South Brisbane
High-rise living, international migration and a young age profile define South Brisbane more clearly than detached housing. The suburb has 14,292 residents across 2.0 square kilometres, giving it a density of 7,131.4 people per square kilometre, while the median age of 29 is 11 years below the national figure. Apartments account for 94.3% of dwellings and 71.1% of residents rent, supporting a mobile inner-city population. The overseas-born share is 55.6%, 34.0 percentage points above national, and forecast growth is 4.5% annually, led by overseas migration. Its apartment share makes South Brisbane more vertical than nearby West End, while the household income percentile of 65.6 suggests solid earning capacity despite a renter-heavy market.
Population
14,292
Median Age
29.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,818/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
110
South Brisbane suits buyers prioritising low-maintenance apartments and inner-city access rather than a conventional family house. The built form is clear: 94.3% of dwellings are apartments, 36.6% have 0 or 1 bedroom, 48.8% have 2 bedrooms, and only 14.6% are mortgaged. The indicative mortgage cost is $1,950 monthly, compared with weekly rent of $470, so buyers should test body-corporate fees, parking and resale demand as carefully as the loan. Mortgage-to-income is 24.8% and mortgage stress is not flagged. Household size averages 1.9 people, 0.6 below the national figure, which helps explain the fit for singles and couples. Compared with nearby West End, South Brisbane is the more vertical choice, with little scope for detached-house living.
For Buyers
South Brisbane suits buyers prioritising low-maintenance apartments and inner-city access rather than a conventional family house. The built form is clear: 94.3% of dwellings are apartments, 36.6% have 0 or 1 bedroom, 48.8% have 2 bedrooms, and only 14.6% are mortgaged. The indicative mortgage cost is $1,950 monthly, compared with weekly rent of $470, so buyers should test body-corporate fees, parking and resale demand as carefully as the loan. Mortgage-to-income is 24.8% and mortgage stress is not flagged. Household size averages 1.9 people, 0.6 below the national figure, which helps explain the fit for singles and couples. Compared with nearby West End, South Brisbane is the more vertical choice, with little scope for detached-house living.
For Investors
South Brisbane has a renter-led, high-turnover profile that can suit investors targeting apartments, but vacancy risk is the key counterweight. Renting accounts for 71.1% of occupied dwellings, weekly rent is $470, vacancy is 20.8%, and 55.7% of residents changed address over the relevant period. This can support demand from students, professionals and overseas arrivals because the suburb sits beside major inner-city employment and education precincts, yet it also makes lease-up time and incentives important. Development activity is substantial, with 106 applications or assessments in 12 months, so new supply may pressure rents and resale values. Rent growth of 4.4% is positive, but investors should underwrite more conservatively than a low-vacancy suburb and compare building quality, body-corporate costs and transport access.
Development Activity
Total DAs
266
Last 12 Months
110
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+134.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in South Brisbane
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Somerville House (South Brisbane)
St Laurence's College (South Brisbane)
Queensland Children's Hospital School
Brisbane State High School
Demographics
South Brisbane is markedly younger and more internationally connected than Australia overall. The median age is 29, which is 11 years below the national figure, while 55.6% of residents were born overseas, 34.0 percentage points above national. University qualifications reach 55.8%, or 25.7 percentage points above national. Chinese ancestry counts 2,909 people and English ancestry 3,125, with Mandarin spoken by 929 residents and Canton by 200. No religion is the largest recorded affiliation at 7,230, ahead of Christianity at 3,687. Household size averages 1.9 people, 0.6 below national, and turnover reaches 55.7%, helping explain the concentration of apartments, renters and short-to-medium-term residents. Compared with nearby West End, South Brisbane presents a more transient, apartment-oriented inner-city profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
4.2%
Houses
1.4%
Townhouse
94.3%
Apartment
Tenure
South Brisbane's housing market is defined by compact apartments rather than detached homes. Apartments make up 94.3% of dwellings, separate houses only 4.2%, and the largest bedroom groups are 2-bedroom homes at 48.8% and 0 or 1-bedroom homes at 36.6%. Tenure is similarly distinctive: 71.1% rent, 14.6% hold a mortgage and 13.0% own outright. Weekly rent is $470, while the mortgage figure is $1,950 per month. Mortgage-to-income is 24.8%, lower than rent-to-income at 25.9%, so affordability depends on unit size, building fees and income stability rather than land value alone. The median household income sits at the 65.6th percentile nationally, but the renter-heavy structure is more exposed to vacancy and investor supply than a conventional owner-occupier area. Compared with nearby West End, South Brisbane is the more apartment-dominant option.
Mortgage / mo
$1,950
Rent / wkiMedian weekly rent for new bonds (Jun 2026 quarter), QLD RTA bond data. Census 2021 median: $470.
$950
Bond data Jun 2026 quarter · houses $950 · units $850
HH Size
1.9
Personal Income / wk
$883
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
20.8%
Unoccupied
1,528
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
25.9%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
24.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
24.7%
Couples with children
58.4%
Couples, no children
13.8%
Single parent
2,849
Total families
Economy & Employment
South Brisbane's economy is anchored by professional services, healthcare, hospitality, education and public administration, reflecting its inner-city institutions and employment precincts. Professional/Tech and Healthcare each account for 16.7% of industry employment, followed by Hospitality at 10.9%, Education at 9.4% and Public Administration at 7.1%. Professionals are the largest occupation group at 2,875 people, ahead of Managers at 974 and Community/Personal workers at 936. Participation is 63.3%, unemployment is 8.0%, full-time employment is 59.6% and 2,306 workers are employed part-time, combining skilled work with a sizeable flexible workforce. Household income is at the 65.6th percentile nationally. The education and occupation index is decile 10, economic resources decile 1, overall disadvantage decile 6 and advantage decile 9, showing strong skills alongside uneven resources.
Unemployment
8.0%
Labour Force
8,316
Unemployed
666
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
59.6%
Part-time
30.1%
Participation
63.3%
Employed
7,650
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
55.8%
Postgraduate
17.4%
Born Overseas
55.6%
Dwellings
5,769
Transport to Work
South Brisbane supports a largely car-light inner-city routine: 24.0% walk or cycle, 15.0% use public transport and 24.7% work from home. That pattern fits a suburb where 94.3% of dwellings are apartments and average household size is 1.9, making local access more important than large-lot amenity. Families have access to 4 schools spanning government, Catholic and independent sectors, including a specific-purpose government school; check enrolment zones and program types against the exact address. The IRSAD is in decile 9 and the IRSD in decile 6, indicating higher relative advantage than many areas but not uniform household conditions. Density reaches 7,131.4 people per square kilometre, so convenience comes with shared-building, traffic and noise considerations. Compare streets and buildings in person at different times.
Drive
32.9%
Public Transport
15.0%
Walk / Cycle
24.0%
Work from Home
24.7%
Population Forecast
+4.5%/yr
(+789 people/yr)
High GrowthSouth Brisbane is positioned for strong expansion, with forecast growth at 4.5% a year and overseas migration the primary driver. Population change across the wider area is 162.7% over 10 years, while the shift trajectory is Mixed rather than a simple maturation story. Rent growth is 4.4% and real income growth is 8.1%; the affordability trend is labelled Improving, with values of 67.4 in 2011 and 52.9 in 2021. The forecast gentrification score is 0 and the stage is New development, while the shift assessment is Not gentrifying. Compared with a mature low-growth setting, South Brisbane's momentum is tied to apartment delivery and international arrivals, reinforced by 106 development applications or assessments in 12 months.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Overseas Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+603
Net Internal / yr
+82
Gentrification Signal
New development
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How South Brisbane compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Brisbane a good suburb to live in?
Yes, if you want dense apartment living near inner-city jobs, education and transport. Walking or cycling accounts for 24.0% of travel and public transport 15.0%, while the median age is 29. The trade-offs are a 20.8% vacancy rate, high renter turnover and limited detached housing, so it suits some households better than others.
What is the median house price in South Brisbane?
There is no dependable house median to use here because separate houses make up only 4.2% of dwellings. Compare recent sales for the dominant 2-bedroom apartment format, which represents 48.8%, while checking building age, parking and body-corporate costs.
What schools are in South Brisbane?
South Brisbane has 4 schools spanning 2 government schools, 1 Catholic school and 1 independent school, including Queensland Children's Hospital School as a specific-purpose option. Local choices include Brisbane State High School, St Laurence's College and Somerville House. Check the exact address for enrolment zones and program eligibility.
Is South Brisbane safe?
Safety should be checked at street and building level rather than assumed from the suburb name. Review current Queensland Police Service information, inspect lighting and access, and visit at different times. With density of 7,131.4 people per square kilometre and 94.3% apartments, building entry, lifts and shared spaces are practical considerations.
Is South Brisbane good for property investment?
It can work for investors, but it is not a low-risk vacancy story. Rents average $470 a week, 71.1% of households rent and vacancy is 20.8%. Rent growth is 4.4%, yet 106 development applications or assessments in 12 months may add competition, so building quality, fees and lease-up assumptions matter.
How is South Brisbane's population changing?
The growth outlook is strong: forecast annual growth is 4.5%, driven primarily by overseas migration. Population change across the wider area is 162.7% over 10 years, while the trajectory is Mixed. The forecast gentrification score is 0 and the stage is New development, so change is associated more with new supply and arrivals than with a gentrification cycle.
What languages are common in South Brisbane?
South Brisbane is highly international, with 55.6% of residents born overseas. Mandarin is the most common listed language at 929 people, followed by Canton at 200 and Korean at 158. English and Chinese are also the largest named ancestry groups at 3,125 and 2,909 people, giving the suburb a more internationally oriented profile than the national average.
What development is occurring in South Brisbane?
Development activity is high, with 106 applications or assessments recorded over 12 months. Recent examples involve construction management plans and external materials and finishes, pointing to an active building and compliance pipeline rather than a single confirmed dwelling project. Buyers and investors should check approval status, construction timing and likely effects on access, noise and supply.
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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