Chart Color Schemes
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
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
Find a Recent Sale
Sales Detail
South Maclean has an estimated 3,650 residents, up from 2,232 at the 2021 Census — a change of 1,418 people, or 63.5%. Growth has averaged 10.0% a year over five years, faster than 98% of areas nationally. 764 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Interstate and internal migration accounts for 85.0% of that increase. That puts 206 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
South Maclean has an estimated population of approximately 3,650 as of May 2026, calculated from ABS demographic updates and validated street addresses compiled by AreaSearch since the Census. This represents a growth of 1,418 residents (63.5%) from the 2,232 people recorded during the 2021 Census. The calculation is based on an estimated resident population of 3,487 derived from the ABS June 2025 ERP release, combined with 764 new addresses verified since the Census. The suburb of South Maclean shows a density of 206 individuals per square kilometer, which indicates low density and potential for expansion.
The growth rate of 63.5% since the 2021 census is higher than both the state and national averages of 9.3%, positioning the suburb as a major growth hub. This increase was mostly fueled by interstate arrivals, which made up about 85.0% of the total growth, though natural increase and overseas arrivals also made positive contributions. Projections for each SA2 area are sourced from ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 using 2022 as a starting point. For SA2 regions lacking this data or for periods after 2032, projections from the Queensland State Government released in 2023 based on 2021 numbers are used. Because state projections lack age-specific breakdowns, AreaSearch scales these cohorts using weightings from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections based on 2022 numbers. Future projections suggest the suburb of South Maclean will experience very high growth, ranking in the top 10 percent of all areas assessed by AreaSearch. It is projected to gain 1,858 people by 2041, which translates to a 46.4% increase over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
631 new dwellings have been approved in South Maclean over the past five years, an average of 126 a year. That places the area in the 93rd percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 35 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 153 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 99% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 171, running ahead of 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 building approval statistics indicates that South Maclean averages approximately 126 approved residential builds annually. This includes an estimated 631 approvals over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, alongside 157 approvals recorded during the current FY-26 period. Over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, the area averaged 2.1 new residents for each newly built home, pointing to steady demand that supports local property values. The average expected construction cost for these new homes is $395,000, which is higher than the regional average and indicates a focus on high-quality residential development.
Per capita building activity in South Maclean is 102.0% higher than in Greater Brisbane, offering prospective purchasers plenty of choices. This rate is far higher than the national average, showing strong developer interest. Standing structures from recent construction consist of 99.0% detached houses and 1.0% multi-unit developments, keeping the traditional low-density profile intact and appealing to families looking for larger properties. The ratio of approximately 20 residents per approved dwelling reflects the typical profile of a rapidly developing area. Long-term forecasts suggest South Maclean will add 1,695 new residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations. Current building volumes indicate that housing supply is on track to satisfy demand, creating favorable buyer conditions and potentially supporting growth that surpasses the current forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around South Maclean
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 3 current infrastructure and development projects inside South Maclean, worth an estimated $8 million. A further 100 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $225.2 billion. 42 are already under construction and 35 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 projects, planning schemes, and major developments have a significant influence on property market performance. There are 20 projects identified that could impact the local area. Key projects include the Flagstone Community Hub, Pebble Creek, Flourish Estate, and Flagstone City, with details of the most relevant projects provided below.
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
Flagstone Community Hub
Multi-purpose community facility including library, community meeting spaces, recreational facilities and local government services to serve the growing Flagstone residential area.
Pebble Creek
A $120 million master-planned residential community comprising 646-650 lots located in South Maclean within the Greater Flagstone Priority Development Area. Features the multimillion-dollar 9.4-hectare Pebble Creek Parklands with picnic & play areas, multi-use courts and ovals, off-leash dog parks, bicycle precinct, walking trails, and community facilities. Over half the community is now complete with residents enjoying the lifestyle. The development offers lots ranging from 280-516 sqm (average 350 sqm) and focuses on connecting the community to nature through green pedestrian links and vegetated streetscapes.
Flourish Estate
A 511-lot masterplanned residential community in South Maclean, offering house and land packages. Over a third dedicated to an ecological corridor and recreational park, includes walking and cycling paths, promoting green space and outdoor living. Designed to be family-friendly with focus on community connection.
Greater Flagstone Priority Development Area
The Greater Flagstone Priority Development Area (PDA) is a 7,188-hectare urban growth corridor managed by Economic Development Queensland (EDQ) to deliver approximately 51,500 dwellings for up to 138,000 residents. The masterplanned corridor includes a 126-hectare city centre, extensive trunk infrastructure, employment and health hubs, and a proposed passenger rail link from Salisbury to Beaudesert. Active construction and residential delivery are underway across major developments including Peet Flagstone City, Mirvac Everleigh, and Pacifiq Communities Riverstone Springs.
Stonewood Estate Flagstone
Stonewood Estate is a new house and land community in Greater Flagstone, south of Brisbane, delivering more than 400 residential lots plus local parkland and walking tracks close to future Flagstone City services.
Greater Flagstone New State Primary School
The Queensland Department of Education is progressing planning for a new state primary school in Greater Flagstone to support long-term population growth. The project remains in the planning phase with enrolment growth continuing to be monitored. The previously anticipated 2025 opening has been deferred, with the current planned opening in 2030. A school site has been identified, with design, traffic, environmental and stormwater investigations to occur before construction.
Flagstone Rise Estate
Flagstone Rise Estate is a boutique residential neighbourhood of around 300 house and land lots within the wider Flagstone masterplanned community. The estate offers elevated homesites with views, local parks, walk and cycle paths, and convenient access to schools, childcare, Flagstone Village shopping, and the emerging Flagstone City town centre with its planned CBD, train station and major recreation park.
Flagstone City
Flagstone is a massive masterplanned community within the Greater Flagstone Priority Development Area being developed by Peet Limited. Designed to evolve into a full-scale city accommodating approximately 138,000 residents across 7,188 hectares, it features extensive residential land releases, a 126-hectare CBD town centre, multiple employment hubs, and over 330 hectares of parklands.
1,663 residents of South Maclean are employed, from a labour force of 1,733. Unemployment sits at 4.0%, with participation at 63.0%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.9% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth, so in an area growing as fast as this one it understates the likely rise in local jobs. The working-day population is estimated at 3,263, about 89% 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 workforce features a mix of blue-collar and white-collar workers, with construction sector jobs being highly represented. The unemployment rate is low at 4.0%. As of March 2026, there are 1,663 employed residents. The unemployment rate sits 0.3% below the Greater Brisbane average of 4.3%, while workforce participation is notably lower at 63.0% compared to Greater Brisbane's 70.4%. Census figures show that 14.5% of the workforce worked from home, though this may have been influenced by pandemic restrictions. Resident employment is primarily found in construction, health care and social assistance, and manufacturing.
Construction is a major employer, with local representation running at 1.8 times the regional benchmark. Conversely, professional and technical roles account for only 4.1% of employment, which is lower than the Greater Brisbane level of 8.9%. The difference between the local working population and resident counts suggests the local area offers few jobs internally. Analysis of aggregated labour data shows that for the year ending March 2026, the local workforce shrank by 1.9% and total employment fell by 3.1%, resulting in a 1.2 percentage point increase in unemployment. In comparison, Greater Brisbane saw employment grow by 3.2%, the workforce expand by 3.4%, and unemployment rise by 0.1 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 offer a guide to future local trends. While overall national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, trends vary widely by sector. Applying these trends to the local employment mix suggests employment numbers could rise by 5.9% over five years and 12.4% over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in South Maclean is $2,061 a week (about $107,000 a year), with median personal income at $782 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $52,813 a year against an average of $60,049. 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 records from the financial year 2023 show tax-paying residents in South Maclean recorded a median income of $52,813 and an average of $60,049. These figures are below the national average and compare to $58,236 and $72,799 across Greater Brisbane. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since the financial year 2023, updated estimates for March 2026 stand at roughly $58,813 for the median and $66,871 for the average. Census data places local household income at the 69th percentile ($2,061 weekly) and individual income at the 45th percentile. The most common weekly household income bracket is $1,500 - 2,999, containing 40.2% of households (1,467 people), compared to 33.3% across the wider region.
Housing expenses account for 16.0% of local income, but disposable income remains relatively high at the 69th percentile, and the area sits in the 5th decile of the SEIFA index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
South Maclean had 690 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 100% detached houses and 0% apartments. 60% are owned with a mortgage, 12% rented and 27% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $470 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,950 a month, a total housing cost higher than 75% of areas nationally. Rent absorbs 22.8% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.8%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Housing options in South Maclean at the latest Census consisted almost entirely of standalone houses at 99.6%, with other options like townhouses and apartments accounting for 0.4%, compared to the Brisbane metropolitan breakdown of 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. The home ownership rate matches the metropolitan average of 27.4%, with the remaining properties being purchased via a mortgage (60.2%) or rented (12.4%). The median mortgage payment of $1,950 per month is higher than the Brisbane metro average of $1,863, and the median rent of $470 per week is also higher than the metro average of $380.
Locally, mortgage repayments exceed the Australian average of $1,863, while weekly rents are also above the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
South Maclean counted 690 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 1,128 today, averaging 3.1 people each. 41% are couples with children, more than in 80% of areas nationally, against 31% couples without children. 12% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.8 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up the majority of households at 85.2%, consisting of couples with children at 40.5%, couples without children at 30.6%, and single parents at 12.7%. Non-family living arrangements account for 14.8% of the total, with lone person households at 12.4% and group homes at 1.9%. The median household size of 3.1 people is larger than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
12.3% of adults in South Maclean hold a university qualification, including 9.0% with a bachelor degree and 1.5% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 34.9% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Educational profiles show that university qualification rates are low at 12.3%, compared to the Greater Brisbane average of 30.5%. Bachelor degrees are held by 9.0% of residents, while graduate diplomas make up 1.8% and postgraduate degrees account for 1.5%. Technical and trade qualifications are common, with 44.8% of residents aged 15 and over holding vocational credentials, comprising advanced diplomas at 9.9% and certificates at 34.9%. Student numbers are high, with 30.6% of the population enrolled in education. This includes primary school students at 11.5%, secondary school students at 10.7%, and tertiary students at 3.2%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around South Maclean means driving: households keep an average of 2.4 vehicles, and scheduled services reach only a handful of stops. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transport options include 4 active stops in the area, which are serviced by buses. There are 2 separate routes operating, which provide a total of 244 weekly passenger journeys. Commuters are located an average of 1151 meters from their nearest transit stop. The majority of residents travel outside the suburb for work, with private vehicles being the primary mode of travel for 93% of workers. Household vehicle ownership averages 2.4 cars per dwelling, which is higher than the regional average. In the 2021 Census, 14.5% of residents worked from home, which may have been influenced by pandemic conditions.
Services average 34 runs daily across the network, which translates to roughly 61 weekly journeys for each individual transit stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
67.0% of residents in South Maclean report no long-term health condition. 5.9% need daily assistance with core activities, and 51.0% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.0 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health indicators suggest some challenges based on local mortality and chronic illness rates, with health conditions present across both younger and older cohorts. Private health insurance coverage is relatively low, held by approximately 51% of the population (~1,861 people), compared to the Greater Brisbane average of 55.8%. Asthma and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 9.1% and 8.7% of residents. The proportion of residents reporting no chronic medical conditions is 67.0%, compared to 69.2% in Greater Brisbane. The working-age cohort shows elevated rates of chronic illness, and 13.6% of residents are aged 65 and over (496 people) compared to 15.1% in Greater Brisbane, with national health rankings close to average.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
South Maclean is largely Australian-born, at 83.7% of residents, with 6.7% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (30.9%) and Australian (27.4%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity measures are below average, with 88.6% of the population holding citizenship, 83.7% born locally, and 93.3% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the main religion, followed by 48.2% of residents. The largest religious variance is in the Other category, which accounts for 1.1% of the population compared to 1.3% across Greater Brisbane. The three most common ancestral backgrounds are English at 30.9%, Australian at 27.4%, and Irish at 8.9%. There are also differences in other ethnic groups, with New Zealanders making up 1.3% of the population (compared to 1.0% regionally), Russian ancestry at 0.5% (compared to 0.3%), and German ancestry at 4.7% (compared to 4.2%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of South Maclean is 38. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 23.9% 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 median age of 38 is slightly higher than the Greater Brisbane average of 36, matching the national figure of 38. The 55 - 64 age bracket is well represented at 13.8% of the population, while the 25 - 34 cohort is smaller at 9.3%. Since 2021, the 15 to 24 age group grew from 13.5% to 14.6%, while the 45 to 54 group declined from 14.9% to 13.6%. By 2041, demographic projections suggest the 45 to 54 age group will grow by 66% (an increase of 326 people) to reach 823 residents, up from 496.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for South Maclean
8 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 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 8 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 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 May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 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) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 3 sections | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2025 about a year ago all 3 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 Jul 2025. | ||
| 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 — 764 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (2,232 at the 2021 Census → 3,650 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 May 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 (SAL32595). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.