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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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South Townsville has an estimated 2,596 residents, up from 2,424 at the 2021 Census — a change of 172 people, or 7.1%. Growth has averaged 1.1% a year over five years. Overseas migration accounts for 62.0% of that increase. That puts 526 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
As of Aug 2026, the suburb of South Townsville has an estimated resident tally of roughly 2,596, according to AreaSearch evaluations combining broader regional ABS releases with address validations performed since the Census. In comparison to the 2021 Census tally of 2,424 people, this represents an expansion of 172 people (7.1%). This estimate builds upon the ABS ERP data release (June 2025) indicating 2,591 residents, supplemented by 9 validated new addresses registered following the Census date. The population density stands at 525 persons per square kilometer, leaving substantial physical room for future residential expansion.
Over the previous ten years, the suburb of South Townsville expanded at a 0.8% compound annual growth rate, outpacing the surrounding SA4 region. Net overseas migration served as the core engine of demographic gains, generating roughly 62.0% of recent population increases. Projections for the suburb of South Townsville rely on 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 models anchored to 2022 baseline figures, while areas lacking coverage or dates after 2032 integrate Queensland State Government SA2 forecasts published in 2023 from 2021 baselines. Because state figures omit cohort breakdowns, AreaSearch implements proportional adjustments matching the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region age-cohort distributions (2022 baseline). Looking toward future demographics, population growth across the suburb of South Townsville is projected to track marginally beneath the median for regional Australia, adding 259 persons to 2041 under consolidated SA2 models and generating an overall gain of 9.8% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential building approvals across South Townsville remain subdued, averaging 2 dwelling approvals annually and totaling 13 dwellings over the five-year period. Such limited building activity corresponds with the locality's rural character, where construction typically responds to discrete local requirements rather than broader market demand. Because of the limited transaction volume, individual housing schemes can create noticeable variations in yearly development metrics. Building volumes in South Townsville track significantly below both Rest of Qld and national benchmarks. Recent residential building approvals have consisted entirely of detached dwellings, catering to preferences for spacious living.
Detached houses comprise a higher proportion of new approvals than the existing housing stock (52.0% at Census), demonstrating sustained interest in standalone homes. The ratio of 573 people in the area per dwelling approval highlights the subdued pace of local residential construction. Long-term projections indicate that South Townsville will add 254 residents through to 2041 relative to the newest AreaSearch quarterly figures. Should the current pace of dwelling approvals persist, construction may fall short of demographic expansion, creating heightened buyer competition and upward pressure on property values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around South Townsville
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 2 current infrastructure and development projects inside South Townsville, worth an estimated $701 million. A further 32 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $4.81 billion. 12 are already under construction and 7 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and 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
Major planning developments and capital works exert a profound effect on local growth trajectories. AreaSearch has pinpointed 12 key infrastructure undertakings in the surrounding area, including The Hive - 10-15 The Strand Masterplan, Weststate Private Hospital, Defence Housing Australia - Townsville New Builds Volume Leasing Program (400+ Homes), and Marina Residences.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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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
The Hive - 10-15 The Strand Masterplan
The Hive is a $450 million masterplanned mixed-use waterfront precinct spanning approximately 1.73 hectares in central Townsville, occupying almost an entire city block bounded by The Strand, Flinders Street, King Street and Wickham Street. The development approval, current to June 2030, permits buildings up to 20 storeys. The staged scheme includes a five-star hotel tower, 10,000 square metres of premium office space, retail and dining, residential apartments, research and technology facilities, and a concert hall component.The site incorporates the heritage-listed Queens Hotel and the former Criterion Hotel site, which has separate approval for a residential tower. The project was originally developed and master planned by the Gleeson Group with architect Conrad Gargett. In 2023, Centurion Global Developments acquired the site from the Gleeson Group and assumed responsibility for delivering the project. As of mid-2024 the project remains in the pre-construction phase with no active works commenced, though Centurion Global has indicated plans for a five-star hotel and a verbal agreement with an international hotel brand.
Port of Townsville Channel Upgrade
The $251 million Channel Upgrade is the first stage of the 30-year, $1.6 billion Port Expansion Project. Completed in 2025, the project involved capital dredging of 3.4 million cubic metres of material to widen the shipping channel from 92m to 180m at the inshore end (tapering to 120m seaward). This allows larger vessels up to 300m in length to safely access the port. The project also included the construction of a 2.2km rock wall and a 62-hectare land reclamation area for future port development.
Weststate Private Hospital
A $60 million short-stay private hospital development transforming the heritage-listed former Townsville West State School into specialist consulting suites, with a new five-storey purpose-built hospital next door. The project includes four operating theatres, one procedure room, a HDU/ICU, 19 day beds, 26 overnight rooms, consulting rooms, cafe and 24/7 kitchen. Official project sources indicate construction has commenced and Centuria schedules completion for 2026.
Defence Housing Australia - Townsville New Builds Volume Leasing Program (400+ Homes)
Large-scale residential development by Defence Housing Australia (DHA) to deliver more than 400 new, high-quality homes for Australian Defence Force personnel and their families in Townsville. The homes are being built across approximately seven suburbs within 30km of Lavarack Barracks as part of the New Builds Volume Leasing Program, in partnership with local builders and developers. The first homes are expected to be delivered in the 2025-26 financial year.
Marina Residences
A $65 million luxury waterfront apartment tower by Maidment Group, comprising 18 residences (15 three-bedroom apartments and 3 sky homes) in a 10-storey building. Features include a rooftop pool and sundeck, gym, private dining/meeting room, and panoramic views over Breakwater Marina, The Strand, and Magnetic Island. Construction commenced in 2025 with completion expected late 2026.
Townsville Breakwater Master-Planned Precinct
A $1 billion master-planned expansion of the Townsville Breakwater precinct by Morris Group. Located on vacant land adjacent to The Ville Resort-Casino and the 5-star Ardo hotel, the development is designed as a mixed-use hub. Key features include residential apartments to address local housing shortages, short-term hotel accommodation, conference and function spaces, retail outlets, and expansive public open areas with views of Magnetic Island. The project is expected to inject significant economic benefit into North Queensland over the next decade.As of early 2025, Morris Group had commenced a master planning and feasibility process; no development application has been lodged.
Oxley Street Residences
A development of 19 units with associated office and food and drink facilities in the neighbouring suburb of North Ward, approved by Townsville City Council.
The Strand Beach Club
Development-approved 9-level mixed-use complex comprising 18 residential apartments (2, 3 and 4 bedroom units) and a ground floor food and beverage outlet. The 1,012 square meter vacant allotment is positioned between Anelay and The Watermark on Townsville's premier waterfront location. The project received council approval in 2023 but the site was subsequently marketed for sale by Warburton Investments with expressions of interest closing in March 2024. The property is currently under offer as of late 2024/early 2025.
1,433 residents of South Townsville are employed, from a labour force of 1,514. Unemployment sits at 5.4%, with participation at 65.5%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.4% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,965, about 114% of the resident population, so the area draws in more workers than it sends out. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
South Townsville features a capable local workforce anchored by essential services, registering an unemployment rate of 5.4% according to AreaSearch aggregations. Data from March 2026 shows 1,433 residents actively employed. The local unemployment figure sits 1.4% higher than the Regional Qld benchmark of 3.9%, whereas labor force participation closely matches the wider regional rate of 64.2%. Working from home was recorded by 6.7% of respondents at the Census, although pandemic containment measures during that period may have influenced responses. Public administration & safety, health care & social assistance, alongside accommodation & food represent the leading employment sectors for local workers.
Public administration & safety exhibits substantial local concentration, with a workforce share 2.3 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for merely 0.7% of South Townsville's workforce against 4.5% in Regional Qld. A balance of 0.9 workers for each resident at the Census points to strong access to local positions. Aggregated SALM and ABS figures compiled by AreaSearch show that during the 12 months to March 2026, the local workforce contracted by 1.9% while employment dropped by 1.0%, bringing the unemployment rate down by 0.9 percentage points. Across Regional Qld over the identical timeframe, employment rose 0.1%, the labor pool grew 0.3%, and unemployment ticked up 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia projections from Mar-26 outline prospective employment trends; while national job counts are expected to increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, industry paths diverge. Weighting these projections against South Townsville's current sectoral profile indicates local employment potential of 6.4% over five years and 13.2% over ten years (calculated solely via industry weighting without localized population adjustments).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in South Townsville is $1,516 a week (about $79,000 a year), with median personal income at $914 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $55,782 a year against an average of $75,913. 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
According to aggregated ATO tax statistics for financial year 2023, taxable incomes in the suburb of South Townsville sit substantially higher than national standards. Taxpayers recorded a median income of $55,782 and an average income of $75,913, exceeding the Regional Qld equivalents of $53,146 and $66,593. Accounting for Wage Price Index gains of 11.36% since financial year 2023, modelled values reach roughly $62,119 (median) and $84,537 (average) as of March 2026. At the 2021 Census, individual weekly earnings ($914 weekly) achieved the 69th percentile, while household income stood at the 36th percentile.
A leading cohort of 31.0% of locals (804 people) falls within the $1,500 - 2,999 category, mirroring the broader area benchmark of 31.7%. Residual earnings after housing costs equal 83.8% of income (37th percentile), with the SEIFA income score positioning the community in the 4th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
South Townsville had 991 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 52% detached houses and 21% apartments. 27% are owned with a mortgage, 51% rented and 23% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $300 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,517 a month. Rent absorbs 19.8% of household income here and mortgage repayments 23.1%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Housing profiles captured at the latest Census show that South Townsville consisted of 52.0% houses alongside 47.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Regional Qld where standalone houses represented 76.4% and other formats 23.6%. Outright home ownership reached 22.7%, trailing the regional level, while 26.8% of properties were mortgaged and 50.5% were rented. Typical monthly mortgage repayments stood at $1,517, below the Regional Qld average of $1,655 and the national benchmark of $1,863. Median weekly rent was $300, which compares favorably to $345 across Regional Qld and $375 across Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
South Townsville counted 991 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 1,061 today, averaging 2.0 people each. 15% are couples with children, fewer than in 94% of areas nationally, against 28% couples without children. 40% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.3 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute 53.7% of all local households, divided between couples without children (27.6%), couples with children (15.1%), and single parent families (8.9%). The remaining 46.3% comprises non-family living arrangements, with lone person households representing 40.2% and group households making up 6.4%. At 2.0 people, the typical household size is smaller than the Regional Qld average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
27.3% of adults in South Townsville hold a university qualification, including 18.1% with a bachelor degree and 6.4% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 28.7% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 102 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 914 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
Attainment of university qualifications across the locality is prominent, with 27.3% of residents aged 15+ holding higher degrees compared to 20.1% across the SA4 region and 20.6% across Rest of Qld. Within this group, bachelor degrees account for 18.1%, postgraduate credentials represent 6.4%, and graduate diplomas make up 2.8%. Vocational education is also well established, as 38.9% of residents aged 15+ hold qualifications divided between advanced diplomas (10.2%) and certificates (28.7%). A significant 30.7% of local residents are actively engaged in formal schooling. Tertiary students represent 9.4% of the population, followed by 9.0% attending primary school and 7.2% enrolled in secondary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in South Townsville reaches 15 stops on 2 routes, timetabled for about 150 services a week. The typical home sits about 200 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.1 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transit across South Townsville includes 15 active transport stops dedicated to bus operations. Two routes service these stops to provide 145 weekly passenger trips. Access to public transit is rated excellent, as dwellings sit an average of 195 meters from the nearest boarding point. Private vehicles dominate commuting at 86%, while 8% of residents walk to work. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, below regional norms, and 6.7% of workers worked from home at the 2021 Census. Transit services maintain an average frequency of 20 trips per day across all available routes, delivering approximately 9 weekly trips for each transport stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
67.1% of residents in South Townsville report no long-term health condition. 5.6% need daily assistance with core activities, and 57.3% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.8 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health analyses by AreaSearch reveal noticeable chronic condition rates and mortality pressures across both younger and older cohorts in South Townsville. Private health insurance uptake is elevated, encompassing roughly 57% of the total population (~1,486 people), compared to 52.5% across Regional Qld. Mental health conditions and arthritis form the most frequent diagnoses, affecting 10.5 and 8.5% of residents, respectively. Meanwhile, 67.1% of the community reported no ongoing medical conditions, closely aligning with 67.6% across Regional Qld. Chronic conditions are elevated among working-age adults. Residents aged 65 and over account for 17.1% of the community (443 people), below the Regional Qld level of 20.3%, with older residents demonstrating strong relative health outcomes.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
South Townsville is largely Australian-born, at 83.0% of residents, with 8.5% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (28.1%) and Australian (22.7%). 3.3% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in South Townsville remains below wider benchmarks, with 78.9% holding Australian citizenship, 83.0% born in Australia, and 91.5% speaking exclusively English at home. Christianity forms the predominant religious faith, practiced by 51.1% of the population. Notably, Judaism represents 0.1% of residents, matching the 0.1% share recorded throughout Regional Qld. Ancestry records show English (28.1%), Australian (22.7%), and Irish (12.4%) as the three most prevalent backgrounds among South Townsville residents. Other distinct ancestral shares include Scottish at 10.1% (compared to 7.8% regionally), French at 1.0% (against 0.5%), and New Zealand heritage at 0.9% (matching 0.9% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of South Townsville is 40. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 30.0% 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
South Townsville's demographic structure skews younger than Regional Qld at older tiers. Under August 2026 estimates, 31.8% of the populace consists of adults aged 25 - 44, exceeding the 25.5% share in Regional Qld, while individuals aged 0 - 24 represent 23.6% compared to 29.6% regionally. The estimated median age sits at 40, shifting down from 41 at the 2021 Census and sitting 1 year below the Regional Qld median of 41 recorded at that Census. The 45 - 64 age bracket has decreased from 31.0% to 27.9% since the Census.
By 2041, the 25 - 44 age cohort is projected to see the largest growth, rising by 158 residents (19%) to 984, whereas younger demographics are expected to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for South Townsville
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 2 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 — 9 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,424 at the 2021 Census → 2,596 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 (SAL32602). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.