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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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Thursday Island has an estimated 2,853 residents, up from 2,805 at the 2021 Census — a change of 48 people, or 1.7%. That puts 767 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
According to population updates from the ABS evaluated alongside 40 validated new addresses identified by AreaSearch since the Census, the suburb of Thursday Island has an estimated resident population (ERP) of approximately 2,853 as of Aug 2026, drawing on the ABS June 2025 data release. This represents an addition of 48 people, or an increase of 1.7%, compared to the 2,805 people recorded in the 2021 Census. The resulting population density stands at 766 persons per square kilometer, tracking closely with broader benchmarks tracked across locations assessed by AreaSearch. With this 1.7% expansion since census, the suburb of Thursday Island trails the wider SA4 region (3.5%) by 1.8 percentage points, highlighting solid local demographic drivers.
Natural growth served as the primary contributor to demographic gains, delivering roughly 85.0% of recent population increases. Projections for the suburb of Thursday Island utilize the 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 series using 2022 as its baseline, supplemented where necessary and for periods post-2032 by Queensland State Government SA2 projections published in 2023 based on 2021 data. Because the state-level datasets do not disaggregate by age groups, proportional weightings aligned with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (published in 2023, based on 2022 figures) are incorporated across specific age cohorts. Over the 16 years leading to 2041, aggregated SA2-level projections indicate the suburb of Thursday Island is expected to expand by 95 persons, representing an overall rise of 3.2% and placing its anticipated expansion within the lower quartile growth of Australia's regional areas.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential building activity in Thursday Island remains subdued, recording less than 1 dwelling approvals annually and reaching a total of 3 across the past five years. Such modest construction volumes reflect the region's rural characteristics, with new residential projects arising primarily to meet specific local housing requirements rather than broader market demand. Given this limited approval volume, single building initiatives can have a disproportionately large impact on annual development trends and relative statistics. All recent residential construction has focused on detached dwellings, reinforcing the low-density, rural profile of the locality.
This building pattern shows developers delivering detached houses at a rate exceeding the 58.0% recorded at Census, underscoring enduring demand for freestanding family accommodation despite wider densification pressures. Furthermore, a ratio of approximately 437 people per dwelling approval highlights a tranquil, low-scale residential development setting.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Thursday Island
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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 3 current infrastructure and development projects inside Thursday Island, worth an estimated $29 million. A further 52 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $4 billion. 17 are already under construction and 13 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, tourism 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
Community growth and local performance are closely shaped by capital works and strategic planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 3 projects positioned to influence the area. Prominent works include Saila Terrace Townhouses, Thursday Island Affordable Modular Homes, Victoria Parade Units, and Queensland National Land Transport Network Maintenance, with the most relevant local developments outlined 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
Saila Terrace Townhouses
Masterplanned 20 townhouse development on Waiben (Thursday Island) commissioned by the Torres Strait Regional Authority, with climate responsive house types that follow the steep topography, maximise ocean views, and use robust materials and roof forms suited to remote tropical construction and severe weather.
Thursday Island Affordable Modular Homes
A partnership between the Queensland Government Housing Investment Fund, the Uniting Church in Australia Property Trust and modular builder Oly Homes has delivered eight affordable modular homes on Thursday Island. The project, located on church land at 6 Chester Street and 142 Douglas Street, includes a mix of one and two bedroom homes, studio units and accessible units designed for the local climate and cultural needs. The homes were factory built on the mainland, transported to Thursday Island and installed in around eight months, with tenants moving in from early 2025.
Victoria Parade Units
A three storey community housing complex on Thursday Island providing 16 two bedroom units on a single 2,783 m2 site for Queensland Government staff and community housing tenants. The project was delivered by Hutchinson Builders for the Queensland Department of Housing and Public Works, with a strong focus on Indigenous employment and local procurement, and was completed in 2016.
Nhulunbuy Master Plan
A strategic roadmap guiding the redevelopment and renewal of Nhulunbuy as it transitions from a mining town to a sustainable regional hub. The plan translates the Yolngu Traditional Owners' Vision into a framework for future land tenure, essential services, and infrastructure, ensuring long-term liveability post-2029 mine closure.
Bunggulwuy Close Housing Development
A landmark $7 million community-led housing initiative to deliver 11 new two-bedroom units (four duplexes and a triplex) in Nhulunbuy. The homes are designed to meet long-term accommodation needs for essential service providers like St John NT and Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation, and the project includes a strong commitment to Aboriginal employment and training opportunities, supporting the post-mining economic transition of the region.
Gunyangara (Gove Port) Tourism Precinct
A $9.3 million upgrade of marine and land tourism infrastructure at Inverell Bay, Gunyangara, near Nhulunbuy, to support tourism and marine industry growth in East Arnhem as the region diversifies away from mining. Works delivered over three packages included a new 100 metre extended rock groyne, careening facilities for vessel maintenance, a 60 metre detachable floating pontoon, a washdown bay, sealed car park and lighting upgrades, a new entry structure, toilet facilities, and shade and seating at Gove Boat Club.Early works were completed in 2022, with the main $6.9 million construction package running from September 2024 to August 2025. The project achieved 28 percent Aboriginal employment and was officially opened in December 2025. Gove Boat Club now operates the facilities in collaboration with the Ngarrariyal Aboriginal Corporation and Gumatj Corporation.
Cooktown Multi-Purpose Health Service Redevelopment
The Cooktown Multi-Purpose Health Service (MPHS) Redevelopment is a $200 million regional hospital transformation delivered by Health Infrastructure Queensland for Torres and Cape Hospital and Health Service. The project expands bed capacity from 16 to 24, adds a modern emergency department, birthing suite, operating theatre, and outpatient specialist facilities to replace aging infrastructure. Enabling works tenders and detailed architectural design are progressing ahead of major construction.
Gigers Residential Subdivision
Greenfield residential subdivision at 2 Hope Street, Cooktown, reconfiguring one lot into 12 residential lots under Cook Shire DA/4310 with operational works approval DA/4590. Currently under construction as an elevated cul-de-sac offering lots from 902sqm to 1,756sqm. Supported by the Queensland Government's $1.1 million Residential Activation Fund to deliver trunk infrastructure including water, sewer, underground power, and NBN.
1,367 residents of Thursday Island are employed, from a labour force of 1,441. Unemployment sits at 5.1%, with participation at 67.9%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 7.3% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,175, about 76% 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
Workforce figures aggregated by AreaSearch indicate that Thursday Island maintains a skilled labour base supported by a strong presence across key community services, alongside an unemployment rate of 5.1%. As of March 2026, employed locals count 1,367 residents, with the local jobless rate tracking 1.2% higher than Regional Qld's 3.9%. Labour participation sits at 67.9%, compared with 64.2% across Regional Qld. Additionally, Census data showed 4.2% of workers operating from home, though broader Covid-19 restrictions at the time should be kept in mind. The primary employment sectors among local workers are health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, as well as education & training.
Specialization is especially pronounced in public administration & safety, which commands a workforce share 3.5 times the regional proportion. Conversely, manufacturing forms a minimal component of the local economy, engaging only 0.2% of Thursday Island workers against 5.6% in Regional Qld. Comparing Census working population counts with resident population levels suggests the locality functions chiefly as a residential hub with relatively restricted local job capacity. According to AreaSearch's compilation of broader statistical area metrics from SALM and ABS sources, the recent 12-month period saw the workforce shrink by 1.2% while employment contracted by 1.4%, causing the local jobless rate to rise by 0.2 percentage points. Over the same timeframe, Regional Qld experienced 0.1% employment growth, a 0.3% rise in the labour pool, and an unemployment uptick of 0.1 percentage points. Looking ahead, Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment projections from Mar-26 offer guidance on prospective workforce demand. Across the country, job numbers are projected to increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with distinct variation by sector. Applying these specific industry trends to Thursday Island's occupational structure projects potential local employment gains of 7.3% over five years and 15.0% over ten years, based on illustrative weighting extrapolation without factoring in localized population shifts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Thursday Island is $2,136 a week (about $111,000 a year), with median personal income at $902 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $51,667 a year against an average of $61,586. 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 compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 place taxpayer earnings in the suburb of Thursday Island beneath national benchmarks. The median income among taxpayers in the suburb of Thursday Island is $51,667 while the average income is $61,586, compared to Regional Qld benchmarks of $53,146 and $66,593 respectively. Accounting for an 11.36% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, updated estimates suggest figures around $57,536 (median) and $68,582 (average) as of March 2026. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual incomes positioned around the 70th percentile across the country.
The dominant earning band includes 38.4% of wage earners receiving $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (1,095 residents), aligning with the 31.7% observed across wider regional areas. After servicing shelter expenses, households retain 91.4% of their earnings, indicating resilient discretionary spending capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Thursday Island had 742 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 58% detached houses and 11% apartments. 3% are owned with a mortgage, 87% rented and 10% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $200 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,408 a month. Rent absorbs 9.4% of household income here and mortgage repayments 15.2%. 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 residential landscape in Thursday Island was divided between 57.9% separate houses and 42.1% alternative formats such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and other properties, whereas Regional Qld recorded 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Outright home ownership stood at 9.8%, below the regional benchmark, while remaining private properties were either subject to a mortgage (3.0%) or occupied by tenants (87.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,408 and the median weekly rent stood at $200, both considerably lower than the Regional Qld figures of $1,655 and $345.
Across Australia, local housing costs remain notably affordable against national averages of $1,863 for monthly mortgages and $375 for weekly rents.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Thursday Island counted 742 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 3.2 people each. 34% are couples with children, against 18% couples without children. 23% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.1 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family households represent the prevailing living arrangement, comprising 73.6% of all dwellings. Within this group, couples with children account for 34.0%, couples without children represent 18.0%, and single parent families make up 18.9%. Non-family dwellings constitute 26.4% of total households, made up of lone person households (23.1%) and group households (3.1%). The typical household size sits at a median of 3.2 people, exceeding the 2.5 average seen across Regional Qld.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
21.1% of adults in Thursday Island hold a university qualification, including 14.8% with a bachelor degree and 3.6% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 80% of areas nationally. A further 31.6% hold a vocational qualification. 4 schools serve the area, with 1,385 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 830 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
Tertiary educational attainment in Thursday Island sits below broader standards, with 21.1% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 30.4% across Australia, pointing to opportunities for further academic and professional upskilling. Bachelor qualifications represent the largest tertiary share at 14.8%, complemented by postgraduate qualifications (3.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Meanwhile, technical and trade credentials are well established, with 41.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational qualifications, including certificates (31.6%) and advanced diplomas (9.9%). Engagement with formal schooling is substantial across the community, with 35.0% of the population currently enrolled in educational programs.
This student cohort comprises 16.8% attending primary education, 10.8% in secondary education, and 3.1% pursuing tertiary education studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Thursday Island means driving: households keep an average of 0.8 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
80.1% of residents in Thursday Island report no long-term health condition. 3.5% need daily assistance with core activities, and 51.6% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.5 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health and wellness indicators for Thursday Island show generally positive conditions, with mortality statistics and long-term health metrics analyzed by AreaSearch aligning well with national benchmarks across both younger and older age brackets. Meanwhile, private health insurance coverage is relatively subdued, held by approximately 52% of the resident community (~1,471 people). The primary medical diagnoses reported by local residents are diabetes (7.1%) and asthma (5.4%), while 80.1% of the population stated they were free from long-term health conditions, noticeably higher than the 67.6% recorded across Regional Qld. Seniors aged 65 and over constitute 10.5% of the locality (299 people), a smaller segment than the 20.3% observed regionally.
Among these older residents, health outcomes remain favourable and rank above national standards.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Thursday Island is largely Australian-born, at 92.8% of residents, with 53.6% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian Aboriginal (15.4%) and Australian (11.9%). 15.4% 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 Thursday Island registers above typical benchmarks, with 7.2% of residents born abroad and 53.6% communicating in a language other than English at home. In terms of religious affiliation, Christianity is the most widespread faith, followed by 75.0% of the population on Thursday Island compared to 52.2% across Regional Qld. Looking at ancestral backgrounds, the most frequently declared parentage categories on Thursday Island are Other (51.3% versus 6.9% regionally), Australian Aboriginal (15.4% compared to 3.9% across the region), and Australian (11.9% against 26.5% regionally). Other distinct cultural representations include Samoan background at 0.8% of the Thursday Island community (versus 0.2% regionally) and Maori at 0.5% (against 0.8% in the broader region).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Thursday Island is 30, younger than 96% of areas nationally. 30.4% 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 age distribution in Thursday Island leans noticeably toward younger generations, with children and young adults (0 - 24) making up 42.1% of the population as at August 2026, compared to 29.6% across Regional Qld. In contrast, retiree and elderly cohorts (65+) account for 10.5%, below the regional benchmark of 20.4%. AreaSearch estimates the median age at 30 as at August 2026, maintaining the level recorded in the 2021 Census and sitting 11 years beneath the Regional Qld median of 41 and below the national median of 38 from the same Census.
Since that time, senior cohorts have expanded from 7.1% of the population to an estimated 10.5%. By 2041, young to middle aged adults (25 - 44) are projected to drive local growth, adding 120 residents (15%) to total 905, while child and youth cohorts, alongside middle-aged and older age brackets, are projected to decline.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Thursday Island
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Sep 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 last month 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 last month 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 last month headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Sep 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 Sep 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Nov 2025 10 months 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 Nov 2025. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 6 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 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago 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 — 40 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,805 at the 2021 Census → 2,853 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 (SAL32823). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.