Thursday Island

Thursday Island is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of Feb 2026, the population of the suburb of Thursday Island is estimated at around 2,871. This reflects an increase of 66 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,805. The change was inferred from the resident population estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 7 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 771 persons per square kilometer, which is relatively in line with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Thursday Island's 2.4% growth since census positions it within 1.9 percentage points of the SA4 region (4.3%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by natural growth that contributed approximately 85.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

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, released in 2023 and based on 2021 data, are adopted. 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 (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort. Future population trends anticipate lower quartile growth of regional areas across the nation, with the area expected to grow by 84 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 3.7% in total over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Thursday Island is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Thursday Island had minimal residential development activity with 3 dwelling approvals annually over the five-year period from 2015 to 2019 inclusive. This resulted in a total of 17 dwellings approved during this time. The low development levels reflect the rural nature of the area, where housing needs are typically driven by local specific requirements rather than broader market demand.

It is important to note that the small sample size means individual development projects can significantly influence annual growth and relativity statistics. New developments consisted of 50% standalone homes and 50% townhouses or apartments. This balance favours compact living, providing affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers.

The estimated population density was 643 people per dwelling approval, indicating a quiet, low activity development environment. Population forecasts suggest Thursday Island will gain 107 residents by the year 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate released in June 2021. With current construction levels, housing supply should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially allowing growth to exceed current forecasts.

Thursday Island has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 36thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified three projects that are expected to impact this region. Notable projects include Saila Terrace Townhouses, Thursday Island Affordable Modular Homes, Victoria Parade Units, and Queensland National Land Transport Network Maintenance. The following details those projects likely to be 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.

Thursday Island has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Thursday Island has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 4.9%, showing relative stability over the past year according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, 1,388 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.9% higher than Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation is similar at 68.9%, compared to Rest of Qld's 65.7%. Census responses indicate that only 4.2% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The dominant employment sectors among residents are health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and education & training. Public administration & safety has notably high concentration with employment levels at 3.5 times the regional average.

Manufacturing employs just 0.2% of local workers, below Rest of Qld's 5.6%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 0.3%, labour force decreased by 0.7%, resulting in a 1.0 percentage point fall in unemployment. This contrasts with Rest of Qld where employment rose by 1.7%, the labour force grew by 2.1%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with significant variations between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Thursday Island's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.3% over five years and 15.0% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023, the suburb of Thursday Island had a median income among taxpayers of $51,667 and an average income of $61,586. This is below the national average. The median income in Rest of Qld was $53,146 with an average of $66,593. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.91% since financial year ended June 2023, current estimates for Thursday Island would be approximately $56,787 (median) and $67,689 (average) as of September 2025. According to the Census conducted in August 2021, incomes in Thursday Island cluster around the 70th percentile nationally. Income analysis shows that the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 38.4% of the community (1,102 individuals), similar to the region where this cohort represents 31.7%. After housing costs, residents retain 91.4% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power.

Thursday Island displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Thursday Island's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 57.9% houses and 42.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Qld's 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Thursday Island was at 9.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 3.0% and rented ones at 87.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,408, below Non-Metro Qld's average of $1,655. Median weekly rent in Thursday Island was $200, compared to Non-Metro Qld's $345 and the national average of $375. Nationally, Thursday Island's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863.

Thursday Island has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 73.6% of all households, including 34.0% couples with children, 18.0% couples without children, and 18.9% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 26.4%, with lone person households at 23.1% and group households comprising 3.1%. The median household size is 3.2 people, larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.5.

Thursday Island faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

Thursday Island's educational qualifications trail regional benchmarks, with 21.1% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 30.4% in Australia. This gap indicates potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 41.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (9.9%) and certificates (31.6%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 35.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 16.8% in primary, 10.8% in secondary, and 3.1% in tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Thursday Island's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Thursday Island's health data shows positive results, aligning with national benchmarks for mortality rates and health conditions.

Common health issues are seen equally across young and elderly residents. Private health cover is relatively low at 52% (~1480 people). Diabetes and asthma are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 7.1% and 5.4% respectively. 80.1% of residents report no medical ailments, higher than Rest of Qld's 67.6%. The area has a lower percentage of seniors aged 65 and over at 9.7% (278 people), compared to Rest of Qld's 20.4%. Senior health outcomes are above average, ranking higher nationally than the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Thursday Island records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Thursday Island has a higher than average cultural diversity, with 7.2% of its population born overseas and 53.6% speaking a language other than English at home. The predominant religion is Christianity, accounting for 75.0%, compared to the regional average of 52.2%. In terms of ancestry, the top groups are Other (51.3%), Australian Aboriginal (15.4%), and Australian (11.9%).

Thursday Island has a significantly higher proportion of people with Other ancestry than the region's average of 6.9%, and a notably lower proportion of Australians compared to the regional average of 26.5%. There are notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups, such as Samoan at 0.8% (regional average: 0.2%) and Maori at 0.5% (regional average: 0.8%).

Thursday Island hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Thursday Island's median age is 30 years, which is considerably lower than the Rest of Queensland average of 41 years and Australia's average of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of Queensland, Thursday Island has a higher concentration of residents aged 5-14 (17.6%) but fewer residents aged 75-84 (2.3%). This concentration of 5-14 year-olds is well above the national average of 12.1%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the population of those aged 65 to 74 has grown from 5.0% to 6.8%, while the 25 to 34 age group has increased from 14.9% to 16.3%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 age group has declined from 10.3% to 8.3%, and the 5 to 14 age group has dropped from 19.5% to 17.6%. Population forecasts for Thursday Island in 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes. The 25 to 34 age cohort is projected to grow by 21%, adding 97 residents to reach a total of 565. In contrast, population declines are projected for the 65 to 74 and 55 to 64 age cohorts.