Southern Moreton Bay Islands
Southern Moreton Bay Islands is one of Brisbane's fastest-growing suburbs, but far from a train.
Southern Moreton Bay Islands is 13th fastest-growing of 234 Greater Brisbane suburbs; still relatively affordable to rent, with a median of $476 a week (RTA, 2026-Q2) — about $181 below the Greater Brisbane median. The trade-offs: the nearest train station is a fair way off (Ormeau, about 17.1 km); it is less advantaged than most of Australia (SEIFA 2021, decile 1 of 10).
Mostly free-standing houses, with a median age of 61 and households on a median $761 a week at the 2021 Census.
Compiled from ABS regional population (SA2), the 2021 Census, SEIFA 2021, RTA median rents, Queensland Police Service reported offences, OpenStreetMap and Queensland Open Data.
What's good
- 13th fastest-growing of 234 Greater Brisbane suburbs
- still relatively affordable to rent, with a median of $476 a week (RTA, 2026-Q2) — about $181 below the Greater Brisbane median
What to weigh up
- the nearest train station is a fair way off (Ormeau, about 17.1 km)
- it is less advantaged than most of Australia (SEIFA 2021, decile 1 of 10)
Southern Moreton Bay Islands on the map
The Australian Bureau of Statistics Statistical Area 2 outline for Southern Moreton Bay Islands, QLD.
Map tiles © OpenStreetMap contributors. Boundary: ABS SA2 (ASGS 2021), simplified — an SA2 can differ from the gazetted suburb, and detached parts such as islands may not all be shown.
How the population has changed
Southern Moreton Bay Islands against the Queensland average, both set to 100 in the first year shown so the growth rates compare.
Southern Moreton Bay Islands population grew from 7,109 in 2016 to 10,466 in 2025, a change of 47.2% over the period, against 17.0% for the Queensland average.
Show the data table
| Year | Southern Moreton Bay Islands | Queensland average |
|---|---|---|
| 2016 | 7,109 | 4,845,152 |
| 2017 | 7,318 | 4,926,380 |
| 2018 | 7,575 | 5,006,623 |
| 2019 | 7,848 | 5,088,847 |
| 2020 | 8,204 | 5,165,613 |
| 2021 | 8,574 | 5,215,814 |
| 2022 | 9,023 | 5,310,905 |
| 2023 | 9,449 | 5,450,235 |
| 2024 | 9,950 | 5,571,890 |
| 2025 | 10,466 | 5,669,764 |
Where the growth is coming from
Southern Moreton Bay Islands gained 1,233 residents from internal migration and 90 from overseas in the year to June 2025, while 746 people moved away — a net addition of 577 before natural increase.
- Internal migration in+1,233
- Internal migration out+709
- Overseas migration in+90
- Natural increase-61Natural decrease — deaths exceeded births.
Components of population change over the sample year. Natural increase is shown apart from migration so the two are not read as one figure.
How it has changed
Census · five-yearlyThe 2016 Census against 2021. Older figures are mapped onto today's boundaries via the ABS Time Series Profile, so comparisons are approximate where borders moved.
| Measure | 2016 | 2021 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 6,909 | 8,481 | +23% |
| Median age | 57 | 61 | +4 yrs |
| Median household income | $707/wk | $761/wk | +7.6% |
| Median weekly rent | $240/wk | $260/wk | +8.3% |
| Born overseas | 25.6% | 26.5% | +0.9 pts |
Who lives here
Census · five-yearlyFrom the 2021 Census — the most recent available; 2026 Census data isn't expected until mid-2027. Each figure carries its definition, so you know what is being counted.
People
Income
Housing
Work
Household
Country of birth
Language at home
How homes are held
- Owned outright 50.6%
- Mortgaged 22.3%
- Rented 22.9%
- Other / not stated 4.1%
What it costs to rent
Residential Tenancies Authority · 2026-Q2Median weekly rent for new tenancies, from the Residential Tenancies Authority's bond lodgements. Compare year-on-year — quarter-to-quarter moves are mostly seasonal noise.
Southern Moreton Bay Islands is one ABS statistical area covering 2 gazetted suburbs, which the RTA reports separately — so the figures below are broken down per suburb rather than blended into one.
Area-wide median, all 2 suburbs combined: $476, up 5.5% on a year earlier.
Rent over time — Russell Island
All dwellings in Russell Island against the Greater Brisbane median.
Median weekly rent in Russell Island went from $395 in 2024-Q1 to $460 in 2026-Q2, up 16%, against $656 for Greater Brisbane now.
Show the data table
| Year | Russell Island | Greater Brisbane |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-Q1 | $395 | $562 |
| 2024-Q2 | $385 | $590 |
| 2024-Q3 | $420 | $574 |
| 2024-Q4 | $420 | $594 |
| 2025-Q1 | $440 | $585 |
| 2025-Q2 | $440 | $624 |
| 2025-Q3 | $430 | $612 |
| 2025-Q4 | $445 | $633 |
| 2026-Q1 | $465 | $625 |
| 2026-Q2 | $460 | $656 |
Rent over time — Macleay Island
All dwellings in Macleay Island against the Greater Brisbane median.
Median weekly rent in Macleay Island went from $380 in 2024-Q1 to $510 in 2026-Q2, up 34%, against $656 for Greater Brisbane now.
Show the data table
| Year | Macleay Island | Greater Brisbane |
|---|---|---|
| 2024-Q1 | $380 | $562 |
| 2024-Q2 | $425 | $590 |
| 2024-Q3 | $460 | $574 |
| 2024-Q4 | $440 | $594 |
| 2025-Q1 | $465 | $585 |
| 2025-Q2 | $465 | $624 |
| 2025-Q3 | $490 | $612 |
| 2025-Q4 | $470 | $633 |
| 2026-Q1 | $490 | $625 |
| 2026-Q2 | $510 | $656 |
Russell Island by dwelling type — 2026-Q2 quarter
| Type | 1 bed | 2 bed | 3 bed | 4+ bed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| House | — | $440n=13 | $480n=27 | — |
n is the number of new bonds behind each median — treat a figure with a small n as indicative only.
In the 2026-Q2 quarter the RTA median weekly rent was $460 in Russell Island and $510 in Macleay Island. Combined across the 2 suburbs of the Southern Moreton Bay Islands statistical area it works out to $476, up 6% on a year earlier.
Show every quarter, with the year-on-year change
| Quarter | Russell Island | Macleay Island | Greater Brisbane |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-Q2 | $460 | $510 | $656 |
| 2026-Q1 | $465 | $490 | $625 |
| 2025-Q4 | $445 | $470 | $633 |
| 2025-Q3 | $430 | $490 | $612 |
| 2025-Q2 | $440 | $465 | $624 |
| 2025-Q1 | $440 | $465 | $585 |
| 2024-Q4 | $420 | $440 | $594 |
| 2024-Q3 | $420 | $460 | $574 |
| 2024-Q2 | $385 | $425 | $590 |
| 2024-Q1 | $395 | $380 | $562 |
| 2023-Q4 | $390 | $420 | $575 |
| 2023-Q3 | $380 | $400 | $536 |
| 2023-Q2 | $400 | $390 | $526 |
| 2023-Q1 | $390 | $350 | $496 |
| 2022-Q4 | $380 | $380 | $495 |
| 2022-Q3 | $375 | $380 | $455 |
| 2022-Q2 | $350 | $350 | $454 |
| 2022-Q1 | $300 | $335 | $428 |
| 2021-Q4 | $310 | $310 | $436 |
| 2021-Q3 | $300 | $375 | $416 |
| 2021-Q2 | $280 | $320 | $408 |
| 2021-Q1 | $290 | $295 | $405 |
| 2020-Q4 | $270 | $275 | $401 |
| 2020-Q3 | $260 | $275 | $392 |
| 2020-Q2 | $260 | $260 | $383 |
| 2020-Q1 | $260 | $270 | $394 |
| 2019-Q4 | $260 | $265 | $391 |
| 2019-Q3 | $250 | $250 | $384 |
| 2019-Q2 | $250 | $255 | $383 |
| 2019-Q1 | $250 | $265 | $387 |
| 2018-Q4 | $255 | $280 | $383 |
| 2018-Q3 | $245 | $275 | $381 |
| 2018-Q2 | $245 | $275 | $383 |
| 2018-Q1 | $250 | $260 | $386 |
| 2017-Q4 | $240 | $250 | $384 |
| 2017-Q3 | $250 | $240 | $381 |
Rent data © the State of Queensland (Residential Tenancies Authority), used under CC BY 4.0, June 2026 release. Figures are the median for new bonds lodged in the quarter, not all tenancies. The RTA suppresses a median where too few bonds were lodged.
How well-off the area is
Census · five-yearlyThe ABS SEIFA indexes rank every area by relative advantage and disadvantage. Decile 1 is the lowest tenth of Australia; decile 10 is the highest.
- Relative disadvantage (IRSD)Lower decile means more relative disadvantageDecile 1score 837
- Advantage & disadvantage (IRSAD)Higher decile means more relative advantageDecile 1score 833
- Economic resources (IER)Income and housing capacityDecile 1score 879
- Education & occupation (IEO)Education and occupational skill levelsDecile 1score 876
Safety context
Queensland Police Service · July 2026How much crime is reported where Southern Moreton Bay Islands sits — measured for its whole police division, because that is the finest area the Queensland Police Service publishes.
Southern Moreton Bay Islands is policed by the Queensland Police Service Russell Island Division. The reported-offence figures below are for the whole division, not Southern Moreton Bay Islands specifically.
Most-reported offences · Russell Island Division, last 12 months
- Drug Offences6,135 /100k+268% vs QLD↑ 13%
- Assault2,004 /100k+90% vs QLD↑ 20%
- Other Theft (excl. Unlawful Entry)1,462 /100k−44% vs QLD↓ 11%
- Unlawful Entry519 /100k−23% vs QLD↓ 0%
- Unlawful Use of Motor Vehicle244 /100k−28% vs QLD↑ 41%
- Robbery42 /100k−6% vs QLD
Rate per 100,000 people across the whole Russell Island Division — not Southern Moreton Bay Islands on its own; the arrow compares the last 12 months with the 12 before.
Of these categories, drug offences is reported most across the whole Russell Island Division over the last 12 months, running 268% above the Queensland rate and up on the year before. None of this is specific to Southern Moreton Bay Islands — a police division usually spans several suburbs, so treat it as area context, not a street-level read.
Show the data table
| Offence category | Division | Queensland | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Drug Offences | 6,135 per 100k | 1,666 per 100k | ↑ 13% vs prior year |
| Assault | 2,004 per 100k | 1,053 per 100k | ↑ 20% vs prior year |
| Other Theft (excl. Unlawful Entry) | 1,462 per 100k | 2,632 per 100k | ↓ 11% vs prior year |
| Unlawful Entry | 519 per 100k | 677 per 100k | ↓ 0% vs prior year |
| Unlawful Use of Motor Vehicle | 244 per 100k | 338 per 100k | ↑ 41% vs prior year |
| Robbery | 42 per 100k | 45 per 100k | — |
Crime statistics © State of Queensland (Queensland Police Service), used under CC BY 4.0, updated July 2026. Reported offences are counted for the Russell Island Division; suburb-level detail is not published as open data. Monthly counts are volatile — the 12-month figures above smooth that noise, per QPS’s own guidance.
Flood risk
Has this suburb flooded before, and how much of it is mapped as flood-liable?
Brisbane City Council's flood data covers the Brisbane City Council area only. Southern Moreton Bay Islands is in Redland City, so no council flood mapping is shown here. That is not the same as having no flood risk — check Redland City Council's own flood information for Southern Moreton Bay Islands.
Redland City Council’s flood information for Southern Moreton Bay Islands →Getting around, and what's nearby
OpenStreetMap · quarterlyWhat OpenStreetMap records inside the suburb boundary. Counts reflect what is tagged in OSM and can undercount a real but less-mapped area. The park count here is OpenStreetMap green space of any kind, including privately held land — it is a different measure from the council parks below.
Within the Southern Moreton Bay Islands SA2, OpenStreetMap records 1 supermarket and 3 green spaces. For families: 1 library and 1 playground. Staying active: 1 public pool and 6 sports fields. The nearest train station, Ormeau, is about 17,050 m from the suburb centre. OpenStreetMap also maps 1 bus stop here.
GPs and clinics, cafés and restaurants are not well mapped in OpenStreetMap yet, so no count is shown for them here. See this area on OpenStreetMap →
List every mapped place
Schools
- Russell Island State School
Libraries
- Redlands City library
GPs & clinics
- Bay Island Medical Service
Supermarkets
- Canaipa Shopping Centre
Green spaces
- Jock Kennedy Park
- High Street Park
- Sandy Beach Park
Parks and trails
Brisbane City Council · biannuallyCouncil park and trail data on this site is published by Brisbane City Council, and covers the Brisbane City Council area only. Southern Moreton Bay Islands is in Redland City, which does not publish an equivalent open dataset, so no council parks are listed here. The green spaces counted in the amenities section above come from OpenStreetMap and are unaffected.
Park locations © Brisbane City Council 2026; tracks and trails © Brisbane City Council 2025. Used under CC BY 4.0.
Schools
Every open Queensland school whose campus sits inside the SA2 boundary, with the average ICSEA across them. Open a school for its own ICSEA, student background and a link to My School.
The Southern Moreton Bay Islands SA2 contains 1 school, and it is a government school. NAPLAN results for each school are on its My School profile (ACARA). For area context, Southern Moreton Bay Islands sits in decile 1 of the ABS SEIFA index of education and occupation nationally and 40% of adults here completed Year 12 (Census 2021).
The centre of this SA2 is zoned for Russell Island State School (primary), Victoria Point State High School (junior secondary), Victoria Point State High School (senior secondary).
Catchments can divide a suburb — confirm your address on EdMap.
Show school list
- Russell Island State School · State · Prep–6
School list & catchments: Queensland Government Open Data (Department of Education), licensed CC BY 4.0. ICSEA: ACARA School Profile. NAPLAN: myschool.edu.au (ACARA).
Nearby, in Cleveland - Stradbroke
Others in the same ABS district, by population growth. If this one doesn't fit, one of these might.
- HereSouthern Moreton Bay Islands+5.2%
- 01Redland Bay+3.8%
- 02Victoria Point+2.0%
- 03Thornlands+2.0%
- 04Ormiston+1.9%
- 05Cleveland+1.2%
- 06North Stradbroke Island+0.8%
- 07Sheldon - Mount Cotton+0.5%
Dots place each suburb's growth on the same scale, slowest at left.
Southern Moreton Bay Islands: common questions
Is Southern Moreton Bay Islands a good place to live?
How much does it cost to rent in Southern Moreton Bay Islands?
Is there flood data for Southern Moreton Bay Islands?
Is Southern Moreton Bay Islands a safe suburb?
What schools are in Southern Moreton Bay Islands?
What amenities and public transport does Southern Moreton Bay Islands have?
Are people moving to Southern Moreton Bay Islands?
Weighing up another suburb?
Type a name, then pick from the list. Every suburb is compared to the Queensland average.