Walkerston

An assessment of population growth drivers in Walkerston reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Walkerston's population, as of Nov 2025, is estimated at around 3,724 people. This reflects an increase of 109 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,615 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 3,699 as of June 2024, based on examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS, and an additional 7 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 268 persons per square kilometer. Population growth for the Walkerston statistical area (Lv2) was primarily driven by natural growth contributing approximately 89.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023, based on 2021 data, are adopted. These state projections do not provide age category splits; hence proportional growth weightings aligned with ABS Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data) for each age cohort are applied where utilised. Future population dynamics anticipate a median national regional area increase, with the Walkerston (SA2) expected to grow by 281 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 7.6% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Walkerston according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Walkerston has had minimal construction activity with one new dwelling approved annually on average over the past five years, totalling six. This low level of development is typical in rural areas due to modest housing needs and limited construction activity influenced by local demand and infrastructure capacity. Note that the small sample size can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics.

Walkerston's development levels are substantially lower than those of the Rest of Qld and below national averages. All new constructions have been detached houses, reflecting the rural character of the area where larger properties and space are common. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 1486 people, indicating a quiet, low activity development environment. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Walkerston is expected to grow by 283 residents by 2041.

At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Walkerston has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified three projects likely impacting the area: Glenrowan Estate, Walkerston Service Station and Retail Development, Alsatia Park Upgrade, and Walkerston Bypass. The following details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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The exceptional employment performance in Walkerston places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Walkerston has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs. The manufacturing and industrial sectors are prominent.

The unemployment rate is 1.7%, with an estimated employment growth of 4.5% in the past year. As of September 2025, there are 2,123 employed residents, with an unemployment rate of 2.4%. This is below Rest of Qld's rate of 4.1%. Workforce participation is high at 66.8%, compared to Rest of Qld's 59.1%.

Leading industries include mining, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Mining is particularly strong with an employment share 4.5 times the regional level. However, health care & social assistance has lower representation at 11.0% versus the regional average of 16.1%. Employment opportunities locally appear limited based on Census data comparison. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 4.5%, while unemployment remained relatively stable. In contrast, Rest of Qld had employment growth of 1.7% with a slight increase in unemployment. State-level data to 25-Nov-25 shows Queensland's employment contracted by 0.01%. The state unemployment rate is 4.2%, closely aligned with the national rate of 4.3%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia suggest Walkerston's employment should increase by 5.3% over five years and 11.9% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Walkerston's median income among taxpayers is $63,718. The average income is $77,889. Nationally, these figures are high compared to the Rest of Qld's median of $53,146 and average of $66,593. By September 2025, estimates suggest Walkerston's median income will be approximately $70,032 and average $85,608, based on a 9.91% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Walkerston cluster around the 72nd percentile nationally. Income distribution data shows 35.8% of locals (1,333 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, similar to regional levels at 31.7%. After housing costs, residents retain 87.5% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

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

The dwelling structure in Walkerston, as per the latest Census evaluation, consisted of 92.1% houses and 7.8% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Non-Metro Qld's 85.1% houses and 14.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Walkerston stood at 30.8%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (45.5%) or rented (23.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, aligning with Non-Metro Qld's average, while the median weekly rent was $360 compared to Non-Metro Qld's $340. Nationally, Walkerston's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were less than the national figure of $375.

Walkerston features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 78.6% of all households, including 37.2% couples with children, 31.3% couples without children, and 9.9% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 21.4%, with lone person households at 17.9% and group households comprising 3.5%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which is larger than the Rest of Qld average of 2.6.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 9.5%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 7.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1%) and graduate diplomas (1%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 47.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (7.6%) and certificates (39.9%).

Educational participation is high, with 31.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.8% in primary education, 9.8% in secondary education, and 3% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Walkerston has 12 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by one route in total, offering 20 weekly passenger trips combined. The accessibility of transport is considered good, with residents living an average of 327 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, services run twice daily across all routes, translating to roughly one weekly trip per individual stop.

The level of general health in Walkerston is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Walkerston shows better-than-average health outcomes, with a low prevalence of common health conditions among its general population.

However, this prevalence is higher than the national average among older and at-risk cohorts. Approximately 58% (~2,162 people) of Walkerston's total population has private health cover, which is high compared to other areas. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma (7.8%) and mental health issues (7.2%). A significant majority (70.6%) of residents report having no medical ailments, slightly higher than the 69.7% reported in Rest of Qld. Walkerston has a lower proportion of residents aged 65 and over (14.7%, or 547 people) compared to Rest of Qld (16.2%). This age group requires more health attention than the broader population.

The latest Census data sees Walkerston placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Walkerston had a cultural diversity index below the average, with 87.9% citizens, 93.2% born in Australia, and 98.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 60.5%, compared to 56.8% across Rest of Qld. The top three ancestry groups were Australian (30.6%), English (29.3%), and Scottish (9.1%).

Notably, Maltese were overrepresented at 4.3% (regional: 2.4%), German at 5.5% (regional: 4.7%), and Maori at 0.7% (regional: 0.6%).

Walkerston's population is younger than the national pattern

The median age in Walkerston is 35 years, which is lower than Rest of Qld's average of 41 years and also under the national average of 38 years. The 0-4 age cohort is notably over-represented in Walkerston at 8.2%, while the 75-84 year-olds are under-represented at 4.2%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 35-44 age group has grown from 11.7% to 12.6% of Walkerston's population, whereas the 45-54 cohort has declined from 13.2% to 10.9%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in Walkerston. Leading these changes, the 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 18%, reaching 633 people from 536. Conversely, both the 55-64 and 15-24 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.