Kooralbyn

Kooralbyn has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Kooralbyn's population is estimated at around 1,834 as of November 2025. This reflects an increase of 137 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,697 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 1,732 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional five validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 21 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Kooralbyn has demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 2.0%, outpacing the SA3 area. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by interstate migration that contributed approximately 87.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as 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 adopted. 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 are applied where utilised. Looking at population projections moving forward, an above median population growth of national areas is projected for Kooralbyn, with the suburb expected to grow by 372 persons to 2041 reflecting an increase of 21.8% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Kooralbyn among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates Kooralbyn averaged around 13 new dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 69 homes were approved, with an additional 3 approved in FY-26 to date.

This averages out to about 2.8 people moving to the area per new home constructed over these years, reflecting robust demand that supports property values. The average construction cost value of new homes is around $370,000, which is below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Kooralbyn has about half the rate of new dwelling approvals per person but ranks among the 87th percentile nationally in terms of building activity, though this has accelerated in recent years.

New building activity consists of approximately 88% detached dwellings and 12% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. With around 96 people per dwelling approval, Kooralbyn exhibits characteristics of a growth area. Population forecasts indicate Kooralbyn will gain approximately 400 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

Kooralbyn has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

No changes can influence an area's performance as much as alterations to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. A total of zero projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to impact the area. Key projects include Bromelton State Development Area, Inland Rail - Kagaru to Acacia Ridge and Bromelton (K2ARB), Queensland Energy Roadmap Infrastructure, and Cross River Rail Enhancement. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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.

Employment drivers in Kooralbyn are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Kooralbyn has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, particularly in manufacturing and industrial sectors. The unemployment rate was 9.5% as of June 2024, with an estimated employment growth of 6.0% over the past year.

As of June 2025650 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 5.4%, higher than Greater Brisbane's 4.1%. Workforce participation in Kooralbyn lags at 38.9% compared to Greater Brisbane's 64.5%. Leading employment industries among residents include retail trade, construction, and education & training. Retail trade is particularly strong with an employment share of 1.3 times the regional level.

However, health care & social assistance is under-represented at 10.5% compared to Greater Brisbane's 16.1%. Employment opportunities appear limited locally based on Census data comparison. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment levels increased by 6.0% while the labour force grew by 3.2%, reducing the unemployment rate by 2.5 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Brisbane saw employment growth of 4.4% with a 0.4 percentage point drop in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Kooralbyn's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.8% over five years and 12.2% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

Income in Kooralbyn was below national average in financial year 2022, with median assessed at $38,316 and average income at $45,964. This contrasted with Greater Brisbane's figures of median income $55,645 and average income $70,520. As of September 2025, estimated incomes were approximately $43,676 (median) and $52,394 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.99% since financial year 2022. Census data showed household, family and personal incomes in Kooralbyn all fell between the 2nd and 2nd percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicated that 31.9% of locals (585 people) were predominantly in the $400 - $799 category, differing from broader area patterns where $1,500 - $2,999 dominated with 33.3%. The prevalence of lower-income residents (41.2% under $800/week) suggested constrained household budgets across much of Kooralbyn. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 82.4% of income remaining, ranking at the 3rd percentile nationally.

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

In Kooralbyn, as per the latest Census evaluation, 77.7% of dwellings were houses while 22.3% consisted of other types such as semi-detached units and apartments. In contrast, Brisbane metropolitan area had 85.4% houses and 14.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kooralbyn was higher at 41.6%, with mortgaged properties at 38.5% and rented ones at 19.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Kooralbyn was $1,300, lower than Brisbane metro's average of $1,517. Weekly rent median was recorded at $250 compared to Brisbane metro's $310. Nationally, Kooralbyn's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863 and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Kooralbyn features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 66.6% of all households, including 18.1% couples with children, 39.1% couples without children, and 9.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 33.4%, with lone person households at 29.9% and group households making up 2.9%. The median household size is 2.3 people, smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in Kooralbyn fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 12.7%, significantly lower than Greater Brisbane's average of 30.5%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 8.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.7%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 44.4% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (11.8%) and certificates (32.6%).

A substantial 23.7% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 9.5% in primary, 7.7% in secondary, and 2.2% in tertiary education. The Kooralbyn International School serves the area with an enrollment of 461 students. It offers integrated K-12 education, providing continuity throughout students' academic journey. School capacity exceeds typical residential needs (25.1 places per 100 residents vs 20.4 regionally), indicating the area functions as an educational center for the broader region.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Kooralbyn is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Kooralbyn faces significant health challenges with various conditions affecting both younger and older age groups. Approximately 45% of Kooralbyn's total population (~833 people) have private health cover, compared to Greater Brisbane's 49.1% and the national average of 55.3%. The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (affecting 13.0% of residents) and mental health issues (12.7%).

Conversely, 52.8% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to Greater Brisbane's 60.0%. Kooralbyn has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 30.4% (557 people), compared to Greater Brisbane's 24.6%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in Kooralbyn are better than those of the general population.

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

Kooralbyn had a cultural diversity level below average, with 76.7% of its residents born in Australia, 87.0% being citizens, and 95.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 48.7% of Kooralbyn's population. However, Judaism was notably overrepresented, making up 0.4% compared to the regional average of 0.1%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (32.9%), Australian (26.8%), and Irish (9.3%). There were also notable differences in the representation of certain ethnicities: Hungarian at 0.5% (compared to 0.2% regionally), French at 0.8% (vs 0.4%), and Welsh at 0.7% (vs 0.4%).

Kooralbyn ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Kooralbyn has a median age of 53, which is higher than Greater Brisbane's figure of 36 and significantly higher than Australia's national norm of 38. The 65-74 age group makes up 18.9% of Kooralbyn's population, compared to Greater Brisbane, while the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 4.5%. This concentration in the 65-74 age group is well above the national figure of 9.4%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 8.2% to 9.7% of Kooralbyn's population, while the 25 to 34 cohort has decreased from 5.9% to 4.5%. By 2041, Kooralbyn is projected to experience notable shifts in its age composition. The 75 to 84 group is expected to grow by 70%, reaching 302 people from the current 177. This aging population trend is evident, with those aged 65 and above comprising 63% of projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 0 to 4 and 35 to 44 age cohorts.