Robertson
Almost two in three residents of Robertson were born overseas, 62.3% against a national figure roughly 40.7 points lower, and that single fact shapes much of the suburb. Chinese ancestry leads at 1,707 people and Mandarin is the most spoken language at home with 608 speakers, well ahead of English ancestry at 724. University qualifications reach 57.1%, around 27 points above the national average, yet household income sits only in the 58.2nd percentile, a gap explained by an 8.2% unemployment rate and a 49% participation rate. The median house price of $531,000 is affordable by Brisbane standards, and at a median age of 37, three years below national, this is a working migrant suburb rather than an established-wealth one.
Population
4,749
Median Age
37.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,676/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
12
Median House
$531K
Estimated from rent (2025)
Robertson offers buyers something rare for a migrant-majority suburb close to Brisbane: a $531,000 median house price paired with detached-house dominance, since 71.4% of dwellings are separate houses and only 5.8% are apartments. Stock skews large, with 57.9% of homes having four or more bedrooms and just 18.7% having two or fewer, so the market suits families rather than downsizers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.9%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. That affordability has improved sharply, from an index of 94.6 in 2011 to 60.6 in 2021, because real incomes grew 31.8% over the decade while price growth stayed moderate. Outright owners at 43.5% outnumber mortgage holders at 21.0%, a sign of settled, debt-free households rather than recent first-buyer churn.
For Buyers
Robertson offers buyers something rare for a migrant-majority suburb close to Brisbane: a $531,000 median house price paired with detached-house dominance, since 71.4% of dwellings are separate houses and only 5.8% are apartments. Stock skews large, with 57.9% of homes having four or more bedrooms and just 18.7% having two or fewer, so the market suits families rather than downsizers. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,950, producing a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.9%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. That affordability has improved sharply, from an index of 94.6 in 2011 to 60.6 in 2021, because real incomes grew 31.8% over the decade while price growth stayed moderate. Outright owners at 43.5% outnumber mortgage holders at 21.0%, a sign of settled, debt-free households rather than recent first-buyer churn.
For Investors
A 35.6% renter share gives landlords a solid tenant base, and weekly rent of $415 against the $531,000 median implies a gross yield near 4.1%, materially higher than inner-Brisbane premium suburbs. The catch is a 9.3% vacancy rate, above a balanced market, which signals that supply currently outpaces tenant demand. Demand drivers are split: net overseas migration adds 294 residents a year while internal migration removes 108, leaving thin natural growth of 0.52% annually. Development activity is modest at 11 applications in 12 months, mostly referral-agency responses and one lot reconfiguration rather than large new supply. With rent growth of 3.9% recorded and the renter pool weighted toward students and migrant households near Griffith University, the investment case rests on steady yield and overseas inflow more than capital growth.
Development Activity
Total DAs
43
Last 12 Months
12
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+100.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Robertson iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Robertson State School
Prep-6 · 732 students
Demographics
Robertson is unusually international: 62.3% of residents were born overseas, about 40.7 points above the national figure, and Chinese ancestry dominates at 1,707 people, well ahead of English at 724 and Indian at 379. Mandarin is the leading language at home with 608 speakers, followed by Cantonese (164) and Gujarati (107). University qualifications reach 57.1%, around 27 points above national, reflecting a highly educated migrant intake. The median age of 37 is three years below national, though the decade trajectory is aging, with the senior share up 4.2 points. Hinduism (414) and Buddhism (385) are notable second and third religions behind Christianity (1,568), and average household size of 2.8 runs 0.3 above national, consistent with the family and multi-generational migrant profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
71.4%
Houses
22.8%
Townhouse
5.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Tenure tilts toward established ownership: 43.5% own outright, 21.0% carry a mortgage and 35.6% rent. Outright owners outnumbering mortgage holders by more than two to one points to long-settled households rather than a churn of recent buyers. The stock is firmly detached, with 71.4% separate houses, 22.8% semi-detached and only 5.8% apartments, and it skews large, as 57.9% of homes have four or more bedrooms. The median house price of $531,000 is affordable relative to Brisbane, and against the $1,676 weekly household income gives a price-to-income ratio far lower than premium suburbs. Both stress measures stay comfortable, with mortgage-to-income at 26.9% and rent-to-income at 24.8%, each below the 30% threshold, which reflects how moderate housing costs are compared to the household incomes supporting them.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wk
$415
HH Size
2.8
Personal Income / wk
$656
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
9.3%
Unoccupied
162
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.9%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.4%
Couples, no children
3,407
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare is the dominant employer at 20.5% of workers (303 people), roughly double the next sector, reflecting proximity to the QEII and Griffith health precinct. Professional/Tech follows at 10.3%, Retail at 10.1%, Education at 9.9% and Hospitality at 7.4%. By occupation, Professionals lead at 544 and Managers at 231, which is consistent with the IEO score reaching decile 7 for education and occupation. Yet other SEIFA indexes sit lower: IRSD and IER both read decile 4, because an 8.2% unemployment rate and a 49% participation rate, with 1,631 residents not in the labour force, depress aggregate economic-resource measures despite the high qualification base. The IRSAD composite lands in the middle at decile 6, and real incomes still grew 31.8% over the decade.
Unemployment
3.6%
Labour Force
2,904
Unemployed
105
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
55.0%
Part-time
36.8%
Participation
49.0%
Employed
1,834
Occupations
Top Industries
University
57.1%
Postgraduate
20.7%
Born Overseas
62.3%
Dwellings
1,579
Transport to Work
Cars dominate daily movement, with 76.1% of commuters driving and only 11.7% using public transport and 4.9% walking or cycling, below the active-transport levels of inner suburbs. On disadvantage measures the suburb sits mid-pack, scoring decile 4 on IRSD and decile 6 on the IRSAD composite, the latter meaning relative advantage just above the national midpoint rather than a deprived area. Only 6.0% of residents (269 people) need daily assistance, and volunteering runs at 13%. No schools are recorded inside the 1.78 km2 boundary in this dataset, so families rely on institutions nearby, a practical trade-off offset by easy access to the Griffith University and hospital precinct that anchors the local healthcare workforce of 303 people.
Drive
76.1%
Public Transport
11.7%
Walk / Cycle
4.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.52%/yr
(+30 people/yr)
EstablishedRobertson is effectively flat in headcount: annual population growth registers 0.52%, about 30 people, and the 10-year change is just 0.1%, classifying it as an established suburb. The current population of 5,540 has more than recovered from a 5.2% COVID dip, sitting 12.1% above the COVID low after rebuilding to 5,745 by 2025. The sole positive driver is overseas migration at 294 a year, which offsets a net internal outflow of 108, so growth depends entirely on international arrivals. Medium forecasts hold the population near 5,639 through 2031, so little expansion is expected. The gentrification stage reads early signs at a score of 24, with affordability improving from 94.6 in 2011 to 60.6 in 2021 and an aging trajectory as the senior share rose 4.2 points.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+294
Net Internal / yr
-108
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +12% since 2011, Net internal outflow -108/yr, Strong overseas inflow +294/yr, COVID recovered (-5% dip → full recovery)
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Robertson compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Robertson a good suburb to live in?
Robertson suits educated migrant families, with 57.1% holding university qualifications, around 27 points above national, and a median house price of $531,000 that is affordable for Brisbane. It scores decile 6 on the IRSAD advantage index, just above the national midpoint. The main trade-off is an 8.2% unemployment rate.
What is the median house price in Robertson?
The median house price is $531,000, affordable by Brisbane standards. Weekly rent averages $415 and monthly mortgage repayments run about $1,950, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 26.9%, below the 30% stress threshold. Affordability improved from an index of 94.6 in 2011 to 60.6 in 2021.
What schools are in Robertson?
No schools are recorded inside the 1.78 km2 Robertson boundary in this dataset, so families rely on schools in neighbouring suburbs and the nearby Griffith University precinct. The resident base is highly educated, with university qualifications at 57.1%, about 27 points above the national figure.
Is Robertson safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Robertson in this dataset. As an indirect indicator, the suburb scores decile 4 on the IRSD index of relative disadvantage and decile 6 on the IRSAD composite, and only 6.0% of its residents, about 269 people, need daily assistance, consistent with a mid-range area.
Is Robertson good for property investment?
Rent of $415 a week against a $531,000 median gives a gross yield near 4.1%, higher than premium Brisbane suburbs, but the 9.3% vacancy rate signals soft demand. Net overseas migration of 294 a year supports the tenant pool, though annual population growth of 0.52% means returns lean on yield rather than capital growth.
How is Robertson's population changing?
Population growth is 0.52% annually with just 0.1% over 10 years. The current 5,540 residents have recovered 12.1% above the COVID low after a 5.2% dip. Growth depends entirely on overseas migration of 294 a year, which offsets a net internal outflow of 108, and the profile is aging.
What languages are spoken in Robertson?
About 62.3% of residents were born overseas, roughly 40.7 points above the national figure. Mandarin is the most spoken non-English language with 608 speakers, followed by Cantonese (164), Gujarati (107) and Hindi (52), reflecting a strongly international resident mix led by Chinese and Indian communities.
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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