Macleay Island

Macleay Island lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of May 2026, the estimated population of Macleay Island is around 3,397, reflecting an increase of 204 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 3,193. This change is inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 3,380 based on the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 41 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is 469 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, Macleay Island has shown a compound annual growth rate of 2.0%, outperforming its SA4 region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 89.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data for areas not covered by this data or years post-2032.

Future population trends forecast a significant increase in the top quartile of statistical areas, with Macleay Island expected to gain 929 persons by 2041, reflecting a total growth of 26.9% over the 16-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Macleay Island was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers for Macleay Island shows around 78 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, totalling an estimated 391 homes. So far in FY-26, 98 approvals have been recorded. This indicates an average of 2.4 new residents per year for each dwelling approved during this period. The average construction cost value of these dwellings is $218,000, reflecting more affordable housing options compared to regional norms.

In FY-26, $81,000 in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting a predominantly residential focus on the island. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Macleay Island has 146.0% more building activity per person as of recent data. This high level of developer interest is significantly above the national average. Recent construction comprises 99.0% standalone homes and 1.0% townhouses or apartments, preserving the area's low density nature with an emphasis on detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. With around 46 people per dwelling approval, Macleay Island shows characteristics of a growth area.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Macleay Island is expected to grow by 912 residents through to 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.

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

No infrastructure projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to impact the area. Key projects include Southern Moreton Bay Islands Ferry Terminals Upgrade, Redlands Coast Smart and Connected City Strategy, Cleveland Line Duplication (Park Road to Cleveland), and Logan and Gold Coast Faster Rail and Coomera Connector Stage 1 Corridor Upgrades.

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Employment conditions in Macleay Island face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Macleay Island's workforce is balanced across white and blue-collar jobs. The construction sector is prominent with an unemployment rate of 19.2%. Over the past year, employment has been relatively stable.

As of December 2025862 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 15.1% higher than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation is significantly lower at 33.9%, compared to Greater Brisbane's 69.6%. According to Census responses, 23.4% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. The leading employment industries are health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade.

Construction is particularly specialized with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level. Public administration & safety has a limited presence at 4.3%, compared to the regional average of 7%. Local employment opportunities appear limited as indicated by the working population versus resident population count. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 0.5% while labour force grew by 1.7%, resulting in a 1.0 percentage point rise in unemployment. In contrast, Greater Brisbane recorded employment growth of 3.2%, labour force growth of 3.0%, and a slight fall in unemployment of 0.1%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Macleay Island's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Macleay Island had a median taxpayer income of $32,088 and an average of $42,652. Nationally, the averages are $58,236 (median) and $72,799 (average). By March 2026, estimates suggest these figures will be approximately $35,733 (median) and $47,497 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36%. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Macleay Island fall between the 0th and 1st percentiles nationally. The predominant income bracket is $400 - $799, with 43.3% (1,470 people) earning within this range. Notably, 55.5% of residents earn below $800 weekly after housing costs, indicating affordability pressures. After housing expenses, 85.6% of income remains, ranking at the 2nd percentile nationally.

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

Macleay Island's latest Census data shows 99.7% houses and 0.3% other dwellings, compared to Brisbane metro's 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership on Macleay Island was 53.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 23.7% and rented at 22.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $900, below Brisbane metro's average of $1,863, and the median weekly rent was $260, compared to Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Macleay Island's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than Australia's average of $1,863, with rents substantially below the national figure of $375.

Macleay Island features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 53.0% of all households, including 8.8% that are couples with children, 34.1% consisting of couples without children, and 9.0% being single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 47.0%, with lone person households at 40.9% and group households making up 6.0% of the total. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

Macleay Island faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 15.2%, significantly lower than Greater Brisbane's average of 30.5%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.0%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 44.8% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (12.9%) and certificates (31.9%). School and university attendance comprises 18.3% of the community, with 6.1% in primary education, 5.3% in secondary education, and 2.6% pursuing tertiary education.

School and university attendance encompasses 18.3% of the community. This includes 6.1% in primary education, 5.3% in secondary education, and 2.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Macleay Island has two active public transport stops, offering a mix of ferry services. These stops are served by one route in total, facilitating 205 weekly passenger trips combined. Transport accessibility is considered limited, with residents living an average of 2453 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most inhabitants commute outward. The car remains the primary mode of transport for 69% of residents, while 12% use the bus. Vehicle ownership averages 0.8 per dwelling, lower than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 23.4% of residents work from home, a figure potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 29 trips per day, equating to approximately 102 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Macleay Island is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Macleay Island faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is extremely low at approximately 44% of the total population (around 1,498 people), compared to 55.8% in Greater Brisbane and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 14.3 and 11.7% of residents respectively. However, 48.2% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.2% in Greater Brisbane. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. As of 2021, the area has 46.3% of residents aged 65 and over (around 1,572 people), which is higher than the 15.1% in Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Macleay Island, surveyed in August 2016, had a cultural diversity index of 36.9%. Of its population, 84.5% were Australian citizens, 73.4% were born in Australia, and 95.4% spoke English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion (47.1%).

Judaism, while small (0.2%), was higher than Greater Brisbane's 0.1%. Top ancestral groups were English (34.2%, regional average: 26.8%), Australian (22.3%), and Irish (10.7%). Notably, Scottish (9.8% vs region's 7.4%), New Zealand (1.2% vs 1.0%), and French (0.8% vs 0.5%) groups were overrepresented.

Macleay Island ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Macleay Island's median age is 62 years, which is considerably higher than the Greater Brisbane average of 36 years and older than the national norm of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 are particularly prominent at 27.2%, while the 25-34 group is smaller at 5.0% compared to Greater Brisbane. This concentration of 65-74 year-olds is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between 2021 and the present, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 12.6% to 15.3%, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 4.9% to 6.3%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort declined from 21.6% to 19.4%, and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 11.6% to 9.9%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Macleay Island's age structure. The 75 to 84 age cohort is projected to rise substantially by 350 people (67%), from 519 to 870. Demographic aging continues as residents aged 65 and older represent 88% of anticipated growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 25 to 34 and 0 to 4 age cohorts.