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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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Mount Louisa has an estimated 9,822 residents, up from 9,227 at the 2021 Census — a change of 595 people, or 6.4%. Growth has averaged 0.6% a year over five years. Interstate and internal migration accounts for 58.0% of that increase. That puts 985 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
Evaluating demographics from ABS updates for the broader sector and new addresses verified by AreaSearch since the Census, the resident population in the suburb of Mount Louisa is calculated to be roughly 9,822 by May 2026. This represents a gain of 595 individuals (6.4%) compared to the 2021 Census, which registered 9,227 people. The estimate stems from a resident base of 9,643 calculated by AreaSearch using the latest ABS ERP release (June 2025) plus an extra 80 validated new addresses added since the Census. Such population numbers translate to a density of 985 persons per square kilometer, matching typical averages across AreaSearch monitored zones.
Over the prior ten years, the suburb of Mount Louisa has shown stable development with a 0.8% compound annual growth rate, exceeding the wider SA4 region. Growth was largely propelled by interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 57.99999999999999% of the total demographic gains in recent times, though all elements including natural increase and overseas migration made positive contributions. Projections from ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 with a 2022 baseline are utilized for each SA2 area. For sections lacking this coverage and for years beyond 2032, projections from the Queensland State Government released in 2023 based on 2021 records are applied. Because these state figures do not break down age cohorts, AreaSearch distributes growth proportionally based on the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections using a 2022 baseline. Looking ahead, substantial expansion is expected in the upper quartile of non-metropolitan regions across the country, with the suburb of Mount Louisa projected to add 2,560 residents by 2041 based on compiled SA2 projections, representing a total rise of 24.2% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
187 new dwellings have been approved in Mount Louisa over the past five years, an average of 37 a year. That is 4.0 approvals per 1,000 residents. Of the 31 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 90% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 39, broadly in line with that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Analysis of ABS building approvals indicates that approximately 37 new dwellings have been approved each year in Mount Louisa, totaling 187 residences over the last 5 financial years. In the current FY-26 period, 36 approvals have been logged. With an average of 1.5 people migrating to the location per constructed dwelling during the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, demand matches supply closely to support a steady property market, though recent statistics indicate this ratio dropped to -0.2 residents per dwelling over the last 2 financial years, pointing to a more balanced environment.
Newly built structures have an average estimated construction cost of $357,000. Additionally, commercial projects worth $19.5 million were approved during the current financial year, showing moderate non-residential expansion. Mount Louisa maintains a construction rate per resident that aligns closely with the Rest of Qld, preserving market balance in line with the broader territory. Residential approvals consist of 90.0% standalone houses and 10.0% multi-unit or attached dwellings, reinforcing the low-density character of the neighborhood which appeals to families looking for larger properties. Sporting a ratio of roughly 715 residents per approved dwelling, the local market exhibits a high level of maturity. Demographic forecasts indicate Mount Louisa will add 2,381 residents by 2041 based on the most recent quarterly estimates. Should the pace of construction remain unchanged, residential supply might fall short of demand, potentially intensifying buyer competition and driving up property values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Mount Louisa
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 7 current infrastructure and development projects inside Mount Louisa, worth an estimated $643 million. A further 28 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $11.5 billion. 14 are already under construction and 6 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and communities, precincts & urban renewal. 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 large-scale developments heavily influence local performance. AreaSearch has highlighted 11 key projects expected to influence the neighborhood. Significant works include the Stage 2 Duplication of Garbutt - Upper Ross Road (Riverway Drive), Cosgrove Estate, Greater Ascot Estate, and the Kirwan Health Campus Expansion, with the details of the most significant projects listed below.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Garbutt - Upper Ross Road (Riverway Drive) Stage 2 Duplication
Stage 2 upgrades a 3.1 km section of Riverway Drive in Kelso, Townsville, including widening a 1.6 km section between Allambie Lane and Hammond Way to four lanes, plus median treatments and right turn improvements on the remaining 1.5 km to Dunlop Street. The project also delivers new and upgraded signalised intersections at Rosewood/Buunong Avenue, Yut Fay Avenue and Ponti Road, along with active transport links and bus stop upgrades. Construction started on 30 September 2024 and is expected to finish by mid-2027, weather and construction conditions permitting.The project supports more than 140 local jobs and serves around 17,000 motorists daily, targeting safety, network reliability and congestion relief for the Upper Ross growth area.
Greater Ascot Estate
Greater Ascot is a masterplanned residential community by Parkside Development in Shaw, Townsville. The project is progressing through staged construction and is planned to ultimately accommodate more than 2,000 homes together with extensive parks, open space, walking and cycling paths, schools and a future town centre. The first stage of the proposed town centre, including childcare, service station, food and beverage outlets and specialty services, has entered the development approval process while residential stages continue to be delivered.
Cosgrove Estate
A master-planned residential community in Townsville's growth corridor, featuring over 2,700 lots across seven villages on 250 hectares, including parks, open spaces, walking tracks, and an environmental corridor along the Bohle River. It offers affordable land lots with connectivity to amenities, future shopping centre, and natural reserves.
Kirwan Health Campus Expansion
A 45.2 million dollar expansion of the Kirwan Health Campus involving the construction of a new two-storey Green Star-rated building and refurbishment of existing facilities. The project doubles the capacity for oral health services and significantly expands pre-natal and post-natal midwifery clinics. Key features include a new chiller plant, a 120-bay car park, and upgraded TeleHealth infrastructure to support clinical services for the growing North Queensland population.
Hampton Grove Estate
Large-lot residential estate in the foothills of Mount Louisa, offering spacious homesites for new housing development.
Hillside Gardens Residential Estate
A 50-acre residential estate in the foothills of Mount Louisa, delivered by Yumba-Meta Limited to create pathways to Indigenous home ownership. The estate comprised 38 lots and included several Specialist Disability Accommodation (SDA) homes on retained sites, with dwellings completed by around 2021.
Mount Louisa Open Space Masterplan
The Mount Louisa Open Space Masterplan involves the development of a 3.5km bush walking track with over 1,700 steps, viewing areas with panoramic views of the city, and interpretive signage, enhancing recreational opportunities in Mount Louisa, Townsville.
AEIOU Townsville Centre Reconstruction
Purpose-built early intervention and childcare centre for up to 40 children with autism in Idalia, Townsville, replacing the AEIOU Foundation's former Kirwan facility destroyed by an arson fire in March 2024. Designed by Buchan Group and constructed by Hutchinson Builders, the $5.6 million facility was jointly funded by the Australian Government ($2 million), the Queensland Government's Resources Community Infrastructure Fund ($1 million), and community fundraising. The centre officially opened in August 2024, featuring four purpose-designed classrooms and covered outdoor play areas, doubling AEIOU's service capacity in the region.Note: AEIOU Foundation entered liquidation on 12 March 2026 and all of its centres, including this one, ceased operating as a result of organisation-wide financial collapse; the building itself remains complete and was not affected structurally.
4,957 residents of Mount Louisa are employed, from a labour force of 5,127. Unemployment sits at 3.3%, with participation at 66.5%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.4% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 7,737, about 79% 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
The local workforce is highly skilled with a strong presence in essential services, showing an unemployment rate of just 3.3% according to aggregated data. In March 2026, there were 4,957 employed locals, and the jobless rate sat 0.6% below the Regional Qld level of 3.9%, while participation in the workforce was typical at 66.5% compared to the regional average of 64.3%. Census figures show a modest 5.7% of employees working from home, though this period was influenced by pandemic restrictions. The primary employment sectors for local residents are health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and retail trade.
Public administration & safety is exceptionally prominent, employing workers at 2.1 times the regional average rate. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for only 0.5% of the local workforce, which is lower than the Regional Qld average of 4.5%. Comparing the Census count of local jobs to the resident workforce suggests this neighborhood is primarily residential with limited local employment options. During the year ending March 2026, the local workforce contracted by 2.9% while total employment fell by 3.0%, keeping the overall unemployment rate steady. This trend differed from Regional Qld, where employment rose by 0.1%, the workforce expanded by 0.3%, and the unemployment rate ticked up by 0.1 percentage points. National forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia published in May-25 help project local trends over five and ten-year horizons. Nationally, employment is predicted to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with performance varying by sector. Mapping these trends to the local industry distribution suggests employment for residents should rise by 6.4% over five years and 13.5% over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Mount Louisa is $2,072 a week (about $108,000 a year), with median personal income at $945 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $56,046 a year against an average of $65,820. 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
Based on financial year 2023 tax data, taxpayer earnings in this neighborhood are slightly lower than the national average. The median income among taxpayers is $56,046 and the average is $65,820, compared to $53,146 and $66,593 across Regional Qld. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, the updated estimates for March 2026 would be approximately $62,413 for the median and $73,297 for the average. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes sat around the 71st percentile nationally. The largest segment is the 40.0% of households earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly, representing 3,928 residents, which compares to 31.7% for the wider metropolitan area.
Housing costs consume 13.8% of income, while disposable income levels rank in the 74th percentile and the SEIFA index puts the area in the 5th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Mount Louisa had 3,176 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 96% detached houses and 0% apartments. 45% are owned with a mortgage, 34% rented and 22% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $350 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,626 a month. Rent absorbs 16.9% of household income here and mortgage repayments 18.1%. 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 housing mix consisted of 96.4% standalone houses and 3.6% other options like townhouses or apartments, compared to 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings in Regional Qld. Home ownership rates lagged the wider region at 21.5%, with mortgaged properties making up 44.7% and rentals accounting for 33.8%. The median monthly mortgage payment was $1,626, while the median weekly rent was $350, compared to regional benchmarks of $1,655 and $345 respectively. On a national level, monthly mortgage commitments are lower than the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents sit below the national average of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Mount Louisa counted 3,176 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 3,381 today, averaging 2.8 people each. 37% are couples with children, against 27% couples without children. 17% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.7 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up the vast majority of households at 79.1%, which includes 37.4% couples with children, 27.2% couples without children, and 13.1% single parents. The remaining 20.9% are non-family households, with lone person households representing 17.1% and group households making up 3.7%. The typical household size is 2.8 people, higher than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
20.4% of adults in Mount Louisa hold a university qualification, including 15.4% with a bachelor degree and 2.7% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 31.1% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 1,117 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 998 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
Tertiary education rates present a challenge as only 20.4% of residents hold a university qualification, which is below the national average of 30.4%. Among these, bachelor degrees are the most common at 15.4%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 2.7% and graduate diplomas at 2.3%. Vocational and technical qualifications are highly common, with 41.1% of residents aged 15+ holding credentials, including 10.0% with advanced diplomas and 31.1% with certificates. Enrolment in education is quite strong, with 32.4% of the population participating in formal studies. This group includes 12.4% attending primary schools, 9.1% in high schools, and 4.9% enrolled in higher education programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Mount Louisa reaches 29 stops on 4 routes, timetabled for about 310 services a week. The typical home sits about 320 m from its nearest stop. 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
There are 29 active public transport stops in the area, consisting of bus services. These stops are connected to 4 distinct routes that run a combined 305 passenger trips every week. Access is rated favorably, with residents living an average of 324 meters from the nearest stop. The neighborhood is largely residential, meaning most workers travel outward for employment, and private vehicles remain the primary choice for 95% of commuters. Household vehicle ownership averages 1.7 cars, exceeding the regional average, while a low 5.7% of residents worked from home during the 2021 Census under pandemic conditions.
Service frequency averages 43 trips per day across the network, which translates to roughly 10 weekly trips for each active stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
69.7% of residents in Mount Louisa report no long-term health condition. 6.3% need daily assistance with core activities, and 53.3% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.7 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health outcomes present some difficulties based on local mortality and chronic illness rates, which tend to be more pronounced among older cohorts, while the proportion of residents with private health insurance is just above the typical SA2 average at approximately 53%, representing about 5,233 people. Asthma and mental health conditions are the most prevalent issues, each affecting 8.4% of the population, whereas 69.7% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld. Health statistics for working-age residents are typical. Those aged 65 and older represent 12.1% of the population, or 1,188 people, which is lower than the Regional Qld average of 20.4%.
Health indicators for senior residents present some challenges, though they rank lower nationally than the rest of the local population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Mount Louisa is largely Australian-born, at 86.5% of residents, with 8.5% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (27.8%) and English (26.5%). 4.8% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity measures are below average, with 86.5% of the local population born in Australia, 90.9% holding citizenship, and 91.5% using only English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 57.4% of residents, compared to 52.2% across Regional Qld. Looking at ancestral backgrounds, the three most common heritages are Australian at 27.8%, English at 26.5%, and Irish at 7.7%. There are also distinct demographic variations, with Italian backgrounds overrepresented at 4.9% compared to 2.4% regionally, Australian Aboriginal ancestry at 4.8% compared to 3.9%, and German ancestry at 4.3% compared to 4.7%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Mount Louisa is 34, younger than 82% of areas nationally. 30.6% 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
The median age of 34 is younger than the Regional Qld average of 41 and the national median of 38. There is a higher proportion of young adults aged 25 - 34 at 16.1% but fewer seniors aged 65 - 74 at 7.5% compared to the region. Since the 2021 Census, the 25 to 34 age bracket rose from 14.6% to 16.1% of the population, and the 15 to 24 group increased from 13.2% to 14.5%, while children aged 5 to 14 dropped from 16.1% to 14.1%. By 2041, demographic shifts will see the 25 to 34 group expand by 43%, adding 682 people to reach 2,264 from 1,581, while the 15 to 24 cohort will see a modest 5% growth, adding 71 residents.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Mount Louisa
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, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 this month all 7 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 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 — 80 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (9,227 at the 2021 Census → 9,822 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 (SAL31985). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.