Wulguru

Wulguru has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

The population of the suburb of Wulguru was estimated at 4,647 as of May 2026, based on analysis of ABS population updates and new addresses validated by AreaSearch. This represented an increase of 5.9% from the 2021 Census figure of 4,389 people. The change was inferred from a resident population estimate of 4,644 by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and two additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a population density ratio of 1,586 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Wulguru's growth rate of 5.9% since the census was within 1.2 percentage points of the SA4 region's growth rate of 7.1%, indicating strong population fundamentals. Natural growth contributed approximately 48.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including overseas migration and interstate migration being positive factors.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and years post-2032, Queensland State Government's SA2 area projections released in 2023 based on 2021 data were used. However, these state projections do not provide age category splits, so AreaSearch applied proportional growth weightings in line with the ABS Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 using 2022 data for each age cohort. Considering projected demographic shifts, aggregated SA2-level projections anticipate lower quartile growth of Australia's non-metropolitan areas, with the suburb expected to expand by 66 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 1.4% in total over the 16-year period.

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

Wulguru has seen very limited development activity, averaging less than one approval per year over five years. This low level of development reflects the rural nature of the area, where housing needs typically drive development rather than broad market demand. Notably, the small number of approvals can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics.

Compared to the Rest of Qld and nationally, Wulguru has much lower development activity.

Wulguru has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified five projects potentially impacting the area. Notable projects are SunHQ Hydrogen Hub, Iluka, Kirwan Health Campus Expansion, and Wulguru Group Stuart Facility Expansion. The following details these projects in order of relevance.

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

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Employment drivers in Wulguru are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Wulguru has a balanced workforce with equal representation of white and blue collar jobs. Essential services sectors are well-represented in the area. According to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical data, Wulguru's unemployment rate is 6.6%.

As of December 2025, there are 2,016 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.6% higher than Regional Queensland's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation in Wulguru is significantly lower at 55.7%, compared to Regional Queensland's 64.5%. Census data shows that only 4.6% of residents work from home, although Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The key industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and retail trade.

Public administration & safety has a particularly notable concentration with employment levels at 1.9 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence in Wulguru with only 0.7% of employment compared to 4.5% regionally. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between December 2024 and November 2025, labour force decreased by 0.1%, while employment declined by 1.7%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 1.4 percentage points in Wulguru. This contrasts with Regional Queensland where employment grew by 0.7% and labour force expanded by 1.0%, resulting in a 0.3 percentage point increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insight into potential future demand within Wulguru. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, suggest that national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. However, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Wulguru's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 12.9% over ten years.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data, released for the financial year ending June 2023, indicates that Wulguru suburb had a median income among taxpayers of $47,927 and an average income of $56,374. This is lower than the national average. In comparison, Regional Queensland had a median income of $53,146 and an average income of $66,593 during the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.36% from June 2023 to March 2026, current estimates suggest the median income in Wulguru would be approximately $53,372 and the average income around $62,778 by that date. According to Census 2021 data, incomes in Wulguru rank modestly, with household, family, and personal incomes all falling between the 32nd and 38th percentiles. Income analysis reveals that the largest segment comprises 33.4% of residents earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, which is similar to regional levels where 31.7% fall within this bracket. After accounting for housing costs, 86.4% of income remains for other expenses.

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

Dwelling structure in Wulguru, as per the latest Census, was 89.3% houses and 10.7% other dwellings. In Regional Qld, it was 76.4% houses and 23.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wulguru was 33.6%, similar to Regional Qld's 33.6%. Mortgaged dwellings were 35.8% and rented dwellings were 30.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, lower than Regional Qld's average of $1,655. Median weekly rent in Wulguru was $290, compared to Regional Qld's $345. Nationally, Wulguru's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863 and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Wulguru has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 69.1% of all households, including 24.7% couples with children, 28.4% couples without children, and 14.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 30.9%, with lone person households at 27.5% and group households comprising 3.5%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which is smaller than the Regional Queensland average of 2.5.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 14.1%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 10.1%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.4%) and postgraduate qualifications (1.6%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 38.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (9.0%) and certificates (29.4%). Educational participation is high at 27.3%, with 10.1% in primary education, 8.4% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.1% in primary education, 8.4% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

The analysis of public transport in Wulguru shows that there are 22 active transport stops currently operating within the area. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with two individual routes providing a total of 166 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these transport services is rated as good, with residents typically located approximately 229 meters away from their nearest stop. As Wulguru is predominantly residential, most residents commute outward to other areas for work or leisure. The car remains the primary mode of transportation, used by 95% of residents. On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling in the area.

According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low percentage of residents, specifically 4.6%, work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages approximately 23 trips per day across all routes, equating to around seven weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Wulguru is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Wulguru faces significant health challenges according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notable across both younger and older age cohorts. Approximately 50% of Wulguru's total population (~2,302 people) has private health cover, compared to Regional Qld's 52.5% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (10.1%) and mental health issues (9.9%). 63.4% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 67.6% in Regional Qld. Working-age population health challenges include elevated chronic condition rates. As of 2021, 22.0% of Wulguru's residents are aged 65 and over (1,022 people), higher than Regional Qld's 20.4%. Senior health outcomes present some challenges, broadly in line with national rankings.

Wulguru is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Wulguru had cultural diversity scores below average, with 90.4% citizens, 90.2% born in Australia, and 95.9% speaking English only at home. The predominant religion was Christianity, at 53.5%, compared to Regional Qld's 52.2%. Top ancestry groups were Australian (29.0%), English (28.9%), and Irish (9.2%).

Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation was higher at 6.7% (regional: 3.9%), Russian at 0.3% (regional: 0.2%), and Scottish at 8.3% (regional: 7.8%).

Wulguru's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Wulguru is close to Regional Queensland's average of 41 years, both being slightly higher than Australia's median age of 38. Compared to Regional Queensland's average, the 55-64 age cohort is notably over-represented in Wulguru at 14.1%, while the 25-34 age group is under-represented at 11.1%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 11.6% to 13.1% of Wulguru's population, while the 75 to 84 cohort increased from 6.9% to 8.0%. Conversely, the 15 to 24 age group has declined from 12.4% to 11.1%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Wulguru, with the 85+ age cohort projected to grow significantly by 105 people (an 84% increase) from 125 to 231. The aging population trend is clear, with those aged 65 and above comprising 81% of this projected growth. Conversely, the 5 to 14 and 55 to 64 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.