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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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Petrie has an estimated 9,268 residents, up from 8,722 at the 2021 Census — a change of 546 people, or 6.3%. Growth has averaged 0.8% a year over five years. Natural increase accounts for 54.0% of that increase. That puts 1,404 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 Petrie has an estimated resident count of approximately 9,268, according to AreaSearch assessment combining ABS population updates across the broader territory and new addresses validated since the Census. When compared against the 2021 Census tally of 8,722 people, this represents an addition of 546 people (6.3%). This updated figure stems from an estimated resident population of 9,187 established by AreaSearch following the ABS ERP data release in June 2025, alongside 54 validated new addresses recorded post-Census. With 1,404 persons per square kilometer, the suburb of Petrie maintains a population density that exceeds the national benchmark evaluated by AreaSearch.
In terms of recent growth drivers, natural increase accounted for roughly 54.0% of all population expansion. Projections for each SA2 area released by ABS/Geoscience Australia in 2024 using 2022 as a base year are applied by AreaSearch, with Queensland State Government SA2 projections released in 2023 from 2021 data utilized for years post-2032 or areas not covered. Because state figures lack age breakdowns, AreaSearch incorporates proportional cohort distributions aligned with the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections based on 2022 data. Over the 16 years running to 2041, aggregated SA2 figures indicate the suburb of Petrie will expand by 898 persons, representing an overall gain of 8.8% and placing its anticipated demographic growth slightly under the national median.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
45 new dwellings have been approved in Petrie over the past five years, an average of 9 a year. That is 1.1 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 10, 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 by AreaSearch indicates that Petrie has averaged approximately 9 dwellings approved annually, amounting to an estimated 45 homes across the past 5 financial years, with 10 approvals logged so far in FY-25. Between FY-21 and FY-25, the area recorded an average of 7.2 new residents per year for each residential build, indicating that dwelling demand substantially outpaces incoming supply and typically puts upward pressure on prices and competition. New dwellings carry an average construction cost of $334,000, which sits below regional benchmarks and highlights comparatively accessible building costs.
Commercial development activity in the current financial year has generated $3.9 million in approved value, reinforcing the territory's overwhelmingly residential orientation. Residential building volumes in Petrie are 73.0% below the Greater Brisbane per-capita norm, though local construction has seen a recent pickup. This restrained pace of new development is also below national levels, highlighting the established nature of the suburb alongside possible planning restrictions, which generally underpins property values and buyer demand. Recent residential building activity is split between 33.0% standalone houses and 67.0% attached dwellings, offering compact formats that provide approachable entry points for first-time buyers, downsizers, and investors. This high share of medium-density development contrasts sharply with the established stock of 87.0% detached houses, reflecting shifting lifestyle needs, affordability considerations, and constrained land supplies in a mature market with roughly 555 people per approval. According to the latest quarterly estimate from AreaSearch, demographic forecasts anticipate Petrie will add 817 residents through to 2041. Given prevailing development activity, residential construction may find it difficult to keep pace with population growth, likely intensifying purchaser competition and providing continued price support.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Petrie
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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 6 current infrastructure and development projects inside Petrie, worth an estimated $400 million. A further 81 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $38 billion. 27 are already under construction and 27 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 investment and major project activity serve as fundamental drivers of community performance, with AreaSearch identifying 15 significant initiatives expected to influence Petrie. Key developments include the Petrie Central Retail and Residential Precinct Expansion, Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre, Pantex Student Accommodation - Young Street, and 50-52 Connors Street Apartments.
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INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
50-52 Connors Street Apartments
Approved development for a six-storey residential building comprising 24 apartments (18 x 2-bed, 5 x 1-bed, 1 x 3-bed). The site, located near the Petrie USC campus, was sold with development approval in October 2023.
Moreton Bay Central Petrie Town Centre Mixed-Use Retail Precinct
Planning framework for mixed-use renewal in the Moreton Bay Central Priority Development Area, including Petrie Town Centre west of Petrie Station. The precinct is intended to support retail, commercial, residential, health, community infrastructure and university-linked activity around the UniSC Moreton Bay campus. No current official Haben project page for Petrie Central was found, so the record has been reframed around the official PDA and town centre renewal area.
Pantex Student Accommodation - Young Street
8-storey purpose-built student accommodation tower providing 296 beds across 162 units to serve the UniSC Moreton Bay campus. The development features study areas, recreation facilities, open corridors for natural ventilation, and 52 basement car parks.
Petrie Water Supply Upgrade
Major water infrastructure upgrade connecting 100,000 residents in Dakabin, North Lakes, Mango Hill, Kallangur, Murrumba Downs, Griffin, Petrie, Lawnton and Strathpine to SEQ Water Grid. Includes new pipeline, pumping station, water quality management facility, and decommissioning of Petrie Water Treatment Plant built in 1950s. Critical investment to support population growth in the Moreton Bay region with improved water security and quality.
Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre
A 205 million dollar multi-sport facility planned within the Moreton Bay Central precinct (formerly The Mill) at Petrie, adjacent to Petrie train station. The centre will deliver 12 multi-purpose courts across two halls supporting basketball, netball, volleyball, futsal, badminton, pickleball, gymnastics and wheelchair rugby. Earmarked as a venue for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games with a Games-time spectator capacity of approximately 10,000, it is currently proposed to host boxing. Beyond 2032 the venue will operate as a community and regional sporting hub owned and run by City of Moreton Bay Council.The scope includes a cafe, athlete change rooms, more than 300 car parks, meeting rooms, offices and outdoor green space, and the building will target a 6-Star Green Star rating. Populous has been appointed as Principal Architect, with Aurecon and Northrop providing engineering services. Council has commenced enabling works on site and main construction is anticipated to begin in 2027 ahead of completion before the 2032 Games.
Young St, Petrie
Development of a 296-bed purpose-built student accommodation building supporting the UniSC Moreton Bay campus. The 8-storey project features 162 units, including 84 studios and 212 shared dormitories, along with a 2-level basement carpark.
Moreton Bay Central (formerly The Mill at Moreton Bay) - Knowledge and Innovation Precinct
Moreton Bay Central is a 460-hectare Priority Development Area transforming the former Petrie paper mill site into a major knowledge and innovation precinct north of Brisbane. Led by Millovate over a 20-year staged delivery, the masterplan features the UniSC Moreton Bay campus, a private health precinct, commercial spaces, 3,400 dwellings, and the Moreton Bay Indoor Sports Centre for the 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.
Youngs Crossing Road Upgrade
City of Moreton Bay is delivering the Youngs Crossing Road Upgrade at Joyner to improve flood immunity, safety and capacity at the North Pine River crossing. The project covers more than one kilometre between Protheroe Road and Dayboro Road and includes a new approximately 200 metre flood-resilient bridge, road widening and intersection upgrades, traffic signals, retaining walls, utility works, pedestrian and cycling improvements, noise barriers, environmental management measures and landscaping. As of May 2026, construction is progressing, with bridge concrete works, underground services, traffic signal works, piling, retaining wall works, earthworks and vegetation management underway.
4,978 residents of Petrie are employed, from a labour force of 5,416. Unemployment sits at 8.1%, with participation at 72.5%. 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 7,602, about 82% 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
Petrie possesses a skilled workforce characterized by strong participation in essential services, with an unemployment rate of 8.1% and a 1.0% expansion in employment over the preceding year based on AreaSearch statistical area data. There are 4,978 employed residents as of March 2026, though the local unemployment rate sits 3.8% above the Greater Brisbane benchmark of 4.3%. Meanwhile, labor force participation is 72.5% compared to 70.1% across Greater Brisbane, and 17.2% of workers reported working from home during the Census, a figure shaped in part by Covid-19 restrictions. Employment among local residents is heavily centered around health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction.
Concentration is especially marked in retail trade, where resident workforce participation is 1.3 times the regional average, whereas professional & technical roles account for only 6.4% locally versus 8.9% regionally. Census counts comparing the working population to the resident population suggest that this primarily residential area provides relatively few employment opportunities within its own borders. According to AreaSearch evaluations of ABS and SALM figures, Petrie recorded a 1.0% increase in employment and a 0.5% expansion in the labor force over the 12 months to March 2026, resulting in a 0.4 percentage point reduction in the unemployment rate, whereas Greater Brisbane registered 3.2% employment growth, a 3.4% rise in the labor force, and a 0.1 percentage point uptick in unemployment. National outlooks published by Jobs and Skills Australia in Mar-26 project economy-wide employment increases of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Weighting these sectoral forecasts against the local industry composition suggests Petrie's employment could grow by 6.4% over five years and 13.3% over ten years for illustrative purposes without factoring in localized population shifts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Petrie is $1,853 a week (about $96,000 a year), with median personal income at $811 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $54,189 a year against an average of $61,474. 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
ATO postcode data compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 shows that Petrie has a median income of $54,189 and an average income of $61,474, both falling below the Greater Brisbane figures of $58,236 and $72,799 as well as national benchmarks. Accounting for an 11.36% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, updated estimates as of March 2026 place median earnings at approximately $60,345 and average earnings at $68,457. In the 2021 Census, local personal, family, and household earnings aligned around the 53rd percentile nationally, with 40.1% of residents (3,716 individuals) earning in the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket compared to 33.3% regionally.
Housing expenses absorb 15.4% of income, while disposable earnings rank at the 58th percentile and the SEIFA income score sits in the 5th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Petrie had 3,148 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 87% detached houses and 5% apartments. 44% are owned with a mortgage, 30% rented and 26% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $360 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,725 a month. Rent absorbs 19.4% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.5%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
The residential landscape in Petrie at the latest Census was comprised of 86.7% separate houses and 13.3% other dwelling types such as apartments and semi-detached properties, whereas Brisbane metro recorded 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Outright home ownership stood at 25.5%, aligning with the Brisbane metro rate, while 44.2% of homes carried a mortgage and 30.3% were rented. Housing costs remain comparatively moderate, with median monthly mortgage payments of $1,725 and weekly rents of $360 coming in lower than Brisbane metro figures of $1,863 and $380, as well as the Australian averages of $1,863 for mortgages and $375 for rents.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Petrie counted 3,148 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 3,345 today, averaging 2.7 people each. 35% are couples with children, against 28% couples without children. 19% 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 majority of Petrie households at 77.9%, which includes 35.0% couples with children, 28.3% couples without children, and 13.5% single parent households. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 22.1%, consisting of 19.0% single-person homes and 3.1% group residences. The community's median household size of 2.7 people slightly exceeds the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
20.3% of adults in Petrie hold a university qualification, including 14.4% with a bachelor degree and 3.4% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 28.5% hold a vocational qualification. 4 schools serve the area, with 1,835 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,006 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
Higher education qualifications present a key area for development in Petrie, with 20.3% of residents holding university credentials compared to 30.5% regionally across Greater Brisbane. Among tertiary qualifications, bachelor degrees represent 14.4%, postgraduate degrees comprise 3.4%, and graduate diplomas account for 2.5%. Vocational training is widely held, with 40.1% of the population aged 15+ possessing technical credentials, split between 11.6% with advanced diplomas and 28.5% with certificates. Formal study engagement is substantial throughout the community, with 29.2% of residents enrolled in an educational program. By sector, 10.1% attend primary school, 8.3% are enrolled in secondary education, and 5.0% are undertaking tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Petrie means driving: households keep an average of 1.6 vehicles, and no scheduled public transport appears in the current timetable feeds. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
64.7% of residents in Petrie report no long-term health condition. 5.9% need daily assistance with core activities, and 51.6% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.8 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health assessments by AreaSearch identify notable challenges in Petrie across mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence across younger and older demographics alike. Private health insurance uptake is comparatively constrained, with approximately 52% of the population (~4,778 people) holding private coverage compared to 55.8% across Greater Brisbane. Mental health conditions and asthma are the most prevalent ailments in the community, recorded among 11.7 and 9.1% of residents respectively, while 64.7% reported being free of medical issues compared to 69.2% in Greater Brisbane. Chronic condition rates are elevated among the working-age cohort, while residents aged 65 and over represent 15.0% of the population (1,390 people), displaying health challenge metrics that exceed the general population nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Petrie is largely Australian-born, at 80.6% of residents, with 6.1% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (30.9%) and Australian (27.3%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Petrie exhibits modest cultural diversity compared to regional standards, with 80.6% of residents born in Australia, 89.5% holding Australian citizenship, and 93.9% speaking only English in the home. In terms of religious affiliation, Christianity is the leading faith at 46.3% of the local population, slightly below the Greater Brisbane benchmark of 47.8%. The primary reported ancestries in Petrie are English at 30.9%, Australian at 27.3%, and Irish at 8.8%. Specific cultural groups show distinct local concentrations relative to regional norms, with New Zealand ancestry standing at 1.3% (versus 1.0% across the region), Welsh at 0.8% (versus 0.5%), and Maori at 1.3% (versus 1.1%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Petrie is 38. 27.4% 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
Petrie exhibits an age profile closely aligned with Greater Brisbane, with the widest divergence across cohorts being 4.2 percentage points. As at August 2026, the estimated median age is 38, matching the 2021 Census level and sitting 2 years higher than the Greater Brisbane median of 36 from that Census. Since the Census, the most noticeable change has been a contraction in the 45 - 64 age group from 27.6% down to an estimated 25.4%. Looking ahead to 2041, seniors and retirees (65+) will drive most population growth by adding 623 residents (45%) to reach 2,013, whereas the young to middle-aged adult population is projected to decline.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Petrie
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 months ago all 6 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 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 54 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (8,722 at the 2021 Census → 9,268 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 (SAL32303). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.