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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.
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2021 Census | -- people
Sales Activity
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Sales Detail
Population
Population growth drivers in Kewarra Beach are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends
As per ABS population updates for the broader area and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the estimated population of Kewarra Beach was around 6,463 as of May 2026. This figure represents an increase of 330 people (5.4%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,133 people in the suburb. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimated resident population of 6,463 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 158 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 1,175 persons per square kilometer, aligning with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Kewarra Beach's 5.4% growth since census positions it within 2.1 percentage points of the SA4 region (7.5%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 50.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, 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 by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are used. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort are applied where utilized. Future population dynamics anticipate an above median growth of national non-metropolitan areas, with the suburb expected to grow by 1,016 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 15.7% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Recent residential development output has been above average within Kewarra Beach when compared nationally
AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Kewarra Beach recorded around 33 residential properties granted approval per year. Over the past 5 financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, approximately 168 homes were approved, with a further 43 approved so far in FY-26. Each dwelling built over these years attracted an average of 2.5 new residents annually, indicating strong demand which supports property values.
The average construction cost value for new homes was $457,000, higher than regional levels, suggesting emphasis on quality construction. This financial year, Kewarra Beach has registered $1.4 million in commercial approvals, indicating minimal commercial development activity compared to residential growth. Compared to the Rest of Qld, Kewarra Beach has around three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person.
Nationally, it ranks among the 69th percentile of areas assessed for new dwelling approvals. Recent building activity consists entirely of detached houses, sustaining the area's suburban identity with a concentration of family homes suited to buyers seeking space. The location has approximately 191 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Population forecasts indicate Kewarra Beach will gain 1,016 residents through to 2041, based on AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. Development is keeping pace with projected growth, though increasing competition among buyers can be expected as the population expands.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Kewarra Beach
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Infrastructure
Kewarra Beach has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally
Ten infrastructure projects were identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. These key projects are: The Palms, Reefsedge Resort & Waterpark, The Palms Collection Masterplan, and Northern Beaches Water Network Upgrade. Below is a detailed list of these projects, which are likely to be most relevant.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
The Palms
The Palms is a major masterplanned redevelopment of the former Paradise Palms Golf Course into a mixed-use precinct. The project features approximately 330 residential lots and the $210 million Reefsedge Waterpark and Tourist Park, which includes over 20 water slides, resort pools, 364 villas, and 47 caravan sites. The site also incorporates a proposed Catholic primary school and a village hub with retail and dining. Civil works are ongoing, with the waterpark and resort components targeted for a mid-2026 opening.
Reefsedge Resort & Waterpark
A state-of-the-art $235 million waterpark and luxury resort development on the former Paradise Palms site. The project features 22 slides, including a three-level tower and the King Cobra slide, plus wave and lagoon pools. The masterplan includes 364 villas, 127 ensuited caravan sites, and a fully renovated clubhouse. Designed as a catalytic tourism project for Far North Queensland, it expects to attract 379,000 annual visitors and create over 400 operational jobs.
The Palms Collection Masterplan
A major $300 million mixed-use masterplan transforming the former Paradise Palms Golf Course into a sustainable community and tourist destination. The development features 438 residential lots, a 349-site land-lease retirement village, a Catholic primary school, and the 'Reefsedge' tourist park. Reefsedge includes a $210 million water park with 25 slides and a wave pool, scheduled for completion by mid-2026. The project is an EnviroDevelopment certified precinct with extensive walking trails and parklands.
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.
Northern Beaches Water Network Upgrade
Council's 10-year program (circa $31m) to install and replace trunk and distribution water mains across Cairns' Northern Beaches to improve flow, reduce breakages, and increase reliability for about 34,000 residents. Staged delivery: Stages 1-5 completed (2015-2020), Stage 6 Kamerunga Road underway, Stage 7 Trinity Beach mains and booster station planned by Dec 2026, Stage 8 Paradise Palms to Clifton Beach trunk main planned by Jun 2032.
Smart water meter program 2023-2026
Cairns Regional Council is replacing existing mechanical water meters with over 50,000 smart water meters across the region. This initiative, part of the Water Demand Management Strategy, aims to improve water security, enable early leak detection, and provide residents with real-time usage data via a new customer portal. The rollout is scheduled for completion by July 2026.
Northern Beaches Catholic Primary School
New Catholic primary school proposed within The Palms (former Paradise Palms) masterplanned precinct at Kewarra Beach to cater for growing Northern Beaches enrolments. The Diocese of Cairns has contracted land within the estate and signalled intent to open subject to funding and approvals. Timeline has shifted from an initial hope of 2025; project remains in planning pending formal approvals and delivery program.
Breakwaters - Clifton Beach Erosion Management
Construction of three shore-connected rock breakwaters along Arlington Esplanade to trap northward-moving sand and reduce long-term erosion at Clifton Beach. Works scheduled across May-October 2025 with sand nourishment following completion.
Employment
AreaSearch analysis reveals Kewarra Beach significantly outperforming the majority of regions assessed nationwide
Kewarra Beach has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. As of December 2025, the unemployment rate was 2.0%. This is below Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%, and workforce participation was broadly similar at 64.5%.
A moderate 16.6% of residents worked from home based on Census responses. The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, construction, and accommodation & food services. There is strong specialization in public administration & safety with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing employs only 1.1% of local workers, below Regional Qld's 4.5%.
The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by Census data comparing working population and resident population. Between December 2024 and November 2025, the labour force decreased by 2.0%, while employment decreased by 2.7%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Regional Qld saw employment rise by 0.7% during this period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is expected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Kewarra Beach's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by approximately 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis
AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ended June 2023 shows median income in Kewarra Beach suburb is $55,505 and average income is $67,611. This compares to Regional Queensland's median income of $53,146 and average income of $66,593 for the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% from July 2023 to March 2026, estimated current incomes would be approximately $61,810 (median) and $75,292 (average). According to the Census conducted in August 2021, household, family, and personal incomes in Kewarra Beach fall around the 53rd percentile nationally. The earnings profile indicates that 38.3% of locals (2,475 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 per week, similar to metropolitan regions where 31.7% fall within this range. Housing costs consume 15.8% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 50th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Kewarra Beach is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region
In Kewarra Beach, as per the latest Census, 92.5% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 7.5% being semi-detached, apartments, or other types. This compares to Regional Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kewarra Beach was 32.2%, similar to Regional Qld, with mortgaged dwellings at 43.8% and rented ones at 23.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,733, higher than Regional Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent figure for Kewarra Beach was $425, compared to Regional Qld's $345. Nationally, Kewarra Beach's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher at $425 compared to the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Kewarra Beach features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size
Family households constitute 76.7% of all households, consisting of 29.6% couples with children, 34.1% couples without children, and 11.9% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 23.3%, with lone person households at 19.4% and group households making up 4.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.5 people, which aligns with the Regional Queensland average.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Kewarra 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 Kewarra Beach trail regional benchmarks with 23.5% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to Australia's 30.4%. This gap highlights potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees lead at 16.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 42.6% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (13.6%) and certificates (29.0%).
Educational participation is notably high, with 28.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 10.3% in primary education, 8.1% in secondary education, and 3.9% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Public transport analysis indicates 15 active transport stops operating within Kewarra Beach, consisting of a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 3 individual routes, collectively providing 377 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as moderate, with residents typically located 420 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward. Car remains the dominant mode of transportation at 93%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.5 per dwelling.
According to the 2021 Census, some 16.6% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 53 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 25 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
The level of general health in Kewarra Beach is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions
Kewarra Beach shows superior health outcomes based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.
Both young and elderly cohorts exhibit low prevalence of common health conditions. Approximately 54% (~3,489 people) have private health cover, which is relatively high. The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues (7.8%) and arthritis (7.7%). About 70.4% claim to be free from medical ailments, compared to the Regional Qld average of 67.6%. Under-65 residents have better-than-average health outcomes. Around 20.3% (~1,311 people) are aged 65 and over. Senior health outcomes are above average, aligning with national rankings for the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Kewarra Beach was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics
Kewarra Beach's cultural diversity was found to be above average, with 10.9% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 28.8% born overseas. Christianity was the main religion in Kewarra Beach, comprising 44.5% of people. Notably, Judaism was overrepresented, making up 0.3% compared to Regional Qld's 0.1%.
The top three ancestry groups were English (31.5%), Australian (22.7%), and Other (8.4%). Some ethnic groups showed notable divergences: French at 1.0% (vs regional 0.5%), New Zealand at 1.0% (vs regional 0.9%), and Welsh at 0.7% (vs regional 0.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Kewarra Beach hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average
Kewarra Beach's median age is 43 years, higher than Regional Qld's average of 41 and exceeding the national average of 38. The 55-64 age group comprises 14.6%, compared to Regional Qld, while the 25-34 cohort stands at 10.7%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 15-24 age group grew from 8.9% to 10.4%, and the 75-84 cohort increased from 5.2% to 6.3%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort declined from 15.1% to 13.0%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Kewarra Beach's age profile will evolve significantly. The 25-34 cohort is projected to grow by 29%, adding 203 residents to reach 895. Meanwhile, numbers in the 15-24 age range are expected to fall by 21%.