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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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Westlake has an estimated 4,520 residents, down from 4,547 at the 2021 Census. That puts 2,306 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
Evaluating demographic updates from the ABS for the surrounding region alongside validation of new addresses by AreaSearch following the Census indicates that the population of the suburb of Westlake is approximately 4,520 as of May 2026. This represents a contraction of 27 people (0.6%) compared to the 4,547 people recorded during the 2021 Census. This adjustment is calculated from an estimated resident count of 4,517 established by AreaSearch using the ABS June 2025 ERP release combined with 1 validated new addresses registered since the Census. This population level yields a density of 2,306 persons per square kilometer, a figure that exceeds the typical density found in other locations nationwide monitored by AreaSearch.
Inward overseas migration was the primary driver of growth, accounting for roughly 56.99999999999999% of all population increases in recent times. Projections developed by the ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 with a 2022 baseline are utilized for each SA2 region. For SA2 territories lacking this coverage, or for periods extending past 2032, projections from the Queensland State Government published in 2023 using 2021 baseline data are applied. Because these state-level projections lack breakdowns by age bracket, AreaSearch allocates growth weightings across age cohorts using the ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 with a 2022 baseline. Based on these anticipated demographic transitions, forecasts point to a contraction in the overall population, which is expected to shrink by 330 persons by 2041 under this framework. Conversely, expansion is projected within particular cohorts, led by residents aged 75 to 84, who are forecast to grow in number by 153 people. More details can be found in the section focusing on age distributions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Analysis of building approvals from the ABS mapped from local statistical areas shows that the suburb of Westlake averages approximately 2 residential approvals per year, totaling an estimated 10 home approvals over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, with no new approvals recorded during FY-26. Given the contracting population over the recent period, this incoming supply has likely matched local demand, providing options for prospective purchasers. The typical estimated value of these approved builds is $516,000, which suggests developer focus is directed toward the higher-end, premium tier of the market.
Furthermore, commercial building approvals of $49,000 have been registered during this financial year, reinforcing the residential focus of the suburb. When compared to Greater Brisbane, building activity in the suburb of Westlake is significantly lower, tracking at 52.0% below the per capita regional average. This restricted development pipeline typically supports values and demand for existing houses. Construction activity also falls below the national benchmark, highlighting the established nature of the suburb and pointing to possible planning constraints. In addition, recent construction consists entirely of standalone houses, preserving the suburban character of the area with detached residences that appeal to buyers seeking larger spaces. Reflecting a mature property market, there are approximately 2265 people for every dwelling approved. Faced with forecasts of stable or declining population levels, the suburb of Westlake could see reduced pressure on housing availability, creating advantageous conditions for buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Westlake
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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 24 current infrastructure and development projects close to Westlake, worth an estimated $9.55 billion. 3 are already under construction and 3 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and business parks & technology hubs. 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, major developments, and urban planning decisions are key drivers of regional growth. AreaSearch has identified 4 projects that are expected to impact the suburb of Westlake. Key developments include the Middle Park Intersection Upgrade (Eumong Street/Riverhills Road), the Metro Middle Park Mixed-Use Redevelopment, the McLeod Country Golf Club Retirement Village, and planning for the Centenary Motorway Upgrade, with details on the most relevant initiatives provided 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
Mt Ommaney Shopping Centre Entertainment Precinct
Cinema, dining and entertainment precinct extension to Mt Ommaney Shopping Centre including 6-storey building with cinema, community use and retail tenancies. Features additional gross floor area including multi-screen cinema, gym, dining and entertainment precinct, and rebuilt community centre. Designed by Blight Raynor.
Verandah Estate
Newest residential estate in Seventeen Mile Rocks featuring contemporary homes on large blocks (875sqm+) surrounded by trees and nature. Estate includes building covenants ensuring homes are designed in harmony with natural environment. Features permanent ridge top reserve and bushwalking tracks to Rocks Riverside Park.
Middle Park Intersection Upgrade (Eumong Street/Riverhills Road)
A $1.7 million project by Brisbane City Council to upgrade the intersection of Eumong Street and Riverhills Road to combat congestion and reduce travel times.
McLeod Country Golf Club Retirement Village
Aura Holdings to develop retirement living project at McLeod Country Golf Club with 126 apartments across four buildings over two stages. Designed to integrate with community, minimizing disruption to club operations.
Metro Middle Park Mixed-Use Redevelopment
Acquisition of a 2.1-hectare neighbourhood shopping centre anchored by Coles, with longer-term mixed-use development potential of up to four storeys and future uplift via retail repositioning. The current centre comprises 6,411sqm of gross lettable area with 38 specialty tenancies and 301 parking spaces.
Mt Ommaney Shopping Centre Rebel Sport Extension
Internal amalgamation of existing retail tenancies and extension to accommodate new 1,418sqm Rebel Sport store. Involves removal of part of existing food court and repurposing of 9 tenancies with new loading dock and facade amendments.
Darra Mixed-Use Commercial
A mixed-use development featuring 9 buildings and 56 units. The development will showcase a mix of industrial, showroom, office, and storage spaces.
Darra Mixed-Use Development
Five-storey mixed-use proposal across two buildings on a 1,707sqm triangular site. Ground floor for eight retail shops, two offices and a food and drink outlet, with caretaker accommodation above select shops. Upper levels include rooming accommodation and 12 residential units with a basement providing about 31 car spaces. Application is in progress with Brisbane City Council (Code assessable, Stage/Decision: Referral).
2,330 residents of Westlake are employed, from a labour force of 2,416. Unemployment sits at 3.6%, with participation at 65.1%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.8% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 3,472, about 77% 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 suburb of Westlake possesses a highly educated labor force with a strong concentration in professional fields, alongside an unemployment rate of just 3.6% according to aggregated statistical area data from AreaSearch. As of March 2026, there are 2,330 employed residents, representing an unemployment rate 0.8% below the Greater Brisbane average of 4.3%. However, the labor force participation rate of 65.1% trails the Greater Brisbane average of 70.4% by a wide margin. Census records indicate that a high proportion of residents, 26.2%, worked from home, though this figure may have been influenced by pandemic-related restrictions.
The primary employment sectors for residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical. The suburb has a notable concentration in the professional & technical sector, where local employment rates are 1.4 times higher than the regional average. Conversely, construction is under-represented, accounting for only 6.2% of the workforce in the suburb of Westlake compared to 9.0% across Greater Brisbane. The predominantly residential character of the suburb appears to offer few local jobs, as highlighted by the comparison of Census working population to resident population. An analysis of SALM and ABS figures aggregated across broader statistical areas indicates that the labor force shrank by 2.5% over the 12-month period, while overall employment dropped by 3.5%, resulting in a 1.0 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. In contrast, Greater Brisbane experienced a 3.2% expansion in employment, a 3.4% rise in the labor force, and a modest 0.1 percentage point increase in unemployment. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia published in May-25 offer additional context on future demand patterns in the suburb of Westlake. These five and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce distribution to project future employment trends. Although the national workforce is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates vary widely by industry. Applying these industry weightings to the occupational profile of the suburb of Westlake suggests local employment could expand by 6.8% over five years and 14.1% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustration and does not incorporate local population forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Westlake is $2,691 a week (about $140,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,007 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $63,560 a year against an average of $79,820. 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 the latest postcode ATO statistics compiled by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year, the suburb of Westlake has a median taxpayer income of $63,560 and an average income of $79,820. These figures are very high on a national scale, contrasting with a median of $58,236 and an average of $72,799 in Greater Brisbane. Applying Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% since the 2023 financial year yields estimated current figures of approximately $70,780 for the median and $88,888 for the average as of March 2026. According to 2021 Census data, household, family, and individual incomes in the suburb of Westlake are positioned in the top tiers nationally, ranking between the 79th and 93rd percentiles.
The data shows that the weekly income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 contains 30.1% of the population (1,360 individuals), which is comparable to the 33.3% recorded across the metropolitan area in the same bracket. The economic capacity of the area is highlighted by the 44.7% of households earning high weekly incomes above $3,000, which sustains strong consumer spending. Residents retain 89.1% of their income after housing expenses, demonstrating strong purchasing capacity, while the SEIFA index ranks the area in the 9th decile for income.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Westlake had 1,503 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 97% detached houses and 0% apartments. 45% are owned with a mortgage, 11% rented and 44% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $550 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,247 a month. Rent absorbs 20.4% of household income here and mortgage repayments 19.3%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the latest Census, the housing stock in the suburb of Westlake consisted of 96.9% detached houses and 3.1% alternative dwellings (such as semi-detached properties, apartments, and other housing types), compared to the Brisbane metropolitan breakdown of 73.5% houses and 26.5% other dwellings. The level of home ownership in the suburb of Westlake was substantially higher than the Brisbane metropolitan average, standing at 44.0%, while the remaining properties were either held with a mortgage (44.8%) or rented (11.3%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $2,247 was well above the metropolitan median of $1,863, and the median weekly rent was $550 compared to the Brisbane metro median of $380.
Compared to national statistics, mortgage payments in the suburb of Westlake are much higher than the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents are also well above the national average of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Westlake counted 1,503 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 3.0 people each. 47% are couples with children, more than in 91% of areas nationally, against 32% couples without children. 11% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up the vast majority of households at 87.8%, consisting of 46.8% couples with children, 31.7% couples without children, and 8.6% single parent families. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 12.2% of homes, with single person households representing 10.5% and group households making up 1.5% of the total. The median household size of 3.0 people is larger than the Greater Brisbane average of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
44.9% of adults in Westlake hold a university qualification, including 28.6% with a bachelor degree and 12.3% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 99% of areas nationally. A further 14.4% hold a vocational qualification. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Educational attainment in the suburb of Westlake is significantly higher than regional and national averages, with 44.9% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree, compared to 25.7% in QLD and 30.4% across Australia. This educational profile positions the suburb well for opportunities in knowledge-intensive industries. Bachelor degrees are the most common credential at 28.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 12.3% and graduate diplomas at 4.0%. Vocational and technical training is also well represented, with 25.6% of residents aged 15+ holding qualifications in these fields, consisting of advanced diplomas (11.2%) and certificates (14.4%).
Enrollment in education is remarkably strong, with 29.7% of residents currently undertaking formal studies. Within this cohort, 9.8% are in primary school, 8.9% are in high school, and 6.6% are enrolled in tertiary programs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Westlake reaches 8 stops on 4 routes, timetabled for about 270 services a week. The typical home sits about 300 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.9 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
Public transport research shows 8 active transit stops situated within the suburb of Westlake, consisting of bus services. These stops are serviced by 4 distinct routes, which accommodate 271 weekly passenger journeys. Transport access is rated as good, with residents living an average of 303 meters from the nearest stop. Because the suburb is primarily residential, the majority of workers travel outward for employment, with private vehicles remaining the primary mode of travel at 88%, and train usage at 6%. The average number of vehicles per home is 1.9, which is above the regional average.
A high proportion of residents, 26.2%, work from home according to the 2021 Census, which may reflect pandemic-era conditions. Route schedules indicate a typical service frequency of 38 trips per day across all routes, which translates to roughly 33 weekly trips at each individual transit stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
72.0% of residents in Westlake report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 90% of areas nationally. 4.1% need daily assistance with core activities, and 58.8% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 3.4 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health profiles show excellent outcomes in the suburb of Westlake, according to AreaSearch analysis of mortality statistics and chronic condition prevalence, which indicates low rates of common health issues across all age brackets. Private health insurance coverage is exceptionally high, covering approximately 59% of the population (2,659 people), compared to 55.8% across Greater Brisbane. Asthma and arthritis represent the most common health issues in the area, affecting 7.4% and 6.5% of the population respectively. Meanwhile, 72.0% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 69.2% in Greater Brisbane.
The working-age population exhibits high levels of physical health and low rates of long-term illness. Residents aged 65 and over make up 23.0% of the population (1,039 people), which is higher than the Greater Brisbane average of 15.1%. Senior citizens in the suburb show particularly strong health profiles, with national rankings aligning with those of the broader community.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
36.3% of Westlake residents were born overseas and 25.8% speak a language other than English at home, more culturally diverse than 75% of areas nationally. The largest reported ancestries are English (25.8%) and Australian (19.3%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
The suburb of Westlake features a higher level of cultural diversity than most comparable areas, with 25.8% of residents speaking a language other than English at home and 36.3% born outside Australia. Christianity is the primary religious affiliation, representing 51.0% of the population. However, the most pronounced overrepresentation occurs in Judaism, which accounts for 0.3% of the community compared to 0.1% across Greater Brisbane. Regarding ancestry patterns linked to parent birthplace, the three largest ancestral groups in the suburb of Westlake are English at 25.8%, Australian at 19.3%, and Other at 9.8%.
There are also distinct variations in the concentration of other backgrounds, with Vietnamese ancestry notably higher at 3.0% (compared to 0.8% across the region), Russian ancestry at 0.5% (compared to 0.3%), and New Zealand ancestry at 1.0% (matching the regional average of 1.0%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Westlake is 43. 19.4% 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 median age in the suburb of Westlake is 43 years, which is notably higher than the Greater Brisbane median of 36 years and the national median of 38 years. The 65 - 74 age group is highly represented at 13.0% compared to Greater Brisbane, whereas the 25 - 34 bracket is smaller at 5.8%. Post-2021 Census data indicates the 75 to 84 group has increased from 4.5% to 8.0% of the population, and the 15 to 24 cohort rose from 11.9% to 13.6%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 bracket fell from 15.7% to 13.0%, while the 25 to 34 group declined from 8.2% to 5.8%.
Projections for 2041 suggest significant demographic shifts in the suburb of Westlake, led by the 85+ cohort, which is expected to grow by 149% (an increase of 134 people) to reach 225 from 90. Combined, residents aged 65 and over will account for 97% of total population growth, reflecting an aging population profile, while the 15 to 24 and 0 to 4 groups are forecast to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Westlake
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) | May 2026 3 months ago all 13 measures |
| 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) | Jul 2026 last 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 — 1 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (4,547 at the 2021 Census → 4,520 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 (SAL33049). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.