# Calliope

Urban Centre · Area profile

Located in: Queensland › Rest of Qld › Gladstone › 4680, QLD

Area: 7 km²

A high proportion of full-time workers and strong typical incomes define Calliope. This is a rapidly expanding community that grew by over 300% since 2011 to reach 4,396 people. It is a remarkably young place, with a typical resident aged just 30 and far more children than the national figure. This youthful character is reflected in the large family homes and a high number of parents caring for children.

## Demographics & Identity

The area has seen a dramatic shift since 2011, becoming far younger with a typical age of 30 and a children's population that is well above the national average. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 7.2% of the community, which is a little above the Queensland figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total population | 4,396 | +311.6% since 2011 |
| Median age | 30 yrs | -51.6% since 2011 |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population | 7.2% | +250.8% since 2011 |
| People aged 65 and over | 9.2% | -77.0% since 2011 |
| Children under 15 | 30.7% | +249.7% since 2011 |
| People in a de facto relationship | 19.4% | +130.4% since 2011 |

**Age structure** — Children (0–14) 30.7%, Young adults (25–44) 29.6%, Older adults (45–64) 19.6%, Youth (15–24) 10.6%, Seniors (65+) 9.2%

**Marital status** — Married 45.3%, Never married 37.6%, Divorced 9.1%, Separated 4.8%, Widowed 3.1%

## Ancestry & Birthplace

Most residents were born in Australia, and the community has fewer overseas-born people than most other areas. Those with overseas roots are most commonly from New Zealand, England, and South Africa.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People born overseas | 8.4% | -38.2% since 2011 |

**Country of birth** — Australia 86.6%, New Zealand 3.0%, England 1.4%, South Africa 0.8%, Philippines 0.5%, India 0.1%, China 0.1%, Vietnam 0.1%

**Ancestry** — Australian 48.0%, English 39.7%, Scottish 10.8%, Irish 9.0%, German 6.3%, Dutch 1.8%, Italian 1.5%, Chinese 0.9%, Filipino 0.7%, Indian 0.2%, Greek 0.2%, Vietnamese 0.1%

## Language

English is the primary language for the vast majority of the community. Only 3.1% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People using another language at home | 3.1% | +177.6% since 2011 |
| People who speak little or no English | 0.1% | -87.4% since 2016 |

**Language used at home** — English only 91.7%, Tagalog 0.2%, Vietnamese 0.1%, Mandarin 0.1%, Greek 0.1%, Italian 0.1%

## Religion

A majority of residents (51.4%) report no religion, a figure that is far above the national average and has risen significantly since 2011.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with no religion | 51.4% | +236.7% since 2011 |

**Religious affiliation** — No religion 51.4%, Christianity 40.7%, Not stated 7.1%, Buddhism 0.3%, Other religions 0.3%, Islam 0.2%, Hinduism 0.1%

## Education & Qualifications

While most residents have a lower level of university qualifications than the national figure, the proportion of people who completed Year 12 has risen by 23 points since 2011.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Completed Year 12 | 43.1% | +119.4% since 2011 |
| Adults with a bachelor degree or higher | 7.6% | +39.5% since 2011 |

**Highest year of school** — Year 12 43.1%, Year 10 30.3%, Year 9 or below 9.9%, Year 11 9.9%

**Highest qualification level** — Certificate III / IV 53.7%, Advanced diploma / diploma 11.7%, Bachelor degree 10.5%, Certificate I / II 3.6%, Graduate diploma / certificate 1.7%, Postgraduate degree 1.6%

**Field of qualification** — Engineering & related 28.0%, Management & commerce 15.2%, Society & culture 8.8%, Education 7.7%, Food, hospitality & personal services 6.8%, Health 6.7%, Architecture & building 5.6%, Agriculture & environment 1.7%, Natural & physical sciences 1.1%, Information technology 0.7%, Creative arts 0.7%

## Income

Weekly incomes are much higher than in most similar areas, with typical family incomes sitting at $2,110. This strength is seen across the board, as 13.5% of people earn $2,000 or more a week.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median personal income (weekly) | $809 | +140.8% since 2011 |
| Median household income (weekly) | $1,840 | +199.7% since 2011 |
| Median family income (weekly) | $2,110 | +195.1% since 2011 |
| People earning $2,000+ a week | 13.5% | — |
| Households earning $3,000+ a week | 20.5% | — |

**Household income distribution** — $1,500–$2,999 32.7%, $650–$1,499 22.1%, Under $650 14.8%, $3,000–$3,999 12.8%, $4,000 or more 7.7%

**Personal income distribution** — Under $650 39.9%, $650–$1,499 28.6%, $1,500–$2,999 20.9%, $3,000 or more 3.9%

## Health & Disability

Residents are generally healthier than the national average, with fewer people reporting long-term health conditions or needing help with daily activities.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with a long-term health condition | 25.1% | — |
| People with a mental health condition | 9.1% | — |
| People needing help with daily activities | 4.7% | -54.1% since 2011 |

**Long-term health conditions reported** — Mental health 9.1%, Asthma 8.5%, Other condition 7.0%, Arthritis 6.3%, Diabetes 3.6%, Heart disease 2.5%, Cancer 2.3%, Lung condition 1.5%, Stroke 0.5%, Dementia 0.1%

**Number of long-term health conditions** — None 65.4%, One condition 18.2%, Two conditions 4.4%, Three or more 2.5%

## Community Participation

Unpaid childcare is very common here, with 39.9% of people caring for children—a rate far above the national figure. This is consistent with the high number of children in the area.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteers | 14.6% | -2.0% since 2011 |
| People providing unpaid care | 11.7% | -2.0% since 2011 |
| People caring for children unpaid | 39.9% | +245.0% since 2011 |
| People who served in the Defence Force | 3.2% | — |
| People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework | 24.3% | -28.8% since 2011 |

## Family & Households

Homes tend to be larger and more crowded than usual, with 2.9 people per household. People living alone are much less common here than in most other areas.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average household size | 2.9 | +45.0% since 2011 |
| One-parent families | 16.3% | +73.4% since 2011 |
| People living alone | 18.3% | -24.3% since 2011 |

**Family composition** — Couples with children 63.8%, Couples without children 19.4%, One-parent families 16.3%, Other families 0.4%

**Household size** — 2 people 30.5%, 4 people 20.7%, 1 person 18.3%, 3 people 15.5%, 5 people 10.2%, 6 or more 5.5%

## Housing & Dwellings

Large separate houses are the norm, with 92.5% of homes having three or more bedrooms. However, few homes are owned outright, and the proportion of renters has risen since 2011.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median rent (weekly) | $300 | — |
| Median mortgage repayment (monthly) | $1,733 | +28.0% since 2011 |
| Average people per bedroom | 0.80 | -27.3% since 2011 |
| Households renting | 33.4% | +49.5% since 2011 |
| Homes owned outright | 19.8% | -69.0% since 2011 |
| Separate (detached) houses | 93.7% | +15.1% since 2011 |
| Homes with three or more bedrooms | 92.5% | +25.5% since 2011 |

**How homes are owned or rented** — Owned with a mortgage 42.8%, Rented 33.4%, Owned outright 19.8%, Not stated 3.3%, Other tenure 0.9%

**Types of homes** — Separate house 93.7%, Townhouse / semi-detached 3.5%, Other dwelling 2.4%, Flat or apartment 0.3%

**Bedrooms per home** — 4 bedrooms 58.2%, 3 bedrooms 27.9%, 5 or more 6.3%, 2 bedrooms 3.5%, 1 bedroom 0.2%

**Weekly rent distribution** — $200–$349 63.0%, $350–$549 23.9%, Under $200 9.1%, $550–$749 0.8%

**Monthly mortgage distribution** — $1,800–$2,999 37.9%, $1,000–$1,799 36.2%, Under $1,000 12.4%, $3,000 or more 5.8%

## Transport & Vehicles

The community is heavily reliant on cars, as almost no one commutes via public transport. Very few homes (1.8%) are without a motor vehicle.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Homes with no motor vehicle | 1.8% | -59.7% since 2011 |
| People working from home | 2.8% | -63.1% since 2011 |
| Commuting by public transport | 0.4% | -65.9% since 2011 |

**How people get to work** — Car (driver) 72.5%, Car (passenger) 4.5%, Worked at home 2.8%, Walked 1.2%, Bicycle 0.2%, Bus 0.2%

**Motor vehicles per home** — 2 vehicles 47.6%, 1 vehicle 26.3%, 3 vehicles 17.3%, 4 or more 6.8%, No vehicle 1.8%

## Migration & Movement

Calliope is a dynamic area where 43.2% of people have moved house in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 7% of the population.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People who moved in the last 5 years | 43.2% | -14.2% since 2011 |
| Recent arrivals from overseas | 7.0% | +14.3% since 2011 |

## Jobs & Industry

The workforce is very active, with 66% of people employed full-time, though the unemployment rate is a little above the national figure. Many people work in manufacturing, construction, and retail.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment rate | 7.4% | -22.0% since 2011 |
| Labour-force participation | 65.3% | +141.3% since 2011 |
| Employed full-time | 66.0% | +53.1% since 2011 |

**Industries people work in** — Manufacturing 13.0%, Construction 12.2%, Retail trade 9.6%, Health care & social assistance 9.5%, Transport & warehousing 8.8%, Education & training 6.6%, Mining 5.2%, Accommodation & food 5.2%, Public administration & safety 4.7%, Other services 4.3%, Administrative & support 4.0%, Electricity, gas & water 3.3%, Professional & technical 2.4%, Wholesale trade 2.3%, Rental & real estate 1.5%, Agriculture, forestry & fishing 0.9%, Finance & insurance 0.6%, Arts & recreation 0.5%, Media & telecommunications 0.3%

**Occupations people work in** — Technicians & trades 22.8%, Machinery operators & drivers 16.4%, Labourers 13.8%, Community & personal service 9.8%, Professionals 9.6%, Clerical & administrative 9.2%, Sales workers 8.5%, Managers 7.2%

## Walkability

The area is mostly car-dependent with a low walkability score. While many homes are near parks and schools, almost no one lives within a 10-minute walk of public transport.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Walkability score | 2.8 | — |
| Amenity types within a 15-minute walk | 3.6 | — |
| Homes with a 15-minute-city walkshed | 48.2% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of groceries | 50.7% | — |
| Homes within 10 min walk of public transport | 0.0% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a school | 65.9% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a park | 88.4% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of health services | 49.2% | — |
| Walkable amenities per 1,000 residents | 6.6 | — |
| Street connectivity (intersections/km²) | 37 | — |
| Mean terrain slope | 5.5% | — |

## Nearby areas

[Wurdong Heights](https://censusatlas.au/region/ucl/UCL322136/wurdong-heights) · [Benaraby](https://censusatlas.au/region/ucl/UCL321011/benaraby) · [Gladstone](https://censusatlas.au/region/ucl/UCL312002/gladstone) · [Tannum Sands - Boyne Island](https://censusatlas.au/region/ucl/UCL314023/tannum-sands-boyne-island) · [Mount Larcom](https://censusatlas.au/region/ucl/UCL322086/mount-larcom) · [Miriam Vale](https://censusatlas.au/region/ucl/UCL322082/miriam-vale) · [Seventeen Seventy](https://censusatlas.au/region/ucl/UCL322107/seventeen-seventy) · [Agnes Water](https://censusatlas.au/region/ucl/UCL315001/agnes-water)

Interactive profile: https://censusatlas.au/region/ucl/UCL315012/calliope