Urban Centre · Area profile
Fraser Island
1 km²
A very high rate of full-time employment defines Fraser Island (L), where 84.6% of the workforce is employed full-time. This small population of 67 people has changed rapidly since 2011, shrinking by 87% and becoming much younger, with a typical resident now aged 32. It is a highly mobile community with a strong international presence, as over a third of residents were born overseas. The area's character is shaped by a workforce heavily concentrated in tourism and hospitality.
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The population is noticeably younger than the national figure, with no children under 15 or seniors over 65 recorded. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 4.5% of the community, which is about the same as the Queensland average.
People born overseas make up 37.3% of the population, which is well above the national figure. English, Australian, and Scottish are the most common ancestries, while the Philippines and New Zealand are the primary birthplaces outside Australia.
Language diversity is high, with 26.9% of people using a language other than English at home—a figure that has risen sharply since 2011. Hindi is the most common non-English language, though everyone in the community speaks English.
People with no religion make up 37.3% of the population, which is a little below the national average. Christianity and Hinduism are the other primary affiliations.
The community is well-qualified, with 56.7% of residents having completed Year 12 and 19.4% holding a bachelor degree or higher. Many of these qualifications are in food, hospitality, and management.
Typical personal weekly income is $1,131, which is well above both the state and national figures. While family incomes are also high, the typical household income is well below the national average.
Residents are in good health, with a long-term health condition rate of 23.9%, which is well below the national figure. No one in the community currently requires help with daily activities.
Participation in unpaid work is very low, with no one reporting time spent on volunteering, childcare, or housework. This is a significant drop from 2011.
Living arrangements are small, with just 1.2 people per home and 29.9% of people living alone. One-parent families make up 17.9% of households, which is well above the national average.
Separate houses are very common at 92.2%, and 37.7% of homes are owned outright. While typical weekly rent is far below the national figure at just $48, typical monthly home-loan payments are far above average at $3,750.
Walking is the most popular way to get to work for 44.2% of people. Public transport use for commuting is 11.5%, which is well above the state and national figures.
The community is very transient, with 70.1% of people having moved in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 40.0% of the population, a far higher rate than seen across Queensland.
Jobs are heavily concentrated in accommodation and food services, which employ 86.5% of the workforce. This focus helps explain the high rate of adults working or looking for work, and the unemployment rate is 0.0%.
The area is mostly car-dependent with a low walkability score, and no homes are within a 10-minute walk of public transport. However, 71.1% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries.