Southside

Population growth drivers in Southside are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, the estimated population of Southside as of Feb 2026 is around 7,371. This reflects an increase of 1,059 people (16.8%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,312 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 7,135 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 481 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 395 persons per square kilometer. Southside's 16.8% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the Rest of Qld (9.1%) and the national average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by interstate migration that contributed approximately 82.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including overseas migration and natural growth were positive factors.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and for years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections are adopted, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data. It should be noted that these state projections do not provide age category splits; hence where utilised, AreaSearch is applying proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections for each age cohort, released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Looking at population projections moving forward, a population increase just below the median of national regional areas is expected, with the suburb expected to grow by 882 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 9.3% in total over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Southside was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Southside averaged 145 new dwelling approvals per year. Between FY21-FY25728 homes were approved, with a further 31 in FY26 to date. Each new home attracted an average of 1.6 new residents annually over the past five financial years.

The average construction value was $355,000. This year, Southside has seen $1.8 million in commercial approvals. Compared to Rest of Qld, Southside had 148.0% more new home approvals per person as of FY26. New building activity comprised 81.0% detached dwellings and 19.0% townhouses or apartments. There were approximately 39 people per dwelling approval in Southside.

AreaSearch projects Southside's population to grow by 689 residents by 2041, with current development patterns meeting demand and potentially facilitating further growth beyond projections.

Southside has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 14 projects likely affecting the region. Notable projects include Gympie Water Resilience and Augmentation Project (GWRAP) - Phase 1, 10 Copp Road Residential Care Facility, GemLife Gympie Land Lease Community, and Kingsview Estate. 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.

Southside has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Southside's workforce is balanced across white and blue-collar jobs, with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 4.3% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 9.9% over the preceding year, according to AreaSearch data aggregation from statistical areas. As of that date, 3,364 residents were employed, while the unemployment rate stood at 0.3% above Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation was lower in Southside at 58.8%, compared to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. According to Census responses, only 5.4% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The leading employment industries among residents were health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Southside showed strong specialization in manufacturing, with an employment share 1.9 times the regional level, but mining was under-represented at 2.1% compared to Rest of Qld's 3.6%.

Employment opportunities locally appeared limited, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 9.9%, while labour force grew by 10.7%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate of 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Qld experienced employment growth of 1.7% and labour force growth of 2.1%, with an unemployment rate increase of 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, issued in May-25, suggest potential future demand within Southside over five and ten-year periods. Applying these projections to Southside's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended 2023, the suburb of Southside's median income among taxpayers is $42,422. The average income in Southside was $51,361 during this period. This is lower than national averages. In comparison, Rest of Qld had a median income of $53,146 and an average of $66,593 for the same year. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year ended 2023, current estimates suggest approximately $46,626 as the median income and $56,451 as the average income in Southside by September 2025. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Southside all fall between the 10th and 11th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 28.0% of individuals in Southside earn within the $400 - 799 range (2,063 individuals), unlike broader area trends where 31.7% fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 band. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Southside, with only 84.5% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 13th percentile nationally.

Southside is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Southside's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, comprised 88.1% houses and 11.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro Qld had 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Southside was at 39.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.7% and rented dwellings at 29.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,387, below Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. Weekly rent in Southside was $285, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345. Nationally, Southside's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,387 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Southside has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 69.9% of all households, including 23.4% couples with children, 31.7% couples without children, and 13.7% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 30.1%, with lone person households at 27.5% and group households at 2.8%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in Southside fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area has university qualification rates of 13.1%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 9.5%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.0%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.6%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 39.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (9.2%) and certificates (30.7%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 26.4% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.2% in primary education, 9.2% in secondary education, and 2.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis shows 31 active transport stops operating within Southside. These stops are served by a mix of buses and offer 22 weekly passenger trips collectively via one individual route. Transport accessibility is rated as limited, with residents typically located 1068 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its primarily residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 97%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.4 per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 5.4% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 3 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 0 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Southside is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Southside faces significant health challenges, according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notably high across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is low, at approximately 48% of the total population (~3,505 people), compared to 52.5% in Rest of Qld and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis (11.4%) and mental health issues (10.7%). However, 59.1% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in Rest of Qld. Working-age adults face substantial health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over (25.6%, or 1,886 people), compared to Rest of Qld at 20.4%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings generally in line with the general population.

Southside is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Southside's population showed low cultural diversity, with 89.5% born in Australia, 91.7% being citizens, and 96.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 55.8%, compared to 52.2% regionally. Top ancestral groups were English (33.7%), Australian (30.4%), and Irish (8.1%).

Notable differences existed in German representation (6.3% vs regional 4.7%), South African (0.5% vs 0.5%), and Scottish (8.1% vs 7.8%).

Southside hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Southside has a median age of 45, which is higher than Rest of Qld's figure of 41 and well above the national average of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 75-84 are particularly prominent, making up 9.3% of the population, while the 35-44 group comprises 10.7%, which is smaller than in Rest of Qld. Between the 2021 Census and now, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 10.3% to 12.3%. Conversely, the 65 to 74 cohort has declined from 14.4% to 13.1%, and the 45 to 54 group has dropped from 12.1% to 10.9%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Southside's age structure. The 25 to 34 age group is projected to grow by 17 people (from 906 to 1,059), while population declines are expected for the 5-14 and 15-24 cohorts.