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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
Sales Activity
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Population
River Heads lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends
As per ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, the population of River Heads was estimated at around 2,324 as of May 2026. This figure reflects an increase of 280 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,044. The current resident population is estimated at 2,249 by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and additional validation of 30 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 166 persons per square kilometer. River Heads's population growth of 13.7% since the 2021 census exceeded both the Rest of Qld (9.2%) and national averages, indicating significant growth. Interstate migration contributed approximately 92.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.
AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data are adopted, applying proportional growth weightings from ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort. Future population trends forecast a significant increase in the top quartile of Australia's regional areas, with River Heads expected to expand by 692 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 26.6% over the 16-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
The level of residential development activity in River Heads was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country
AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in River Heads shows approximately 32 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years. This totals an estimated 163 homes from FY-20 to FY-25. As of FY-26, 78 approvals have been recorded. On average, 5.6 new residents arrive per year for each dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25.
The average construction value of new dwellings is $434,000. In FY-26, commercial development approvals totalled $413,000, indicating a primarily residential focus.
Recent construction comprises 98% standalone homes and 2% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's low-density character. With around 51 people per approval, River Heads is developing. By 2041, AreaSearch projects an increase of 617 residents. Current development patterns suggest new housing supply will meet demand, offering favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating further population growth.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around River Heads
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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.
Infrastructure
River Heads has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally
No changes can significantly affect a region's performance like alterations to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. Zero projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Key projects include Hervey Bay Airport Redevelopment, Queensland Train Manufacturing Program (both mentioned twice), and Forest Wind Farm. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.
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
Queensland Energy Roadmap 2025
A statewide five-year energy transformation program released by the Crisafulli Government on 10 October 2025, replacing the former Labor government's 2022 Energy and Jobs Plan. The Roadmap centres on three objectives: affordability, reliability and sustainability. Key commitments include a $1.6 billion Electricity Maintenance Guarantee to maintain state-owned coal assets operating to at least their technical lives (some to 2046 and potentially beyond), a $400 million Queensland Energy Investment Fund and QIC Investor Gateway to attract private sector capital into new generation and storage, and a Central Queensland Gas Power Tender for at least 400 MW of new gas-fired generation. Queensland's existing renewable energy targets have been formally repealed, while a net zero by 2050 commitment is retained. Active transmission priorities include the QIC-led CopperString Eastern Link (330 kV, major construction from 2028, commercial operations by 2032) and Powerlink's Gladstone Grid Reinforcement project. Battery storage targets include at least 3.1 GW of short-duration storage by 2030 and up to 4 GW of medium-duration storage by 2035. The Roadmap is estimated to reduce energy system costs by $26 billion to 2035 compared to Labor's early-closure plan.
Queensland Energy Roadmap 2026
The Queensland Energy Roadmap 2026 is a state policy framework released on 10 October 2025. It reverses earlier plans by extending state-owned coal asset operations until at least 2046 supported by a 1.6 billion dollar maintenance guarantee. The plan focuses on a market-driven approach to Regional Energy Hubs, doubling gas capacity to 8.3GW by 2035, and accelerating large-scale battery storage. Significant infrastructure includes the 400MW Central Queensland Gas Power Tender and the CopperString Eastern Link (330kV) transmission project.
Queensland Energy Roadmap 2026
The Queensland Energy Roadmap 2026 is a strategic policy framework released by the Crisafulli Government on 10 October 2025. It replaces the previous SuperGrid Infrastructure Blueprint, shifting focus toward a market-based approach to power reliability and affordability. Key pillars include extending the operating life of state-owned coal power stations until 2046, doubling gas-fired generation capacity to 8.3GW by 2035, and transitioning 'Renewable Energy Zones' into 'Regional Energy Hubs' to integrate solar, wind, and storage with existing grid infrastructure. Major active components include the $1.6 billion Electricity Maintenance Guarantee, a 400MW gas generation tender in Central Queensland, and the CopperString Eastern Link (330kV) targeted for 2032 completion.
Queensland Energy Roadmap - SuperGrid Infrastructure Program
The Queensland Energy Roadmap (released October 2025) replaced the former Energy and Jobs Plan SuperGrid Blueprint, shifting from rigid renewable percentage targets to a reliability and emissions-reduction focus. Key infrastructure programs include: CopperString (QIC-led 330kV Eastern Link from Hughenden to Burdekin region, major construction commencing 2028, commercial operations by 2032, supported by a $200 million North West Energy Fund); the Gladstone Project Priority Transmission Investment (new 275kV Calvale to Calliope River transmission line, Gladstone West Substation by mid-2029, Bouldercombe to Larcom Creek line by mid-2030, with construction on initial works expected from mid-2026); and synchronous condenser installations at Stanwell, Nebo and Calliope River substations (Hitachi Energy contract signed April 2026, delivery by 2029). QIC has assumed oversight of the Borumba, Mt Rawdon, Big T and Capricornia pumped hydro assessments. The Pioneer-Burdekin pumped hydro project has been cancelled. Coal assets will continue operating to technical life. The roadmap projects whole-of-system cost savings of approximately $26 billion to 2035 versus the previous plan. Renewable energy targets have been formally repealed, with net zero by 2050 retained as the overarching commitment. By 2030, around 16GW of new generation and storage capacity is forecast, including 6.8GW of wind and large-scale solar and 3.8GW of storage.
Queensland Energy Roadmap 2025
The Queensland Energy Roadmap 2025 is a five-year strategic framework delivered by the Crisafulli Government on 10 October 2025 to deliver affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy through 2035. Key initiatives include a $1.6 billion Electricity Maintenance Guarantee for existing government-owned coal and gas assets, a $400 million Energy Investment Fund to catalyse private sector investment in renewables (solar, hydro) and storage, and a mandate for at least 2.6 GW of new gas generation by 2035 including a Central Queensland Gas Power Tender for 400 MW of gas-fired capacity. The supporting Energy Roadmap Amendment Act 2025 was passed by Queensland Parliament on 10 December 2025, formally repealing previous renewable energy targets while maintaining a net-zero by 2050 commitment. The Act establishes a QIC Investor Gateway to attract private capital, renames Renewable Energy Zones as Regional Energy Hubs, and enshrines a framework for the CopperString transmission project connecting North and North West Queensland to the National Electricity Market. By 2030, the Roadmap forecasts up to 6.8 GW of additional wind and large-scale solar, 600 MW of new gas-fired generation, and up to 3.8 GW of new storage. The plan is projected to reduce energy system costs by $26 billion to 2035 versus the previous government's plan.
Queensland Energy Roadmap 2025
Released on 10 October 2025, the Queensland Energy Roadmap is the Crisafulli Government's five-year energy strategy, replacing the previous Labor Energy and Jobs Plan. It focuses on affordability, reliability and sustainability, targeting net zero by 2050 while operating state-owned coal assets to their technical life (at least 2046). Key initiatives include: a $1.6 billion Electricity Maintenance Guarantee for existing coal assets; a $400 million Queensland Energy Investment Fund managed by QIC; the QIC-led delivery of CopperString 330kV Eastern Link from Townsville to Hughenden (major construction from 2028, commercial operations by 2032); a $200 million North West Energy Fund; QIC assessment of pumped hydro projects at Borumba, Mt Rawdon, Big T and Capricornia; a Central Queensland Gas Power Tender for 400MW of new gas-fired capacity; and Powerlink's Gladstone Project transmission upgrades. Planned energy capital expenditure is $6.7 billion in 2025-26.
Building Future Hospitals Program
Now referred to as the Hospital Rescue Plan, this $18.5 billion program is the largest health infrastructure investment in Queensland history. It aims to deliver over 2,600 new public hospital beds by 2032 through three new hospitals (Coomera, Bundaberg, Toowoomba) and major expansions at 10 existing facilities including QEII, Logan, and Princess Alexandra hospitals. Recent milestones in 2026 include the completion of the concept design for the 600-bed Coomera Hospital and the final concrete pour for the QEII Hospital expansion clinical building.
Queensland Train Manufacturing Program
The Queensland Train Manufacturing Program (QTMP) is delivering 65 new six-car passenger trains for the South East Queensland rail network. Trains will be built at a purpose-built 130-hectare manufacturing facility at Torbanlea in the Fraser Coast region, and stabled and maintained at a new 66-hectare rail facility at Ormeau on the Gold Coast. Awarded to Downer in June 2023 as a Design, Build, Maintain contract, with Hyundai Rotem supplying car body sub-components from a roll-forming factory in Maryborough. As of April 2026 the Torbanlea manufacturing building is fully enclosed with all external walls and roofing complete, and crews are progressing internal fit-out and testing works. The first train is expected to be completed and begin testing in late 2026, with passenger service from 2027 and the full fleet in service by 2032 ahead of the Brisbane Olympic and Paralympic Games. The program supports approximately 800 construction and manufacturing jobs and a total of around 1,300 jobs over its life, with about 200 frontline tradespeople and 100 professional staff to be employed at the Torbanlea facility from 2026.
Employment
Employment performance in River Heads has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally
River Heads has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, notable representation in essential services sectors, an unemployment rate of 6.2% as of December 2025, and an estimated employment growth of 2.1% over the past year. The unemployment rate is 2.1% higher than Regional Qld's rate of 4.0%, with workforce participation at 51.4%, compared to Regional Qld's 64.5%. Only 12.9% of residents work from home, considering Covid-19 lockdown impacts.
Employment in River Heads is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction, with a particular specialization in health care & social assistance at 1.4 times the regional level. Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence with 0.9% employment compared to 4.5% regionally. Employment opportunities appear limited locally, as indicated by the working population vs resident population count. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 2.1%, labour force by 2.6%, resulting in an unemployment rise of 0.4 percentage points.
In contrast, Regional Qld saw employment grow by 0.7%, labour force expand by 1.0%, and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia for May-25 suggest a potential future demand within River Heads. These projections estimate national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to River Heads's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not consider localized population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis
The suburb of River Heads has a lower than average national income level according to the latest Australian Taxation Office data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers in River Heads is $42,383 and the average income stands at $53,287. These figures compare to those of Regional Qld which are $53,146 and $66,593 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since financial year 2023, current estimates for River Heads would be approximately $47,198 (median) and $59,340 (average) as of March 2026. According to Census 2021 income data, household, family and personal incomes in River Heads all fall between the 6th and 16th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 30.6% of the population (711 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, which is consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region showing 31.7% in the same category. After housing costs, 86.4% of income remains, ranking at the 19th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
River Heads is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership
River Heads' dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 98.7% houses and 1.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in River Heads stood at 49.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.1% and rented ones at 15.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,400, below Regional Qld's average of $1,655. The median weekly rent in River Heads was $350, compared to Regional Qld's $345. Nationally, River Heads' mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
River Heads features high concentrations of family households, with a lower-than-average median household size
Family households account for 78.6% of all households, including 20.1% couples with children, 48.1% couples without children, and 9.5% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 21.4%, with lone person households at 19.1% and group households comprising 3.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5 people.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
The educational profile of River Heads exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics
The area's university qualification rate is 13.2%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives in the region. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 8.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.8%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 47.3% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (9.9%) and certificates (37.4%).
School and university attendance comprises 19.7% of the community, with 7.3% in primary education, 6.8% in secondary education, and 2.1% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
No public transport data available for this catchment area.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health performance in River Heads is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts
River Heads faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notably high across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is low at approximately 48% of the total population (~1,122 people), compared to 52.5% in Regional Qld and a national average of 55.7%.
The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (12.8%) and mental health issues (12.2%). Conversely, 54.1% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in Regional Qld. Working-age population health challenges are notable due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over (27.4%, or 636 people) than Regional Qld (20.4%). Health outcomes among seniors present additional challenges, ranking even higher than the general population nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
River Heads is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics
River Heads had a cultural diversity below average, with 81.4% of its population born in Australia, 90.8% being citizens, and 96.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion in River Heads, comprising 51.6% of people, compared to 52.2% across Regional Qld. The top three ancestry groups were English (33.8%), Australian (26.8%), and Scottish (8.8%).
Notably, Dutch (1.9%) was overrepresented in River Heads compared to the regional average of 1.1%, as were New Zealanders (1.0% vs 0.9%) and Germans (4.8% vs 4.7%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
River Heads ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide
River Heads has a median age of 53 years, which is significantly higher than the Regional Queensland average of 41 and considerably older than the Australian median of 38. The 65-74 age group is notably over-represented in River Heads at 19.9%, compared to the Regional Queensland average, while the 5-14 year-olds are under-represented at 7.4%. This concentration of the 65-74 age group is well above the national average of 9.4%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 8.5% to 11.0%, and the 25 to 34 cohort increased from 7.7% to 9.7%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 22.1% to 19.7%, and the 5 to 14 age group dropped from 9.5% to 7.4%. By 2041, River Heads is expected to see notable shifts in its age composition. The 65 to 74 age group is projected to grow by 28% (128 people), reaching 591 from 463. Meanwhile, the 15 to 24 cohort is expected to remain unchanged at 0%.