Dundowran Beach
Age is the defining feature of Dundowran Beach: the median age is 51, or 11 years above the national figure, while 68.9% of homes have four or more bedrooms and 100% are separate houses. That points to an established, low-density coastal market suited to owners seeking space rather than apartment living. Car dependence is also clear, with 81.3% driving to work and only 0.4% walking or cycling. Compared with nearby Dundowran and Eli Waters, its coastal setting and detached housing profile are the stronger lifestyle cues, while household income sits at the 57.2nd percentile nationally. The 2,299 residents and 52.9% outright ownership rate support a settled feel, although the 6.1% vacancy rate leaves some room for rental choice.
Local council: Fraser Coast
Population
2,299
Median Age
51.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,651/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
27
Buyers are choosing a highly consistent housing form: 100% of dwellings are separate houses, with 68.9% containing four or more bedrooms and 28.0% containing three. That suits families and downsizers wanting space, but it narrows entry-level choice compared with suburbs with more apartments or townhouses. The mortgage indicator is $1,764 monthly, equal to 24.7% of household income, while rent is $418 weekly or 25.3%, both below common stress thresholds. With 52.9% owning outright and 38.8% paying a mortgage, the suburb is more owner-oriented than rental-led. Compare recent settled sales property by property because no dependable median sale price is available.
For Buyers
Buyers are choosing a highly consistent housing form: 100% of dwellings are separate houses, with 68.9% containing four or more bedrooms and 28.0% containing three. That suits families and downsizers wanting space, but it narrows entry-level choice compared with suburbs with more apartments or townhouses. The mortgage indicator is $1,764 monthly, equal to 24.7% of household income, while rent is $418 weekly or 25.3%, both below common stress thresholds. With 52.9% owning outright and 38.8% paying a mortgage, the suburb is more owner-oriented than rental-led. Compare recent settled sales property by property because no dependable median sale price is available.
For Investors
Investors face a small but potentially durable rental market. Only 7.3% of households rent, compared with 52.9% owning outright and 38.8% holding a mortgage, so the tenant pool is much smaller than in rental-heavy suburbs. The weekly rent indicator is $418 and vacancy is 6.1%, a combination that can provide renter choice but may also mean longer letting periods when competing homes are available. Demand should be assessed against the 100% detached housing supply, because larger homes can attract families but carry higher maintenance costs. The annual growth trend is 2.21%, driven by internal migration, which is supportive rather than guaranteed. Review insurance, rates and comparable rents before buying, especially as the aging trajectory may favour stable tenants over rapid household churn.
Development Activity
Total DAs
34
Last 12 Months
27
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+2600.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
Dundowran Beach has an older, settled population: the median age is 51, or 11 years above national, and 71.7% stayed at the same address. Average household size is 2.6, only 0.1 above the national average, with couples without children at 56.9% of families and couples with children at 33.5%. English, Scottish and Irish ancestry counts are 1,120, 256 and 250. The overseas-born share is 21.5%, 0.1 points below national, while university attainment is 28.2%, 1.9 points lower. Unlike the more inland settings around Dundowran and Eli Waters, the beachside context may appeal to older owner-occupiers, helping explain the 52.9% outright ownership rate.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
0.0%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Housing is concentrated in large detached stock. Separate houses account for 100.0% of dwellings, while 68.9% have four or more bedrooms and 28.0% have three. Smaller homes are limited, with 0.4% containing zero or one bedroom and 2.8% containing two. Tenure is equally owner-heavy: 52.9% own outright, 38.8% have a mortgage and 7.3% rent. The mortgage indicator is $1,764 per month, or 24.7% of household income, while rent is $418 per week, or 25.3%, both below common stress thresholds. Compared with apartment-oriented coastal areas, Dundowran Beach provides more land and space but fewer compact options. Buyers should compare settled sales carefully because a suburb median house price is not available.
Mortgage / mo
$1,764
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $418.
$590
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $590 · units $480
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$696
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.1%
Unoccupied
55
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.7%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
33.5%
Couples with children
56.9%
Couples, no children
9.1%
Single parent
750
Total families
Economy & Employment
Employment is anchored by care, education and public services. Healthcare accounts for 22.7% of industry employment with 157 workers, followed by Education at 15.9% and 110, Construction at 11.6% and 80, Public Administration at 9.8% and 68, and Retail at 5.6% and 39. Occupations include 220 Professionals, 133 Managers, 130 Community and Personal Service workers, 129 in Trades and 119 in Clerical and Administration. Participation is 51.3%, unemployment 6.3% and full-time employment 60.1%. Household income is $1,651 weekly, at the 57.2nd percentile nationally. IEO is decile 4 but IER is decile 8, while IRSAD is decile 5, so economic resources rank higher than education and occupation conditions. Compared with a purely retiree economy, the service and construction base is broader, although age 51 may temper labour-force growth.
Unemployment
6.3%
Labour Force
990
Unemployed
62
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
60.1%
Part-time
32.9%
Participation
51.3%
Employed
928
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
28.2%
Postgraduate
6.6%
Born Overseas
21.5%
Dwellings
834
Transport to Work
Livability centres on space, quiet and car access rather than walkable urban convenience. About 81.3% of workers travel by car, only 0.4% walk or cycle, and 12.6% work from home, so daily errands and services are likely easier with a vehicle. At 264.0 people per square kilometre across 8.71 square kilometres, the setting is less dense than major urban centres. Social conditions are mixed to middle-ranking: IRSAD is decile 5 and IRSD is also decile 5, while IER reaches decile 8 and IEO is decile 4. That combination suggests reasonable economic resources alongside more uneven education and occupation outcomes. Compared with denser Hervey Bay areas, Dundowran Beach may suit residents who value detached homes and lower crowding, but the median age of 51 and 7.6% needing assistance make access to healthcare and support services important.
Drive
81.3%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
0.4%
Work from Home
12.6%
Growth Outlook
Growth is positive but shaped by demographic aging. The annual trend is 2.21%, with internal migration identified as the primary driver, while population change across the wider area runs at 24.1% over ten years. The trajectory is labelled Aging, with the senior share up 7.3% and the young share down 3.5%, so demand may shift toward accessible homes and services rather than only family expansion. Gentrification signals are mixed: the active stage carries a score of 43, while the shift measure is at 33 and described as Early signs. Real income growth is 15.1% and rent growth is 25.0%, which can support reinvestment but also pressure affordability. Compared with slower established suburbs, the 2.21% pace is notable, yet the aging pattern means growth should not be read as a guarantee of a younger population.
Population trend: Fraser Coast council area
Dundowran Beach sits in the Fraser Coast council area. These are the council area's residents, not Dundowran Beach's.
Residents 2025
122,924
Growth, 5 yr average
+2.3%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+2.1%
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 Dundowran Beach compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dundowran Beach a good suburb to live in?
Dundowran Beach may suit residents seeking detached homes, space and a settled coastal environment. The median age is 51, 100% of dwellings are separate houses and 52.9% of households own outright. The trade-off is car dependence, with 81.3% driving to work and only 0.4% walking or cycling.
What is the median house price in Dundowran Beach?
There is no dependable median house price to quote for Dundowran Beach. Compare recent settled sales for similar properties, noting that 100% of dwellings are separate houses and 68.9% have four or more bedrooms. The rent indicator is $418 per week and the mortgage indicator is $1,764 per month.
What schools are in Dundowran Beach?
Families should check current school catchments and nearby Hervey Bay options for the exact address. Car dependence is high at 81.3%, so school travel may be part of the daily routine, and enrolment zones can differ between nearby streets. The average household size is 2.6 people, with 33.5% of families including children.
Is Dundowran Beach safe?
Safety should be checked at street level rather than inferred from suburb averages. Review recent incidents, lighting, traffic and storm exposure for the exact property. Dundowran Beach has 2,299 residents and a median age of 51, but neither figure determines personal safety or the suitability of a particular address.
Is Dundowran Beach good for property investment?
It may suit investors who prefer detached family housing and a relatively established ownership base. Only 7.3% of households rent, weekly rent is $418 and vacancy is 6.1%, so tenant demand should be tested carefully. The annual growth trend is 2.21% and is driven by internal migration, but the aging trajectory may moderate future tenant expansion.
How is Dundowran Beach's population changing?
The population trend is growing but aging. The area records 24.1% population change over ten years, with an annual trend of 2.21% driven by internal migration. The senior share has increased 7.3%, while the young share has fallen 3.5%, so future demand may favour accessible housing and services more than a younger family profile.
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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