Holloways Beach

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

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of Holloways Beach is around 2,408, reflecting an increase of 10 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 2,398. This change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of 2,401 residents following examination of ABS' latest ERP data release in June 2024 and validation of one new address since the Census date. The population density ratio is approximately 430 persons per square kilometer. Recent population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing about 75% of overall gains, although all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth were positive factors. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are used, applying proportional growth weightings from ABS Greater Capital Region projections for age cohorts. Projected demographic shifts indicate a population increase just below Australia's regional areas median by 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb of Holloways Beach is expected to gain 187 persons by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 9.3% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Holloways Beach, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Holloways Beach has seen minimal development activity over the past five years, with an average of less than one approval per year, totaling four in that period. 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. It should be noted that with such low approval numbers, yearly growth figures and relativities can vary significantly based on individual projects.

Compared to the rest of Queensland and national patterns, Holloways Beach has substantially lower levels of development activity.

Holloways Beach has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

No changes can influence a region's performance more than modifications to local infrastructure, major undertakings, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified zero projects that could potentially impact this area. Key projects include Navigation Drive Road Link, Cairns Airport International Terminal Upgrade, Bluewater Living, and Cairns Ring Road, with the following list providing details on those most likely to be relevant.

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

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Holloways Beach shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Holloways Beach has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate is 4.8%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, 1,400 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.7% higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation stands at 69.3%, slightly above Rest of Qld's 65.7%. Census data shows that 13.9% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. The area has a strong specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 0.7% compared to the regional 4.5%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited, as indicated by the ratio of Census working population to resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, the labour force decreased by 2.1%, employment dropped by 3.8%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.7 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld saw employment grow by 1.7% and labour force expand by 2.1%, with unemployment rising by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Holloways Beach's employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 6.9% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023, Holloways Beach had a median income among taxpayers of $51,703 and an average income of $62,297. These figures are lower than national averages of $53,146 and $66,593 respectively for Rest of Qld. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year ended June 2023, estimated median income as of September 2025 would be approximately $56,827, with average income around $68,471. According to Australian Bureau of Statistics Census data from 2021, personal income ranks at the 47th percentile ($788 weekly), while household income sits at the 23rd percentile. Income brackets indicate that 30.2% of locals (727 people) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 category, mirroring regional trends where 31.7% occupy this bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Holloways Beach, with only 83.3% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 23rd percentile.

Holloways Beach displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Holloways Beach, as per the latest Census evaluation, 63.0% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 37.1% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This is in contrast to Non-Metro Queensland's figures, which showed 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Holloways Beach stood at 28.6%, with mortgaged properties at 34.4% and rented ones at 36.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,400, lower than Non-Metro Queensland's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent in Holloways Beach was $305, compared to Non-Metro Queensland's $345. Nationally, Holloways Beach's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,400 versus the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 56.9% of all households, including 17.6% couples with children, 23.9% couples without children, and 14.4% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 43.1%, with lone person households at 36.8% and group households comprising 6.2%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Holloways Beach demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Educational qualifications in Holloways Beach trail regional benchmarks, with 24.0% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 30.4% nationally. This gap highlights potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 16.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 42.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (12.5%) and certificates (30.0%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.9% in primary education, 8.6% in secondary education, and 4.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Holloways Beach has seven active public transport stops offering mixed bus services. Two routes serve these stops, facilitating 226 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically located 255 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most commuting is outward-bound; cars remain the dominant mode at 93%. Average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.3, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 13.9% of residents work from home, potentially reflecting COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 32 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 32 weekly trips per individual stop.

Holloways Beach's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Holloways Beach's health metrics closely align with national benchmarks.

This is based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The area has a standard level of common health conditions across both young and old age cohorts. Approximately 52% (~1,249 people) have private health cover, which is relatively low. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 9.6 and 8.6% of residents respectively. About 67.0% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across the rest of Qld. Working-age residents have an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 20.6% (496 people) of residents aged 65 and over. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, ranking even higher than the general population nationally.

In terms of cultural diversity, Holloways Beach records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Holloways Beach had a higher than average cultural diversity, with 9.6% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 26.1% born overseas. Christianity was the dominant religion in Holloways Beach, making up 40.0% of its population. Judaism comprised 0.1%, which was similar to the rest of Queensland's 0.1%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (28.2%), Australian (21.6%), and Irish (10.5%). Notably, Dutch, Scottish, and French ethnicities had higher representations in Holloways Beach compared to regional averages: Dutch at 2.2% vs 1.1%, Scottish at 9.4% vs 7.8%, and French at 0.7% vs 0.5%.

Holloways Beach hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Holloways Beach has a median age of 45, which is higher than Rest of Qld's figure of 41 and above the national average of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 55-64 are particularly prominent at 16.9%, while those aged 5-14 are comparatively smaller at 8.1%. This concentration of those aged 55-64 is well above the national figure of 11.2%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 4.1% to 6.0%, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 12.7% to 14.2%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 17.2% to 14.8% and the 5 to 14 group dropped from 10.2% to 8.1%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections reveal significant shifts in Holloways Beach's age structure. The 25 to 34 group is projected to grow by 25%, reaching 355 from 284. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 cohorts.