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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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Wavell Heights has an estimated 11,245 residents, up from 10,336 at the 2021 Census — a change of 909 people, or 8.8%. Growth has averaged 1.5% a year over five years. Natural increase accounts for 58.0% of that increase. That puts 2,749 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
Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of ABS population updates for the wider region alongside new addresses validated since the Census, the suburb of Wavell Heights has a projected population of approximately 11,245 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 909 residents (8.8%) from the 10,336 individuals recorded in the 2021 Census. The calculation is based on an estimated resident population of 11,234 determined by AreaSearch from the ABS June 2025 ERP release, combined with 20 new validated addresses since the Census. The suburb's density stands at 2,749 residents per square kilometer, placing it within the top quartile of Australian locations analyzed.
The post-census expansion of 8.8% is within 0.5 percentage points of the national average of 9.3%, indicating solid local growth trends. Population increases were primarily supported by natural increase, which accounted for roughly 57.99999999999999% of the gains, with overseas and interstate migration also acting as positive contributors. Projections from ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 (using 2022 as the base year) are utilized for each SA2 region. For locations not detailed in that dataset, or for projections extending past 2032, figures from the Queensland State Government's 2023 release (using 2021 data) are adopted. Because the state-level projections omit age breakdowns, AreaSearch scales age groups using proportional growth factors from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections based on 2022 data. Future growth in the suburb of Wavell Heights is anticipated to run slightly below the national median, with aggregated SA2 projections suggesting an increase of 662 residents by 2041, representing a total expansion of 5.8% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
272 new dwellings have been approved in Wavell Heights over the past five years, an average of 54 a year. That places the area in the 77th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 5 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 54 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 96% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 49, broadly in line with that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
According to ABS residential building approval figures compiled by AreaSearch for the local area, the suburb of Wavell Heights averages approximately 54 approved dwellings per year, representing an estimated 272 residences over the last 5 financial years. In the current FY-26 period, 45 approvals have been logged. The last 5 financial years (from FY-21 to FY-25) show an average of 2.9 new residents added per year for every home built, which points to healthy demand that helps maintain property values. The average expected construction cost for these new homes is $903,000, showing a focus by developers on higher-end builds for the premium market.
Commercial approvals total $794,000 for this financial year, which suggests very quiet commercial construction activity. Detached houses make up 96.0% of the new construction compared to 4.0% for attached dwellings, reinforcing the classic suburban profile of the area which favors spacious homes for families. The ratio of approximately 200 people for each approved dwelling points toward an expanding local market. According to the latest quarterly estimates from AreaSearch, the suburb of Wavell Heights is projected to add 651 residents by 2041. The current pace of construction suggests that the supply of new housing will easily align with demand, offering favorable purchasing conditions and potentially assisting growth beyond the current population forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Wavell Heights
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks one current infrastructure or development project inside Wavell Heights. A further 64 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $22.2 billion. 15 are already under construction and 16 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal and transport & logistics. 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 initiatives, and developments play a key role in regional performance. AreaSearch has identified 30 projects expected to influence the local area. Key developments include Danby Lane, Bakery Square, Brisbane Housing Company - Chermside Development, and The Prince Charles Hospital Expansion, with details provided for the most significant ones.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Danby Lane - Nundah Village
Mixed-use development at the corner of Danby Lane, Buckland Road and Sandgate Road in Nundah Village, comprising a 12-storey tower of 93 apartments (one to four bedrooms) above ground-floor retail and first-floor commercial space. Amenities include a podium pool, gym, function room and rooftop terrace with city views, plus 135 car spaces across five basement levels. Building height is 40m. Art Deco-inspired brick archway podium references Nundah's architectural heritage. Developer Gardner Vaughan Group will relocate its head office into the development.Construction commenced February 2025 with completion targeted for mid-2027.
Danby Lane
12-storey mixed-use project in Nundah Village delivering 84 apartments above ground floor retail with resident amenities including pool deck, gym, function room and rooftop terrace. Construction commenced in Feb 2025 with completion targeted for early 2027.
Sandgate Road Intersection Upgrade
Traffic flow improvements at key intersections along Sandgate Road including upgraded signals, dedicated turning lanes, and enhanced pedestrian crossings. Directly improves connectivity within Wavell Heights.
The Prince Charles Hospital Expansion
A critical expansion of The Prince Charles Hospital delivering 93 new overnight beds, a new emergency department for adults and paediatrics, and additional operating theatres. The project establishes the facility as Queensland's second-largest paediatric health service. While the 1,507-space car park is complete, the main Acute Services Building has been subject to a 2025 review under the Hospital Rescue Plan, with current projections targeting practical completion in mid-2029.
Clayfield Residential Development Program
Ongoing program of medium-density residential redevelopment across Clayfield comprising apartment buildings, townhouses and infill housing on multiple privately owned sites. Numerous approved developments are progressing through construction while additional applications continue to be lodged under Brisbane City Plan, supporting gradual urban renewal and increased housing supply within the established suburb.
26-30 Kuran Street Development
Proposed 6-storey residential building with 29 apartments. Existing dwellings will be demolished to make way for the new development.
Fifth Avenue
Boutique development of 10 three-bedroom residential units in the centrally located suburb of Kedron, just 8.6 km north of Brisbane CBD. The site is perfectly positioned for both future owner-occupiers and investors, offering convenient travel time via nearby arterial roads, public transport accessibility, and is in close proximity to Westfield Chermside, schools, and amenities. Funded by GPS Development Finance with construction underway by a repeat borrower who previously successfully completed 8 Alice Street in Kedron.
Lutwyche Market Central - Internal Reconfiguration and Tenancy Expansion
This project involves the approved internal reconfiguration and extension of the existing Lutwyche Market Central shopping centre. The works focus on creating larger, more efficient retail tenancies and improving customer circulation to accommodate new anchor and mini-major tenants. The centre remains anchored by Coles, Woolworths, and ALDI, with the expansion supporting enhanced community amenity and retail diversity within the established triple-supermarket hub.
7,257 residents of Wavell Heights are employed, from a labour force of 7,427. Unemployment sits at 2.3%, with participation at 83.4%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.9% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 8,512, 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
The local workforce is characterized by high levels of education and strong representation in professional services, with an unemployment rate of only 2.3% and a 7.2% annual growth in jobs, according to AreaSearch data. Working residents numbered 7,257 as of March 2026, with the local unemployment rate sitting 2.1 percentage points below the Greater Brisbane figure of 4.3%. Participation in the labor force is exceptionally high at 83.4% compared to the metropolitan average of 70.4%. Census records show that 25.5% of residents worked from their homes, though this figures reflects the influence of pandemic lockdowns.
Health care & social assistance, professional & technical roles, and education & training stand out as the primary employment sectors for residents. The professional & technical field is highly concentrated locally, matching 1.3 times the regional rate. Conversely, manufacturing is under-represented, employing only 4.1% of the workforce compared to 6.4% across Greater Brisbane. The comparison of working residents against local jobs indicates that this residential area offers limited employment opportunities within its own boundaries. AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data shows that over the 12-month period, both employment and the labor force expanded by 7.2%, leaving unemployment virtually unchanged. Meanwhile, Greater Brisbane saw a 3.2% rise in employment and a 3.4% rise in the labor force, with unemployment ticking up by 0.1 percentage point. National forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia dated May-25 provide a broader guide for future employment trends in the suburb of Wavell Heights. These projections for five and ten years have been applied to the local workforce structure. While national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, trends vary by sector. Weighting these projections to the local employment mix suggests the suburb's workforce will grow by 6.9% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, assuming a simple extrapolation that does not account for specific local population forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Wavell Heights is $2,615 a week (about $136,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,147 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $63,874 a year against an average of $80,479. 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
Based on ATO postcode data released for the financial year 2023, taxpayers in the suburb of Wavell Heights have a median income of $63,874 and an average of $80,479. This represents one of the highest levels nationally, comparing to the Greater Brisbane median of $58,236 and average of $72,799. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index increase of 11.36% since financial year 2023, estimates for March 2026 rise to approximately $71,130 for the median and $89,621 for the average. In the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes all placed between the 88th and 92nd percentiles across Australia.
The most common weekly household income bracket is $1,500 - 2,999, containing 27.6% of residents (3,103 people), which is close to the 33.3% share observed across the wider metropolitan area. A high-income group earning over $3,000 weekly makes up 43.6% of the population, indicating substantial local spending power. Housing costs consume 13.8% of income, while disposable income levels rank in the 93rd percentile nationally, and the SEIFA index places the area in the 9th decile for income.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Wavell Heights had 3,724 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 91% detached houses and 6% apartments. 43% are owned with a mortgage, 28% rented and 29% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $421 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,450 a month, a total housing cost higher than 84% of areas nationally. Rent absorbs 16.1% of household income here and mortgage repayments 21.6%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census data shows that separate houses represent 90.8% of the housing stock in the suburb of Wavell Heights, while semi-detached properties, apartments, and other dwellings account for 9.2%. This compares to 73.5% houses and 26.5% other options across metropolitan Brisbane. The home ownership rate of 29.1% is higher than the Brisbane metro average, with mortgaged properties making up 43.2% and rental properties accounting for 27.7%. The median monthly mortgage payment of $2,450 is higher than the metropolitan average of $1,863, and the median weekly rent of $421 is higher than the metropolitan figure of $380.
Compared nationally, local mortgage costs are notably above the Australian average of $1,863, and rents exceed the national benchmark of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Wavell Heights counted 3,724 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 4,052 today, averaging 2.7 people each. 41% are couples with children, more than in 81% of areas nationally, against 24% couples without children. 20% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.4 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up 75.8% of households in the area, consisting of couples with children at 41.0%, couples without children at 23.8%, and single-parent households at 9.8%. Single-person households account for 20.4% of the remaining 24.2% of non-family households, with group housing representing 3.8%. The median household occupancy of 2.7 people is slightly higher than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
40.3% of adults in Wavell Heights hold a university qualification, including 27.5% with a bachelor degree and 8.4% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 17.4% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 2,596 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,040 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
Higher education rates in the suburb of Wavell Heights are well above broader averages, with 40.3% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 25.7% in QLD and 30.4% nationwide. This provides a strong base for professional employment. Bachelor degrees are held by 27.5% of residents, followed by postgraduate degrees at 8.4% and graduate diplomas at 4.4%. Vocational education is also common, with 28.9% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications, consisting of advanced diplomas at 11.5% and certificates at 17.4%. Student numbers are high, with 30.4% of the population enrolled in an educational institution.
This group comprises 10.3% in primary schools, 8.5% in high schools, and 6.3% in tertiary programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Wavell Heights reaches 74 stops on 11 routes, timetabled for about 1,000 services a week. The typical home sits about 150 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.5 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The public transport network includes 74 active bus stops within the suburb of Wavell Heights, serviced by 11 routes that deliver 1,031 weekly passenger trips. Transport links are highly accessible, with residents living an average of 149 meters from the nearest stop. The suburb is primarily residential, and most workers travel outside the area, with private cars being the primary mode of travel at 82% and trains at 10%. Household vehicle ownership averages 1.5 cars. A total of 25.5% of working residents worked from home during the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-era arrangements.
Bus services run an average of 147 times per day across the network, which averages out to approximately 13 weekly trips for each stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
74.0% of residents in Wavell Heights report no long-term health condition. 3.7% need daily assistance with core activities, and 59.1% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.9 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
The suburb of Wavell Heights registers positive health profiles, with low levels of chronic disease and low mortality rates across all age brackets. Private health insurance coverage is high at 59% of the population (6,644 people), compared to 55.8% for Greater Brisbane. Mental health concerns and asthma represent the most frequent conditions, affecting 7.6% and 7.1% of the population. A total of 74.0% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 69.2% in Greater Brisbane. Residents under 65 show better health profiles than average. The population aged 65 and over comprises 12.4% of the suburb (1,394 people), which is lower than the Greater Brisbane rate of 15.1%.
Health measures for these older residents are positive and align with national figures.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Wavell Heights is largely Australian-born, at 80.2% of residents, with 11.5% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (26.9%) and Australian (25.1%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in the suburb of Wavell Heights is comparable to regional averages, with Australian-born residents making up 80.2% of the population, citizens representing 90.9%, and English-only speakers at home accounting for 88.5%. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 54.6% of the population. Judaism shows a small local concentration at 0.2% of the population, compared to 0.1% across Greater Brisbane. The most common ancestries reported are English at 26.9%, Australian at 25.1%, and Irish at 10.7%. Variations in other heritage groups include German ancestry at 4.4% of the population (compared to 4.2% across the region), Samoan ancestry at 0.3% (compared to 0.9%), and New Zealand ancestry at 0.8% (compared to 1.0%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Wavell Heights is 37. 25.3% 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 of 37 years in the suburb of Wavell Heights is close to the Greater Brisbane average of 36 and the national median of 38. The suburb has a higher proportion of residents in the 45 - 54 age bracket (14.4%) but fewer in the 25 - 34 bracket (11.5%) compared to Greater Brisbane. Since the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age bracket grew from 11.7% to 13.8%, while the 25 to 34 age bracket fell from 13.4% to 11.5%. Projections for 2041 indicate demographic changes, with the 75 to 84 cohort expected to grow by 59%, adding 245 residents to reach 662.
Older residents aged 65+ are expected to account for 54% of all population growth. Conversely, decreases are anticipated in the 5 to 14 and 0 to 4 age groups.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Wavell Heights
8 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 8 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. | ||
| 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 3 sections | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2025 about a year ago all 1 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 Jul 2025. | ||
| 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 — 20 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (10,336 at the 2021 Census → 11,245 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 (SAL33015). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.