Goldsborough
A population of just 1,099 spread across 65.83 square kilometres defines Goldsborough as one of Cairns' more rural fringe communities, yet its household income sits at the 87.5th percentile nationally. That combination of low density and high earnings sets it apart from typical outer-ring suburbs. Every dwelling recorded here is a separate house, giving it a 100% detached rate compared to the national mix that includes apartments and semi-detacheds. The median age is 38, two years below the national figure, and couples with children make up the dominant household type at 480 of 936 families. With 61.2% of homes having four or more bedrooms, this is clearly family territory with room to breathe.
Population
1,099
Median Age
38.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,279/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
1
Median House
$585K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price of $585,000 represents meaningful value for a property at the rural fringe of Cairns, where acreage blocks and fully detached dwellings are the norm. Every dwelling in the suburb is a separate house, with 61.2% having four or more bedrooms, compared to the national average where large family homes are far less dominant. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 20.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Only 4.8% of residents rent, while 73.2% are paying off a mortgage and 21.9% own outright. That high owner-occupier rate signals stable, long-term residents rather than a transient market, making Goldsborough a lower-stress entry point than most Queensland coastal suburbs near a regional city.
For Buyers
The median house price of $585,000 represents meaningful value for a property at the rural fringe of Cairns, where acreage blocks and fully detached dwellings are the norm. Every dwelling in the suburb is a separate house, with 61.2% having four or more bedrooms, compared to the national average where large family homes are far less dominant. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 20.3%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Only 4.8% of residents rent, while 73.2% are paying off a mortgage and 21.9% own outright. That high owner-occupier rate signals stable, long-term residents rather than a transient market, making Goldsborough a lower-stress entry point than most Queensland coastal suburbs near a regional city.
For Investors
Goldsborough is not a traditional investor suburb. The renter share is just 4.8%, well below state and national averages, and weekly rent of $480 against a $585,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.3%. The vacancy rate of 6.8% is elevated, suggesting limited rental demand in this rural setting. Only 1 development application was lodged in the past 12 months, indicating minimal new supply pressure but also thin market activity. The appeal here is family owner-occupier demand rather than rental yield. Household income at the 87.5th percentile nationally supports mortgage serviceability, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.3% leaves buffer for rate movements. For investors, the low rental demand makes this a capital-growth play on Cairns fringe expansion rather than an income-focused hold.
Development Activity
Total DAs
1
Last 12 Months
1
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
—
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Demographics
The median age of 38 is 2 years below the national figure, reflecting the suburb's concentration of family households. Couples with children account for 480 of 936 total families, with average household size of 2.9, which is 0.4 above the national average. Overseas-born residents at 14.0% are 7.6 percentage points below the national rate, and the ancestry profile leans heavily Anglo-Celtic: English (432), Irish (112) and Scottish (102) are the top three groups. Italian (85) adds a small European layer. University qualifications reach 19.1% of residents, which is 11 percentage points below the national figure, a pattern consistent with trade and service-sector employment dominating the local economy. The volunteering rate of 13.4% reflects the community-oriented character of rural fringe life.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Every recorded dwelling in Goldsborough is a separate house, a 100% detached rate that stands in contrast to the national mix where apartments and townhouses make up a significant share. The bedroom profile skews large: 61.2% of homes have four or more bedrooms, 26.7% have three, and only 9.6% have two. This makes Goldsborough notably family-sized compared to most suburban markets. Tenure sits at 73.2% mortgage, 21.9% owned outright, and 4.8% renting. The low rental share means pricing is driven almost entirely by owner-occupier demand, which tends to dampen volatility. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.3% is well below stress levels, and rent-to-income of 21.1% is similarly comfortable for the small renter population. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000 against the $585,000 median.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wk
$480
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$977
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.8%
Unoccupied
26
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
21.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.3%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
26.4%
Couples, no children
936
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 14.6% (65 workers), followed by Construction at 13.0% (58) and Education at 12.6% (56), with Public Administration at 11.9% (53). This blend of essential services and trades reflects a suburb that sends workers into Cairns' service economy rather than hosting employment locally. By occupation, Professionals lead at 109 workers, followed by Clerical/Admin at 81, Community/Personal Services at 77, and Managers at 73. The full-time employment rate is 68.0% and the unemployment rate is just 2.6%, below the national average, which points to a stable, employed workforce. Participation rate of 68.9% is solid for a rural community. Household income at the 87.5th percentile nationally suggests residents in higher-earning professional and public sector roles commute out rather than work locally.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
68.0%
Part-time
29.4%
Participation
68.9%
Employed
562
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.1%
Postgraduate
2.5%
Born Overseas
14.0%
Dwellings
359
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-total: 91.4% of residents drive to work, and only 1.7% use public transport, compared to the national average where public transport usage is significantly higher. This reflects the 65.83 square kilometre spread of the suburb, where distances make active travel impractical. Walk and cycle trips account for 2.4%. No schools are recorded within the Goldsborough boundary, meaning families depend on Cairns-area schools outside the suburb. Crime data is not available for this suburb. The need-for-assistance rate is 3.9%, affecting about 40 residents, lower than many urban suburbs. The housing stress indicators are positive: mortgage-to-income at 20.3% and rent-to-income at 21.1% are both below the 30% stress threshold, giving households financial headroom compared to higher-cost Queensland coastal markets.
Drive
91.4%
Public Transport
1.7%
Walk / Cycle
2.4%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Goldsborough compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Goldsborough a good suburb to live in?
Goldsborough suits families seeking detached homes on large blocks near Cairns. Every dwelling is a separate house, 61.2% have 4-plus bedrooms, and household income sits at the 87.5th percentile nationally. The trade-off is near-total car dependency, with 91.4% driving to work and no schools recorded inside the suburb boundary.
What is the median house price in Goldsborough?
The median house price is approximately $585,000, estimated from rental data for 2025. Weekly rent averages $480 and monthly mortgage repayments run around $2,000, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.3%, well below the 30% stress threshold.
What schools are in Goldsborough?
No schools are recorded within the Goldsborough boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in surrounding Cairns suburbs. The suburb's 19.1% university qualification rate is 11 percentage points below the national figure, suggesting most education demand is met through institutions outside the area.
Is Goldsborough safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Goldsborough in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, only 3.9% of residents (about 40 people) need daily assistance, and the unemployment rate is just 2.6%, below the national average. These factors are generally associated with lower community disadvantage.
Is Goldsborough good for property investment?
Investment appeal is limited by a 4.8% renter share and 6.8% vacancy rate, both pointing to weak rental demand. Weekly rent of $480 against a $585,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.3%. Only 1 development application was lodged in the past 12 months. This is more suited to owner-occupier demand than yield-focused investment.
How is Goldsborough's population changing?
Goldsborough has 1,099 residents across 65.83 square kilometres. The residential turnover rate is 24.1%, meaning 75.9% of residents stayed in place, indicating a stable community. The median age of 38 is 2 years below the national average, and the dominant household type is couples with children (480 of 936 families).
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 Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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