Rocklea (Qld)

Population growth drivers in Rocklea are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, the suburb of Rocklea's estimated population is around 1,731 as of February 2026. This reflects an increase of 59 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,672. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 1,699 residents following examination of ABS ERP data released in June 2024 and one validated new address since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 187 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration contributed approximately 66.0% 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 used. These state projections do not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings from ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data are applied where utilized. Looking ahead, lower quartile growth is anticipated for national areas, with the suburb expected to increase by 36 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 2.1% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Rocklea, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Rocklea has seen minimal dwelling approvals in recent years. Between FY21-FY25, an estimated 4 homes were approved. In FY26 so far, 2 approvals have been recorded. This results in an average of 1.5 new residents per year arriving per new home over the past five financial years. However, this figure has accelerated to 21 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, suggesting increasing demand and tightening supply.

The average construction value for development projects is $398,000, which is higher than regional norms, indicating quality-focused development. This year, $1.9 million in commercial approvals have been registered, predominantly reflecting residential focus. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Rocklea records lower building activity, supporting stronger demand and values for established properties. However, construction activity has intensified recently. The area's low density character is maintained by recent development consisting entirely of detached dwellings, appealing to those seeking space in family homes. As of FY25, the estimated population per dwelling approval was 1724 people, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment.

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

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 33 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones include Queen Elizabeth II Jubilee Hospital Expansion, Transition - Archerfield Logistics Estate, Cross River Rail - Moorooka Station Upgrade, and Moorooka Station Upgrade. 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 labour market performance in Rocklea lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Rocklea has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate, as of September 2025, is 13.8%. This rate is 9.8% higher than Greater Brisbane's rate of 4.0%, indicating room for improvement.

Workforce participation is on par with Greater Brisbane at 70.7%. According to Census responses, 16.5% of residents work from home. Key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. The area has a notable concentration in other services, with employment levels at 1.6 times the regional average.

However, finance & insurance has limited presence with 1.8% employment compared to 3.4% regionally. As of the Census, there are 8.6 workers for every resident, indicating that Rocklea functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. In the 12-month period prior to analysis, labour force increased by 0.8%, while employment declined by 1.4%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.9 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Brisbane recorded employment growth of 3.8% and labour force growth of 3.3%, with unemployment falling by 0.5 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Rocklea's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Rocklea's median taxpayer income is $62,657 and average is $70,628. This is higher than the national average of $54,196 (median) and $74,658 (average). Greater Brisbane's median is $58,236 with an average of $72,799. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year 2023, Rocklea's estimated median income as of September 2025 would be approximately $68,866 and the average would be around $77,627. According to 2021 Census figures, Rocklea's household incomes rank between the 35th and 48th percentiles, with family incomes at the 39th percentile and personal incomes at the 40th percentile. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 dominates in Rocklea with 34.5% of residents (597 people), similar to the metropolitan region where this cohort also represents 33.3%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Rocklea, with only 80.6% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 31st percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Rocklea is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Rocklea's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 88.0% houses and 12.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Brisbane metro's 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Rocklea was at 17.7%, with the rest either mortgaged (33.4%) or rented (48.9%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,635, below Brisbane metro's average of $1,863. Median weekly rent was $335, compared to Brisbane metro's $380. Nationally, Rocklea's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 53.1% of all households, including 20.4% couples with children, 20.7% couples without children, and 9.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for 46.9%, with lone person households at 37.8% and group households comprising 8.8%. The median household size is 2.3 people, smaller than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.

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

Rocklea Trail region has 33.1% of residents aged 15+ with university degrees, compared to the SA4 region's 42.1%. This indicates potential for educational development. Bachelor degrees are most common at 22.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.5%) and graduate diplomas (3.5%). Vocational credentials are held by 31.1% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 9.3% and certificates at 21.8%.

Educational participation is high, with 30.5% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.6% in tertiary, 8.8% in primary, and 4.5% in secondary education.

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

Rocklea has 11 operational public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 24 different routes, facilitating a total of 3,223 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is considered good, with residents living an average of 257 meters from the nearest stop. As predominantly residential, Rocklea sees most commuters traveling outward. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 78%, while train usage stands at 9%. The area has an average vehicle ownership rate of 1.2 per dwelling, lower than the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, 16.5% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 460 trips daily, equating to roughly 293 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Rocklea is well below average with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Rocklea faces significant health challenges, according to AreaSearch's assessment.

Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial across various health conditions affecting both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is high at approximately 55% of the total population (~955 people). Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 10.8 and 7.0% of residents respectively. 68.4% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane. Working-age residents have an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 13.3% of residents aged 65 and over (230 people), lower than the 15.2% in Greater Brisbane. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Rocklea was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Rocklea has a high level of cultural diversity, with 29.7% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 36.8% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Rocklea, making up 39.8% of the population. Buddhism is notably overrepresented in Rocklea, comprising 4.5% compared to 2.0% across Greater Brisbane.

The top three ancestry groups are English at 22.7%, Australian at 19.4%, and Other at 13.8%. There are notable divergences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Russian is overrepresented at 1.8% (vs 0.3% regionally), Spanish at 0.9% (vs 0.4%), and Vietnamese at 3.2% (vs 0.8%).

Rocklea hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Rocklea's median age is 34, which is slightly lower than Greater Brisbane's figure of 36 and significantly below Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Brisbane, Rocklea has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (20.7%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (9.4%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is notably higher than the national figure of 14.4%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the proportion of residents aged 55 to 64 has increased from 8.8% to 10.0%, while the proportion of those aged 25 to 34 has decreased from 21.4% to 20.7%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic shifts in Rocklea. The 85+ age group is projected to grow by 69%, adding 43 residents to reach a total of 108. This growth is part of an overall trend towards demographic aging, with residents aged 65 and older representing 62% of anticipated population growth. Conversely, the 0-4 and 5-14 age groups are expected to experience population declines.