Category Archives: Living on the Gold Coast

Is there a correlation between disadvantage and housing density on the Gold Coast?

This table lists (from the bottom) the seven most disadvantaged suburbs on the Gold Coast. The data is taken from the 2016 census and the criteria known as SEIFA (Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas). This criteria collects together data across a wide range of indices such as low income, low levels of education. employment in low skill jobs, etc., which together give an indication of the social and economic disadvantage within a suburb. The Gold Coast score of 1018 is well above the Australian, Queensland, South East Queensland, and Greater Brisbane scores of disadvantage.

The seven listed suburbs, ranging from Southport North to Biggera Waters, are the suburbs with the greatest level of disadvantage on the Gold Coast.

One feature that is quite noticeable for these suburbs is that they are all coastal suburbs. It is well known that coastal suburbs on the Gold Coast have a high levels of population density (measured as persons per hectare).

The figures on the right of the table are the 2016 census figures for population density for each of these suburbs. There are eleven suburbs that have a population density of greater than twenty persons per hectare. Six of those suburbs are in the above table.

There is a clear correlation between high levels of disadvantage on the Gold Coast and high levels of population density.

Of course, not every example of disadvantage is correlated to high population density as the example of Coombabah makes clear, but it is significant that the six of the seven most disadvantaged suburbs have high levels of population density. This is an important fact to consider in planning future high rise development on the Gold Coast.

 

Gold Coast Households

The last important indicator when looking at lifestyle on the Gold Coast is household and there are four main measures in assessing this – household type, dwelling structure, bedrooms per dwelling, and people per dwelling.

 

Household types are divided into three main types: couples with children, couples without children, and lone person households. The most common household type on the Gold Coast in 2016 was couples with children (28%). Within this type, the most common arrangement was couples with young children (16%) followed by couples with older children (8%) These figures were all close to State and National averages.The next most common type was couples without children (25%), of which the most common type was older couples (10%). Lone person households accounted for 21% of all household types, of which the most common was older people (65years +) living by themselves (9%). These figures were all close to State and National averages.

 

The most common number of bedrooms per dwelling was three (34%) and this was close to State and National average. 26% of dwellings had four bedrooms and 20% of dwellings had two bedrooms. 6% of dwellings had one bedroom and 6% of dwellings had five or more bedrooms. All these figures were close to State and National average.

 

The most common number of people per dwelling was two (36%), followed by one (23%), three (17%), and four (15%). More than five people per dwelling accounted for 9% of all residences. All these figures were close to State and National averages.

 

In 2016, 55% of the Gold Coast lived in separate houses as the main dwelling structure. This was almost 20% under the State and National figures.24% of Gold Coast dwelling structures were medium density and 19% were high density structures. Both of these figures were well above State (16% and 8%) and National (18% and 9%) percentages.

 

With respect to household types, number of bedrooms per dwelling, and number of persons per dwelling the Gold Coast is close to State and National averages. Where the Gold Coast does vary markedly from State and National figures is in terms of dwelling structure. The Gold Coast has substantially more medium and high density dwellings than either Queensland or Australia.

 

The Unremarkable Gold Coast

The Gold Coast is the six largest city in Australia and the largest regional city. It is located between Brisbane to the north and the N.S.W. to the south, with beaches to the east and extensive national parks to the west. It is also the fastest growing region in Australia.

 

Often when we think about the Gold Coast and its people, we think in clichés.

We might think of it as an expensive retirement village dominated by over 55’s, playing golf, a bit of fishing or swimming, and a regular night out at the local club.

Or we might think of it as a playground for the young and the restless. On any given Friday night, the under 35 set will be out partying until the wee small hours. On any given Saturday morning, these same people will be out at their local beach or gym, running, swimming, sweating, or sipping on their turmeric latte at their local café,

So it would be natural to think of the population of the Gold Coast is dominated by over 55’s, with a significant population in the age range 18-35.

But what are the facts?

Well, somewhat surprisingly, the population of the Gold Coast, across almost every significant measure –age profiles, work, income and cost of housing, and households – is almost identical with Queensland and Australian percentages for these measures.

  • The age profile of the Gold Coast did not vary by more than 1% from Queensland and Australian figures. (See Gold Coast Age Profile)
  • Almost all occupation and industry employment groups varied by no more than 1% from State and National percentages. The exceptions were trade workers, but professional workers and people employed in the construction industry and the food and accommodation industry. (See Gold Coast Employment)
  • In terms of income, 53% of individual income for the city was in the range $0-$40,000, while 47% of household income was in the range $0-$78,000. Both of these figures were almost identical with State and National percentages. (See Gold Coast Income)
  • In terms of housing, there were less fully owned premises and more rented premises on the Gold Coast when compared to State and National figures. The percentage of housing under mortgage varied by only 1% from State and National figures. (See Gold Coast Cost of Housing)
  • In terms of cost of mortgage repayments, the median weekly mortgage repayment for the Gold Coast in 2016 was $443, which was slightly higher than the State and National average. (See Gold Coast Cost of Housing)
  • The median weekly rent in 2016 was $395 which was slightly higher than the State and National average. (See Gold Coast Cost of Housing)
  • The three most common household types on the Gold Coast in 2016 were couples with children, couples without children, and lone person households which were all close to State and National averages. (See Gold Coast Households)
  • The most common number of bedrooms per dwelling was three, followed by four and two. These figures were all close to State and National averages. (See Gold Coast Households)
  • The most common number of people per dwelling was two (36%), followed by one (23%), three (17%), and four (15%). All these figures were close to State and National averages. (See Gold Coast Households)
  • In 2016, 55% of the Gold Coast lived in separate houses as the main dwelling structure. This was almost 20% under the State and National figures. 24% of Gold Coast dwelling structures were medium density and 19% were high density structures. Both of these figures were well above State (16% and 8%) and National (18% and 9%) percentages. (See Gold Coast Households)

 

It is remarkable that, despite the appearance of the Gold Coast being a unique city in terms of its population, it conforms to State and National averages on almost every population measure except for one – dwelling type. Not unsurprisingly, when we look at the iconic images of the coastal skyline, the Gold Coast has a higher propensity for medium and high density living when compared to either Queensland or Australia. But on every other measure – age profile, occupation and industry of employment, income and cost of housing, and household types – it is a rather typical and unremarkable Australian city. It seems then that the most remarkable thing about the Gold Coast is how unremarkable it actually is.

 

Gold Coast Cost of Housing

When we look at cost of housing, we need to distinguish rental premises from accommodation under mortgage. There are more rented residences (34%) and less fully owned residences (25%) on the Gold Coast when compared to State (32% and 27%) and National figures (29% for both). The percentage of housing under mortgage (31%) varied by only 1% from State and National figures.

 

With regard to the cost of housing, there are two main measures to take account of: mortgage repayments and rental payments. The median weekly mortgage repayment for the Gold Coast in 2016 was $443, which was $34-$37 pw higher than the State and National average. It was also $14 higher than median mortgages for Brisbane.  43% of monthly mortgage repayments were under $1,800 which was less than the State (49%) and National (48%) figures. 29% of monthly mortgage repayments were between $1,800 and $2,200 which was higher than the State and National average of 25%. 33% of repayments were greater than $2,200 which was higher than both the State and National figures (28% and 30%).

 

The median weekly rent on the Gold Coast in 2016 was $395 which was $55-$60 pw higher than the State and National average. It was also $32 pw higher than the average for Brisbane. In 2016, 69% of rental payments were in the range $300-$550 which was higher than the State and National percentages (53% and 48%).  Only 18% pay less than $300 pw which is significantly less than the State and National average of 37% and 31%.

 

There were less fully owned premises and more rented premises on the Gold Coast when compared to State and National figures, although these variations were not large (less than 5%). There was more rental accommodation and less fully owned residences, although the residences under mortgage was the same as State and National figures. The median Gold Coast mortgage was 7% higher than State and National figures and with 4% more households paying mid-range mortgages when compared to State and National averages and 3-5% paying high range mortgages. The median Gold Coast rental was 15% higher than the State and National average, with substantially less households in the lowest rental bracket and substantially more people paying in the mid to high bracket. In summary, the cost of housing on the Gold Coast, whether rental or mortgage, was much more expensive.

Gold Coast Income

When we look at income, we need to distinguish between individual income and household income. The main individual income bracket for the Gold Coast in 2016 was $0-$800 pw ($0-$40,000 pa) which comprised 53% of total individual income for the city. This figure was close to the State and National average.

 

The most common household income bracket on the Gold Coast in 2016 was under $1,500 pw ($78,000) which accounted for 47% of all households. This figure was close to State and National averages. The next major income bracket was $1,500 – $3,000 ($78,000-$156,000) and this accounted for 29% of all households. Again, this was the same as the State and National percentages.

 

So both individual and household income on theGold Coast was almost identical with State and National percentages.

Gold Coast Employment

At the 2016 census, three occupations accounted for 46% of the labour force on the Gold Coast: these were professionals (18%), trades (15%), and clerical workers (13.5%). There were less professionals when compared to Queensland (20%) and Australian (22%) figures, but there were more trades workers when compared to state (14%) and national (13%) figures. The percentage of clerical workers was the same as state and national figures. All other occupation groups were the same as the state and national percentages.

 

At the same time, there were five main industries which accounted for 50% of the labour force on the Gold Coast: health (12.5%), construction (11.5%), retail (11%), accommodation and food (10%), and education (8%). Gold Coast employment in the health, retail, and education industries was the same as state and national figures, while there were more people employed in construction (Qld 9% Aust 8%) and accommodation and food (Qld 7% Aust 7%). Employment in all other industries was the same as state and national percentages.

 

So apart from there being more trade workers employed in construction, there were only two variations from state and national figures: there are less professionals employed on the Gold Coast and more people employed in the food and accommodation industry.All other occupation and industry figures varied by no more than 1% from state and national percentages.

Gold Coast Age Profile

The Gold Coast is the sixth largest, and fastest growing, city in Australia. In 2016, its population was 550,000, having increased by 12% over the previous five years. If we divide this population into five main age groups – 0-17, 18-34, 35-49, 50-69, and 70+ – we find that each of the first four age groups all average around 22% of the population, with the fifth age group, 70+, 12% of the population. This profile does not vary by more than 1% from Queensland and Australian figures.The Gold Coast does not have a predominance of younger or older people but conforms very closely to State and National figures.