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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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Nakara has an estimated 1,967 residents, up from 1,906 at the 2021 Census — a change of 61 people, or 3.2%. That puts 2,342 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 Nakara is estimated to have a population of around 1,967, according to AreaSearch's evaluation of broader ABS population releases alongside validated new addresses since the Census date. This represents an addition of 61 people (3.2%) compared to the 2021 Census tally of 1,906 people. AreaSearch established this 1,967 resident figure using the latest ABS ERP release from June 2025 combined with post-Census address verification. With a density of 2,341 persons per square kilometer, the suburb of Nakara sits in the upper quartile across national areas analyzed by AreaSearch.
In recent periods, population expansion has been predominantly propelled by overseas migration, which generated roughly 82.0% of total demographic growth. Population projections for each SA2 area released by ABS/Geoscience Australia in 2024 (using 2022 as a base year) are utilized by AreaSearch, with ABS Greater Capital Region age-cohort projections from 2023 (based on 2022 data) applied to uncovered areas and the period post-2032. Looking ahead across the suburb of Nakara, demographic expansion is anticipated to exceed the national median, gaining an estimated 328 persons by 2041 under aggregated SA2 projections, which corresponds to an overall increase of 16.7% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
No building permits for new dwellings have been granted in Nakara during the past five years. This absence of approval activity indicates that the suburb is essentially fully developed and lacks available vacant land, a condition that typically sustains buyer interest in established residences due to the lack of newly built stock. Residential construction in Nakara is substantially lower than levels observed across Greater Darwin as well as the national benchmark. This ongoing limitation in new building activity highlights the established urban character of the locality and points to potential planning constraints, serving to uphold valuations and buyer demand for existing properties.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Nakara
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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 9 current infrastructure and development projects close to Nakara, worth an estimated $193 million. 3 are already under construction and 2 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans communities, sports & recreation and education & training. 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 economic and community development is heavily shaped by major planning and infrastructure schemes, with AreaSearch identifying 5 key projects positioned to influence the area. Primary developments of relevance include the Casuarina Square Redevelopment, CDU - Centre for Better Health Futures, Royal Darwin Hospital Mental Health Inpatient Unit and CSSD Upgrade, and the CDU - Trades Training Centre.
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
Royal Darwin Hospital Mental Health Inpatient Unit and CSSD Upgrade
Construction of a new three-storey mental health inpatient facility providing acute inpatient beds and a Stabilisation Assessment and Referral Area (SARA). The facility connects to the Emergency Department via an elevated enclosed walkway, with internal fitouts currently progressing toward completion. The project also encompasses upgrades to the Central Sterile Services Department (CSSD) to meet modern reprocessing standards and clinical safety requirements.
Social Housing Accelerator Payment (SHAP) - Greater Darwin / Nightcliff
The Australian Government committed $50 million to deliver up to 100 new social and accessible homes across the Northern Territory under the Social Housing Accelerator Payment (SHAP). The NT Government is delivering the program, with homes built to adaptable standards to suit seniors and people with mobility issues. In the Top End, the first 8 homes across Rapid Creek, Tiwi and Wanguri were completed in July 2025 by C&R Constructions. A further 6 Top End homes are due to commence October 2025 with completion by mid-2026.Concurrent construction is underway in Katherine East (9 homes), Tennant Creek (3 homes) and Alice Springs (6 homes), all targeting mid-2026 completion.
Sea Breeze Apartments
Sea Breeze is a six storey residential and commercial development on the corner of Progress Drive and Dick Ward Drive in Coconut Grove, on the fringe of the Nightcliff Commercial Precinct in Darwin. The project comprises 92 apartments (a mix of two and three bedroom layouts across ten floorplans) above two levels of underground parking, plus around 700 sqm of ground floor commercial and retail space. Originally designed in 2015, construction was halted in 2016 when the NT property market downturn hit, with only the basement car parks and ground floor commercial level completed at that time.Builder and developer Sunbuild restarted works on site in 2023 following a renewed period of growth in the Territory economy, and the project is currently under construction and selling off the plan.
Nightcliff Sports Club Master Plan
A conceptual master plan by Rossi Architects for the redevelopment of the Nightcliff Sports Club precinct in Darwin's northern suburbs. The club is home to lawn bowls greens, a bistro, bars and gaming facilities, and supports affiliated Darwin sporting clubs including Nightcliff Bowls, Nightcliff Football (Tigers), Nightcliff Cricket, Nightcliff Netball and others. The master plan sets out a long-term vision for upgraded clubhouse and recreational facilities, distinct from the separately funded City of Darwin-led Nightcliff Oval changeroom project next door.No development application or construction timeline has been confirmed publicly.
Edgeview Court Water Main Replacement
Construction of approximately 430 metres of replacement DN150 DICL water main in Edgeview Court, Leanyer, including decommissioning and removal of the existing asbestos water main. The works, tendered as T24-1256 by Power and Water Corporation, involved survey and realignment to minimise clashes with services and trees, traffic management, temporary servicing to existing customers, and testing and commissioning of the new main to ensure a reliable water supply to residents.
Casuarina Aquatic and Leisure Centre
A new $26.8 million aquatic and leisure centre in Casuarina, featuring an 8-lane 50m pool, a resort-style lagoon pool, a learn-to-swim pool, wet and dry play areas, a cafe, BBQ facilities, a gymnasium, and a basketball 3-on-3 court. The project was funded by the City of Darwin and the Australian Government.
Leanyer Primary School
The Northern Territory Government is constructing a new classroom building at Leanyer Primary School.
Northern Suburbs Youth Hub
A purpose-built facility for young people aged 10 to 17 at Leanyer Recreation Park in Darwin's northern suburbs, providing a safe, structured space for after-hours and school holiday programs, mentoring, skill development, and support services. The site was confirmed in early 2026 following community consultation, replacing an earlier proposed location at the former Casuarina Fire Station. The hub will cater for up to 60 young people at a time, with capacity for up to 100 during special events, and will include a flexible air-conditioned activity space, a learning kitchen, breakout and meeting rooms, outdoor activity areas, and a safe drop-off zone.The design and construct tender was awarded in July 2026 to Aspire Design and Construct Pty Ltd. The project is jointly funded by the Northern Territory and Federal Governments.
1,087 residents of Nakara are employed, from a labour force of 1,123. Unemployment sits at 3.2%, with participation at 69.9%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.9% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,537, about 78% 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
Nakara features an employment environment characterized by a well-educated labor force and strong participation in essential services, registering an unemployment rate of only 3.2% alongside steady annual job conditions per AreaSearch statistical aggregations. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 1,087, while unemployment sat 0.3% below the 3.5% reported for Greater Darwin, and local labor force participation tracked lower at 69.9% versus 72.9% across Greater Darwin. A modest 6.9% of workers operated from home at the Census, although Covid-19 restrictions must be factored in. Local workforce participation is centered predominantly in health care & social assistance, education & training, and public administration & safety.
Health care & social assistance exhibits a notable local concentration, employing personnel at 1.4 times the regional rate. Conversely, public administration & safety accounts for only 12.5% of local employment, trailing the 19.5% seen across Greater Darwin. Comparing local resident numbers to the Census working population indicates that this largely residential community provides limited on-site employment opportunities. According to AreaSearch's evaluation of broader ABS and SALM figures, the local labor force expanded by 1.1% over the 12-month period while employment edged up by 0.1%, leading to a 1.0 percentage points increase in the jobless rate; during the same timeframe, Greater Darwin experienced a 0.4% rise in employment, a 0.8% rise in the labor force, and a 0.3 percentage points uptick in unemployment. Drawing on Jobs and Skills Australia's Mar-26 projections, national employment is expected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though industry rates vary. Weighting these projections against Nakara's specific industry distribution suggests potential local job growth of 6.9% over five years and 14.3% over ten years, noting that this simple five and ten-year modeling is for illustrative purposes and excludes local population forecasting.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Nakara is $2,424 a week (about $126,000 a year), with median personal income at $995 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $59,662 a year against an average of $69,482. 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 aggregated ATO postcode statistics compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023, the suburb of Nakara recorded a median taxpayer income of $59,662 and an average of $69,482, slightly exceeding the Australian standard while remaining below the Greater Darwin median of $66,956 and average of $77,199. Factoring in a 9.41% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, estimated incomes stand at approximately $65,276 for the median and $76,020 for the average as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census places Nakara between the 78th and 88th percentiles nationally across personal, family, and household earnings.
Weekly income figures show 32.4% of residents (637 people) earning between $1,500 - 2,999, compared to 36.7% across the surrounding region, while 39.4% earn above $3,000/week, demonstrating strong local financial capacity. Residents retain 87.5% of their income following housing expenses, and the suburb falls within the 7th decile on the SEIFA income index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Nakara had 581 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 92% detached houses and 3% apartments. 33% are owned with a mortgage, 36% rented and 31% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $420 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,000 a month. Rent absorbs 17.3% of household income here and mortgage repayments 19.0%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Detached houses accounted for 91.7% of local dwellings at the recent Census, with semi-detached, apartments, and 'other' structures comprising 8.3%, contrasting with Darwin metro figures of 63.5% houses and 36.5% other dwellings. Fully owned homes represented 30.8% of the housing stock in Nakara, notably exceeding Darwin metro levels, while mortgaged properties made up 32.9% and rental housing accounted for 36.3%. Monthly mortgage payments in the locality showed a median of $2,000 (compared to Darwin metro's $2,100 and the Australian average of $1,863), whereas weekly median rent was $420 (exceeding Darwin metro's $385 and the national benchmark of $375).
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Nakara counted 581 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 3.0 people each. 39% are couples with children, more than in 77% of areas nationally, against 25% couples without children. 16% 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 make up 78.1% of all local residences, consisting of couples with children (39.2%), couples without children (25.3%), and single parent families (11.3%). Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 21.9%, split between lone person households at 15.5% and group households at 6.4%. Across the community, the median household size is 3.0 people, exceeding the Greater Darwin benchmark of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
41.0% of adults in Nakara hold a university qualification, including 24.1% with a bachelor degree and 12.9% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 75% of areas nationally. A further 19.0% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 409 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,058 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
Nakara displays high levels of educational attainment, with 41.0% of individuals aged 15+ possessing higher education degrees, well above the 27.3% recorded in NT and 30.4% across Australia. Bachelor degrees represent the largest proportion at 24.1%, while postgraduate qualifications account for 12.9% and graduate diplomas make up 4.0%. Technical and vocational credentials are also common, held by 27.5% of residents aged 15+, consisting of certificates (19.0%) and advanced diplomas (8.5%). A significant 35.5% of the local population is enrolled in an educational institution. This overall participation includes 11.4% attending primary school, 9.5% in secondary education, and 7.9% engaged in tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Nakara reaches 7 stops on 11 routes, timetabled for about 690 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 1.6 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 services in Nakara operate across 7 active transport stops featuring bus connections. These facilities are linked by 11 individual routes that together deliver 689 weekly passenger trips, providing strong accessibility with residents located a typical 156 meters from their closest boarding point. As an outward-commuting residential community, private vehicles account for 80% of travel, while 7% commute by bus and 5% by walking, with vehicle ownership averaging 1.6 per dwelling and 6.9% working from home at the 2021 Census under potential COVID-19 influences. Across all transit lines, service frequency averages 98 trips per day, which corresponds to approximately 98 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
76.8% of residents in Nakara report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 76% of areas nationally. 3.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 54.3% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.2 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's evaluation of mortality patterns and chronic condition prevalence, Nakara demonstrates positive overall health indicators with very low rates of common health ailments across all age demographics. Private health insurance coverage is held by approximately 54% of the population (~1,067 people), compared to 57.8% across Greater Darwin. Among reported medical conditions, arthritis affects 6.3% of residents and mental health issues affect 4.9%, while 76.8% of the population reported no medical ailments, in line with the 77.1% recorded for Greater Darwin. Residents aged 65 and over comprise 14.6% of the suburb (287 people), which is higher than the 10.7% seen across Greater Darwin, with older residents achieving health rankings that exceed national standards.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
46.2% of Nakara residents were born overseas and 43.5% speak a language other than English at home, more culturally diverse than 87% of areas nationally. The largest reported ancestries are English (18.2%) and Australian (17.7%). 4.7% 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 is pronounced in Nakara, where 46.2% of the population was born overseas and 43.5% speaks a non-English language at home. Christianity is the primary religion, observed by 45.5% of residents, while Buddhism shows a notable local concentration at 5.4% compared to 3.3% across Greater Darwin. Examining parental ancestry, the primary reported backgrounds in Nakara are English at 18.2%, Australian at 17.7%, and Other at 17.4%. Distinct variations in other ancestries include Greek at 4.3% (against 2.3% regionally), Filipino at 3.8% (matching 3.8% regionally), and Sri Lankan at 0.9% (versus 0.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Nakara is 35. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 30.8% 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
Nakara exhibits an age profile closely aligned with Greater Darwin, showing no broad demographic band diverging by more than 3.9 percentage points from the regional share. AreaSearch estimates the median age at 35 as at August 2026, down from 36 at the 2021 Census and 1 year older than the Greater Darwin median of 34 recorded at that Census. Young to middle aged adults (25 - 44) have risen from 31.6% at the Census to an estimated 36.6%, while projections to 2041 indicate the 65+ cohort will absorb the majority of growth, adding 111 residents (39%) to total 398.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Nakara
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Sep 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 · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Sep 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 Sep 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 (1,906 at the 2021 Census → 1,967 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 (SAL70201). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.