Kalkie

Population growth drivers in Kalkie are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, the suburb of Kalkie's estimated population is around 3,187 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 219 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,968 people. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 3,042 residents following examination of ABS ERP data release in June 2024 and additional validation of 85 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 344 persons per square kilometer. Kalkie's population growth of 7.4% since the census positions it close to the Rest of Qld's 9.1%, indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 56.99999999999999% of overall population gains, with all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth being positive factors.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data or years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are used. These state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings from ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 using 2022 data for each age cohort. Future population trends project an above median growth for Australian non-metropolitan areas, with the suburb expected to grow by 460 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 10.9% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Kalkie when compared nationally

Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers allocated from statistical area data, Kalkie has recorded around 13 residential properties granted approval annually. Over the past 5 financial years, between FY21 and FY25, approximately 68 homes were approved, with another 7 so far in FY26. This results in an average of 1.8 people moving to the area per dwelling built over these years. However, this figure has eased to 0.9 people per dwelling over the past 2 financial years, indicating better supply availability.

New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $408,000. In terms of commercial development, there have been $11.0 million in approvals this financial year, suggesting balanced activity compared to residential development. When considering population density, Kalkie shows approximately 75% of the construction activity per person compared to Rest of Qld and places among the 78th percentile nationally. However, development activity has picked up in recent periods.

Regarding dwelling types, new development consists of 71.0% standalone homes and 29.0% attached dwellings, maintaining Kalkie's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. This represents a considerable change from the current housing mix, which is currently 93.0% houses, reflecting reduced availability of development sites and shifting lifestyle demands and affordability requirements. The location has approximately 146 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. Looking ahead, Kalkie is expected to grow by 347 residents through to 2041, as per the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Kalkie has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified nine projects likely impacting the area. Key projects are The Gateway Marina at Burnett Heads, Kalkie Heights Residential Estate, Bundaberg East Levee, and Telegraph Road Over-50s Lifestyle Community. Relevant projects are listed below.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

The employment environment in Kalkie shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Kalkie has a skilled workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 3.6%, and there was an estimated 9.8% employment growth over the past year, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, 1,675 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.5% lower than Rest of Qld's 4.1%.

Workforce participation is at 69.7%, slightly higher than Rest of Qld's 65.7%. Census responses indicate that only 4.8% of residents work from home. Key industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. Kalkie shows strong specialization in health care & social assistance, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Conversely, construction employs just 7.1% of local workers, below Rest of Qld's 10.1%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work, suggesting local employment opportunities may not fully meet demand. Over a 12-month period ending in September 2025, employment increased by 9.8%, while the labour force grew by 9.7%, leading to a fall in unemployment rate of 0.2 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of Qld, where employment rose by 1.7%, the labour force grew by 2.1%, and unemployment rose 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 Kalkie's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released on 28 June 2023 for financial year 2023, Kalkie had a median income among taxpayers of $53,585 and an average level of $66,214. This is slightly lower than the national average, which compares to levels of $53,146 and $66,593 across Rest of Qld respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $58,895 (median) and $72,776 (average) as of September 2025. From the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census Data from 2021, household income ranks at the 34th percentile in Kalkie, family income at the 35th percentile, and personal income at the 41st percentile. Income distribution shows that 34.8% (1,109 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 earnings band, which is consistent with broader trends across the metropolitan region showing 31.7% in the same category. Housing costs are manageable with 86.7% retained, though disposable income sits below average at the 45th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the fourth decile.

Kalkie is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Kalkie's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 92.6% houses and 7.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kalkie stood at 35.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 39.2% and rented ones at 24.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,502, lower than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent in Kalkie was $310, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Kalkie's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,502 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Kalkie features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 79.3% of all households, including 31.7% couples with children, 34.2% couples without children, and 12.0% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 20.7%, consisting of 18.0% lone person households and 2.3% group households. The median household size is 2.6 people, which is larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Kalkie shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

The area's university qualification rate is 17.5%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 13.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.6%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 38.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas account for 8.2% and certificates for 30.3%.

Educational participation is high at 28.3%, including secondary education (10.4%), primary education (9.5%), and tertiary education (3.3%).

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

Public transport analysis indicates seven active transport stops operating within Kalkie, consisting of a mix of buses. These stops are served by two individual routes, collectively offering 81 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as moderate, with residents typically located 408 meters from the nearest transport stop. As primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; car remains the dominant mode at 96%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.6 per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 4.8% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 11 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 11 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Kalkie is well below average with considerably higher than average prevalence of common health conditions and to an even higher degree among older age cohorts

Kalkie faces significant health challenges, according to AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantially higher than average in Kalkie, particularly among older age cohorts. Private health cover is also notably high at approximately 53% of the total population (~1,703 people), slightly leading the average SA2 area. The most common medical conditions reported were arthritis (10.8%) and mental health issues (8.9%), while 63.0% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across Rest of Qld. Working-age residents in Kalkie have an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has a higher proportion of seniors, with 21.1% of residents aged 65 and over (672 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

Kalkie ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Kalkie's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 86.4% of its population born in Australia, 91.2% being citizens, and 91.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion in Kalkie, comprising 58.1% of people, compared to 52.2% across Rest of Qld. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (30.5%), English (30.3%), and Scottish (7.7%).

Notably, German ethnicity was overrepresented at 6.6%, compared to the regional average of 4.7%. South African ethnicity was also higher than average, with 0.7% compared to 0.5%. Korean ethnicity was slightly overrepresented at 0.4%, compared to the regional average of 0.2%.

Kalkie's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Kalkie has a median age of 40, which is close to Rest of Qld's figure of 41 and exceeds the national norm of 38. The 25-34 age group makes up 14.3% of Kalkie's population, higher than Rest of Qld's percentage, while the 55-64 cohort comprises 9.8%. According to the 2021 Census, the 25-34 age group has increased from 11.8% to 14.3%, and the 5-14 age group has decreased from 13.9% to 12.0%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Kalkie's age profile will change significantly. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 33%, reaching 604 people from the current 455. Conversely, the 15-24 age range is expected to decrease by 47%.