August 2026 is 32, rising from 31 at the 2021 Census, which was 3 years lower than the Australian Capital Territory median of 35 and younger than the national median of 38 at that Census.
The 45 - 64 cohort has expanded from 18.8% to an estimated 21.8% since the Census. Looking toward 2041, retiree and senior brackets are projected to experience the largest numerical rise, expanding by 80 (19%) to 505 individuals, whereas younger adult and youth cohorts are expected to decrease.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Harrison
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 | Jun 2026 4 months ago all 15 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 Jun 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 (8,244 at the 2021 Census → 8,023 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 (SAL80071). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.