Wellesley Islands
A population of 1,022 spread across 1,027 square kilometres gives Wellesley Islands a density of just 1.0 person per km2, making it one of Queensland's most remote and sparsely settled communities. Median age is 29, which is 11 years below the national figure, reflecting a young resident base whose household income sits at only the 6.3rd percentile nationally. All 100% of occupied dwellings are rented, with no owner-occupiers at all, a tenure pattern far outside the national norm. Weekly rent of $104 is extremely low compared to state and national medians, and the 26.6% vacancy rate points to a large share of unoccupied housing stock.
Local council: Mornington
Population
1,022
Median Age
29.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$855/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Wellesley Islands is not a conventional homebuyer market. There are no mortgage repayments reported, consistent with a community where residents do not purchase homes. Housing stock is dominated by 3-bedroom dwellings at 49.4%, with semi-detached structures making up 59.5% of all dwellings, higher than the national average for that category. Rent-to-income sits at 12.2%, which is below the 30% stress threshold, so renters here are not under housing cost pressure compared to most Australian communities.
For Buyers
Wellesley Islands is not a conventional homebuyer market. There are no mortgage repayments reported, consistent with a community where residents do not purchase homes. Housing stock is dominated by 3-bedroom dwellings at 49.4%, with semi-detached structures making up 59.5% of all dwellings, higher than the national average for that category. Rent-to-income sits at 12.2%, which is below the 30% stress threshold, so renters here are not under housing cost pressure compared to most Australian communities.
For Investors
The investor case for Wellesley Islands differs from mainstream markets. Weekly rent of $104 is far below the Queensland median, reflecting the community's remoteness and economic profile. The 26.6% vacancy rate is very high compared to state and national averages, signalling that a significant share of dwellings sit unoccupied at any given time. There were 0 development applications in the past 12 months, indicating no new supply pressure but also no capital works activity. Household income in the 6.3rd percentile nationally limits tenant purchasing power and rent growth capacity. Investment decisions here are shaped by community and social housing dynamics rather than conventional yield or capital growth drivers.
Schools in Wellesley Islands
Open-register school locations for education access. This is not a school-quality ranking.
Mornington Island State School
Demographics
The median age of 29 is 11 years below the national figure, giving Wellesley Islands one of Queensland's youngest community profiles. Overseas-born residents account for only 3.0%, which is 18.6 percentage points below the national average, indicating a population with deep local roots. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages are the primary non-English language group, with 166 speakers recorded, consistent with this being a predominantly First Nations community. Average household size of 3.5 persons is 1.0 above the national average, and couples with children make up 328 of 752 total families. University qualifications reach 19.6%, which is 10.5 points below the national rate, partly because the young age structure includes many residents still in education.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
37.9%
Houses
59.5%
Townhouse
2.6%
Apartment
Tenure
Every occupied dwelling in Wellesley Islands is rented, a 100% rental rate that sits at the extreme end of the national spectrum. Semi-detached dwellings dominate at 59.5% of stock, followed by separate houses at 37.9%, with apartments making up only 2.6%. Three-bedroom configurations are the most common at 49.4%, followed by 2-bedroom at 25.1% and 4-plus bedroom at 19.7%. Rent at $104 per week produces a rent-to-income ratio of 12.2%, which is low compared to most Australian suburbs. The 26.6% vacancy rate is substantially higher than the national average, meaning roughly one in four dwellings is unoccupied.
Mortgage / mo
$0
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$104
Census 2021
HH Size
3.5
Personal Income / wk
$283
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
26.6%
Unoccupied
84
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
12.2%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
40.7%
Couples with children
22.0%
Couples, no children
34.0%
Single parent
209
Total families
Economy & Employment
The local economy is anchored in public and community services: Education accounts for 32.4% of employed residents (33 workers), Public Administration 26.5% (27 workers), and Healthcare 16.7% (17 workers). Together these three sectors cover over 75% of local employment, which is heavily concentrated compared to diversified urban economies. The unemployment rate is 7.9%, higher than the national average, and the participation rate of 27.6% is very low, with 466 residents not in the labour force. Full-time employment runs at 67.0% of those employed. Weekly personal income averages $283, below state and national medians. SEIFA scores are not available for this community, but the household income at the 6.3rd percentile nationally indicates significant economic disadvantage relative to most Australian suburbs.
Unemployment
7.3%
Labour Force
233
Unemployed
17
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.1%
Part-time
30.1%
Participation
30.1%
Employed
216
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.6%
Postgraduate
6.2%
Born Overseas
3.0%
Dwellings
227
Transport to Work
Transport patterns in Wellesley Islands reflect its remote geography: 38.9% of residents walk or cycle, the highest active transport share and well above the national average, while only 34.7% use a car. Public transport is used by 5.8% of residents. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on facilities elsewhere. Crime data is not available for this community. Housing affordability is strong with rent-to-income at 12.2%, considerably below the national stress threshold of 30%. The volunteering rate of 6.5% and 3.9% of residents needing daily assistance (35 people) reflect a young community with moderate support needs. Household income at the 6.3rd percentile nationally points to limited access to commercial services compared to more affluent Queensland communities.
Drive
34.0%
Public Transport
5.7%
Walk / Cycle
38.1%
Work from Home
2.1%
Growth Outlook
Wellesley Islands is a small, stable community of 1,022 residents with limited population growth data available from the brief. The young median age of 29, which is 11 years below the national figure, combined with an average household size of 3.5 suggests natural increase may play a role in demographic continuity. A residential turnover rate of 20.1% indicates that roughly 1 in 5 residents changed address in the reference period, while 79.9% stayed put, pointing to a settled core population. Development activity is zero over the past 12 months, so no new housing supply is entering the market. Income at the 6.3rd percentile nationally means the community faces structural economic challenges that constrain growth trajectories compared to mainstream Queensland suburbs.
Population trend: Mornington council area
Wellesley Islands sits in the Mornington council area. These are the council area's residents, not Wellesley Islands's.
Residents 2025
1,099
Growth, 5 yr average
+0.1%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+1.1%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Wellesley Islands compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wellesley Islands a good suburb to live in?
Wellesley Islands is a remote First Nations community in far north Queensland with a population of 1,022 across 1,027 km2. Housing is affordable with rent-to-income at 12.2%, well below the 30% stress threshold. The community is young (median age 29) and close-knit, but limited commercial services and household income at the 6.3rd percentile nationally reflect the challenges of its remote location.
What is the median house price in Wellesley Islands?
However, all occupied dwellings are rented and no owner-occupier transactions are recorded. Weekly rent averages $104, producing a rent-to-income ratio of 12.2%, which is low compared to most Australian communities.
What schools are in Wellesley Islands?
No schools are recorded inside the Wellesley Islands suburb boundary in this dataset. Families in this remote community rely on educational facilities elsewhere. Locally, Education is the largest employment sector at 32.4% of workers, with 33 residents employed in education roles, suggesting some local schooling infrastructure exists.
Is Wellesley Islands safe?
Specific crime rate data is not available for Wellesley Islands in this dataset. The community has 1,022 residents with 3.9% (35 people) needing daily assistance. The unemployment rate of 7.9% is above the national average, which can be a factor in community wellbeing, though no direct crime statistics are available for comparison.
Is Wellesley Islands good for property investment?
Wellesley Islands presents an unusual profile for investors. Weekly rent of $104 is far below Queensland medians, and the 26.6% vacancy rate is substantially higher than national averages. There were 0 development applications in 12 months and household incomes sit at the 6.3rd percentile nationally. Investment dynamics here are driven by social housing and community needs rather than conventional yield metrics.
How is Wellesley Islands's population changing?
Wellesley Islands has a population of 1,022 with a young median age of 29, which is 11 years below the national figure. The residential turnover rate is 20.1%, meaning 1 in 5 residents changed address in the reference period, while 79.9% stayed put. Zero development applications in the past 12 months indicates no new housing supply entering the community.
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).
Explore Wellesley Islands on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map