Queenstown (SA)

Queenstown has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the suburb of Queenstown's population is estimated at around 2,054 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 111 people (5.7%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,943 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 2,053, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 15 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,667 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Queenstown's 5.7% growth since census positions it within 1.8 percentage points of the state (7.5%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 56% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, the SA State Government's Regional/LGA projections by age category, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. As we examine future population trends, an above median population growth of national statistical areas is projected, with the suburb expected to grow by 396 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 19.2% over the 16 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Queenstown according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Queenstown has seen approximately 15 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 79 homes from FY-21 to FY-25. As of FY-26, 9 approvals have been recorded. Each year, around 1.3 new residents are associated with these dwellings. The average construction cost is $363,000 per dwelling.

In FY-26, there have been $8.3 million in commercial approvals. Compared to Greater Adelaide, Queenstown's development activity appears similar on a per capita basis. Recent construction consists of 41.0% detached dwellings and 59.0% attached dwellings. This shift from the area's existing housing stock (currently 57.0% houses) suggests decreasing developable sites and changing lifestyle preferences. Queenstown has a population density of around 201 people per approval.

By 2041, it is projected to grow by 395 residents. Current construction rates align with future demand forecasts, indicating stable market conditions without excessive price pressure.

Queenstown has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 36thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project likely affecting this region: Rosewater Loop Project, Quest Hotel Port Adelaide (Second Quest), Large Retail Precinct, West Lakes Tennis Club Redevelopment, and Our Port are key projects, with the following list highlighting 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.

Queenstown shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Queenstown has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate is 6.4% and there was an estimated employment growth of 6.6% in the past year, according to AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 1,002 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 2.6% higher than Greater Adelaide's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation lags at 60.3%, compared to Greater Adelaide's 66.0%. Only 7.7% of residents work from home, although Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. The area has a particular employment specialization in transport, postal & warehousing, with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level.

Conversely, professional & technical services show lower representation at 5.3% compared to the regional average of 7.3%. There appears to be limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 6.6% while labour force increased by 4.7%, resulting in a 1.7 percentage point fall in unemployment. In Greater Adelaide, employment grew by 4.2%, labour force expanded by 3.9%, and unemployment fell by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Queenstown. These projections estimate national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Queenstown's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.4% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, Queenstown had a median income among taxpayers of $48,265. The average income stood at $52,910. This is below the national average, which was $54,808 in Greater Adelaide during the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.17% since financial year 2023, estimated median and average incomes for Queenstown as of March 2026 would be approximately $53,174 and $58,291 respectively. Census 2021 income data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Queenstown all fall between the 8th and 14th percentiles nationally. In terms of income distribution, 28.2% of individuals in Queenstown earn between $400 and $799, compared to the surrounding region where the leading bracket is $1,500 to $2,999 at 31.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Queenstown, with only 80.6% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 7th percentile nationally.

Queenstown displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Queenstown's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 56.6% houses and 43.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Adelaide metro had 76.2% houses and 23.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Queenstown was at 28.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.3% and rented ones at 38.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,463, below Adelaide metro's average of $1,562. Weekly rent median was $270, compared to Adelaide metro's $320. Nationally, Queenstown's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Queenstown features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 54.9% of all households, including 19.9% couples with children, 20.6% couples without children, and 11.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 45.1%, with lone person households at 42.0% and group households comprising 4.1%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Greater Adelaide average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in Queenstown fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 18.2%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 14.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.7%) and graduate diplomas (1.1%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 34.9% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas account for 8.2%, while certificates make up 26.7%.

A total of 21.8% of the population is actively engaged in formal education. This includes 7.8% in primary education, 4.9% in secondary education, and 4.4% pursuing tertiary education.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Queenstown has 13 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 9 different routes that together provide 437 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of transport in Queenstown is rated as excellent, with residents typically living just 164 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards due to its primarily residential nature. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport, used by 89% of residents. On average, there is one vehicle per dwelling, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 7.7% of residents work from home, a figure that may have been influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 62 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 33 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Queenstown is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Queenstown. AreaSearch's assessment found notable prevalence of common health conditions across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover was found to be low, at approximately 48% of the total population (around 985 people), compared to 52.7% in Greater Adelaide and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions were arthritis, affecting 10.6% of residents, and mental health issues, impacting 10.3%. However, 62.9% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.9% in Greater Adelaide. The working-age population faces significant health challenges, with elevated chronic condition rates. Queenstown has a higher proportion of seniors, with 23.8% of residents aged 65 and over (488 people), compared to 19.2% in Greater Adelaide. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly aligning with national rankings for the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Queenstown was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Queenstown's population showed high cultural diversity with 24.0% born overseas and 20.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 45.4%. The category 'Other' had a lower representation in Queenstown (0.9%) compared to Greater Adelaide (1.8%).

In terms of ancestry, Australian and English were equally prominent at 24.3% each, followed by Other at 8.2%. Notably, Russian, Polish, and Serbian groups showed higher representations in Queenstown than regionally, with Russians at 3.2%, Poles at 1.6%, and Serbians at 1.0%.

Queenstown hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Queenstown's median age stands at 42 years, which exceeds Greater Adelaide's figure of 39 and significantly surpasses the national average of 38. The age group of 35-44 is strongly represented at 16.1%, compared to Greater Adelaide, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 8.9%. According to the 2021 Census, the 35-44 age group has increased from 14.0% to 16.1% of Queenstown's population. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort has decreased from 15.2% to 13.1%, and the 45-54 group has dropped from 11.5% to 10.3%. Demographic projections indicate significant changes in Queenstown's age profile by 2041. Leading this shift, the 75-84 age group is expected to grow by 59%, reaching 287 people from 180. The population aged 65 and above will comprise 51% of the projected growth, while the 5-14 cohort will grow by a modest 2%, adding only 3 people.