South Kolan
With just 1,258 residents spread across 114 square kilometres, South Kolan sits far below average density at 11 people per km2, giving it a distinctly rural character compared to the Queensland state average. The median age of 45 is 5 years above the national figure, reflecting a community that has aged in place, with 80.2% of residents unchanged address in the prior year. Agriculture and healthcare together employ 42% of the local workforce, a dual-industry dependence unusual even by regional Queensland standards. Household weekly income of $1,487 places the suburb in the 46th percentile nationally, meaning roughly half of Australian households earn more.
Population
1,258
Median Age
45.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,487/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
2
Median House
$357K
Estimated from rent (2025)
The estimated median house price of $357,000 places South Kolan well below the national median, making it accessible for buyers priced out of coastal Queensland markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 20.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is almost entirely detached houses at 97.9%, with 3-bedroom homes accounting for 49.3% of dwellings and 4-plus bedroom homes at 35.3%, well suited to families and lifestyle buyers seeking space. Owner-occupancy is high: 43.3% own outright and 44.2% carry a mortgage, meaning only 12.5% rent, much lower than state and national norms. Buyers should note the 8.8% vacancy rate, which signals limited rental absorption and a market driven by owner-occupiers rather than investors.
For Buyers
The estimated median house price of $357,000 places South Kolan well below the national median, making it accessible for buyers priced out of coastal Queensland markets. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300, and the mortgage-to-income ratio sits at 20.2%, comfortably below the 30% stress threshold. The housing stock is almost entirely detached houses at 97.9%, with 3-bedroom homes accounting for 49.3% of dwellings and 4-plus bedroom homes at 35.3%, well suited to families and lifestyle buyers seeking space. Owner-occupancy is high: 43.3% own outright and 44.2% carry a mortgage, meaning only 12.5% rent, much lower than state and national norms. Buyers should note the 8.8% vacancy rate, which signals limited rental absorption and a market driven by owner-occupiers rather than investors.
For Investors
South Kolan's investment fundamentals are mixed. Weekly rent of $280 against a $357,000 median produces a gross yield near 4.1%, above what coastal lifestyle markets typically offer. However, the 8.8% vacancy rate is elevated and signals limited rental demand in a small 1,258-person population. Only 12.5% of households rent, far lower than the state average, so the tenant pool is thin. Development activity recorded zero applications in the past 12 months, indicating no new supply pressure but also no growth signals from developers. The suburb's stable, low-turnover resident base (80.2% stayed in place) tends toward owner-occupation rather than investment churn. Entry prices below national median provide affordability, but yield upside is constrained by the remote rural location and limited employment base.
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
Schools in South Kolan iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Kolan South State School
Prep-6 · 55 students
Demographics
South Kolan's median age of 45 sits 5 years above the national figure, placing it firmly in the aging-resident category for regional Queensland. Only 13.6% of residents were born overseas, which is 8 percentage points below the national average, consistent with the Anglo-Celtic ancestry profile led by English (518), Irish (121) and Scottish (119) backgrounds. University qualifications reach 14.1%, which is 16 percentage points below national, reflecting the agricultural and trades-oriented local economy rather than knowledge-sector employment. Average household size of 2.6 is slightly above national, driven by the prevalence of couple families with children (332 families) and couples without children (336 families). Christianity dominates religious affiliation at 560 residents, with Buddhism (14) and other faiths minimal.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
97.9%
Houses
0.9%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The South Kolan housing market is strongly owner-occupier dominated, with 43.3% owning outright and 44.2% repaying a mortgage, compared to the national renting share of roughly 30%; here only 12.5% rent. Detached houses make up 97.9% of dwellings, one of the highest separate-house concentrations you will find in Queensland, with semi-detached homes at just 0.9%. Bedroom distribution skews large: 49.3% are 3-bedroom and 35.3% are 4-plus bedroom, meaning smaller dwellings are rare. The estimated median price of $357,000 is below the Queensland state median, and rent-to-income at 18.8% stays well within comfortable bounds. The 8.8% vacancy rate is worth monitoring because it suggests some properties sit unoccupied, typical of farming areas where owners hold land without renting the residence.
Mortgage / mo
$1,300
Rent / wk
$280
HH Size
2.6
Personal Income / wk
$636
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
8.8%
Unoccupied
42
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
18.8%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
34.5%
Couples, no children
975
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare leads local employment at 21.8% (70 workers), with Agriculture close behind at 20.6% (66 workers), together accounting for over 40% of the employed population. Construction (10.9%), Education (9.3%) and Manufacturing (6.2%) round out the top five industries. By occupation, Labourers are the largest group at 116 workers, followed by Professionals (64), Community and Personal Service Workers (62) and Machinery Operators and Drivers (62), a profile that reflects the manual, land-based nature of the local economy. The full-time employment rate of 63.1% is reasonable, but the participation rate of 52.4% is lower than national norms, partly because the aging median age of 45 pushes more residents into the not-in-labour-force category. Unemployment sits at 4.2%, close to national averages. University qualifications at 14.1% are well below the 30% national figure, consistent with trades and agricultural occupations dominating the workforce.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
63.1%
Part-time
32.7%
Participation
52.4%
Employed
531
Occupations
Top Industries
University
14.1%
Postgraduate
1.9%
Born Overseas
13.6%
Dwellings
431
Transport to Work
South Kolan's lifestyle is defined by space and self-reliance. With 84.2% of commuters driving and only 1.2% using public transport, car ownership is effectively mandatory, which is typical of rural Queensland areas far from urban centres. Walking and cycling accounts for 6.1%, likely reflecting on-property movement rather than commuting. No schools are recorded inside the suburb boundary, so families depend on facilities in nearby Bundaberg, roughly in postcode 4670. The volunteering rate of 17.1% indicates strong community participation relative to population size. Housing stress is low, with rent-to-income at 18.8% and mortgage-to-income at 20.2%, both well below the 30% stress threshold. The 7.2% of residents needing daily assistance (84 people) is consistent with the older-than-average age profile. Crime data is not available for this suburb, but the low density and stable resident base are generally associated with lower rates than urban centres.
Drive
84.2%
Public Transport
1.2%
Walk / Cycle
6.1%
Work from Home
N/A
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How South Kolan compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is South Kolan a good suburb to live in?
South Kolan suits buyers seeking rural space and affordability. The median house price is estimated at $357,000, below the Queensland state median, and housing stress is low, with mortgage-to-income at 20.2%. The trade-offs are limited public transport (only 1.2% use it), no recorded schools inside the suburb, and a small population of 1,258 spread over 114 square kilometres.
What is the median house price in South Kolan?
The median house price is estimated at $357,000 (2025 estimate based on rent). Weekly rent averages $280 and monthly mortgage repayments average $1,300. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 20.2% is comfortably below the 30% stress threshold, making it one of the more affordable rural markets in Queensland.
What schools are in South Kolan?
No schools are recorded inside the South Kolan suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in the broader Bundaberg region, postcode 4670. The local university qualification rate is 14.1%, which is 16 percentage points below the national average, reflecting the area's agricultural and trades-oriented employment base.
Is South Kolan safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for South Kolan. As context, the suburb has a population of only 1,258 and a density of 11 people per km2, and 80.2% of residents have lived at the same address for at least a year, indicating a stable, low-turnover community that is generally associated with lower crime rates than higher-density urban areas.
Is South Kolan good for property investment?
Weekly rent of $280 against a $357,000 median house price implies a gross yield near 4.1%, higher than many coastal Queensland markets. However, the 8.8% vacancy rate is elevated and the renter share is only 12.5%, well below state averages, meaning the tenant pool is thin. Zero development applications in the past 12 months indicate no growth catalyst from developers, so investment returns depend on long-term regional demand.
How is South Kolan's population changing?
South Kolan has 1,258 residents and a turnover rate of 19.8%, meaning 80.2% of residents did not move in the prior year. This stability, combined with a median age of 45 that is 5 years above the national figure and zero new development applications in the past 12 months, suggests slow or flat population growth rather than expansion.
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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