Barney Point
A population of 1,065 occupies 3.5 sq km, producing a density of 304.1 people per sq km. Barney Point has an older resident base, with a median age of 46, which is 6 years above the national comparison, and a renter majority at 51.8%. Vacancy is high at 18.7%, suggesting a less settled housing market than a tightly held owner area. Compared with nearby Gladstone and South Gladstone, its 2.0-person households and household income at the 9th percentile nationally indicate a smaller, lower-income profile, while 52.6% male residents and English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts shape its Anglo-leaning character.
Local council: Gladstone
Population
1,065
Median Age
46.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$908/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Buyer decisions need to start with recent comparable sales because a median house price is not stated. The built form is more house-led than apartment-led: separate houses account for 74.3%, versus 19.5% apartments and 5.1% semi-detached dwellings. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 59.9%, giving the suburb a practical family-house profile despite average household size of only 2.0. The $1,466 monthly mortgage figure sits alongside weekly rent of $220, while mortgage costs equal 37.3% of income versus 24.2% for rent. The 51.8% renter share may create more choice than in tightly owner-held areas, but 18.7% vacancy warrants close checks on building condition, resale evidence and the exact dwelling.
For Buyers
Buyer decisions need to start with recent comparable sales because a median house price is not stated. The built form is more house-led than apartment-led: separate houses account for 74.3%, versus 19.5% apartments and 5.1% semi-detached dwellings. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 59.9%, giving the suburb a practical family-house profile despite average household size of only 2.0. The $1,466 monthly mortgage figure sits alongside weekly rent of $220, while mortgage costs equal 37.3% of income versus 24.2% for rent. The 51.8% renter share may create more choice than in tightly owner-held areas, but 18.7% vacancy warrants close checks on building condition, resale evidence and the exact dwelling.
For Investors
Barney Point's investment case is shaped by a renter majority, with 51.8% of residents renting and weekly rent at $220. Vacancy of 18.7% is higher than a tightly occupied market would normally suggest, so advertised rent should not be treated as guaranteed income; tenant demand, dwelling quality and lease-up time need checking. The 22.5% turnover rate is lower than the 77.5% share who stayed, indicating both rental churn and a substantial settled base. Development activity was 0 over the past 12 months, limiting evidence of a new-supply pipeline. Separate houses account for 74.3%, higher than apartments at 19.5%. Compared with a low-vacancy rental market, vacancy risk makes due diligence more important than headline yield.
Development Activity
Total DAs
16
Last 12 Months
0
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
Demographics
Barney Point's median age is 46, 6 years above the national comparison, and its average household size is 2.0, 0.5 below national. That combination helps explain the 47.9% share of couples without children and 26.9% one-parent families, with 25.2% couples with children. University participation is 13.1%, 17 percentage points below national, while 15.9% were born overseas, 5.7 points below national. English ancestry counts 415, Irish 111 and Scottish 86, while no religion counts 464 versus 415 for Christianity. Compared with nearby Gladstone and South Gladstone, Barney Point's smaller household profile is a distinctive local feature, reinforced by a 22.5% turnover rate and 77.5% staying at the same address.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
74.3%
Houses
5.1%
Townhouse
19.5%
Apartment
Tenure
Barney Point is detached-house dominant but not owner dominated. Separate houses make up 74.3%, compared with 19.5% apartments and 5.1% semi-detached homes. Tenure is unusual for that built form: 51.8% rent, while 29.5% own outright and 17.6% hold a mortgage. The 18.7% vacancy rate is a notable contrast with the renter share and may reflect a mix of short-term, vacant or lower-demand dwellings. Three-bedroom homes account for 59.9%, followed by two-bedroom homes at 25.3%; only 12.7% have four or more bedrooms. Weekly rent is $220 and the monthly mortgage figure is $1,466, with mortgage costs at 37.3% of income versus 24.2% for rent.
Mortgage / mo
$1,466
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $220.
$510
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $510 · units $400
HH Size
2.0
Personal Income / wk
$539
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
18.7%
Unoccupied
110
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.2%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
37.3% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.2%
Couples with children
47.9%
Couples, no children
26.9%
Single parent
242
Total families
Economy & Employment
Employment is anchored by manufacturing at 15.2% with 30 workers, transport at 13.1% with 26 and construction at 12.6% with 25, followed by healthcare at 11.6% with 23 and hospitality at 7.1% with 14. This mix aligns with 72 labourers, 65 trades workers and 52 machinery or drivers, while 59 professionals and 31 managers add occupational breadth. The unemployment rate is 15.0%, with participation at 48.3% and a full-time rate of 56.6%, so labour-market engagement is weaker than a fully employed workforce. Household income is $908 weekly, placing it at the 9th percentile nationally, while personal income is $539 and family income is $1,146. The lower income position likely reflects the older age profile and 375 people not in the labour force, not just industry mix.
Unemployment
15.0%
Labour Force
434
Unemployed
65
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.6%
Part-time
33.3%
Participation
48.3%
Employed
369
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
13.1%
Postgraduate
3.0%
Born Overseas
15.9%
Dwellings
467
Transport to Work
Daily movement is strongly car dependent: 81.1% drive, compared with 4.6% who walk or cycle and 4.9% who work from home. That pattern matters because density is 304.1 people per sq km, so convenience depends more on road access and parking than on a high active-transport share. Families should check school options, enrolment zones and travel times against the exact address and postcode 4680, since local access can vary between streets and sectors. A volunteering rate of 15.0% and need-assistance rate of 11.3% point to community support needs, while 2.0-person households may make nearby services more relevant than large-family facilities. Compared with a transit-led inner suburb, Barney Point is more car-oriented, and current local safety information should be checked before choosing a property.
Drive
81.1%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
4.6%
Work from Home
4.9%
Growth Outlook
Growth signals point to a stable but ageing base rather than a clear construction surge. The suburb has 1,065 residents today, a median age of 46, and 0 recorded development events across the past 12 months. Residential mobility is moderate: 22.5% turnover contrasts with 77.5% who stayed, so established residents may temper rapid change even as vacancies create churn in the rental stock. Compared with the national age profile, the median is 6 years higher, reinforcing the ageing trajectory. The 18.7% vacancy rate is higher than the 17.6% mortgage-holder share, but that is a housing-market signal rather than proof of population expansion. Planning attention should focus on reuse, occupancy and services before assuming large-scale growth.
Population trend: Gladstone council area
Barney Point sits in the Gladstone council area. These are the council area's residents, not Barney Point's.
Residents 2025
69,046
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.6%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.6%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Barney Point compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Barney Point a good suburb to live in?
Barney Point may suit residents seeking a smaller, older and rental-oriented setting. It has 1,065 people, a median age of 46, 51.8% renters and 18.7% vacancy. Car access is important because 81.1% drive, while 4.6% walk or cycle. Check the exact street, services and school enrolment zone before committing.
What is the median house price in Barney Point?
A current median house price should be checked through recent comparable sales and local agent evidence rather than assumed. Useful benchmarks include weekly rent of $220, a 74.3% separate-house share and a 59.9% three-bedroom share, but these measures do not substitute for a sale median.
What schools are in Barney Point?
Check school options using postcode 4680 and the exact address, then confirm enrolment zones, sector, year levels and travel times. Boundaries can differ between nearby streets, so a general suburb search is not enough for a family decision. Confirm current availability directly before signing a lease or contract.
Is Barney Point safe?
A current safety decision requires checking local crime information and the exact street, lighting, traffic and evening activity. Barney Point has 1,065 residents and 81.1% car drivers, so inspect parking and movement around the dwelling as well as daytime conditions. Do not rely on a suburb-wide impression alone.
Is Barney Point good for property investment?
It can appeal to investors targeting lower weekly rent and established housing stock, but the risk profile needs care. Rent is $220 a week, 51.8% of residents rent and vacancy is 18.7%, so income interruptions may matter. Development activity was 0 over 12 months and turnover was 22.5%; verify demand, repairs, insurance and achievable rent before buying.
How is Barney Point's population changing?
Change appears measured rather than rapid. The suburb has 1,065 residents today, 77.5% stayed at the same address and 22.5% moved, while median age is 46, or 6 years above the national comparison. That combination suggests an older, relatively settled base with some rental churn, not a clearly expanding family-growth market.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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