Demographic Analysis

•  January 2011 Demographic analysis of Townsville by Bernard Salt KPMG (2.9MB)

Population and Lifestyle

The Townsville community places a high value on their tropical lifestyle, which is relaxed, family-friendly, outdoors-orientated and free from urban congestion.

This unique lifestyle is a major part of Townsville’s appeal to overseas students, and to migrating workers and professionals.The attractiveness of the city for families has long been fundamental to Townsville’s success as Australia’s leading defence force base.

There are more than 40,000 families in the Townsville City Council area (3.9 per cent of all Queensland families). A couple family with children is the dominant family type (approximately 18,000 families).

Townsville has a significant Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community that make up about 5.5% of the city’s total population.

Townsville’s population is relatively young when compared to other parts of Queensland. The city’s average age is 34.8 years while the Queensland average is 37.0 years. There is a proportionally higher level of children in Townsville than elsewhere in the state.

More demographic information about Townsville is available from council’s website.

Population Growth and Forecasts

The high population growth recently experienced by Townsville is forecast to continue.

The city’s current population of roughly 186,000 has the potential to rise to between 270,000 (medium range forecast) and 380,000 people (boom range forecast) by 2031.

Population Forecasts for Townsville

Source: PIFU, AEC Group

Economic Growth

In 2008/09, Townsville’s Gross Regional Product (GRP) was estimated to be $9.8 billion.

Since 2005/06, Townsville’s economy has grown by 10.6% on average per annum (nominal GRP at factor cost), which is approximately 2.0 percentage points higher per annum then Queensland’s growth rate.

Townsville's GRP - 2005/06 to 2008/09

This record has been driven by strong population growth, major public sector investment, connection to the minerals industry in Northwest Queensland and Townsville’s role as the public and private sector service centre of North Queensland.

Significant growth in particular has occurred in the construction, finance and insurance, rental and real estate services.

Industry Profile

Townsville has a highly diversified economy, with no one sector contributing more than 13 per cent of output. The key sectors are shown below.

Percentage Contribution to Gross Regional Product, Townsville 2008-09

Key Assets – Education and Research

Townsville is education hub for a large portion of Northern Queensland and attracts a significant number of national and international students.

Research institutions of international significance are located in Townsville.

These include James Cook University, Australian Institute for Marine Science (AIMS) and the Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).

There is great development potential in the area of tropical science and medicine, marine biology and renewable energy.

Key Assets – Retail and CBD Development

Townsville’s CBD is North Queensland’s principal commercial and retail district, accounting for more than 10% of output for the North Queensland economy.

The CBD is home for more than 1,100 businesses and 14,000 employees, and contributes more than $1 billion annually to the North Queensland economy.

Townsville has significant opportunities for commercial development within the greater CBD area.

Key Assets – Defence and Public Administration

Townsville is the foremost defence centre in Australia. Major establishments include RAAF Base Townsville and Lavarack Barracks (home to 3^rd Brigade).

The Australian Defence Organisation employs more than 6,000 personnel within the city and further supports nearly 8,000 partners and dependent children. The Defence Organisation community in Townsville constitutes about 9% of the total population.

In late 2011, the defence population will begin to expand with the arrival of 800 uniform members of the 3rd Battalion, Royal Australian Regiment (3 RAR).

Key Assets – Transport Infrastructure and the Port of Townsville

Townsville is strategically placed at the intersection of two major rail networks, which are the North Coast rail line (Brisbane to Cairns) and the Western line (Mt Isa to Townsville).  The Western line is an essential economic connection from Townsville to the North West Minerals Province.

Townsville airport provides domestic direct flights to Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra as well as many regional destinations in Queensland. The airport has begun international flights to Bali.

The Port of Townsville’s port is one of Queensland’s most important export gateways, handling goods and products for the North West minerals province.

As the third largest port in Queensland, the Port handles almost $3.5 billion worth of exports annually and contributes 12% of Queensland’s export cargo by value. The 2007 Port of Townsville Master Plan identified the potential for trade through the Port to treble in the next twenty five years.

In order to facilitate this growth, improved transport and storage facilities, and new berthing facilities – including a cruise and military ship terminal – have been scheduled for development.

Relevant sections of the Port of Townsville Master Plan can be downloaded here:

• Port Aerial (250kB)
• The Future of Our Port (135kB)
• Vision of the Port of Townsville (227kB)

Key Assets – Water Infrastructure

Townsville has invested heavily in water and sewerage infrastructure and has excellent capacity to meet existing and future demand.

Townsville’s primary water supplies are from the Paluma Dam and Ross Dam. The 1.86 million megalitre Burdekin Dam is also utilised as a backup during times of low local supply.

There is further opportunity on a regional basis to increase the capacity of the Burdekin Dam, enhancing water security and regional and state economic opportunity.

Key Assets – Minerals Processing

Townsville is the main service centre for the North and North West Queensland minerals province: the province lies inland of Townsville and is the second largest minerals mining region in the world. The region contains over 28 per cent of the world’s known zinc reserves as well as major deposits of silver, lead, copper, iron ore and phosphate.

These resources are processed at several leading Townsville-based facilities. They include North Queensland’s three major refineries: QNI’s Yabulu nickel refinery, Xstrata Copper Refinery and the Sun Metals Townsville Zinc refinery.

Key Assets – Industrial Land

Townsville has existing industrial land for new development including the strategically located Townsville State Development Area (TSDA).

The Townsville State Development Area was declared in 2003 by the Queensland Government in recognition of its strategic importance to new industry and servicing the North West Minerals Province.

The Townsville State Development Area provides great opportunities for investment in value added processing, transportation, logistics and distribution services.

Key Assets – Tourism

Townsville offers exciting and diverse visitor experiences with a mix of reef, outback, rainforest, beautiful beaches and the benefits of a modern tropical city.

One of Townsville’s most popular tourist destinations is Magnetic Island - a world heritage listed island and the only residential island on Australia’s coast.

Magnetic Island, better known as ‘Maggie’ to the locals is twenty minute ferry trip from the city. It has secluded bays and spectacular granite ranges and bushland.

For more information about Maggie and holidaying in Townsville please follow these links:

• Experience Magnetic Island
• Townsville Holidays
• Queensland Holidays - Townsville