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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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Marian has an estimated 4,385 residents, up from 4,224 at the 2021 Census — a change of 161 people, or 3.8%. Growth has averaged 0.7% a year over five years. Density is about 53 people per 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
According to evaluations of regional ABS demographic releases and recent address validations conducted by AreaSearch since the Census, the suburb of Marian recorded an estimated population of approximately 4,385 as of Aug 2026. This represents an expansion of 161 people (3.8%) relative to the 2021 Census tally of 4,224 people. Such growth stems from an estimated resident population base of 4,362 identified by AreaSearch using the ABS June 2025 ERP release, combined with 8 validated new addresses logged following the Census. The local population density stands at 52 persons per square kilometer, ensuring spacious living conditions throughout the locality.
Over the preceding ten-year span, the suburb of Marian has sustained steady expansion via a 1.1% compound annual growth rate, outpacing the wider SA3 area. Natural increase served as the principal demographic engine, accounting for roughly 63.0% of recent population additions, while overseas migration and interstate migration likewise supplied positive inward momentum. Projections utilised by AreaSearch incorporate 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia data set to a 2022 base year for each SA2 area. Across SA2 localities lacking coverage or extending beyond 2032, Queensland State Government projections released in 2023 from a 2021 baseline are applied. Because these state figures omit age-specific breakdowns, AreaSearch applies cohort weightings derived from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region release based on 2022 data. Demographically, the suburb of Marian is slated to outpace the national regional median, with aggregated SA2 modelling pointing to an addition of 782 persons to 2041, representing a cumulative increase of 17.3% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Building activity across Marian remains sparse, logging an average of 3 approvals per year and 19 in total across the past five years. Muted construction volumes align with rural market dynamics where structural demand is conservative and constrained by local requirement and infrastructure bandwidth. Because overall approval counts are small, annual percentage changes and comparative metrics can fluctuate significantly based on single projects. Marian exhibits substantially quieter development conditions relative to Rest of Qld, trailing broader national construction benchmarks as well. Recent residential building activity has concentrated exclusively on detached houses, matching rural lifestyles centred on personal space and seclusion.
A high ratio of 1744 people per approved dwelling highlights the quiet, subdued property development setting. Looking forward, the latest quarterly analysis by AreaSearch projects Marian will add 759 residents through to 2041. If residential building continues at current rates, housing creation may fail to match population expansion, creating upward pressure on property values and heightening competition among purchasers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Marian
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 5 current infrastructure and development projects inside Marian, worth an estimated $14.3 billion. A further 48 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $17.3 billion. 19 are already under construction and 19 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
Strategic developments, planning policies, and public works play a central role in shaping local performance. AreaSearch has pinpointed 5 key infrastructure initiatives anticipated to influence the district. Prominent projects comprise the Peak Downs Highway Safety Upgrades (Mackay to Eton), Nabilla Meadows Estate, Marian Reservoir Upgrade, and the Nell Baker Park Upgrade, with relevant project specifics detailed 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
Nabilla Meadows Estate
Master-planned residential estate in Marian, 20 minutes from Mackay's CBD, developed by Pointglen Developments. The community is being delivered in stages and will grow to more than 600 allotments including public open space and landscaped swales, with Stage 7 lots now selling. Queensland Government Residential Activation Fund support of 8.01 million dollars is enabling a new regional sewer pump station, culvert upgrades, and stormwater infrastructure to unlock further residential growth in Marian. Family-sized flat lots are offered close to Marian Town Centre with house and land packages available.
Peak Downs Highway Safety Upgrades (Mackay to Eton)
Safety upgrades including widening, removing roadside hazards, town entry treatments, and line-marking to improve road safety on the Peak Downs Highway.
Marian Reservoir Upgrade
Upgrade of Marian No. 1 ground-level reservoir to improve capacity and reliability, avoiding the need for a new reservoir and enhancing local water security.
Nell Baker Park Upgrade
Upgrade of local park in Marian delivering new modern play equipment with shade structure, picnic table and bubbler, while retaining the half basketball court; project is complete and open to the public.
Pioneer-Burdekin Pumped Hydro
The project involves the development of a pumped hydro energy storage scheme with generation capacity options up to 5,000 MW and 120,000 MWh storage to support Queensland's transition to renewable energy, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and provide reliable electricity. Note: The project was cancelled in November 2024.
West Mirani Sewage Pump Stations Upgrade
Upgrades to three sewage pump stations and associated trunk water main infrastructure in West Mirani. The project is funded through the Queensland Government Residential Activation Fund to unlock capacity for future residential growth in the Pioneer Valley area.
Riverbend Estate
Masterplanned residential community in Mirani, Mackay, consisting of 210 new homesites ranging from 776m2 to 940m2. The project received a $3.4 million grant from the Queensland Government's Residential Activation Fund for critical trunk infrastructure including external roadworks, intersections, a stormwater basin, and sewer network.
Glenrowan Estate
A community-focused residential estate in Walkerston, Queensland, offering 180 new homes. It features expansive open green spaces, a park, and a playground. The estate is designed for families, offering relaxed living close to city conveniences on a total area of 21.90 hectares.
2,412 residents of Marian are employed, from a labour force of 2,444. Unemployment sits at 1.3%, with participation at 75.2%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.3% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 3,256, about 74% 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
Marian sustains a diversified labour profile covering blue-collar and white-collar roles, underpinned by substantial representation across industrial and manufacturing trades, a low unemployment rate of 1.3%, and a 4.8% expansion in annual employment based on aggregated AreaSearch data. Employed local residents totaled 2,412 as of March 2026, while the jobless rate sat 2.6% below the 3.9% recorded across Regional Qld. Workforce participation reached an elevated 75.2%, exceeding the 64.2% Regional Qld mark. The Census recorded 6.9% of workers operating from home, though Covid-19 lockdown influences should be noted. Leading fields of resident employment comprise mining, health care & social assistance, alongside retail trade.
Mining displays an exceptionally heavy local footprint, registering at 5.1 times the regional norm. Conversely, health care & social assistance accounts for a smaller proportion of the workforce at 11.1% in Marian against 16.1% in Regional Qld. A comparison of resident workers to local Census job positions suggests limited employment opportunities exist within the immediate boundary. Synthesised ABS and SALM figures compiled by AreaSearch indicate that across the twelve months to March 2026, local employment grew by 4.8% while the overall labour force rose by 5.2%, lifting the unemployment rate by 0.3 percentage points. Across Regional Qld, employment expanded by 0.1%, labour force supply increased by 0.3%, and joblessness grew by 0.1 percentage points. National forecasts released by Jobs and Skills Australia in Mar-26 outline broader industry trajectories over five and ten-year horizons. Nationally, jobs are projected to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with sectoral outcomes varying widely. Applying these benchmarks to Marian's industry mix yields projected local job growth of 5.3% over five years and 12.0% over ten years, representing a simple baseline weighting that excludes localized demographic projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Marian is $2,392 a week (about $124,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,006 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $71,473 a year against an average of $86,063. 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
Compiled postcode taxation figures from the ATO for financial year 2023 show Marian recorded a median taxpayer earnings figure of $71,473 and an average of $86,063, positioning it among the country's most affluent localities and well above Regional Qld benchmarks of $53,146 and $66,593. Accounting for an 11.36% Wage Price Index increase since financial year 2023, modelled figures reach roughly $79,592 (median) and $95,840 (average) as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census indicates personal, family, and household incomes sit between the 79th and 87th percentiles nationally. The predominant earnings category is $1,500 - 2,999 per week, capturing 35.6% of residents (1,561 people) compared to 31.7% regionally.
High-income earners generating above $3,000 weekly make up 36.9%, reinforcing substantial local spending power. Housing costs absorb 14.3% of earnings, placing community members in the 88th percentile for disposable funds, while the area lands in the 5th decile on the SEIFA income scale.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Marian had 1,311 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 99% detached houses and 0% apartments. 60% are owned with a mortgage, 18% rented and 22% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $400 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,941 a month, a total housing cost higher than 79% of areas nationally. Rent absorbs 16.7% of household income here and mortgage repayments 18.7%. 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 stock in Marian is composed of 99.0% separate houses and 1.0% other dwelling types including apartments and semi-detached properties, contrasting with 76.4% separate houses and 23.6% other options throughout Regional Qld. Outright home ownership stood at 21.9%, trailing the wider region, while 59.8% of residences were being purchased under a mortgage and 18.3% were rented. The median monthly mortgage payment reached $1,941 and median weekly rent was $400, outstripping the Regional Qld averages of $1,655 and $345 as well as national figures of $1,863 for mortgages and $375 for weekly rents.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Marian counted 1,311 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 3.0 people each. 48% are couples with children, more than in 93% of areas nationally, against 29% couples without children. 11% 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 constitute the vast majority of local households at 87.1%, comprising 48.0% couples with children, 28.7% couples without children, and 9.1% single parent arrangements. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 12.9%, split between lone person dwellings at 11.4% and group living situations at 1.9%. The median household size is 3.0 people, exceeding the 2.5 person average across Regional Qld.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
10.3% of adults in Marian hold a university qualification, including 8.1% with a bachelor degree and 0.9% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 42.4% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 456 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 977 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
Attainment of higher education qualifications in the locality is limited, with 10.3% of residents holding university degrees compared to the 30.4% national benchmark. Bachelor degrees account for 8.1%, graduate diplomas represent 1.3%, and postgraduate degrees comprise 0.9%. Conversely, vocational and technical credentials are widespread, with 50.8% of individuals aged 15+ possessing vocational qualifications, consisting of 8.4% with advanced diplomas and 42.4% holding certificates. Active participation in study is strong, with 36.1% of the community undertaking formal education. This proportion includes 16.9% enrolled in primary education, 9.9% attending secondary institutions, and 2.6% engaged in tertiary study.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Marian means driving: households keep an average of 2.0 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 transport services in Marian comprise 8 active transport stops, providing local bus connections across 1 individual routes that generate 10 weekly passenger trips in total. Accessibility is constrained, with residents situated an average of 708 meters from their closest transit stop. Given the area's residential profile, commuting is largely outbound, with private vehicles accounting for 95% of transit journeys. Household vehicle ownership stands at 2.0 vehicles on average, surpassing regional norms, while 6.9% of residents worked remotely during the 2021 Census under potential pandemic restrictions. Transit service schedules deliver an average frequency of 1 trips per day across the network, corresponding to roughly 1 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
75.0% of residents in Marian report no long-term health condition. 3.0% need daily assistance with core activities, and 61.3% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.1 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 across Marian remain favorable, with AreaSearch evaluations of chronic illnesses and mortality rates tracking national averages. While baseline illness rates across the broader population are low, they rise above national averages within older vulnerable cohorts. Private health insurance membership is particularly high, covering approximately 61% of residents (2,688 people), well above the 52.5% mark in Regional Qld and the 55.7% Australian average. Asthma and mental health conditions are the most prevalent ailments locally, reported by 8.5 and 6.4% of residents, while 75.0% indicated having no diagnosed health conditions, outperforming the 67.6% level across Regional Qld.
Working-age adults display strong general health with minimal chronic disease. Seniors aged 65 and over account for 9.7% of the population (425 people), below the 20.3% Regional Qld share, with older demographics experiencing comparatively lower health standings against wider national senior cohorts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Marian is largely Australian-born, at 94.1% of residents, with 1.5% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (34.1%) and English (29.0%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in Marian sits below broader averages, with Australian citizens comprising 89.6% of residents, 94.1% born domestically, and 98.5% speaking exclusively English at home. Christianity forms the dominant religious affiliation, representing 53.6% of the population relative to 52.2% across Regional Qld. Regarding parental ancestry, the primary reported backgrounds in Marian are Australian at 34.1% (surpassing the 26.5% regional proportion), English at 29.0%, and Irish at 7.6%. Specific demographic variations include an elevated Maltese representation at 3.5% (against 0.4% regionally), German background at 3.9% (compared to 4.7%), and Maori heritage at 0.9% (versus 0.8%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Marian is 32, younger than 90% of areas nationally. 26.8% 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
Demographically, the suburb of Marian is centred around young family households. Estimates by AreaSearch for August 2026 indicate that 37.8% of the population is aged 0 - 24, compared with 29.6% across Regional Qld, while seniors aged 65+ comprise 9.7% versus 20.4% regionally. The median age remains steady at an estimated 32 as at August 2026, identical to the 2021 Census figure and well below the Regional Qld median of 41 and the national median of 38 at that Census. Since the Census, the proportion of residents aged 65+ has increased from 7.6% to an estimated 9.7%.
By 2041, the largest numerical gain is anticipated among adults aged 25 - 44, rising by 330 residents (24%) to 1,716, while senior cohorts are forecast to expand fastest in percentage terms, growing 37% to 584 residents.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Marian
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, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 2 months ago all 5 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 Aug 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 — 8 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (4,224 at the 2021 Census → 4,385 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 (SAL31766). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.