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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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McKellar has an estimated 2,619 residents, down from 2,740 at the 2021 Census — a change of 121 people, or 4.4%. The population has thinned by an average 1.1% a year over five years, slower than 99% of areas nationally. That puts 1,857 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
As of Aug 2026, the suburb of McKellar has an estimated headcount of approximately 2,619, according to AreaSearch's evaluation of wider ABS demographic updates alongside address validation conducted since the Census. Compared to the 2,740 people counted in the 2021 Census, this represents a reduction of 121 people (4.4%). AreaSearch calculated the current figure of 2,619 residents using the ABS ERP release from June 2025 and post-Census address records. This resident base translates to a density of 1,857 persons per square kilometer, outpacing the national benchmark evaluated by AreaSearch. In recent times, inward demographic movement has been primarily underpinned by overseas arrivals, accounting for roughly 56.00000000000001% of total additions.
Projections for the suburb of McKellar incorporate the 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 dataset based on 2022, transitioning to ACT Government SA2 models (also with a 2022 baseline) for missing areas and timeframes beyond 2032. Over the projection horizon to 2041, the suburb of McKellar is anticipated to contract by 473 persons. In contrast to this overall demographic shrinkage, particular brackets are slated to expand, most notably the 75 to 84 cohort with a projected addition of 34 people. See the age section for more details.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Based on ABS residential consent figures compiled across statistical boundaries by AreaSearch, McKellar registers an annual run-rate of approximately 1 dwellings receiving development approval. Across the past 5 financial years (spanning FY-21 to FY-25), around 5 homes have been approved in aggregate, while no approvals have been lodged during FY-25 to date. Given the shrinking local headcounts seen in recent periods, construction volumes remain relatively well balanced, creating favourable conditions for buyers. New residential construction in McKellar is significantly subdued when measured against broader Australian Capital Territory benchmarks. Such restricted building volumes typically support valuation levels and demand profiles across established dwellings.
Furthermore, activity falls short of national standards, underscoring the mature profile of the locality and pointing toward potential zoning or site constraints. All recent approvals have been dedicated entirely to separate detached dwellings, preserving the suburban character and offering spacious properties tailored to family purchasers. With roughly 5253 people per dwelling approval, the local property landscape exhibits notable maturity. Given forward-looking demographic forecasts indicating steady or shrinking headcounts, McKellar is poised to experience softened accommodation pressure, offering advantages to prospective property purchasers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around McKellar
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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 51 current infrastructure and development projects close to McKellar, worth an estimated $22.2 billion. 14 are already under construction and 20 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and communities. 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
Urban development, major capital works, and planning frameworks play a central role in shaping local dynamics. At present, AreaSearch has identified no major infrastructure initiatives directly influencing the area. Relevant regional works nearby include Wayfarer Belconnen by Geocon (Stage 2), Bruce Innovation District, Belconnen Lakeshore - Connected Waterfront Precinct, and Kenny New Suburb Development, with the most pertinent projects outlined below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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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.
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.
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.
Bruce Precinct
A masterplanned mixed-use urban precinct and residential land release located centrally in Bruce. Aligning with the Bruce Sports, Health and Education Precinct masterplan, it aims to deliver 250-500 new dwellings alongside commercial, hospitality, innovation hubs, and retail opportunities.
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.
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.
Bruce Sporting Complex Upgrade
Progressive upgrade of sporting facilities in Bruce including playing fields, lighting, pavilions, changerooms and supporting infrastructure. The works form part of the ACT Government's ongoing sportsground improvement program to improve community and competition sporting facilities.
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.
1,332 residents of McKellar are employed, from a labour force of 1,416. Unemployment sits at 5.9%, with participation at 64.8%. 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 1,987, about 76% 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
Drawing from AreaSearch's regional data synthesis, McKellar features an educated talent pool, pronounced representation in key service sectors, and an unemployment rate of 5.9%. There are 1,332 employed local residents recorded as of March 2026. Local joblessness stands 1.9% higher than the Australian Capital Territory baseline of 4.1%, while the participation rate of 64.8% trails the territory figure of 70.6%. Census records also indicate that just 13.3% of workers operated from home, a metric potentially shaped by prevailing Covid-19 restrictions. Resident employment is primarily anchored by public administration & safety, professional & technical, as well as health care & social assistance.
Specialization is particularly elevated in construction, where local workforce representation stands at 1.4 times the regional proportion. Conversely, public administration & safety accounts for 27.8% of employed locals, trailing the Australian Capital Territory figure of 30.4%. Given the disparity between Census workplace locations and local resident numbers, the largely suburban area provides modest internal employment opportunities. AreaSearch's evaluation of ABS and SALM series shows that across the preceding 12-month period, the local workforce expanded by 1.1% while total jobs fell by 1.2%, causing the unemployment rate to climb by 2.1 percentage points. Across Australian Capital Territory, by comparison, payrolls rose by 0.3%, the labour pool increased by 1.1%, and joblessness widened by 0.7 percentage points. Future workplace demand across McKellar can be gauged against Jobs and Skills Australia's Mar-26 industry outlooks. When mapped against local sector weightings across five and ten-year horizons, expected nationwide job gains of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years translate into local projections of 6.5% over five years and 13.3% over ten years (note that this weighting model serves illustrative purposes and excludes local demographic projections).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in McKellar is $2,687 a week (about $140,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,160 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $64,878 a year against an average of $78,350. 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
According to AreaSearch's analysis of postcode tax filings for financial year 2023 from the ATO, taxpayers in the suburb of McKellar recorded a median income of $64,878 alongside an average of $78,350. These earnings represent elevated levels across the nation, while comparing against Australian Capital Territory medians and averages of $72,206 and $85,981. Accounting for a Wage Price Index lift of 10.44% since financial year 2023, updated estimates reach roughly $71,651 (median) and $86,530 (average) as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census positions local household, family, and individual incomes between the 89th and 93rd percentiles across Australia.
The largest earning segment comprises 27.3% of residents (714 people) within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, comparable to 34.3% across the wider region. Strong affluence is evident, with 45.3% receiving weekly earnings exceeding $3,000, which underpins demand for higher-end retail and local services. Net disposable capacity is resilient, as households retain 89.8% of income after servicing housing costs, placing the area in the 8th decile of the SEIFA income index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
McKellar had 963 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 94% detached houses and 0% apartments. 38% are owned with a mortgage, 19% rented and 43% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $438 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,167 a month. Rent absorbs 16.3% of household income here and mortgage repayments 18.6%. 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, the local housing stock in McKellar consists of 93.7% separate houses alongside 6.3% other residential typologies (comprising semi-detached units, apartments, and alternative structures), diverging from the Australian Capital Territory profile of 63.3% houses and 36.7% other dwellings. Outright property ownership stands at 42.8%, substantially exceeding territory standards, while 38.0% of homes are mortgaged and 19.2% are tenanted. Typical monthly mortgage payments reach $2,167, eclipsing the Australian Capital Territory figure of $2,080, whereas median weekly rents sit at $438 against the territory's $450. On a national basis, local mortgage commitments exceed the Australian benchmark of $1,863, and typical weekly rental outlays sit well above the $375 recorded nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
McKellar counted 963 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.7 people each. 36% are couples with children, against 33% couples without children. 18% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute the clear majority of local living arrangements, representing 79.4% of households; these consist of couples with children (35.7%), couples without children (32.9%), and single-parent arrangements (10.7%). Non-family domiciles comprise the remaining 20.6%, divided between single-person dwellings at 17.6% and shared residences at 2.9%. The area's average household size sits at 2.7 people, exceeding the Australian Capital Territory standard of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
42.3% of adults in McKellar hold a university qualification, including 25.3% with a bachelor degree and 11.6% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 94% of areas nationally. A further 15.7% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Educational attainment levels throughout McKellar outpace broad standards, with 42.3% of individuals aged 15+ holding a tertiary qualification compared to 30.4% across Australia. This educational standing positions local workers well for professional, knowledge-based industries. Holders of bachelor degrees constitute 25.3% of residents, while postgraduate degrees represent 11.6% and graduate diplomas account for 5.4%. In vocational streams, 24.9% of those aged 15+ hold credentials, consisting of 9.2% with advanced diplomas and 15.7% with certificates. Enrolment across academic and vocational programs is widespread, with 27.6% of residents actively participating in formal study.
Specifically, 8.6% attend primary education, 7.1% are in secondary schooling, and 6.1% are undertaking tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in McKellar reaches 19 stops on 51 routes, timetabled for about 3,600 services a week. The typical home sits about 160 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.7 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 connectivity in McKellar is supported by 19 transit stops providing bus connections across 51 different transit lines, delivering 3,553 weekly departures in total. Access is highly rated, with typical dwellings situated 159 meters from their closest boarding point. Reflecting the suburban nature of the locality, outward commuting is standard; private motor vehicles make up 90% of passenger journeys, whereas buses account for 6%. Household car ownership averages 1.7 vehicles per dwelling, above the territory benchmark, while 13.3% of workers worked from home according to the 2021 Census under potential pandemic influences.
Weekly passenger schedules deliver approximately 187 weekly trips per stop, translating to a network frequency of 507 trips per day across the combined routes.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
68.0% of residents in McKellar report no long-term health condition. 5.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 58.1% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 3.9 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch's evaluation of chronic illness patterns and mortality metrics indicates strong community health metrics in McKellar, with low illness rates observed across younger and older age brackets alike. Furthermore, private healthcare coverage is substantial, encompassing approximately 58% of the community (~1,522 people), as compared to 62.4% across Australian Capital Territory. Asthma and arthritis represent the most prevalent long-term diagnoses locally, registered among 7.8% and 9.7 of inhabitants, respectively. Meanwhile, 68.0% of the population reported no long-term medical conditions, compared to 70.2% across Australian Capital Territory. Among working-age residents, chronic ailments trend above broader levels.
Senior citizens aged 65 and over make up 22.9% of the population (599 people), outpacing the 14.2% proportion in Australian Capital Territory, with this older demographic exhibiting superior health measures compared to national benchmarks.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
31.0% of McKellar residents were born overseas and 27.2% speak a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (22.7%) and English (21.4%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in McKellar is pronounced compared to most Australian areas, with 31.0% of residents having been born overseas and 27.2% utilizing a non-English language at home. Christianity forms the largest faith tradition, representing 50.9% of community members. The most notable statistical divergence occurs in Judaism, accounting for 0.2% of residents compared to 0.2% across Australian Capital Territory. Regarding parental lineage, the leading ancestral backgrounds in McKellar are Australian (22.7%), English (21.4%), and Other (11.2%). Clear distinctions also emerge across several European heritages: residents claiming Croatian heritage represent 2.4% of the population (against 0.9% across the territory), Polish ancestry comprises 1.1% (compared to 0.8%), and Serbian background accounts for 0.7% (versus 0.4%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of McKellar is 43. 24.4% 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
McKellar functions predominantly as an established retirement and lifestyle destination, as evidenced by its demographic distribution. Estimates from AreaSearch for August 2026 show that 22.9% of the population belongs to senior cohorts (65+), markedly higher than the 14.2% seen throughout Australian Capital Territory. Conversely, younger adults aged 25 - 44 account for 22.4%, compared to the territory standard of 32.8%. Consequently, the median age is estimated at 43, matching the 2021 Census figure while sitting 8 years above the Australian Capital Territory median of 35 and higher than the national Census baseline of 38.
The most significant shift since the Census is the expansion of the retiree demographic from 19.9% to 22.9%. Projections out to 2041 indicate no meaningful growth across any broad age segment, with contractions expected among children, younger adults, middle-aged groups, and early retirees.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for McKellar
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) | Aug 2026 last month 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 last month 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 last month headline measures · Jun 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 last 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 4 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 6 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 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago 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. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,740 at the 2021 Census → 2,619 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 (SAL80093). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.