Parkhurst

Parkhurst lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Parkhurst's population is estimated at around 3,529 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 486 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,043 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 3,442 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 263 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 168 persons per square kilometer. Parkhurst's growth of 16.0% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region (6.8%) and the SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 66.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, and Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data for areas not covered by ABS data or years post-2032. For state projections lacking age category splits, AreaSearch applies proportional growth weightings in line with ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Looking ahead, a significant population increase is forecast for the suburb of Parkhurst, with an expected increase of 1,348 persons to 2041 reflecting a total increase of 30.1% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Parkhurst among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Parkhurst has received around 44 dwelling approvals annually on average over the past five financial years, totalling approximately 223 homes. In FY-26, up to the present, 31 approvals have been recorded. The area has seen an average of 1.3 people moving in per year for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25. New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $567,000, indicating a focus on premium segment development.

This financial year, there have been $8.4 million in commercial approvals. Compared to the rest of Queensland, Parkhurst has 275.0% more new home approvals per person. All approved dwellings have been detached homes, maintaining the area's low density character. With around 72 people moving in per dwelling approval, Parkhurst shows characteristics of a growth area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Parkhurst is expected to grow by approximately 1,061 residents through to 2041.

Current construction levels are anticipated to meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Parkhurst has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 17 projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include Living Gems Rockhampton, Ellida Estate, Parkhurst Residential Enabling Infrastructure Project, and Riverside Waters Estate. The following list details those most relevant:.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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.

The employment environment in Parkhurst shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Parkhurst has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 3.5%, with an estimated employment growth of 1.1% over the past year (AreaSearch aggregation). As of September 2025, 1,948 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.6% below Rest of Qld's 4.1%.

Workforce participation is high at 76.7%, compared to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. Census responses show that 6.3% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries are health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. The area specializes in education & training with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence at 0.3%.

There are 1.3 workers per resident, indicating Parkhurst functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over a 12-month period ending September 2025, employment increased by 1.1% and labour force by 1.7%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.5 percentage points. This compares to Rest of Qld where employment grew by 1.7%, labour force expanded by 2.1%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Parkhurst's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

In financial year 2023, Parkhurst had a median taxpayer income of $65,111 and an average of $77,276. Nationally, the averages were $53,146 and $66,593 respectively for Rest of Qld. By September 2025, estimates suggest the median would be approximately $71,564 and the average $84,934, based on a 9.91% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. According to Census 2021 data, Parkhurst's incomes rank between the 77th and 79th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. The $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket dominated with 36.6% of residents (1,291 people). In metropolitan regions, 31.7% occupied this range. Parkhurst's affluence is evident with 31.7% earning over $3,000 per week, supporting premium retail and services. Housing accounts for 14.0% of income, with residents ranking in the 81st percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Parkhurst is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Dwelling structure in Parkhurst, as evaluated at the latest Census, consisted of 95.7% houses and 4.2% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Parkhurst was 22.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 50.1% and rented dwellings at 27.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,842, higher than Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent in Parkhurst was $360, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Parkhurst's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Parkhurst features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 79.4% of all households, including 43.1% couples with children, 25.4% couples without children, and 10.0% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 20.6%, with lone person households at 17.1% and group households making up 3.5%. The median household size is 2.9 people, larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Parkhurst shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

The area's university qualification rate is 19.9%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 14.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 42.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.0%) and certificates (32.6%). Educational participation is high, with 35.0% currently enrolled in formal education: 13.3% in primary, 10.4% in secondary, and 4.8% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 35.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.3% in primary education, 10.4% in secondary education, and 4.8% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Parkhurst is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts

Parkhurst faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across all age groups but more so among older cohorts.

Private health cover is very high at approximately 58% of the total population (~2,040 people), compared to 52.5% across the rest of Queensland. The most common medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, impacting 8.6 and 8.5% of residents respectively. 72.8% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% across the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among the working-age population are typical. The area has 9.1% of residents aged 65 and over (321 people), lower than the 20.4% in the rest of Queensland. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, ranking lower nationally than the broader population.

Parkhurst is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Parkhurst's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 90.7% of its population being citizens, 90.9% born in Australia, and 94.0% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion in Parkhurst is Christianity, comprising 57.1% of the population, compared to 52.2% across Rest of Qld. In terms of ancestry, the top three represented groups are Australian (33.3%), English (29.4%), and Scottish (7.7%).

Notably, German ethnicity is overrepresented in Parkhurst at 5.4%, compared to 4.7% regionally, Filipino at 2.2% versus 0.9%, and Australian Aboriginal at 3.3% versus 3.9%.

Parkhurst hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Parkhurst, at 32 years median age, is lower than Rest of Qld's average of 41 and Australia's median of 38. Compared to Rest of Qld, Parkhurst has a higher percentage of 35-44 year-olds (17.4%) but fewer 65-74 year-olds (6.3%). From the 2021 Census to present, the 35 to 44 age group increased from 15.9% to 17.4%, and the 25 to 34 cohort rose from 15.9% to 17.0%. Meanwhile, the 5 to 14 group decreased from 17.4% to 14.8%, and the 55 to 64 group fell from 10.0% to 8.8%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in Parkhurst's age profile, with the 25 to 34 cohort showing the strongest projected growth of 44%, adding 265 residents to reach a total of 865.