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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
The median house price in Lake Illawarra is $976k, with units at $835k. House values have moved 6.0% a year compounded over five years.
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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Lake Illawarra has an estimated 3,412 residents, up from 3,288 at the 2021 Census — a change of 124 people, or 3.8%. Growth has averaged 0.5% a year over five years. That puts 2,043 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
Lake Illawarra's population is calculated to be approximately 3,412 as of May 2026, a figure determined by examining geographic demographic updates from the ABS alongside recent addresses verified by AreaSearch since the Census. Since the 2021 Census recorded 3,288 residents, this represents an addition of 124 individuals (3.8%). This variation is derived from an Estimated Resident Population of 3,408 calculated by AreaSearch using the June 2025 ABS ERP data release, combined with an additional 75 validated new addresses identified after the Census date. With this population level, the density stands at 2,043 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the typical ratio for national locations monitored by AreaSearch.
The suburb's post-Census growth of 3.8% trails the Rest of NSW (4.9%) by 1.1 percentage points, indicating competitive local growth drivers. Demographic expansion in recent times was mostly supported by overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 56.99999999999999% of the overall population rise. Projections developed by the ABS and Geoscience Australia, issued in 2024 with a 2022 baseline, are utilized for each SA2 region. In instances where SA2 regions lack this data, projections from the NSW State Government's 2022 release with a 2021 baseline are applied instead. Age cohort growth rates from these compilations are also projected forward for the years 2032 to 2041. Based on these demographic methods, the total number of residents is projected to decrease over this period, shrinking by 21 persons by 2041. Conversely, expansion is expected within particular age groups, most notably the 25 to 34 cohort, which is projected to grow by 83 people. See the age section for more details.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
118 new dwellings have been approved in Lake Illawarra over the past five years, an average of 23 a year. That places the area in the 51st percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 7 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 24 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 25% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 28, broadly in line with that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
According to building approval figures from the ABS allocated to local statistical boundaries, the suburb of Lake Illawarra averaged approximately 23 new residential approvals per year, summing to an estimated 118 homes approved during the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 26 during FY-26 so far. With an average of only 0.7 new residents arriving per new home over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), construction volume is meeting or outpacing demand, offering buyers more options while paving the way for potential population growth beyond current projections, with new builds averaging $386,000 in value.
Furthermore, commercial approvals totaling $835,000 were logged this financial year, which highlights a mainly residential focus. In comparison to the Rest of NSW, the rate of new home approvals per resident in Lake Illawarra is approximately three-quarters, placing it in the 88th percentile of all national areas evaluated, even though building activity has recently accelerated. Approved development consists of 25.0% detached houses and 75.0% attached dwellings. This shift toward higher-density options offers more affordable entry points and suits downsizers, investors, and first-time buyers. This represents a major change from the current housing stock (where houses make up 50.0%), pointing to a decrease in available development land and reflecting shifting lifestyle choices and housing costs. Averaging roughly 92 people per residential approval, Lake Illawarra displays typical low-density traits. As the population is projected to stabilize or decrease, housing demand in Lake Illawarra should ease, potentially opening up opportunities for home buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Lake Illawarra
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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 35 current infrastructure and development projects close to Lake Illawarra, worth an estimated $4.99 billion. 7 are already under construction and 15 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and sports & recreation. 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
Local infrastructure projects, major developments, and planning schemes have a significant impact on local growth. AreaSearch has identified a single project expected to influence this locality. The main initiatives include the Warilla Beach Seawall Renewal, the Shellharbour Mobile Tiny Homes Pilot Program, the New Shellharbour Hospital and Integrated Services, and the M1 Princes Motorway South-Facing Ramps at Dapto, with the most relevant ones listed below.
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
Warilla Beach Seawall Renewal
Rebuilding a 930-meter seawall (revetment) to modern engineering standards to address coastal erosion and public safety. The project features improved beach access with a minimum of three formalised beach access points and an emergency access ramp.
Lake Illawarra Entrance Options Study
A two-stage study by Wollongong City Council and Shellharbour City Council, conducted by the UNSW Water Research Laboratory, to assess long-term management options for the Lake Illawarra entrance channel. Since the lake was permanently opened in 2007, erosion along the Windang foreshore, increased tidal range, seagrass and saltmarsh impacts, and undermining of jetties and boat ramps have become significant issues. More than 50 options were assessed and narrowed to a shortlist of five. In May 2025, both councils resolved to call on the NSW Government to resource and undertake a Strategic Business Case for a long-term solution, focusing on Option 4 (low rock barriers into the channel, estimated $145-240 million) and Option 5 (return to intermittent opening, estimated $35-70 million).Short and medium-term foreshore protection works at Windang are also being investigated under the NSW Coastal Management Program.
Calderwood Public School
New public primary school and co-located preschool at the corner of Calderwood Road and Escarpment Drive, Calderwood. The school will accommodate 576 students across 24 permanent classrooms, 3 support learning classrooms, a library, hall, covered outdoor learning area (COLA), canteen and administration areas. The co-located public preschool will have 60 places. Construction awarded to ADCO Constructions with main works commencing June 2026, targeting Day 1 Term 1 2028 opening. Part of the NSW Government's $9 billion school infrastructure investment including $2.1 billion for regional NSW.
The Links Hotel
Proposed hotel development on a 6,736 sqm parcel of Council-owned land (Lot 1 DP 1098888) beside The Links Golf Course at Shell Cove, around 300 metres from the new Shellharbour Hospital. Shellharbour City Council ran an Expressions of Interest process seeking an experienced hotel developer partner to design, build and operate the hotel. Concept plans prepared by Jackson Teece Architecture call for at least 140 rooms, a restaurant and bar, meeting and event spaces, a wellness and gym area, and dedicated parking.The project aims to address a local shortage of overnight accommodation, support tourism, business travel and visiting healthcare workers and patients, and create local jobs. EOI submissions closed in October 2025 and Council has not yet announced a selected developer as of mid-2026; the hotel remains targeted to open by the end of 2028.
Playground Renewals & Upgrades Program (Jilba Park, Collins Reserve)
Shellharbour City Council program renewing and upgrading local community playgrounds to enhance safety, accessibility, and multi-generational play. The program includes fence additions, updated inclusive play equipment, and nature play spaces across sites such as Collins Reserve and Jilba Park.
13 Benson Avenue Residential Development
Construction of an eight-storey residential flat building comprising 55 residential units, two levels of basement car parking, landscaping, drainage, a two-lot Torrens Title subdivision, and part public road and civil works in Shellharbour City Centre. The Development Application (DA0544/2021) was lodged in August 2021 and is currently still in the assessment/planning stage with Shellharbour City Council.
Shellharbour Mobile Tiny Homes Pilot Program
A state-first two-year pilot program designed to allow mobile tiny homes (moveable dwellings on trailers) to be used as rental accommodation on existing residential lots without a development application. The program aims to address local housing affordability by creating a faster planning pathway through a Local Approvals Policy and amendments to the Shellharbour LEP 2013. The pilot applies to Torrens Title lots with one existing dwelling, excluding flood-prone, bushfire-prone, or heritage-affected land. Following a NSW Government Gateway Determination in March 2026, the proposal underwent public exhibition from 9 April to 8 May 2026, with final submissions accepted until 22 May 2026.
Stockland Shellharbour Retail Park Expansion
Retail park expansion and tenant remix adjacent to the main Stockland Shellharbour centre. Works since 2013 have established a major regional retail destination anchored by Myer in the mall and, at the retail park, large-format tenancies including Woolworths, Dan Murphys, Chemist Warehouse, Baby Bunting, Petbarn, Rebel, Ronis and TK Maxx. In 2025 the site added 10 Ampol AmpCharge EV bays, indicating ongoing operational upgrades.
1,384 residents of Lake Illawarra are employed, from a labour force of 1,596. Unemployment sits at 13.3%, with participation at 55.0%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.6% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 3,093, about 91% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Data aggregated by AreaSearch indicates that Lake Illawarra possesses a balanced labour force divided between professional and manual roles, with a strong representation of essential services. The unemployment rate sits at 13.3%, and the area registered a 3.4% rise in estimated jobs over the past year. In March 2026, working residents numbered 1,384, though the unemployment rate is 9.2% higher than the Regional NSW rate of 4.1%, indicating room for progress, while labour force participation remains low (55.0% compared to Regional NSW's 60.6%). Census figures indicate that a modest 17.8% of the workforce operated from home, though this may reflect the influence of pandemic lockdowns.
The primary employment sectors for local workers are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. The suburb displays a notable concentration in the construction sector, where the proportion of workers is 1.4 times the regional standard. On the other hand, agriculture, forestry & fishing is underrepresented at 0.3% compared to the regional benchmark of 5.3%. A comparison of the Census working population to the resident population suggests that this predominantly residential locality offers few local job opportunities. Employment and labour force figures rose by 3.4% each during the year to March 2026, according to AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data drawn from larger statistical regions, which helped maintain a steady unemployment rate. In contrast, Regional NSW experienced a 0.9% drop in employment and a 0.4% shrinkage in the labour force, causing unemployment to climb by 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia released national employment forecasts in May-25 that shed light on anticipated future demand in Lake Illawarra. These five-year and ten-year projections were overlaid on the local employment structure to gauge potential growth trends. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, although sector-specific growth varies considerably. When these industry-adjusted forecasts are applied to Lake Illawarra's current job composition, local employment is estimated to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though this is a basic weighted extrapolation for illustrative use and does not incorporate local population changes.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Lake Illawarra is $1,069 a week (about $56,000 a year), with median personal income at $608 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $50,077 a year against an average of $61,416. 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
The most recent postcode-level data from the ATO for the 2023 financial year shows that incomes in the suburb of Lake Illawarra fall below the national average, with a median of $50,077 and an average of $61,416. This is lower than the Regional NSW median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. Applying the 10.32% Wage Price Index growth since the 2023 financial year, current estimates point to roughly $55,245 for the median and $67,754 for the average as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Lake Illawarra rank between the 5th and 12th percentiles across the country.
In terms of income brackets, the $800 - 1,499 range is the most common, accounting for 27.3% of residents (931 people), which contrasts with the broader metropolitan area where the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket is largest at 29.9%. Housing cost pressures are intense, leaving residents with only 76.5% of their income, which ranks in the 4th percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Lake Illawarra had 1,427 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 50% detached houses and 22% apartments. 22% are owned with a mortgage, 50% rented and 28% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $328 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,733 a month. Rent absorbs 30.7% of household income here and mortgage repayments 37.4%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the latest Census, residential structures in Lake Illawarra consisted of 50.2% houses and 49.8% alternative dwellings (such as townhouses, apartments, and other types), whereas Regional NSW recorded 82.6% houses and 17.4% alternative dwellings. Home ownership in Lake Illawarra was lower than the regional rate, standing at 28.0%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (21.7%) or tenants (50.3%). The median monthly home loan payment of $1,733 matched the Regional NSW median of $1,733, while the median weekly rent was $328, compared to $330 regionally. On a national level, mortgage repayments in Lake Illawarra are below the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are much lower than the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Lake Illawarra counted 1,427 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.1 people each. 18% are couples with children, fewer than in 90% of areas nationally, against 24% couples without children. 39% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.8 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up the majority of households at 58.4%, which includes 18.4% couples with children, 23.6% couples without children, and 15.3% single parent households. Non-family households account for the remaining 41.6%, consisting of 38.5% sole occupant households and 3.2% group households. The median household size of 2.1 people is smaller than the Regional NSW average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
12.2% of adults in Lake Illawarra hold a university qualification, including 8.1% with a bachelor degree and 2.3% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 85% of areas nationally. A further 32.5% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 725 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 931 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Educational attainment levels present difficulties for the area, as the tertiary qualification rate (12.2%) is much lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. This situation highlights a hurdle but also presents a chance for focused learning programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher education qualification at 8.1%, followed by postgraduate degrees (2.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Vocational training is common, with 42.2% of residents aged 15+ holding practical qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas (9.7%) and certificates (32.5%). A high proportion of the population is engaged in study, with 25.9% of residents currently undertaking formal education.
This group includes 9.2% in primary school, 6.8% in high school, and 2.6% enrolled in tertiary institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Lake Illawarra reaches 39 stops on 29 routes, timetabled for about 740 services a week. The typical home sits about 100 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.1 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transport services in Lake Illawarra feature 39 active transport stops consisting of bus services. These locations are served by 29 distinct routes, which provide a total of 740 weekly passenger journeys. Accessibility is high, with the average distance to a stop being 97 meters. As a residential suburb, most workers travel to other areas for employment, with private vehicles remaining the main choice at 95%. Households average 1.1 vehicles, which is lower than the regional average. About 17.8% of the workforce worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic conditions.
Service frequency stands at an average of 105 journeys per day across all routes, which corresponds to roughly 18 weekly departures per stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
59.3% of residents in Lake Illawarra report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 92% of areas nationally. 8.5% need daily assistance with core activities, and 51.2% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 7.8 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Significant health issues are apparent in Lake Illawarra, based on mortality statistics and the prevalence of chronic illnesses analyzed by AreaSearch, showing that various health conditions impact both younger and older cohorts, while the proportion of residents with private health insurance is relatively low at approximately 51% of the population (~1,748 people). The most frequent health conditions in the locality are arthritis and mental health challenges, affecting 11.7 and 11.3% of the community, respectively, while 59.3% of residents reported having no long-term health conditions, compared to 63.3% across Regional NSW.
The workforce-age group suffers from notable health issues, showing higher rates of chronic conditions. Residents aged 65 and over make up 22.7% of the population (774 people). Seniors' health statistics indicate some challenges, with national percentiles matching the broader population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Lake Illawarra is largely Australian-born, at 80.1% of residents, with 10.2% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (29.1%) and Australian (27.2%). 3.8% 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
Lake Illawarra's cultural demographics are similar to the regional average, with citizens representing 86.9% of the population, 80.1% born in Australia, and 89.8% speaking only English at home. The predominant religion is Christianity, practiced by 53.6% of residents, compared to 55.9% across Regional NSW. Regarding ancestral backgrounds (parents' country of birth), the three most common heritages in Lake Illawarra are English at 29.1% of the population, Australian at 27.2%, and Scottish at 7.1%. There are also distinct concentrations of other backgrounds: Spanish heritage is highly represented at 1.6% of the population (compared to 0.3% regionally), Macedonian at 1.1% (compared to 0.4%), and Serbian at 0.7% (compared to 0.2%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Lake Illawarra is 42. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 25.8% 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
Lake Illawarra's median age of 42 years is close to the Regional NSW average of 43 and higher than the national median of 38 years. The demographic breakdown shows a high concentration of 25 - 34 year-olds (14.1%), whereas the 5 - 14 cohort is smaller (9.7%) than the regional trend. Since 2021, the 25 to 34 age bracket has risen from 13.1% to 14.1% of the population. In contrast, the 55 to 64 group dropped from 16.1% to 14.6%, and the 45 to 54 bracket declined from 11.6% to 10.1%.
Population projections for 2041 indicate notable demographic shifts for Lake Illawarra. The 25 to 34 cohort is expected to grow the most, increasing by 15% and adding 72 residents to total 554. Meanwhile, the numbers of residents aged 5 to 14 and 65 to 74 are projected to decline.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Lake Illawarra
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 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) | May 2026 3 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 May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 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 5 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) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 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 — 75 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (3,288 at the 2021 Census → 3,412 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 May 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 (SAL12259). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.