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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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Sunset has an estimated 2,205 residents, up from 2,137 at the 2021 Census — a change of 68 people, or 3.2%. That puts 1,070 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
Following an examination of ABS demographic data updates for the wider region alongside address records verified by AreaSearch subsequent to the Census, the suburb of Sunset is estimated to have a population of 2,205 as of May 2026. This indicates an expansion of 68 residents (3.2%) from the 2,137 individuals recorded in the 2021 Census. This adjustment is derived from the resident count of 2,205 calculated by AreaSearch using the ABS June 2025 release of ERP figures and post-Census address verification. The current population translates to a density of 1,070 individuals per square kilometer, a ratio that aligns closely with standard averages across locations evaluated by AreaSearch.
Sunset's growth rate of 3.2% since the 2021 census outperformed the broader SA3 region's 1.9% rise, positioning the suburb of Sunset as a local expansion leader. The primary driver of this demographic growth was natural increase, which accounted for approximately 65.0% of the overall population gains in recent times. Projections developed by the ABS and Geoscience Australia for individual SA2 regions are utilized by AreaSearch, based on 2022 baseline statistics published in 2024. For SA2 territories lacking this information, as well as for all years after 2032, projection figures published by the Queensland State Government in 2023 utilizing 2021 baseline data are applied. Because these state-level forecasts omit detailed age brackets, AreaSearch allocates growth weightings proportionally across age cohorts in alignment with the ABS Greater Capital Region forecasts published in 2023 from 2022 baseline data. Regarding future demographic trends in the suburb of Sunset, calculations suggest a contraction in the overall resident count, with a projected reduction of 61 individuals by 2041 under this approach. Conversely, certain cohorts are expected to expand, particularly residents aged 25 to 34, who are forecast to increase by 50 individuals. Details regarding age cohorts can be found in the corresponding section.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Building activity remains very low in Sunset, with approvals averaging fewer than one new home annually, translating to a nominal volume of new dwellings across the entire five-year span. Minimal construction levels are typical for rural locations where housing requirements are modest and building activity is restricted by local demand and infrastructure limits. Because approval volumes are so low, year-on-year growth rates and comparisons can fluctuate significantly based on individual building applications. Residential building volumes in Sunset are considerably lower than the average for the Rest of Qld. This level of construction is also below the overall national average.
Given that demographic forecasts indicate either stability or decline, Sunset is likely to experience lower demand pressure for housing, which should prove advantageous for prospective homebuyers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Sunset
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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 12 current infrastructure and development projects close to Sunset, worth an estimated $1.09 billion. 3 are already under construction and 3 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, energy and health & medical. 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 choices, and major developments have a significant impact on regional performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of four projects that are expected to influence this locality. The main projects include the Mount Isa Mines - Black Star Open Cut Project, the Mount Isa Future Ready Economy Roadmap, the Mount Isa Police Accommodation and Justice System Resourcing, and the Essential Pipeline Works - City Low and high Systems, with the following details focusing on those of greatest local significance.
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
Residential Activation Fund - Central Queensland Allocation
The Residential Activation Fund is a 2 billion dollar program aimed at accelerating housing supply by funding critical trunk infrastructure such as water supply, sewerage, stormwater, and transport. At least 1 billion dollars is specifically earmarked for regional areas outside South East Queensland. Round 2 of the fund opened in early 2026, with funding announcements for successful projects expected from July 2026. The program targets construction-ready projects to fast-track the delivery of new homes.
Urban Public Housing - Peko Road
A $3.4 million project, part of a larger program to increase public housing supply. The project saw the construction of six new 1-bedroom units for individuals on the Northern Territory's social housing waitlist.
Venture Housing - Social and Affordable Homes
A $6.9 million partnership between Venture Housing, Housing Australia, the Northern Territory Government and the Australian Government delivered twelve new two-bedroom social and affordable homes across three adjoining sites in Tennant Creek. Venture Housing developed the homes and contributed land plus $1.5 million toward costs, supported by a $3 million Housing Australia grant, a $1.9 million joint Barkly Regional Deal grant, and a $500,000 NT Government capital grant. Habitat (NT) Pty Ltd was the building contractor.The development comprises five social and seven affordable homes, providing housing for older women at risk of homelessness, women and children fleeing domestic violence, and Aboriginal people eligible for social or affordable housing. Construction began in June 2024 and the project was confirmed completed by mid-2025.
Territory Energy Link
A multi-user, multi-asset infrastructure corridor running approximately 670km from near Elliott to the Middle Arm Precinct in Darwin. Formerly known as the Tennant Creek to Darwin Infrastructure Corridor, the project is currently in Stage 2 (feasibility phase) of a four-stage program, following completion of a 2024 prefeasibility study that identified a preliminary alignment within a 530m wide study area. The final corridor is expected to be approximately 130m wide and will support buried services including gas, water, optical fibre and future hydrogen pipelines, connecting the Beetaloo Sub-basin to the Middle Arm Precinct and other strategic infrastructure in Darwin.The NT Government will plan, secure and manage the corridor land, while individual pipelines and utilities will be delivered by industry proponents under separate approvals. In 2025 the government awarded a tender to CNC Project Management Pty Ltd for specialist technical advisory services, targeting a development-ready 670km priority section by 2028.
Tennant Creek Aviation and Accommodation Hub
Airport Development Group (ADG) has released a draft concept plan for a staged $30-35 million upgrade of Tennant Creek Airport to support regional aviation and logistics growth in the Barkly region. The plan proposes extending and strengthening the main runway for regular jet operations, expanding the apron for fixed-wing and rotary FIFO connections, upgrading the terminal and car park, modernising electrical systems and signage, and delivering an Essential Key Worker Accommodation Precinct for up to 100 personnel to support government, defence and industry operations.The project targets capacity growth to 100,000 passengers annually and has the support of the Barkly Regional Council and NT Government agencies.
Longreach Hospital Upgrade
An AUD10 million upgrade of the Longreach Hospital, which included the redevelopment of half the hospital, a full mechanical services upgrade, and a new Aramac Primary Health Centre. The project was completed in 2019.
Longreach Recreational Precinct
A $2.25 million project funded by the Australian Government's Growing Regions Program. The project will include a new fenced dog park, a pump track, a half basketball court, a botanical walkway, and shaded playgrounds with all-abilities elements, complementing the existing skate park.
Longreach Solar Farm
A 17.4 MW solar photovoltaic project developed by Canadian Solar, which began commercial operation in May 2018. The project consists of 51,330 solar panels.
1,253 residents of Sunset are employed, from a labour force of 1,288. Unemployment sits at 2.7%, with participation at 77.0%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.0% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,598, about 72% 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 displays a balanced mix of professional and industrial roles, with manufacturing and industrial sectors holding a significant share, and the jobless rate sits at a low 2.7% based on AreaSearch compilations of regional statistical data. As of March 2026, 1,253 local citizens are employed, which is 1.2% lower than the Regional Qld jobless rate of 3.9%, while participation in the labour force is exceptionally high at 77.0% compared to 64.3% in Regional Qld. Census data indicates that a minor 1.2% of working residents performed their jobs from home, although the influence of Covid-19 pandemic restrictions should be taken into account.
The primary sectors employing local residents are mining, healthcare and social assistance, along with education and training. Mining demonstrates an exceptionally high concentration, with local employment ratios reaching 9.2 times the average for the region. On the other hand, construction represents just 4.7% of the local workforce, compared to the regional average of 10.1%. The area is mostly residential and appears to have a shortage of local jobs, as shown by comparing the count of working residents against the count of local jobs reported in the Census. According to AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistics aggregated from surrounding regions, the size of the local labour force contracted by 0.8% over the 12 months ending March 2026, while the number of employed residents also fell by 0.8%, keeping the overall jobless rate steady. This trend diverges from Regional Qld, where employment expanded by 0.1%, the labour force grew by 0.3%, and the unemployment rate increased by 0.1 percentage points. National employment outlooks from Jobs and Skills Australia published in May-25 provide further context on expected demand patterns in Sunset. These five and ten-year forecasts have been correlated with local employment structures to project potential patterns. Locally, total employment is projected to grow by 5.0% over five years and 11.8% over ten years based on these industry trends, though national job growth is forecast to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years with large differences between sectors. Note that this calculation is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustration and does not incorporate localized population forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Sunset is $2,325 a week (about $121,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,184 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $73,052 a year against an average of $83,797. 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
Taxpayer data from the ATO compiled by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year indicates that Sunset has an exceptionally high income profile compared to national benchmarks. Taxpayers in this suburb record a median income of $73,052 and an average income of $83,797, contrasting with the Regional Qld averages of $53,146 and $66,593. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since the 2023 financial year, current estimated values would stand at roughly $81,351 for the median and $93,316 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census shows that personal, family, and household incomes in Sunset rank highly, placing between the 84th and 90th percentiles across Australia.
The weekly income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 accounts for 37.0% of the local population, representing 815 people, which aligns with the regional figure of 31.7% in the same bracket. A significant proportion of high-income earners exists, with 33.8% receiving more than $3,000 weekly, pointing to robust economic capacity. After housing outlays, residents keep 87.8% of their earnings, indicating strong financial capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Sunset had 717 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 91% detached houses and 0% apartments. 35% are owned with a mortgage, 47% rented and 18% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $349 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,500 a month. Rent absorbs 15.0% of household income here and mortgage repayments 14.9%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the time of the most recent Census, the distribution of housing types in Sunset consisted of 90.5% standalone houses and 9.5% alternative dwellings such as townhouses, units, or other housing formats, compared to 76.4% houses and 23.6% other options across Regional Qld. Home ownership rates in Sunset were lower than the Regional Qld benchmark, sitting at 18.2%, with the remaining properties occupied by households with a mortgage (35.1%) or renters (46.6%). The median monthly home loan payment was $1,500, which is below the Regional Qld average of $1,655, while the median weekly rent was $349, compared to the Regional Qld average of $345.
On a national level, home loan payments in Sunset are notably lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are below the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Sunset counted 717 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.7 people each. 35% are couples with children, against 23% couples without children. 24% 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 comprise the majority of local households at 72.9%, consisting of couples with children at 35.1%, couples without children at 23.0%, and single-parent homes at 14.2%. Non-family households represent the remaining 27.1%, which includes single-person households at 23.8% and group households at 3.1%. The average household size is 2.7 residents, exceeding the Regional Qld average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
14.4% of adults in Sunset hold a university qualification, including 10.6% with a bachelor degree and 2.3% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 89% of areas nationally. A further 36.4% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 313 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 750 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
Educational profiles in the area show areas for improvement, with the proportion of residents holding a tertiary qualification at 14.4%, which is lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This highlights both a regional challenge and an opportunity for focused educational programs. Among university qualifications, bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.6%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 2.3% and graduate diplomas at 1.5%. Practical and technical skills are highly represented, with 43.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational qualifications, split between advanced diplomas at 7.3% and certificates at 36.4%.
Enrolment rates are high, with 33.0% of local residents actively participating in formal education programs. This cohort is comprised of 14.2% attending primary school, 9.4% in high school, and 2.8% enrolled in university or tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Sunset means driving: households keep an average of 1.5 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
77.7% of residents in Sunset report no long-term health condition. 3.0% need daily assistance with core activities, and 60.4% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 7.2 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Sunset displays notable health challenges based on mortality rates and the prevalence of chronic health conditions calculated by AreaSearch, with common ailments distributed across both younger and older resident cohorts, while private health insurance rates are exceptionally high, covering approximately 60% of the local population (1,331 people), compared to 52.5% across Regional Qld. Asthma and mental health conditions are the most prevalent health issues in the area, affecting 7.1% and 5.6% of residents, respectively, whereas 77.7% of the population reported no chronic health conditions, compared to 67.6% across Regional Qld.
The working-age population is generally healthy, exhibiting low rates of chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and over make up 9.7% of the local population (213 people), which is lower than the Regional Qld proportion of 20.4%, with national health percentiles matching the broader population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Sunset is largely Australian-born, at 82.4% of residents, with 9.2% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (26.0%) and English (21.9%). 15.2% 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 Sunset is below average, with citizens making up 84.6% of the population, Australian-born residents accounting for 82.4%, and English-only speakers representing 90.8% of households. Christianity is the primary religious affiliation in Sunset, accounting for 50.6% of the community, which compares to 52.2% across Regional Qld. Regarding parental country of birth, the three most common ancestries in Sunset are Australian at 26.0%, English at 21.9% (which is lower than the regional average of 29.6%), and Australian Aboriginal at 15.2% (which is higher than the regional average of 3.9%).
There are also notable differences in other backgrounds: Filipino residents make up 3.1% of Sunset (compared to 0.9% in the region), Hungarian backgrounds account for 0.4% (compared to 0.2%), and New Zealand backgrounds represent 1.1% (compared to 0.9%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Sunset is 31, younger than 93% of areas nationally. 32.9% 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 in Sunset is 31 years, which is younger than the Regional Qld median of 41 years and the national average of 38 years. The 25 - 34 age bracket is highly represented at 19.1% compared to Regional Qld, while the 65 - 74 bracket is less common at 5.2%. Since 2021, the 25 to 34 cohort has increased from 17.7% to 19.1% of the population, whereas the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 12.5% to 10.1% and the 5 to 14 cohort has declined from 17.2% to 15.9%.
Long-term population forecasts for 2041 suggest shifting demographics in Sunset, with the 25 to 34 age group expected to grow by 37 people (9%) from 421 to 459, while the 75 to 84 and 45 to 54 groups are expected to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Sunset
9 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 9 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. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 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 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 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. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (2,137 at the 2021 Census → 2,205 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 (SAL32698). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.