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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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Kirkwood has an estimated 2,633 residents, up from 2,513 at the 2021 Census — a change of 120 people, or 4.8%. Growth has averaged 0.8% a year over five years. That puts 311 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 Kirkwood is estimated to have a population of approximately 2,633, based on AreaSearch's evaluation of broader ABS demographic releases and post-Census address validations. This represents an addition of 120 people (4.8%) compared to the 2021 Census tally of 2,513 people. This metric stems from AreaSearch's June 2025 estimate of 2,626 residents following the ABS ERP update and ongoing address checks. The local population density stands at 311 persons per square kilometer, leaving considerable space per resident and ample capacity for future expansion. Over the prior ten years, the suburb of Kirkwood has maintained steady expansion with a 2.7% compound annual growth rate, exceeding the broader SA3 area.
Recent population growth was primarily underpinned by natural increase, which accounted for roughly 41.0% of total demographic additions, alongside positive contributions from overseas migration and interstate migration. For each SA2 area, AreaSearch incorporates ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 (using 2022 as a base year). For SA2 areas omitted from this dataset or projections beyond 2032, Queensland State Government SA2 projections released in 2023 (utilising 2021 data) are used. Because these state forecasts lack age-specific breakdowns, AreaSearch weights cohorts proportionally using the ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 (based on 2022 figures). Long-term outlooks place the suburb of Kirkwood in the upper quartile for growth among non-capital locations, with aggregated SA2 figures projecting an increase of 569 persons by 2041, representing an overall expansion of 21.3% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential construction in Kirkwood remains subdued, averaging fewer than 1 new home approvals each year, totaling 2 approvals over five years. Such limited building numbers align with the rural setting, where home building responds to bespoke local requirements rather than broader market activity. Given the minimal approval volume, solitary building ventures can exert an outsized influence on yearly percentage changes and comparative trends. Building volumes in Kirkwood are markedly lower than in Rest of Qld and sit well below national benchmarks. Recent residential building consists exclusively of detached dwellings, catering to the privacy and land requirements typical of rural living.
With an estimated 1314 people per approved dwelling, the local building sector remains distinctly quiet and subdued.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Kirkwood
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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.
AreaSearch tracks 16 current infrastructure and development projects close to Kirkwood, worth an estimated $13.4 billion. 6 are already under construction and 7 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans communities, precincts & urban renewal, communities and energy. 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
Infrastructure additions, large-scale projects, and regional planning exert a major impact on local performance. AreaSearch has pinpointed 1 key project with potential local implications, with major developments in the broader area including Clinton Industrial Estate, Calliope Residential Growth Area, Gladstone Project, and Santos GLNG Project.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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
Clinton Industrial Estate
Economic Development Queensland is constructing the Byelle Precinct at Clinton Industrial Estate, delivering 27 fully serviced medium-impact industrial lots ranging from about 4,000 sqm to 10,000 sqm. Civil works including roads, kerbing, services, lighting and landscaping are progressing, with land release expected in late 2026. The precinct is intended to support manufacturing, freight, logistics and advanced industry close to the Port of Gladstone.
West Gladstone Social Homes
Construction of 13 new social homes in West Gladstone designed for single people, couples, young people, people with disability, and seniors. Six homes are being built to Platinum and Gold level accessibility standards as per Social Housing Design Guidelines. The development replaces two older social homes, maximizing land use to deliver more homes for people in need. Part of the Queensland Government's Homes for Queenslanders plan to deliver one million more homes, including 53,500 social homes.
Brookview Estate
Brookview Estate is a resort style master planned residential community in Glen Eden, Gladstone. Originally developed by Latitude Development Group as a gated community title estate, the project was planned for around 250 freehold home sites with staged land releases around a private residents club featuring pools, gym, function room, barbecue areas, playgrounds, landscaped parklands, walkways and cycleways. The original developer entered external administration and the balance of the estate land and recreation centre were sold to new owners from 2017 onward, but the subdivision, roads and lifestyle facilities are now in place and the area has matured into an established suburban neighbourhood with most lots built out and only infill housing occurring on remaining vacant sites.
Hughes Road Battery Energy Storage System (BESS)
A proposed 200MW/800MWh lithium-ion battery energy storage system designed to enhance grid stability and support renewable energy integration. The project is located near the existing Wurdong Substation. Construction is anticipated to commence in early 2028, with operations expected to commence in 2029.
Gladstone Project
Powerlink Queensland's Gladstone Project is a critical multi-stage transmission network reinforcement program to ensure electricity reliability and security as the Gladstone Power Station prepares for anticipated closure. The project supports industrial decarbonisation and the integration of renewables in the Central Queensland area. Stage 1 involves the Calvale to Calliope River 275kV transmission line and substation expansions. Stage 2 includes the Bouldercombe to Larcom Creek line and the proposed new Gladstone West Substation. The Final Assessment Report was submitted in June 2025, with Stage 1 main construction works expected to commence in mid-2026 pending formal approvals.
Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal (WICET)
Privately funded coal export terminal at Golding Point within the Port of Gladstone. Stage 1 delivers 27 Mtpa capacity via rail receival, a 5.6 km covered overland conveyor to stockyards, and an offshore wharf ~2 km from shore with a single berth and shiploader. Terminal aligns with Queensland Ports Strategy and can expand on the existing site when demand supports it. Owned by Wiggins Island Coal Export Terminal Pty Ltd (industry consortium).
HPA First Project Stage 2
Stage 2 of the HPA First Project is a full-scale commercial refinery producing over 10,000 tonnes per annum of high-purity alumina and related products. Utilizing a proprietary solvent extraction purification process operating on 100 percent renewable energy, construction is actively progressing with the installation of large-scale extraction tanks and mechanical piping.
Riverstone Rise
Gladstone first truly masterplanned community spanning 496 hectares along the Boyne River. The development includes 2,900 homes for over 7,500 residents, educational facilities including a primary school and childcare centre, retail and commercial town centre precinct, medical centre, and community facilities. It features 26 percent dedicated open space with 182 hectares of reserves, parks, and walking trails integrated with 4.2 kilometres of Boyne River frontage. Construction is active with the Corimba and Lilyvale Stage 4A releases progressing through 2026.
1,433 residents of Kirkwood are employed, from a labour force of 1,467. Unemployment sits at 2.3%, with participation at 77.6%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.4% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Kirkwood features a capable labor pool characterized by substantial industrial and manufacturing presence, maintaining an unemployment rate of only 2.3% according to AreaSearch aggregated data. As of March 2026, employed residents number 1,433, with unemployment sitting 1.6% lower than Regional Qld's 3.9%. Labor force participation is exceptionally high at 77.6%, compared with 64.2% across Regional Qld. Census records indicate a modest 4.9% of workers operated from home, though pandemic restrictions during that period may have influenced this figure. The primary employment fields for the local workforce comprise manufacturing, retail trade, and construction.
Manufacturing employment is especially prominent, tracking at 2.6 times the regional norm. In contrast, health care & social assistance captures a smaller share of workers at 10.4%, below the 16.1% recorded regionally. Although local positions exist, comparing the Census working population against local resident numbers suggests a significant proportion of workers commute out of the district for employment. According to AreaSearch's evaluation of ABS and SALM data across wider statistical zones, the local labor pool contracted by 5.7% over the 12-month period while total jobs fell by 4.5%, leading to a 1.3 percentage points reduction in the jobless rate. In comparison, Regional Qld experienced a 0.1% increase in employment, a 0.3% rise in the labor force, and a 0.1 percentage points rise in unemployment. Long-term labor projections from Jobs and Skills Australia (Mar-26) offer indications of future employment trajectory. Across the nation, job numbers are projected to grow by 6.6% across five years and 13.7% across ten years, though industry variations exist. Applying these sectoral trajectories to Kirkwood's employment distribution suggests local job growth of 5.4% over five years and 11.9% over ten years (calculated via simple weighting without factoring in local demographic shifts).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Kirkwood is $2,313 a week (about $120,000 a year), with median personal income at $990 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $73,965 a year against an average of $91,431. 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
According to AreaSearch's evaluation of ATO postcode figures for financial year 2023, Kirkwood taxpayers recorded a median income of $73,965 and an average of $91,431, substantially above Regional Qld's median of $53,146 and average of $66,593. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, estimated March 2026 earnings reach approximately $82,367 (median) and $101,818 (average). In the 2021 Census, local household, personal, and family earnings placed between the 77th and 83rd percentiles nationally. Weekly earnings between $1,500 - 2,999 account for 40.6% of residents (1,068 individuals), comparable to 31.7% across the metropolitan area.
Meanwhile, 31.8% of individuals earn more than $3,000 per week, reflecting significant local spending capacity. Housing costs consume 14.9% of income, placing local disposable earnings in the 84th percentile nationally, with the community situated in the 5th decile of the SEIFA income index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Kirkwood had 799 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 98% detached houses and 0% apartments. 43% are owned with a mortgage, 48% rented and 9% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $350 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,777 a month, a total housing cost higher than 80% of areas nationally. Rent absorbs 15.1% of household income here and mortgage repayments 17.7%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census data shows that standalone houses make up 97.5% of Kirkwood's housing stock, with semi-detached properties, apartments, and other dwellings comprising the remaining 2.5%, contrasting with Regional Qld's split of 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Outright home ownership stands at 8.9%, below the Regional Qld benchmark, with 43.4% of homes carrying a mortgage and 47.7% occupied by tenants. Median monthly mortgage commitments sit at $1,777 (compared to $1,655 in Regional Qld), while median weekly rent is $350 (versus $345 regionally). In the national context, Kirkwood's mortgage repayments remain beneath the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are lower than the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Kirkwood counted 799 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 3.1 people each. 47% are couples with children, more than in 91% of areas nationally, against 24% couples without children. 13% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.7 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute 84.5% of Kirkwood households, including 46.5% couples with children, 23.9% couples without children, and 13.9% single parent arrangements. Non-family dwellings make up 15.5% of homes, consisting of lone person households (12.5%) and group accommodation (3.2%). The median household size is 3.1 people, exceeding the Regional Qld average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
18.4% of adults in Kirkwood hold a university qualification, including 13.7% with a bachelor degree and 2.4% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 87% of areas nationally. A further 34.2% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Higher education rates in Kirkwood are comparatively low, with university qualifications held by 18.4% of residents versus the national figure of 30.4%. Among degree holders, bachelor degrees account for 13.7%, postgraduate degrees represent 2.4%, and graduate diplomas make up 2.3%. In contrast, vocational and technical credentials are widespread, with 42.9% of individuals aged 15+ holding qualifications, consisting of 34.2% with certificates and 8.7% with advanced diplomas. Formal study engagement is substantial, with 36.2% of the local population actively participating in education. This comprises 15.0% enrolled in primary schools, 11.0% attending secondary schools, and 3.9% engaged in tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Kirkwood means driving: households keep an average of 1.7 vehicles, and scheduled services reach only a handful of stops. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transit in Kirkwood consists of 2 bus stops served by 2 separate routes that deliver 150 weekly passenger trips. Transit access is moderate, with residents located an average distance of 491 meters from their closest stop. Given the residential makeup, outgoing commuting is standard, with private vehicles serving as the dominant transport mode for 96% of trips. Dwellings average 1.7 vehicles, higher than the regional benchmark, while 4.9% of workers worked from home at the 2021 Census (which may reflect conditions during COVID-19). Transit schedules provide an average of 21 daily trips across the network, translating to roughly 75 weekly departures per stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
76.5% of residents in Kirkwood report no long-term health condition. 4.0% need daily assistance with core activities, and 63.4% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.0 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 Kirkwood are broadly favorable, with AreaSearch findings on health conditions and mortality aligning with nationwide figures. Incidence of common medical disorders remains low across older and younger demographics alike, while private health insurance coverage is notably elevated at roughly 63% of the community (1,670 people), exceeding Regional Qld's 52.5% and the national rate of 55.7%. Mental health conditions (9.1%) and asthma (7.7%) represent the most prevalent health concerns in Kirkwood, while 76.5% of residents report having no medical ailments, outperforming the Regional Qld benchmark of 67.6%. Health metrics for the under-65 population are above average.
Seniors aged 65 and over constitute 5.1% of the population (134 people), well below the 20.3% regional level, and display excellent health outcomes that exceed national standards.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Kirkwood is largely Australian-born, at 77.9% of residents, with 14.4% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (29.5%) and English (25.0%). 4.7% 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
Cultural diversity in Kirkwood sits above standard levels, with 22.1% of residents born abroad and 14.4% using a non-English language at home. Christianity is the predominant faith, practiced by 42.0% of the population. Hinduism exhibits a notable local presence, comprising 3.4% of residents compared to 0.8% across Regional Qld. Regarding parental lineage, the primary ancestries reported are Australian (29.5%), English (25.0%), and Other (7.2%). Furthermore, specific cultural backgrounds show elevated local representation relative to the region, including Filipino at 3.4% (compared to 0.9% regionally), South Australian at 2.2% (versus 0.5%), and Maori at 1.7% (versus 0.8%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Kirkwood is 28, younger than 99% of areas nationally. 33.3% 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
Kirkwood is largely populated by working-age individuals and young families. As of August 2026, AreaSearch estimates that children and young adults aged 0 - 24 represent 42.9% of the population (versus 29.6% in Regional Qld), whereas residents aged 65+ account for only 5.1% (compared to 20.4% across the broader region). The estimated median age stands at 28 as at August 2026, matching the 2021 Census level and sitting 13 years younger than the Regional Qld median of 41 and below the national Census median of 38. The proportion of residents aged 65+ has increased from 3.6% at the Census to an estimated 5.1%.
Looking ahead to 2041, the largest numerical gain is forecast among those aged 25 - 44, increasing by 314 residents (33%) to 1,270, while the 65+ demographic is expected to see the fastest percentage growth, expanding by 37% to 184 residents.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Kirkwood
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. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,513 at the 2021 Census → 2,633 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 (SAL31556). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.