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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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Sheldon has an estimated 1,836 residents, up from 1,762 at the 2021 Census — a change of 74 people, or 4.2%. Growth has averaged 0.5% a year over five years. Density is about 81 people per 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
According to AreaSearch's evaluation of broader regional ABS demographic updates alongside 1 validated new addresses identified since the Census, the resident population in the suburb of Sheldon is approximated at 1,836 as of Aug 2026. This indicates an expansion of 74 people (4.2%) compared with the 1,762 people recorded in the 2021 Census. AreaSearch determined this 1,836 resident figure following an assessment of the ABS's June 2025 ERP release. With a population density of 80 persons per square kilometer, the suburb of Sheldon offers considerable open space for inhabitants and capacity for future expansion.
Natural increase served as the primary catalyst for local demographic expansion, generating around 70.0% of recent population additions. Projections from ABS/Geoscience Australia (issued in 2024 using 2022 as a base year) are utilised by AreaSearch across SA2 locations, while Queensland State Government SA2 forecasts (issued in 2023 based on 2021 benchmarks) cover post-2032 periods and non-covered areas. Because the state forecasts omit age breakdowns, AreaSearch incorporates proportional cohort distributions aligned with the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections (based on 2022 benchmarks). Over the 16 years running to 2041, the suburb of Sheldon is projected to expand by 198 persons—an overall rise of 10.8% according to combined SA2 projections—positioning its anticipated population expansion marginally beneath the nationwide median across statistical territories.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
36 new dwellings have been approved in Sheldon over the past five years, an average of 7 a year. That is 2.8 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 1, well below 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
An examination of ABS residential approval statistics by AreaSearch shows that the suburb averages roughly 7 dwellings granted development approval annually, totaling an estimated 36 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) with 1 so far in FY-25. The balance between supply and demand appeared stable across the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) at an average of 1.9 new residents per year per approved residence; however, this ratio increased to 28 people per dwelling over the past 2 financial years, pointing toward heightened appeal and possible shortages.
Residential construction costs average $477,000 per dwelling. Furthermore, $4.2 million in commercial approvals have been registered this financial year, underscoring the predominantly residential focus of the area. Building activity in the locality sits 73.0% below regional average per person compared to Greater Brisbane, and also lags behind the broader Australian benchmark, indicative of an established community subject to planning limits. Such restricted construction volume generally bolsters value and buyer interest in established homes. Detached houses accounted for all new approvals, preserving a low-density neighborhood structure geared toward families looking for acreage or spacious living. The presence of an estimated 3667 people in the area per dwelling approval highlights the restrained pace of local development. Projections indicate the locality will welcome 198 residents through to 2041 based on the most recent AreaSearch quarterly calculation. Existing building volumes are anticipated to satisfy future residential requirements, supporting favourable buyer conditions while allowing scope for growth to outpace current expectations.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Sheldon
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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.
AreaSearch tracks one current infrastructure or development project inside Sheldon, worth an estimated $300 million. A further 62 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $5.51 billion. 12 are already under construction and 24 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and sports & recreation. 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
Infrastructure works and planning initiatives play a decisive role in shaping local development. AreaSearch has identified 6 significant projects impacting the district, prominently featuring the Redland Whitewater Centre, Birkdale Community Precinct, Redlands Coast Regional Sport and Recreation Precinct, and Wellington Street/Panorama Drive Road Upgrade.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Birkdale Community Precinct
A 62-hectare intergenerational community precinct on former Commonwealth land in Birkdale, delivering one of Queensland's largest public parks over 20 years. Seven themed hubs include a Cultural Hub, Willards Farm Food Hub (1870s heritage farmhouse, now fully restored and preparing to open to the public), Innovation Hub, Entertainment Hub, WWII Radio Receiving Station heritage site, Recreation and Adventure Sports Hub, and a 39-hectare Conservation Management Area with koala habitat and walking trails. The precinct will also host the Redland Whitewater Centre, the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Canoe Slalom venue, funded by the Australian and Queensland governments and anticipated to be open by 2028.A swimming lagoon, adventure playground, and permanent outdoor stage are also planned. The Queensland Government committed $235 million to the whitewater centre via the March 2025 Brisbane 2032 Delivery Plan, with a design EOI released in December 2025. The EPBC referral process under the Australian Government's Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 is underway; no construction beyond heritage works will proceed until determined.
Redland Whitewater Centre
An Olympic-standard whitewater facility located within the 62-hectare Birkdale Community Precinct. The venue will host Canoe Slalom and Kayak Cross for the Brisbane 2032 Games and serve as a year-round hub for athlete training, swift-water rescue drills for emergency services, and community recreation. It features an international-standard competition channel, a warm-up zone, and temporary seating for up to 8,000 spectators.
Wellington Street/Panorama Drive Road Upgrade
Stage 1 of the road upgrade program involves a $57.4 million duplication of 2.3km of road from two to four lanes, including intersection upgrades, a shared cycling and pedestrian pathway, and a fauna underpass. Completed in 2024, it improves travel times, reduces congestion, and enhances safety for over 25,000 daily users. Stages 2 and 3 are pending future approvals and funding.
Kinross Road Townhouses, Thornlands
Ausbuild development comprising 122 townhouses across various layout configurations within the Kinross Road Declared Master Planned Area. The development incorporates dedicated koala habitat corridor planting of native vegetation and communal resident open space amenities.
Edge 521 Townhouses
Boutique development of 13 high-quality two-storey townhouses developed by Redland Investment Corporation on 3,559sqm site backing onto 16,650sqm of nature reserve. Features modern design, quality finishes and environmental rehabilitation of conservation area providing improved koala habitat.
Capalaba Town Centre Revitalisation Project
A $183 million to $250 million urban renewal initiative transforming 1.55 hectares into the civic and commercial heart of Capalaba. The masterplan features a new Redland City Council library, customer service centre, arts centre, and community hall. The precinct includes a town square, village green with a large entertainment screen, commercial office space, and boutique residential apartments. Stage 1 construction, focusing on the library and civic facilities, commenced in May 2026 to stimulate a day/night economy and improve transport connectivity.
Redlands Health and Wellness Precinct
Master-planned health precinct centred on Redland Hospital and Mater Private Hospital Redland in Cleveland. Metro South Health has invested more than $300 million in staged Redland Hospital upgrades, including new inpatient beds, a new ICU, expanded mental health services, a 7-level car park, a completed 37-bed Stage 1 expansion, and further Transit Care Hub works. Redland City Council, Metro South Health, and Mater Health are progressing a precinct master plan to support public and private hospital expansion and related health industry clustering.
Daisy Hill Koala Bushland Upgrades and Park Expansion
Queensland Government is continuing delivery of the long-term Daisy Hill Koala Bushland Directions Paper (2017-2027). Current planning focuses on the next stage of visitor improvements including trails, wayfinding, visitor amenities and recreation facilities following the 213 hectare expansion of Daisy Hill Conservation Park in 2024. Earlier upgrades including the revitalised Daisy Hill Koala Centre, boardwalks, picnic facilities and accessibility improvements have already been completed. No koala hospital is planned for this site.
1,149 residents of Sheldon are employed, from a labour force of 1,180. Unemployment sits at 2.6%, with participation at 75.4%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.5% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,595, about 87% 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
The local labour force displays strong skills, highlighted by an unemployment rate of only 2.6% and estimated annual job growth of 4.5% according to AreaSearch's statistical area figures, with construction being heavily represented. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 1,149, while the local jobless rate sat 1.7% below Greater Brisbane's 4.3%. In addition, labour force participation reached 75.4%, well above the 70.1% recorded across Greater Brisbane. Census findings revealed that 22.5% of working residents carried out their duties from home, though pandemic restrictions during that period should be noted. Major industries of employment for local workers consist of professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and construction.
The community displays notable employment specialization in construction, where its workforce proportion is 1.8 times the regional level. In comparison, health care & social assistance engages 13.3% of workers, trailing the 16.1% regional mark. Comparison between the resident workforce and the local Census working population indicates that internal job opportunities within the area remain limited. During the 12 months to March 2026, aggregated ABS and SALM figures compiled by AreaSearch show that local employment expanded by 4.5% against a 4.7% rise in the labour force, lifting the jobless rate by 0.1 percentage points. Across Greater Brisbane, employment and the labour pool rose by 3.2% and 3.4% respectively, also resulting in a 0.1 percentage point increase. Looking forward, Jobs and Skills Australia's Mar-26 national projections anticipate countrywide employment to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Mapping these industry projections against the local employment profile indicates potential employment gains of 6.5% over five years and 13.4% over ten years (representing an illustrative weighting model that excludes local population forecasts).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Sheldon is $2,558 a week (about $133,000 a year), with median personal income at $849 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $45,016 a year against an average of $53,648. 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 records for financial year 2023 analyzed by AreaSearch indicate an average income of $53,648 and a median of $45,016, placing the area below national levels and trailing Greater Brisbane's median of $58,236 and average of $72,799. Adjusting for an 11.36% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, March 2026 estimates reach approximately $50,130 (median) and $59,742 (average). In the 2021 Census, household earnings achieved the 91st percentile ($2,558 weekly), whereas individual incomes placed in the 58th percentile. In terms of distribution, 27.7% of locals (508 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 category, broadly mirroring the 33.3% regional rate.
Those earning weekly incomes above $3,000 make up 41.4% of residents, providing substantial economic vitality. Locals retain 88.5% of income after housing expenses, placing the community in the 8th decile on the SEIFA income index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Sheldon had 542 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 99% detached houses and 1% apartments. 46% are owned with a mortgage, 4% rented and 50% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $473 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,600 a month. Rent absorbs 18.5% of household income here and mortgage repayments 23.5%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the most recent Census, separate houses made up 99.3% of local dwellings, with 0.7% categorized as other dwellings (comprising apartments, semi-detached, and 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Brisbane metro's split of 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. Outright home ownership reached 50.3%, substantially higher than the Brisbane metro rate, while mortgaged properties accounted for 45.7% and rental properties represented 4.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment stood at $2,600 compared to $1,863 across Brisbane metro and $1,863 nationally. Meanwhile, median weekly rent reached $473, exceeding the Brisbane metro benchmark of $380 and the Australian average of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Sheldon counted 542 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 3.1 people each. 45% are couples with children, more than in 89% of areas nationally, against 35% couples without children. 10% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.9 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute 88.9% of all local households, divided between couples with children at 44.8%, couples without children at 35.1%, and single parent families at 7.9%. The remaining 11.1% comprises non-family arrangements, including lone person households at 9.6% and group households at 2.0%. The local median household size of 3.1 people exceeds the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
26.1% of adults in Sheldon hold a university qualification, including 18.6% with a bachelor degree and 5.2% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 83% of areas nationally. A further 26.6% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 1,460 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,125 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
Tertiary qualification levels in the community are elevated, with 26.1% of residents aged 15+ holding a university qualification, surpassing the SA3 area average of 20.6%. Bachelor degrees comprise 18.6%, accompanied by postgraduate qualifications at 5.2% and graduate diplomas at 2.3%. Vocational training is also widespread, as 38.2% of residents aged 15+ possess technical credentials, including certificates (26.6%) and advanced diplomas (11.6%). A significant 28.1% of the population is actively engaged in formal study. This comprises 10.5% attending secondary education, 7.4% in primary education, and 4.7% enrolled in tertiary education programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Sheldon means driving: households keep an average of 2.6 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
70.8% of residents in Sheldon report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 82% of areas nationally. 4.5% need daily assistance with core activities, and 48.5% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 3.1 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch evaluations of chronic illnesses and mortality indicate positive health metrics across all age brackets in the community. Private health insurance coverage stands at approximately 48% of the total population (~889 people), which is lower than the 55.8% registered across Greater Brisbane and the national figure of 55.7%. Asthma and arthritis represent the most prevalent health conditions locally, diagnosed in 6.0% and 8.1% of inhabitants, while 70.8% reported no chronic medical issues compared to 69.2% across Greater Brisbane. Residents under 65 exhibit strong health indicators. Those aged 65 and over make up 24.4% of the population (447 people), exceeding Greater Brisbane's 15.0%, with senior cohorts displaying health standings in line with national averages.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Sheldon is largely Australian-born, at 80.6% of residents, with 6.5% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (31.1%) and Australian (28.2%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity metrics show that 80.6% of residents were born in Australia, 92.2% hold Australian citizenship, and 93.5% exclusively use English at home. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 57.8% of the local population compared to 47.8% throughout Greater Brisbane. Regarding parental ancestry, English heritage leads at 31.1%, followed by Australian at 28.2% (exceeding the 23.2% regional proportion) and Scottish at 8.6%. Additional ancestry representations include Dutch at 1.8% (against 1.2% regionally), Welsh at 1.0% (against 0.5% regionally), and Russian at 0.6% (against 0.3% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Sheldon is 48, older than 85% of areas nationally. That is 1 year older than at the 2021 Census. 19.5% 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
The local age distribution skews toward older demographics, with 33.2% of residents situated in the 45 - 64 age bracket as of August 2026 updates, compared to 22.6% regionally. In contrast, those aged 25 - 44 represent 12.9% of inhabitants, below the 30.6% recorded across Greater Brisbane. The estimated median age in August 2026 is 48, rising from 47 at the 2021 Census, which sat above the Greater Brisbane median of 36 and the national figure of 38 at that Census. The 25 - 44 cohort has decreased from 16.4% at the Census to an estimated 12.9%.
Projections to 2041 indicate that residents aged 65+ will experience the largest gain, rising by 168 (38%) to reach 616, while young to middle-aged adults, children, and younger cohorts are expected to decline.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Sheldon
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 1 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 — 1 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (1,762 at the 2021 Census → 1,836 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 (SAL32550). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.