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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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Holloways Beach has an estimated 2,389 residents. That puts 427 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 alongside post-Census validated address counts, the suburb of Holloways Beach has an estimated population of approximately 2,389 as of Aug 2026. Relative to the 2,398 individuals recorded in the 2021 Census, this represents a slight reduction of 9 people (0.4%). The updated figure draws upon an estimated resident population of 2,385 derived from the ABS June 2025 ERP release, combined with 1 new validated address added post-Census. With a population density of 426 persons per square kilometer, the locality offers ample space per resident alongside capacity for future expansion.
Recent demographic additions were heavily underpinned by overseas migration, which made up around 75.0% of overall gains, while natural increase and interstate migration also registered positive contributions. Projections generated jointly by Geoscience Australia and the ABS (2024 release using 2022 as base) are utilized by AreaSearch across SA2 boundaries. In instances where an SA2 lacks coverage or for periods extending beyond 2032, Queensland State Government SA2 projections (2023 release based on 2021 data) are incorporated. Because state figures omit specific age-cohort breakdowns, AreaSearch applies age-group distribution weightings aligned with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (2023 release, 2022 base). Looking forward, the suburb of Holloways Beach is projected to experience demographic growth slightly below the regional Australian median, with aggregated SA2-level figures pointing to an expansion of 175 persons by 2041, representing a cumulative rise of 7.2% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential building activity in Holloways Beach remains minimal, generating an average of 2 building approvals annually (amounting to 12 approvals across a five-year timeframe). Such modest construction volumes highlight the rural character of the locality, where building activity tends to cater to specific local housing requirements rather than broad market demand. Because overall volumes are so low, individual development initiatives can produce substantial shifts in annual growth metrics and comparative performance. Building activity across Holloways Beach tracks well below levels observed throughout Rest of Qld, while also falling short of national benchmarks.
Furthermore, newly approved construction has consisted exclusively of attached dwellings. This orientation toward higher-density options delivers accessible price points catering to first-home buyers, downsizers, and property investors. It also represents a marked shift away from the established dwelling profile (where separate houses currently comprise 63.0%), reflecting both a tightening supply of developable land and shifting lifestyle and affordability considerations. Based on the most recent quarterly estimate from AreaSearch, demographic forecasts anticipate an influx of 171 residents into Holloways Beach through to 2041. Should current construction rates persist, additions to dwelling stock could fall behind population growth, which may heighten buyer competition and reinforce upward pressure on local real estate values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Holloways Beach
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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 36 current infrastructure and development projects close to Holloways Beach, worth an estimated $4.95 billion. 12 are already under construction and 18 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, education & training 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 works, major development initiatives, and regional planning strategies play a pivotal role in shaping an area's trajectory. Currently, no major projects have been identified by AreaSearch as having a direct impact on the locality. Prominent regional initiatives of interest include the Navigation Drive Road Link, Cairns Airport International Terminal Upgrade, Bluewater Living, and the Cairns Ring Road, with key relevant works listed below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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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
Navigation Drive Road Link
Construction of a new two-lane trunk road linking the existing sections of Navigation Drive between Trinity Beach and Trinity Park. The project will improve local connectivity, reduce reliance on the Captain Cook Highway and support future growth in the northern beaches area. Works remain in progress with completion targeted for December 2025, subject to weather and site conditions.
Half Moon Bay Estate
A community title scheme estate featuring 249 residential house and land packages on a 19.58ha beachfront site at Trinity Park. Approved by Cairns Regional Council, the project will dedicate about 35% of the site to open space, including a mangrove conservation area and wetlands rehabilitation.
Kanimbla Heights Estate
Kanimbla Heights Estate is a long-running masterplanned hillside residential subdivision in Kanimbla, Cairns. The estate began as a masterplan in 2001 and has been delivered in multiple stages, with engineering records identifying Stage 24 as under construction and marketing continuing for elevated premium land releases. The project provides serviced residential lots on steep terrain near the Macalister Range, with engineered drainage, slope and road works designed for high rainfall conditions and views toward Cairns, Trinity Inlet and surrounding hills.Recent public development data also records a pending 2026 minor change application for a 14-lot reconfiguration with access, easements and road works in Kanimbla.
Seascape Terraces, Trinity Park
Residential development featuring terraced housing and apartments in Trinity Park. Multiple building types proposed with contemporary tropical architecture and landscaped outdoor spaces.
Bluewater Living
A master-planned community spanning 155 hectares with parkland, rainforest, waterfront home sites, and a 108-berth marina, offering a blend of natural beauty, security, and community amenities.
Woolworths Trinity Beach Shopping Centre
A $60 million retail development by Fabcot Pty Ltd, Woolworths' property arm. Following years of planning delays and legal challenges, construction is underway with completion targeted for Q2 2027. The project features a 3,800sqm full-line Woolworths supermarket, approximately 15 specialty retail stores, a medical/consulting precinct, 269 on-grade car parks, six direct-to-boot bays, and four electric vehicle charging stations.
Cairns Chinese Culture and Heritage Centre
Queensland's first purpose-built Chinese Culture and Heritage Centre, located in the cultural precinct of Edge Hill opposite the Centenary Lakes Chinese Friendship Gardens. The $4 million project is jointly funded by the Crisafulli Queensland Government ($2.7 million) and CADCAI. Designed by local firm TPG Architects and constructed by local builder MyBuildGroup, the centre will house the nationally significant Lit Sung Goong Temple artefacts collection of over 240 objects, alongside climate-controlled exhibition spaces, a community performing arts hub, and research and education facilities.A groundbreaking ceremony was held in February 2026, with construction expected to complete in late 2026 and the grand opening scheduled for Chinese New Year 2027.
Johanna Road Residential Development
Completed in 2024, a fully leased 20-dwelling build-to-rent estate (mix of 1, 2 and 3 bedroom homes) at Trinity Beach, designed for long term rental demand and positioned near JCU and Smithfield services.
1,318 residents of Holloways Beach are employed, from a labour force of 1,389. Unemployment sits at 5.1%, with participation at 65.6%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.9% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,783, about 75% 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
Drawing upon statistical area data aggregated by AreaSearch, Holloways Beach maintains an unemployment rate of 5.1% within a skilled local workforce featuring strong participation across essential services. As of March 2026, employed residents tally 1,318, with the jobless rate tracking 1.2% higher than the 3.9% observed in Regional Qld, while labor participation is closely aligned with the regional benchmark of 64.2%. Census figures also indicate that 13.9% of workers performed their duties from home, though this figure reflects the influence of Covid-19 restrictions. The primary employment sectors for local residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training.
The community demonstrates notable specialization in health care & social assistance, capturing an employment share 1.3 times the wider regional benchmark. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for only 0.7% of resident employment, trailing the 4.5% seen across Regional Qld. Comparisons between the resident workforce and locally based jobs recorded in the Census indicate that local employment opportunities remain limited within the area itself. AreaSearch analysis of broader ABS and SALM statistical data shows that over the twelve months leading to March 2026, the local workforce contracted by 3.1% alongside a 5.3% decline in total employment, driving an increase in the unemployment rate of 2.3 percentage points. By comparison, Regional Qld saw employment rise by 0.1%, the workforce expand by 0.3%, and unemployment tick up by 0.1 percentage points. National employment projections published by Jobs and Skills Australia from Mar-26 provide additional context regarding future workforce requirements for Holloways Beach. When these five- and ten-year national industry forecasts—which project overall employment growth of 6.6% and 13.7% respectively—are mapped to the local industry profile, Holloways Beach is projected to see employment increases of 6.9% across five years and 14.2% across ten years (representing an illustrative weighting model that does not incorporate local population forecasts).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Holloways Beach is $1,342 a week (about $70,000 a year), with median personal income at $788 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $51,703 a year against an average of $62,297. 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-level data for financial year 2023 aggregated by AreaSearch indicates that taxpayers in the suburb of Holloways Beach recorded a median income of $51,703 and an average income of $62,297. These metrics sit below national averages and compare against $53,146 and $66,593 recorded across Regional Qld. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, updated estimates reach roughly $57,576 for median earnings and $69,374 for average earnings as of March 2026. The 2021 Census placed weekly personal income at the 47th percentile ($788), with household earnings landing in the 23rd percentile.
Income distribution shows the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket as the largest cohort, encompassing 30.2% of residents (721 people), which mirrors the 31.7% share recorded regionally. Housing cost pressures are pronounced, with uncommitted earnings at 83.3%, placing the area at the 23rd percentile for affordability.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Holloways Beach had 992 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 63% detached houses and 3% apartments. 34% are owned with a mortgage, 37% rented and 29% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $305 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,400 a month. Rent absorbs 22.7% of household income here and mortgage repayments 24.1%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the time of the latest Census, residential dwellings in Holloways Beach were divided between 63.0% freestanding houses and 37.1% other dwelling formats such as apartments and semi-detached properties, whereas Regional Qld recorded 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Outright home ownership trailed regional standards at 28.6%, with the balance of the market accounted for by mortgaged properties (34.4%) and private rentals (36.9%). Typical monthly mortgage commitments stood at $1,400, well beneath the Regional Qld benchmark of $1,655 and the Australian average of $1,863. Median weekly rents were recorded at $305, substantially below both the Regional Qld figure of $345 and the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Holloways Beach counted 992 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.1 people each. 18% are couples with children, fewer than in 92% of areas nationally, against 24% couples without children. 37% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.4 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute the majority of living arrangements at 56.9%, consisting of couples without children (23.9%), couples with children (17.6%), and single parent households (14.4%). Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 43.1% of households, led by single-person dwellings at 36.8% and group households at 6.2%. The area's median household size of 2.1 people tracks lower than the Regional Qld average of 2.5 persons.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
24.0% of adults in Holloways Beach hold a university qualification, including 16.4% with a bachelor degree and 4.8% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 99% of areas nationally. A further 30.0% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Tertiary qualification levels in Holloways Beach sit beneath national standards, as 24.0% of individuals aged 15+ possess university degrees compared with 30.4% across Australia, pointing to opportunities for educational and vocational advancement. Bachelor degree holders account for 16.4% of residents, while postgraduate degree holders make up 4.8% and graduate diplomas represent 2.8%. Vocational and technical qualifications are well established, with 42.5% of residents aged 15+ holding certificates (30.0%) or advanced diplomas (12.5%). Community participation in learning is substantial, with 29.0% of local residents actively undertaking formal study. This group comprises 8.9% attending primary schools, 8.6% enrolled in secondary education, and 4.1% pursuing tertiary qualifications.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Holloways Beach reaches 7 stops on 2 routes, timetabled for about 230 services a week. The typical home sits about 260 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.3 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 services in Holloways Beach encompass 7 active stops primarily providing bus transit. These facilities are connected by 2 distinct routes that generate 226 weekly passenger trips. Transit access is favorable, with residents situated an average distance of 255 meters from their closest stop. Given the suburb's residential profile, outward commuting is standard, with private vehicles accounting for 93% of journeys. Household vehicle ownership averages 1.3 cars, tracking below regional averages, while 13.9% of workers recorded working from home in the 2021 Census during COVID-19 conditions. Public transport schedules deliver an average frequency of 32 trips daily across all network routes, translating to roughly 32 departures per week at each individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
67.0% of residents in Holloways Beach report no long-term health condition. 5.2% need daily assistance with core activities, and 51.9% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.2 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health indicators in Holloways Beach generally align with wider national trends, according to AreaSearch evaluations of chronic illness rates and mortality statistics. Standard frequencies of common medical conditions are seen across both older and younger age groups, while private health insurance coverage is somewhat modest, held by roughly 52% of the local population (~1,239 people). The most widely reported health challenges in the community are mental health conditions and arthritis, recorded among 9.6 and 8.6% of residents respectively, whereas 67.0% of the population reported no long-term medical conditions, comparable to the 67.6% rate across Regional Qld.
Working-age adults display an above-average incidence of chronic ailments. Residents aged 65 and over comprise 22.1% of the community (527 people), exceeding the 20.3% share in Regional Qld, with seniors exhibiting notably strong health outcomes that outperform general national rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
26.1% of Holloways Beach residents were born overseas and 9.6% speak a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (28.2%) and Australian (21.6%). 3.3% 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
Holloways Beach displays an above-average level of cultural diversity, with 26.1% of the population born abroad and 9.6% utilizing a language other than English in the home. Christianity represents the most prevalent religious affiliation, accounting for 40.0% of community members. Judaism shows the most pronounced relative representation, accounting for 0.1% of residents, which matches the 0.1% recorded throughout Regional Qld. Evaluating ancestry through parental birthplaces, the most prominent backgrounds among Holloways Beach residents are English (28.2%), Australian (21.6%), and Irish (10.5%). Several other cultural groups exhibit distinctive concentrations compared to broader regional benchmarks, including Dutch ancestry at 2.2% (compared to 1.1% regionally), Scottish at 9.4% (versus 7.8%), and French at 0.7% (versus 0.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Holloways Beach is 46, older than 82% of areas nationally. 20.2% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The demographic structure of Holloways Beach leans toward mature families and older cohorts. Middle-aged residents and early retirees (45 - 64) make up 32.7% of the community as at August 2026, compared to 24.6% across Regional Qld, whereas youth and children (0 - 24) represent 22.5% against a regional benchmark of 29.6%. The median age is estimated at 46 years, matching the 2021 Census level while standing 5 years higher than the Regional Qld median of 41 years recorded at that time, and above the national Census median of 38.
Since the Census, the most notable movement has been an expansion in retiree and elderly residents (65+), rising from 17.4% to an estimated 22.1%. Looking ahead to 2041, this 65+ cohort is projected to see the strongest growth, adding 113 residents (21%) to reach 641, while numbers across the 0 - 24 and 45 - 64 age groups are expected to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Holloways Beach
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 — 1 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,398 at the 2021 Census → 2,389 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 (SAL31348). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.