Urban Centre · Area profile
St Pauls
18 km²
A very strong Indigenous presence defines St Pauls, where 87.1% of the population identifies as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. This small community of 278 people is much younger than the national average, with the typical resident aged 34. It is a place where traditional and family ties run deep, evidenced by large households and a high proportion of children. While the population has shrunk slightly since 2011, the area remains a distinct pocket of the Torres Strait with very few overseas arrivals.
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The community is notably young, with children under 15 making up 26.3% of the population, which is well above the national figure of 18.2%. This contributes to a typical age of 34, making the area noticeably younger than both Queensland and Australia.
Almost everyone here was born in Australia, with 0.0% of residents born overseas, a figure far below the national average of 27.7%.
A huge majority of people—73.0%—use a language other than English at home, a figure that has risen sharply since 2011. Around 14.0% of residents speak little or no English, which is far above the state and national figures.
Christianity is the dominant faith for 82.7% of the population, while only 4.3% of people report no religion, which is far below the national figure of 38.9%.
Higher education levels are low, with only 3.0% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher, far below the national average of 26.3%. Most residents have a Certificate III or IV, and 38.9% completed Year 12.
Incomes are much lower than most areas, with a typical weekly household earning $985, far below the national figure of $1,746. Very few households—just 3.5%—earn $3,000 or more per week.
Residents report fewer long-term health conditions than the national average, with only 22.3% having one, compared to 27.7% across Australia. Diabetes is the most common long-term condition, affecting 15.8% of the population.
The area has a high rate of volunteering at 23.8%, well above the national figure. Many people also provide unpaid care for children (30.7%) and a high 9.3% have served in the Defence Force.
Homes tend to be large, with 3.0 people per home. There is a very high proportion of one-parent families at 33.0%, which is far above the national average of 14.1%.
Rental properties dominate the market at 81.4%, far above the national figure of 30.6%. Most homes are separate houses, and typical weekly rent is very low at $123.
Car ownership is low, with 45.6% of homes having no motor vehicle, far above the national average of 7.4%. Consequently, 40.5% of workers walk to their jobs.
The population is very stable, with only 23.2% of people moving in the last five years, far below the national figure of 40.7%. There have been no recent arrivals from overseas.
Far fewer adults are working or looking for work here (40.6%) compared to the national figure of 61.1%. However, the unemployment rate is 0.0%, and many residents work in public administration and education.
The area is heavily car-dependent with a low walkability score of 0.7. While 89.3% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of a park, there are no shops, schools, or health services within a similar distance.