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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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Macquarie has an estimated 3,233 residents, up from 3,104 at the 2021 Census — a change of 129 people, or 4.2%. Growth has averaged 1.5% a year over five years. That puts 1,902 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
Analysis of ABS demographic datasets for the surrounding region combined with new address validations performed by AreaSearch indicates that the suburb of Macquarie has a resident count of approximately 3,233 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 129 people (4.2%) compared to the 2021 Census, which documented 3,104 individuals. This adjustment is calculated from a resident base of 3,231 established by AreaSearch using the ABS June 2025 release of estimated resident population statistics, supplemented by 27 validated new addresses identified after the Census. Consequently, the suburb of Macquarie features a population density of 1,901 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the typical figures recorded across the country by AreaSearch.
In the ten years leading up to this point, the suburb of Macquarie has maintained a steady upward trajectory with a compound annual growth rate of 1.6%, ahead of the wider SA3 territory. The primary catalyst for this demographic expansion has been international migration, which accounted for approximately 85.0% of the net population increase in recent years. ABS and Geoscience Australia demographic forecasts published in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline are utilized for SA2 zones. For SA2 territories where these figures are unavailable, and for all years following 2032, age group expansion rates are drawn from ACT Government SA2 projections that also use 2022 as a starting point. Future demographic trajectories suggest that population growth in the suburb of Macquarie will sit slightly below the national median. Based on combined SA2 data, the suburb of Macquarie is projected to add 328 residents by 2041, representing a total population increase of 10.1% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
64 new dwellings have been approved in Macquarie over the past five years, an average of 12 a year. That is 4.2 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 8, well below 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
AreaSearch evaluations of building approvals distributed from local statistical data indicate that Macquarie has averaged approximately 12 residential approvals annually. This includes an estimated 64 dwellings approved over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, alongside 8 approvals recorded in FY-26 so far. With an average of 3.5 new residents per constructed dwelling over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, supply levels fall short of demand. This gap typically intensifies buyer competition and drives prices upward. Approved new homes carry an average construction value of $478,000, indicating a developer focus on high-end, premium segments.
Additionally, commercial approvals have totaled $443,000 during the current financial year, highlighting the predominantly residential character of the area. Macquarie registers approximately three-quarters of the new dwelling approvals per capita seen across the Australian Capital Territory, placing it in the 23rd percentile of all locations examined nationwide. This creates a constrained selection for prospective buyers and sustains demand for established homes. Detached houses make up 71.0% of new construction projects, while medium and high-density formats constitute the remaining 29.0%, maintaining a suburban profile that appeals to buyers seeking space. The ratio of approximately 709 people per dwelling approval characterizes Macquarie as a highly established housing market. Long-term projections indicate that the suburb of Macquarie will expand by 326 residents by 2041, relative to the latest quarterly estimate compiled by AreaSearch. The current pace of residential construction matches these projected requirements, which helps maintain stable market conditions without driving excessive price growth.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Macquarie
Loading development applications…
| 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 38 current infrastructure and development projects close to Macquarie, worth an estimated $20.4 billion. 9 are already under construction and 16 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans communities, precincts & urban renewal, residential development 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, planning choices, and development initiatives significantly influence property markets. AreaSearch has identified a single project expected to influence the local area. Key developments include the Bruce Precinct (Section 15), Bruce Residential Development Zone, Geocon's Wayfarer Belconnen (Stage 2), and the Belconnen Town Centre Master Plan & District Strategy, with detailed information provided for those of primary relevance.
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
Ethos Belconnen
Ethos is the second stage of Per Se Developments' Cirrus lakeside precinct at Belconnen. The project comprises 88 premium apartments with ground floor commercial tenancies overlooking Lake Ginninderra. Construction is well advanced with display apartments open and commercial space being marketed ahead of expected completion in 2026.
Radford College Master Plan Implementation
Ongoing implementation of the Radford College Master Plan at the Bruce campus. Major recent works include the completed Collegians Centre (multi-purpose hall) and the Boorer Family Cricket Centre. As of mid-2025 the College Board confirmed the final stage of works was progressing, comprising the completion of the school ovals, presentation upgrades to the Haydon Drive and College Street boundaries, a new Foundation Walk, and a feature pedestrian entrance and path linking College Street to the Collegians Centre with shelter, seating, lighting and an avenue of trees.The College anticipated the design becoming visible by the end of Term 3 2025 following earthworks and landscaping across multiple worksites.
University of Canberra Sports Precinct
Major expansion of University of Canberra sports facilities, including the development of Sports Hub 2, new aquatic centre, indoor sports courts, outdoor playing fields, gymnasium upgrades, and athlete training facilities. It focuses on community access programs and elite athlete development.
Belconnen Community Hub Upgrade
Comprehensive upgrade of existing community facilities including expanded library services, community meeting spaces, youth programs area, seniors center, and childcare facilities. Improved accessibility and technology integration throughout.
Bruce Precinct (Section 15)
A masterplanned mixed-use urban precinct and residential land release located centrally in Bruce, adjacent to the AIS and Bruce Ridge Nature Reserve. The project aligns with the Bruce Sports, Health and Education Precinct masterplan, delivering approximately 250-500 new dwellings, including affordable housing options, alongside commercial, hospitality, and retail opportunities.
Belconnen Arts Centre Redevelopment
Modernization of existing arts centre with expanded performance spaces, visual arts galleries, community workshop areas, and improved accessibility. Features flexible venue spaces for theater, music, and community events with enhanced acoustics and lighting.
JWLand Belconnen Lathlain Street Development
Mixed-use precinct at Belconnen Town Centre comprising 435 apartments across buildings of 12 to 18 storeys, a 144-room hotel, ground-floor retail, cafes, restaurants, and commercial office suites. The project sits within the Lathlain Eat Street precinct opposite Westfield Belconnen and adjoins an ACT Government urban park. A podium park and rooftop terrace gardens are planned, with 583 basement car spaces across four levels. A development application was lodged in early 2025.
Belconnen Basketball Stadium Expansion
Expansion of existing basketball facilities to include additional courts, spectator seating for 2,000, improved accessibility features, and modernized amenities. Part of ACT Government's sports infrastructure investment program.
1,680 residents of Macquarie are employed, from a labour force of 1,788. Unemployment sits at 6.0%, with participation at 65.1%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.5% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,842, about 88% 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
According to aggregated statistical area data compiled by AreaSearch, Macquarie features a highly qualified labor force with significant representation in public services, alongside an unemployment rate of 6.0%. As of March 2026, there are 1,680 employed residents. The local unemployment rate stands 2.0% higher than the Australian Capital Territory rate of 4.1%, while workforce participation is notably lower at 65.1% compared to the Territory average of 70.8%. Census records show that a modest 11.4% of the working population operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by pandemic-related restrictions.
The major employment categories for residents are public administration & safety, education & training, and professional & technical services. Educational employment is highly concentrated locally, matching 1.5 times the average regional representation. Conversely, public administration & safety is underrepresented, employing only 28.4% of the local workforce compared to 30.4% in the Australian Capital Territory. Comparison of the Census working population against resident workforce numbers indicates that local employment opportunities within the suburb are limited. An analysis of SALM and ABS statistics aggregated from regional levels shows that during the 12 months ending March 2026, the local labor force expanded by 1.2% while employment contracted by 0.6%, leading to a rise in unemployment of 1.7 percentage points. Over the same timeframe, the Australian Capital Territory recorded a 0.3% rise in employment, a 1.1% increase in the labor force, and a 0.7 percentage point increase in unemployment. Future local employment trajectories can be modeled using the national projections released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25. These five-year and ten-year forecasts are applied to the local industry profile to project employment shifts. Nationally, overall employment is expected to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with performance varying by sector. Weighting these projections against the local industry composition suggests Macquarie's employment numbers could rise by 6.5% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, representing a simple weighted extrapolation that does not account for specific local demographic trends.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Macquarie is $1,947 a week (about $101,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,078 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $60,233 a year against an average of $75,588. 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
For the 2023 financial year, ATO postcode data aggregated by AreaSearch indicates a median taxpayer income of $60,233 and an average income of $75,588 in the suburb of Macquarie. This represents a high position on a national scale, though it remains below the median of $72,206 and average of $85,981 recorded across the Australian Capital Territory. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index increase of 10.44% since the 2023 financial year yields estimated figures of approximately $66,521 for the median and $83,479 for the average as of March 2026. In the 2021 Census, individual weekly earnings were ranked in the 84th percentile nationally at $1,078.
Income distribution data shows that 33.1% of taxpayers (1,070 individuals) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly bracket, which aligns with the regional average of 34.3% in the same cohort. After housing costs, residents retain 85.3% of their income for discretionary spending, and the suburb ranks in the 7th decile of the SEIFA income index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Macquarie had 1,260 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 61% detached houses and 24% apartments. 29% are owned with a mortgage, 38% rented and 33% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $400 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,000 a month. Rent absorbs 20.5% of household income here and mortgage repayments 23.7%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census data reveals that Macquarie's housing stock consists of 61.3% separate houses and 38.7% other property types like semi-detached homes and apartments, compared to 63.3% separate houses and 36.7% alternative dwellings across the Australian Capital Territory. The rate of outright home ownership stands at 32.9%, which is higher than the Territory average, with the remaining households split between mortgaged properties (29.3%) and rental accommodation (37.8%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $2,000 is lower than the Australian Capital Territory average of $2,080, while the median weekly rent is $400 compared to the Territory median of $450.
On a national scale, Macquarie's mortgage expenses exceed the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents are higher than the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Macquarie counted 1,260 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.3 people each. 24% are couples with children, against 26% couples without children. 33% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.4 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families comprise 61.3% of all households in the area, consisting of 23.9% couples with children, 25.7% couples without children, and 10.7% single-parent households. Non-family households account for the remaining 38.7%, with single-person households representing 33.0% and group households making up 5.5%. The median household occupancy of 2.3 individuals sits below the Australian Capital Territory average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
51.7% of adults in Macquarie hold a university qualification, including 27.8% with a bachelor degree and 18.0% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 82% of areas nationally. A further 13.8% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 1,148 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,091 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
The level of formal education in Macquarie is high, with 51.7% of residents aged 15 and over holding a university degree, compared to national and SA3 averages of 30.4% and 43.8% respectively. This concentration of qualifications supports participation in professional industries. Bachelor degrees are the most common credential at 27.8%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 18.0% and graduate diplomas at 5.9%. Vocational qualifications are held by 21.8% of residents aged 15 and over, comprising 8.0% with advanced diplomas and 13.8% with certificates. Engagement in learning is strong, with 31.4% of the population enrolled in an educational program.
This includes 9.3% in higher education, 9.1% in primary school, and 6.2% in secondary school.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Macquarie reaches 22 stops on 54 routes, timetabled for about 3,500 services a week. The typical home sits about 180 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 transit statistics show 22 active bus stops within Macquarie. These stops accommodate 54 distinct routes, delivering 3,490 passenger trips each week. Transport accessibility is high, with an average distance of 179 meters from households to the nearest stop. The suburb is primarily residential, and the majority of workers commute to other areas, with private vehicles accounting for 81% of trips and buses serving 9%. Average vehicle ownership is 1.1 per household, which is lower than the regional average. A relatively low 11.4% of residents worked from home during the 2021 Census, a figure that may reflect pandemic-era conditions.
Service frequency across all routes averages 498 trips daily, which translates to approximately 158 weekly departures per transit stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
66.5% of residents in Macquarie report no long-term health condition. 5.8% need daily assistance with core activities, and 57.1% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.8 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Based on AreaSearch assessments of mortality and chronic illness rates, Macquarie displays notable health issues, with common conditions distributed across the population and showing higher rates among older cohorts. Approximately 57% of residents (~1,844 people) have private health insurance, compared to a rate of 62.4% across the Australian Capital Territory. Mental health conditions and asthma are the most prevalent diagnoses, affecting 10.1% and 8.3% of the population respectively, while 66.5% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 70.2% in the Australian Capital Territory. Working-age cohorts show higher than average rates of chronic illness.
Residents aged 65 and over make up 18.3% of the community (591 people), which exceeds the Territory proportion of 14.3%. Senior health metrics present difficulties, though they compare favorably to national senior benchmarks.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
31.9% of Macquarie residents were born overseas and 26.2% speak a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (23.2%) and Australian (23.1%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Macquarie exhibits a higher level of cultural diversity than most suburban markets, with 31.9% of residents born outside Australia and 26.2% using a language other than English at home. Christianity is the largest religious group, representing 36.9% of the population. The most distinct regional variation is in Judaism, which accounts for 0.2% of residents, matching the 0.2% share recorded across the Australian Capital Territory. Ancestry details show the three largest groups in Macquarie are English at 23.2%, Australian at 23.1%, and Other at 13.1%. Notable ethnic variations include French ancestry at 0.7% (compared to 0.5% regionally), Vietnamese at 1.8% (compared to 1.0%), and Welsh at 0.7% (compared to 0.6%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Macquarie is 37. 31.8% 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
Macquarie's median age of 37 years is slightly above the Australian Capital Territory median of 35, and close to the national average of 38 years. The 75 - 84 age cohort is well represented at 7.9% of the population compared to the Territory average, while the 35 - 44 cohort is smaller at 14.0%. Since 2021, the proportion of residents aged 25 to 34 has increased from 17.3% to 19.7%. Conversely, the 35 to 44 cohort has contracted from 15.2% to 14.0%, and the 5 to 14 cohort has decreased from 11.5% to 10.4%.
Demographic projections for 2041 indicate changes, with the 45 to 54 group expected to grow by 70 people (19%) from 371 to 442, while declines are forecast for the 5 to 14 and 25 to 34 cohorts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Macquarie
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 — 27 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (3,104 at the 2021 Census → 3,233 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 (SAL80091). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.