3218.0 - Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2009-10 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 31/03/2011   
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QUEENSLAND


State summary

Population change in south-east Queensland

Population change in the remainder of Queensland

Population density

Centre of population

Local government area populations


STATE SUMMARY

At 30 June 2010, the estimated resident population of Queensland was 4.51 million, an increase of 89,100 people since June 2009. From June 2005 to June 2010, Queensland had an average annual growth rate of 2.5%, which was the second fastest of all states and territories, behind Western Australia (2.6%). Between 2009 and 2010, Queensland's population grew by 2.0%, second only to Western Australia with a growth rate of 2.2%.

SLA POPULATION CHANGE, Queensland - 2009-10
Diagram: SLA POPULATION CHANGE, Queensland—2009-10


POPULATION CHANGE IN SOUTH-EAST QUEENSLAND

At June 2010, south-east Queensland, comprising the SDs of Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, and West Moreton, accounted for around two-thirds (66%) of the total population in Queensland. In 2009-10, the population in south-east Queensland increased by 62,200, accounting for 70% of the total growth in the state.

The SD of Brisbane, which experienced the largest growth of all SDs within Queensland, recorded an increase of 39,000 people (1.9%) in the year to June 2010. Brisbane SD accounted for 45% of Queensland's population at June 2010.

The fastest-growing SD in south-east Queensland (and the state as a whole) was West Moreton, which increased by 2.9% in the year to June 2010.

At June 2010, the three most populous LGAs in Australia were located in south-east Queensland (Brisbane (C), Gold Coast (C) and Moreton Bay (R)). These LGAs also had three of the four largest increases in population in Australia between June 2009 and June 2010. Brisbane (C) increased by 14,800 people, Gold Coast (C) by 12,900 and Moreton Bay (R) by 11,100.

The three fastest-growing LGAs within south-east Queensland in 2009-10 were Somerset (R) which increased by 4.2%, Ipswich (C) (3.5%) and Moreton Bay (R) (3.0%), all of which adjoin the Brisbane (C) LGA.

In 2009-10, the SLA of Somerset (R) - Esk accounted for 83% of the growth in the LGA of Somerset (R), while the SLA of Ipswich (C) - East accounted for 56% of the growth in the LGA of Ipswich (C).


Brisbane City

Population growth within the LGA of Brisbane (C) was widespread in 2009-10, with almost 97% of Brisbane's SLAs recording an increase in population. The SLAs that experienced the largest population increases within Brisbane (C) were Wakerley, Calamvale and Pallara-Heathwood-Larapinta, increasing by 510, 460 and 420 people respectively.

In 2009-10, the three fastest-growing SLAs in Brisbane (C) were Pallara-Heathwood-Larapinta, which grew by 15.7%, Moggill (8.7%) and Wakerley (7.5%).

All of these largest and fastest growing SLAs are located within 15 to 20 kilometres of Brisbane's central business district.


Gold Coast City

In the year to June 2010, Pimpama-Coomera experienced the largest population increase (1,300 people) of all SLAs within the Gold Coast (C) LGA. This was followed by Kingsholme-Upper Coomera (with an increase of 1,200 people) and Southport (1,100 people).

Pimpama-Coomera was also the fastest-growing SLA in Gold Coast (C) in the year to June 2010, increasing 14.4%. Pacific Pines-Gaven was the second fastest-growing, increasing by 5.9%.


Moreton Bay (R)

Moreton Bay (R) adjoins the LGA of Brisbane to the north. There are 22 SLAs within Moreton Bay (R), of which Dakabin-Kallangur-M. Downs, with 29,500 people, was the most populous at June 2010. The SLA of Griffin-Mango Hill had the largest and fastest population growth (2,100 people or 12.8%) in the year to June 2010. The SLA of Caboolture Central had the second largest and fastest population growth (1,400 people or 6.4%).

POPULATION CHANGE IN THE REMAINDER OF QUEENSLAND

In the year to June 2010, the nine SDs outside of south-east Queensland increased in population by between 0.6% and 2.1%. The fastest-growing of these SDs was Wide Bay-Burnett, which increased by 2.1%. Mackay and Far North followed, both increasing by 2.0%.

Most LGAs in the remainder of Queensland experienced population increases in the year to June 2010. The LGAs with the largest population increases were Townsville (C) (up 4,000 people), Cairns (R) (up 3,900) and Toowoomba (R) (up 3,000). Other LGAs with population increases of more than 2,000 people were Mackay (R) and Fraser Coast (R).

In the year to June 2010, the three LGAs with the fastest growth outside of south-east Queensland were Northern Peninsula Area (R), which increased by 4.7%, Yarrabah (S) (up 3.6%) and Torres Strait Island (R) (3.4%). These LGAs were also among the top five fastest-growing LGAs in all of Queensland. Northern Peninsula Area (R) is located on the tip of Cape York and Yarrabah (S) is to the east of Cairns.

The LGA of Townsville (C) had the two fastest-growing SLAs in the remainder of Queensland in the year to June 2010. They were Mt Louisa-Mt St John-Bohle and Condon-Rasmussen-Bohle Basin, which increased by 10.5% and 6.5% respectively. The third fastest-growing SLA was Mackay (R) - Mirani, which increased by 5.9%.

LGAs WITH LARGEST AND FASTEST POPULATION GROWTH, Queensland

ERP at 30 June
Population Change
2010p
2009r-2010p
LGA
no.
no.
%

LARGEST GROWTH

Brisbane (C)
1 067 300
14 800
1.4
Gold Coast (C)
527 800
12 900
2.5
Moreton Bay (R)
382 300
11 100
3.0
Sunshine Coast (R)
330 900
7 500
2.3
Ipswich (C)
168 100
5 800
3.5

FASTEST GROWTH(a)

Northern Peninsula Area (R)
2 400
110
4.7
Somerset (R)
22 500
910
4.2
Yarrabah (S)
2 700
90
3.6
Ipswich (C)
168 100
5 800
3.5
Torres Strait Island (R)
5 100
170
3.4

(a) Excludes LGAs with a population of less than 2,000 at June 2009.


POPULATION DENSITY

At June 2010, the population density of Queensland was 2.6 people per square kilometre (sq km). Most of Queensland had a low population density with 64 SLAs, comprising around 92% of the total area of Queensland, having less than one person per sq km. The population density of Brisbane SD was 340 people per sq km, lower than the Australian capital cities combined (370 people per sq km).

The most densely populated SLAs in Brisbane SD at June 2010 were the inner-city New Farm (5,900 people per sq km), Kangaroo Point (5,600) and City - Inner (5,000). The two SLAs with the lowest population density in Brisbane SD were Moreton Island (1.7 people per sq km), followed by Pinkenba-Eagle Farm (6.4) on the coast near Brisbane airport. A pattern of higher population density is apparent along the urban corridor north to the Sunshine Coast and south to the Gold Coast.

In the year to June 2010, the largest increase in population density in Brisbane SD occurred in the SLA of Wakerley, which increased from 1,400 to 1,500 people per sq km.

Around three percent of SLAs within Brisbane SD experienced a decrease in population density between June 2009 and 2010.

POPULATION DENSITY BY SLA, Brisbane SD - June 2010
Diagram: POPULATION DENSITY, Brisbane SD—June 2010


CENTRE OF POPULATION

Queensland's centre of population at June 2010 was in the LGA of North Burnett (R), roughly 100 kilometres west of Maryborough. The centre moved approximately 1.7 kilometres east-north-east in the five years to June 2010, reflecting sustained population growth in Queensland's coastal regions over this time.

The centre of population for Brisbane SD at June 2010 was in the Botanic Gardens on the banks of the Brisbane River, just south of the city's central business district.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA POPULATIONS

For a full list of LGA populations, see the Downloads tab.