QLD 4226 Census 2021 + Live DA Data

Robina

A 25,659-person Gold Coast centre, Robina pairs an established urban base with a forecast growth rate of 2.5% a year. Overseas migration is the primary driver, while 35.1% of residents were born overseas, 13.5 percentage points above the national average, and 36.1% hold university qualifications, 6 points higher than nationally. Compared with nearby Mudgeeraba, Robina has a stronger town-centre and services focus, while Varsity Lakes adds a nearby university-oriented employment node. The median age of 39 is 1 year below the national figure, pointing to a slightly younger profile than the country overall.

Robina urban fabric map

Population

25,659

Median Age

39.0

Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)

$1,758/wk

DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year

17

14.96 km²· 1,715.2 people/km²· Family income $2,002/wk

Robina suits buyers who value mixed housing and access to established services, but each dwelling type needs separate price checking because no current median house price is quoted. Monthly mortgage repayments are listed at $2,000, with mortgage stress not flagged at 26.3% of household income, while rent stress is flagged at 30.7%. The stock is not limited to detached homes: 54.6% are separate houses, 31.6% semi-detached and 13.7% apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 47.6%, while 4-plus-bedroom homes make up 36.5%, giving families more choice than a predominantly small-unit market.

For Buyers

Robina suits buyers who value mixed housing and access to established services, but each dwelling type needs separate price checking because no current median house price is quoted. Monthly mortgage repayments are listed at $2,000, with mortgage stress not flagged at 26.3% of household income, while rent stress is flagged at 30.7%. The stock is not limited to detached homes: 54.6% are separate houses, 31.6% semi-detached and 13.7% apartments. Three-bedroom homes account for 47.6%, while 4-plus-bedroom homes make up 36.5%, giving families more choice than a predominantly small-unit market.

For Investors

Robina presents a tenant-supported profile, with 33.5% of households renting, weekly rent of $540 and a vacancy rate of 4.9%. That combination can support leasing depth because renters form about one-third of the tenure mix, although returns still depend on the purchase price and dwelling type. Development activity reached 14 applications in 12 months, enough to monitor future competition without implying a large new supply wave. Forecast growth is 2.5% annually and is driven primarily by overseas migration, making the demand story stronger than a static established-suburb profile.

Development Activity

Total DAs

17

Last 12 Months

17

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

Other
11
Driveway / Crossover
2
Multi-Dwelling / Townhouse
1
Change of Use
1
New Dwelling
1
Landscaping / Retaining Wall
1

Schools in Robina

Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.

Australian Industry Trade College (Robina)

Non-State School Independent

Robina State High School

State High School Government

Robina State School

State School Government

Demographics

Robina's demographic profile is slightly younger and more globally connected than national averages. The median age is 39, one year below national, while 35.1% of residents were born overseas, 13.5 points above the national comparison. University attainment is 36.1%, 6 points higher than the national rate, and average household size is 2.6, only 0.1 above national. English, Irish and Scottish ancestry counts are 10,132, 2,633 and 2,583, with Chinese ancestry at 1,615. A 32.8% turnover rate means neighbourhood stability sits alongside mobility, helping explain the mix of established families, professionals and newer arrivals.

Age Distribution

0-14
16.4%
15-24
13.8%
25-44
26.6%
45-64
23.6%
65+
19.5%

Bedrooms

Studio/1br
3.6%
2 bed
12.3%
3 bed
47.6%
4+ bed
36.5%

Dwelling Structure

54.6%

Houses

31.6%

Townhouse

13.7%

Apartment

Tenure

Own 32.1% Mortgage 33.0% Rent 33.5% Other 1.3%

Robina has a more varied housing pattern than a detached-house dominated suburb. Separate houses account for 54.6% of dwellings, but semi-detached homes contribute 31.6% and apartments 13.7%, reflecting an established centre with multiple housing formats. Ownership is split across 32.1% owned outright, 33.0% with a mortgage and 33.5% rented, so no single tenure group dominates. Three-bedroom homes lead at 47.6%, followed by 4-plus-bedroom homes at 36.5%. Mortgage costs sit at 26.3% of household income, below rent's 30.7%, because mortgage stress is not flagged while rent stress is.

Mortgage / mo

$2,000

Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $540.

$950

Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $950 · units $825

HH Size

2.6

Personal Income / wk

$772

Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)

4.9%

Unoccupied

483

Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

30.7% stressed

Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress

26.3%

Community Profile

Languages Spoken at Home

Mandarin
412
Japan
170
Canton
140
Portuguese
131
Korean
78
Italian
61

Ancestry

English
10,132
Other
3,185
Irish
2,633
Scottish
2,583
Chinese
1,615
Ancestry NS
1,188

Household Composition

40.9%

Couples with children

40.3%

Couples, no children

17.7%

Single parent

7,163

Total families

Economy & Employment

Healthcare is Robina's largest listed industry at 19.9% of employment, followed by education at 12.1%, construction at 10.2%, professional and technical work at 9.5%, and retail at 8.2%. This mix reflects an established Gold Coast activity centre because health, education and construction all support recurring local demand. Professionals number 3,036, ahead of clerical and administrative workers at 1,763, while managers total 1,608. Labour-force participation is 63.2%, unemployment is 5.1% and the full-time rate is 54.2%. SEIFA education and occupation sits in decile 7, versus decile 6 for economic resources and disadvantage, while IRSAD is decile 7. The one-decile gap suggests skills and occupation run slightly higher than measured resource advantage.

Unemployment

5.1%

Labour Force

13,539

Unemployed

689

Source: ABS Census 2021

Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)

Overall advantage
7
Disadvantage
6
Economic resources
6
Education & occupation
7

Full-time

54.2%

Part-time

36.2%

Participation

63.2%

Employed

12,850

Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021

Occupations

Professionals 3,036
Clerical/Admin 1,763
Community/Personal 1,682
Managers 1,608
Trades 1,562
Sales 1,495
Labourers 977
Machinery/Drivers 462

Top Industries

Healthcare 19.9%
Education 12.1%
Construction 10.2%
Professional/Tech 9.5%
Retail 8.2%

University

36.1%

Postgraduate

9.2%

Born Overseas

35.1%

Dwellings

9,364

Transport to Work

Robina is practical for households that rely on cars or work partly from home. Car driving accounts for 73.3% of journeys to work and working from home for 17.7%, compared with only 1.6% using public transport and 2.8% walking or cycling. Three local schools span 2 government schools covering primary and high-school stages, plus 1 independent trade-focused college; check catchments against the exact address because enrolment zones can cross suburb boundaries. IRSAD sits in decile 7, above the middle national range, which aligns with established services and a broad housing mix. Check current Queensland Police information and the exact street for safety conditions across Robina's 14.96 square kilometres.

Drive

73.3%

Public Transport

1.6%

Walk / Cycle

2.8%

Work from Home

17.7%

Population Forecast

+2.5%/yr

(+242 people/yr)

Established

Robina is classified as an established area, yet the forecast trend is 2.5% annual growth, above a flat-growth benchmark, with overseas migration identified as the primary driver. Across the wider area, population change is 49.7% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Mixed rather than a single-direction transformation. The gentrification score is 34 and the stage is Early signs, so change is emerging rather than fully established. Rent growth of 31.7% and an improving affordability trend help explain why demand remains active, while the 2.2 percentage point rise in the senior share points to gradual ageing alongside continued migration.

Historical + Forecast

Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025

Age Cohort Forecast

Primary Driver

Overseas Migration

Net Overseas / yr

+159

Net Internal / yr

+24

34

Gentrification Signal

Early signs

Population +56% since 2011, Accelerating: 20% → 31%

National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs

How Robina compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs

Population
Top 0%
Household Income
Top 38%
Rent Level
Top 4%
Apartments
Top 6%
Renters
Top 16%
Uni Educated
Top 24%
Public Transport
Bottom 34%
Born Overseas
Top 9%
Density
Top 10%

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Robina a good suburb to live in?

Robina suits households wanting established services, mixed housing and access to schools, with 25,659 residents and an IRSAD decile of 7. Car use is high at 73.3%, while public transport accounts for 1.6%, so it is better suited to people comfortable with driving than those seeking a transit-first lifestyle.

What is the median house price in Robina?

No current median house price is quoted for Robina. Compare recent settled sales by dwelling type because 54.6% of homes are separate houses, 31.6% are semi-detached and 13.7% are apartments. That mix makes one headline median less useful than a like-for-like comparison.

What schools are in Robina?

Robina has 3 local schools: 2 government schools covering primary and high-school stages, plus 1 independent trade-focused college. Confirm the catchment for the exact address, as enrolment boundaries can affect access more than the suburb name alone.

Is Robina safe?

Check current Queensland Police crime information and the exact street before deciding, because conditions can vary across Robina's 14.96 square kilometres. A suburb-wide safety judgement should be paired with recent incidents, lighting, traffic and after-dark observations.

Is Robina good for property investment?

Robina has an investment case built around 33.5% renting, $540 weekly rent and a 4.9% vacancy rate. Development activity reached 14 applications in 12 months, while forecast growth is 2.5% annually and driven by overseas migration. Test yield against the eventual purchase price because no current median is quoted.

How is Robina's population changing?

Robina has 25,659 residents today. Growth across the wider area is forecast at 2.5% a year, with overseas migration the primary driver, and the 10-year population change measure is 49.7%. The trajectory is Mixed, while the gentrification stage is Early signs with a score of 34.

Is renting in Robina expensive?

Weekly rent is $540 and rent stress is flagged at 30.7% of household income, compared with mortgage costs at 26.3%. The 33.5% rental share means tenants are a substantial part of the suburb, so renters should compare dwelling type, transport access and lease conditions carefully.

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). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.

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