Holloways Beach
A 10.6% vacancy rate and a median age of 46 tell the story of Holloways Beach more than any tagline could. The suburb's 2,398 residents skew six years older than the national median, and more than a third of dwellings sit empty at any given time, a combination that shapes both the housing market and the day-to-day character of the area. Household income falls in the 34.1st percentile nationally, making this an affordable coastal pocket by Australian standards. The workforce leans toward Healthcare, which accounts for 25.7% of local jobs, well above the sector's national share, and semi-detached homes cover 34% of stock, higher than most comparable QLD suburbs.
Population
2,398
Median Age
46.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,342/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$387K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The median house price is estimated at $387,000, well below the national house price median, giving first-home buyers and downsizers a price point that keeps mortgage-to-income at 24.1%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses make up 63% of the stock and three-bedroom dwellings account for 41% of all homes, with four-plus bedroom homes at 19.4%. Semi-detached properties are more prevalent here than in typical QLD suburbs at 34%, which broadens options at lower price points. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,400, which is manageable compared to capital-city benchmarks. Outright owners represent 28.8% of households and mortgage holders 34.5%, indicating a mix of long-settled residents and active buyers rather than a predominantly renting base.
For Buyers
The median house price is estimated at $387,000, well below the national house price median, giving first-home buyers and downsizers a price point that keeps mortgage-to-income at 24.1%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. Separate houses make up 63% of the stock and three-bedroom dwellings account for 41% of all homes, with four-plus bedroom homes at 19.4%. Semi-detached properties are more prevalent here than in typical QLD suburbs at 34%, which broadens options at lower price points. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,400, which is manageable compared to capital-city benchmarks. Outright owners represent 28.8% of households and mortgage holders 34.5%, indicating a mix of long-settled residents and active buyers rather than a predominantly renting base.
For Investors
Renters make up 36.7% of households at $305 per week, a figure lower than the national average for similar coastal areas. The 10.6% vacancy rate is the key risk signal for investors, as it indicates meaningful oversupply or seasonal fluctuations that can extend void periods and compress effective yields. Only 1 development application was lodged in the past 12 months, so new supply is not the driver of that vacancy. The household income at the 34.1st percentile nationally suggests the tenant pool is price-sensitive, which limits rent growth. The 24.4% annual turnover rate means roughly one in four dwellings changes occupant each year, so landlords need to factor in re-letting costs. Investors willing to accept thin yield in exchange for the $387,000 entry point may find long-term capital growth more relevant than immediate income.
Development Activity
Total DAs
2
Last 12 Months
2
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
At a median age of 46, Holloways Beach residents are six years older than the national median, placing this suburb firmly in an aging-resident profile. Overseas-born residents account for 26.1% of the population, 4.5 percentage points above the national figure, with English (928), Irish (346) and Scottish (308) ancestries dominating, pointing to a predominantly Anglo-heritage community rather than a recent-migrant intake. University qualification rates sit at 26.1%, which is 4 percentage points below the national rate, consistent with the area's occupation mix skewing toward community and healthcare roles rather than knowledge-sector work. The average household size of 2.1 is 0.4 below the national figure, reflecting the high share of couples without children at 32.8% of families, typical of an older-skewing, post-family coastal suburb.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
63.0%
Houses
34.0%
Townhouse
3.1%
Apartment
Tenure
The tenure split shows 28.8% owning outright, 34.5% holding a mortgage and 36.7% renting, a balance that is broadly representative of mid-market QLD suburbs rather than a strongly owner-occupied or investor-dominated market. Semi-detached dwellings at 34% are notably higher than the QLD suburban average, while apartments account for just 3.1%, making this predominantly a house-and-townhouse market. Three-bedroom homes are the modal type at 40.9%, followed by two-bedroom at 36.5%. The median house price of $387,000 is estimated from rental data for 2025, and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,400. Rent-to-income at 22.7% and mortgage-to-income at 24.1% are both below the 30% stress threshold, meaning neither owners nor renters face acute housing cost pressure relative to local incomes.
Mortgage / mo
$1,400
Rent / wk
$305
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$788
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
10.6%
Unoccupied
117
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.1%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
32.8%
Couples, no children
1,493
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare dominates employment at 25.7% of local workers (208 people), a share that is disproportionately large compared to the national industry mix and reflects proximity to Cairns health facilities. Education follows at 12.5% and Construction at 9.0%, with Hospitality at 8.4% and Public Admin at 7.8% rounding out the top five. By occupation, Professionals lead at 247 workers, followed by Community and Personal service workers at 207 and Labourers at 131. The unemployment rate sits at 6.7%, above the national average, and the participation rate of 58.1% is also below national norms, partly because the aging resident base draws more residents out of the labour force, with 576 people recorded as not in the labour force. Weekly personal income averages $788 and household income $1,342, placing the suburb in the 34.1st income percentile nationally.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.0%
Part-time
32.3%
Participation
58.1%
Employed
1,112
Occupations
Top Industries
University
26.1%
Postgraduate
5.9%
Born Overseas
26.1%
Dwellings
983
Transport to Work
Car dependence is near-total: 91.7% of residents drive to work, compared to the national average that includes far higher public transport usage, and only 1.6% use public transport, reflecting limited service frequency in a low-density coastal suburb. Walking and cycling account for 2.7% of commute mode. No schools are recorded within the Holloways Beach boundary in this dataset, so families depend on schools in neighbouring Cairns-area suburbs. Volunteering reaches 17.2% of residents, which is a solid community participation rate. Only 5.8% of residents (125 people) need daily assistance despite the older median age of 46, suggesting a relatively healthy and independent population. SEIFA indices are not available for this suburb, so a direct disadvantage ranking compared to state or national benchmarks cannot be stated, but the 34.1st income percentile nationally indicates below-average economic resources.
Drive
91.7%
Public Transport
1.6%
Walk / Cycle
2.7%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Holloways Beach compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Holloways Beach a good suburb to live in?
Holloways Beach offers affordable housing with a $387,000 median and a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.1%, below the 30% stress threshold. The suburb has a quiet, older-skewing character with a median age of 46, six years above the national figure. The main trade-offs are limited public transport at 1.6% mode share and a 10.6% vacancy rate that signals lower rental demand.
What is the median house price in Holloways Beach?
The median house price is estimated at $387,000 based on 2025 rental data, well below the national median. Weekly rent averages $305 and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,400, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 24.1%, which sits below the 30% housing stress threshold.
What schools are in Holloways Beach?
No schools are recorded inside the Holloways Beach boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in nearby Cairns-area suburbs. The local university qualification rate is 26.1%, which is 4 percentage points below the national figure, reflecting the community and healthcare-oriented occupation mix.
Is Holloways Beach safe?
Crime statistics are not available for Holloways Beach in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the suburb has a 17.2% volunteering rate, suggesting an engaged community, and only 5.8% of the 2,398 residents need daily assistance. The household income at the 34.1st percentile nationally provides some context as a below-average-income area.
Is Holloways Beach good for property investment?
The 10.6% vacancy rate is the primary caution for investors, as it indicates supply exceeds demand in the rental market. Renters make up 36.7% of households paying $305 per week against a $387,000 median, implying a gross yield around 4.1%, reasonable but compressed by the high vacancy risk. Only 1 development application in 12 months means limited new supply is adding to the vacancy problem.
How is Holloways Beach's population changing?
Detailed population forecasts are not available for Holloways Beach in this dataset. The suburb's 2,398 residents have a 75.6% residential stability rate, meaning most people stay put, while the 24.4% annual turnover is driven by the 36.7% renting segment. The aging median age of 46, six years above national, suggests slow organic population replacement.
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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