LGA · QLD · NORTH QUEENSLAND

City of Townsville

Largest ADF army barracks in Australia + $1.029B hospital build + $1.6B port redevelopment. Roughly 1100km from Brisbane CBD.

North Queensland Hotspotting refresh: Jun 2026 1100km from CBD

Investment thesis

What this LGA is for

North Queensland regional city anchored on a diverse economy: defence, healthcare, mining, agriculture, education and tourism. Population projected to grow toward 280,135 by 2046. Townsville hosts Lavarack Barracks (the largest Australian Defence Force army base in the country with troop numbers being expanded) plus the largest regional hospital in Queensland (currently in a $1.029 billion expansion). The Port of Townsville is in a $1.6 billion redevelopment program. The economy is being further bolstered by the Tropical Intelligence and Health Precinct development plus major road, rail, residential and commercial projects in the pipeline. Consistent, affordable property market with double-digit price growth in most suburbs across FY25, sub-$1M house medians outside the premium peninsula, and strong 4-5% gross yields.

Key numbers

Snapshot of the City of Townsville economy and demographics.

Port of Townsville redevelopment

$1.6B

Townsville University Hospital expansion

$1.029B

Forecast population by 2046

280,135

ADF army barracks in Australia (Lavarack)

Largest

Infrastructure pipeline

The committed and in-flight infrastructure spend reshaping the LGA.

$1.6B

Port of Townsville redevelopment

Major port expansion program. Anchors freight + mining export economy. Multi-decade employment driver.

$1.029B

Townsville University Hospital expansion

Largest regional hospital in Queensland. Major employment + rental demand source. The flagship health infrastructure project for North Queensland.

Major

Lavarack Barracks (largest ADF army base in Australia)

Army numbers being expanded over the next decade. Multi-decade Defence employment + housing demand anchor.

Major

Tropical Intelligence + Health Precinct

Major emerging health + tech precinct.

Major

Education sector backbone

James Cook University (JCU) + Townsville TAFE + multiple campuses. Tertiary education employment + structural student rental demand.

Major

Base metals export hub

Major copper + zinc + nickel processing hub. Connected to inland Queensland mining country via rail + road.

Major

Tourism sector

Magnetic Island + Great Barrier Reef gateway. Tropical tourism economy.

Major

Road + rail upgrades

Multiple major road + rail upgrades underway across the LGA reshaping freight + commuter access.

Major

Substantial residential estate pipeline

Major masterplanned housing estates planned + under construction.

Suburbs in scope

Suburbs we actively track within City of Townsville. House market data from PropTrack via Hotspotting LGA report (12 months trailing).

Suburb	Median	Yield	1yr growth	Vacancy	Read
Castle Hill	$1.446M	4.70%	+18%	0.40%	LGA premium peninsula. Iconic Townsville coastal landmark
North Ward	$1.05M	4.60%	+4%	0.40%	Premium peninsula
Belgian Gardens	$908K	3.90%	+13%	0.50%	Established premium
Alice River	$885K	4.10%	+14%	0.50%	Premium outer suburb
Idalia	$813K	4.40%	+17%	0.60%	Established premium
Bushland Beach	$775K	4.20%	+18%	0.70%	Coastal middle-tier
Annandale	$760K	4.30%	+17%	0.70%	Established middle-tier
Bohle Plains	$720K	4.50%	+16%	0.70%	Established middle-tier
Hermit Park	$710K	4.40%	+12%	0.70%	Inner suburb
Douglas	$700K	4.50%	+17%	0.70%	JCU campus adjacency
Burdell	$690K	4.40%	+19%	0.70%	Newer estate. 228 sales/yr
Mount Louisa	$690K	4.50%	+14%	0.70%	Established middle-tier. 197 sales/yr
Mount Low	$690K	4.30%	+15%	0.80%	Newer estate
Kirwan	$645K	4.70%	+16%	0.80%	Volume leader (440 sales/yr). Established middle-tier
Mundingburra	$638K	4.40%	+16%	0.80%	Established middle-tier
Currajong	$635K	4.60%	+33%	0.80%	STRONGEST YoY HOUSE GROWTH (+33%)
Deeragun	$625K	4.70%	+18%	0.80%	Outer middle-tier
West Mackay etc / Cranbrook	$600K	5.00%	+20%	0.80%	Affordable LGA entry
Condon	$600K	4.80%	+19%	0.80%	Affordable middle-tier
Gulliver	$595K	4.80%	+25%	0.80%	Strong YoY
Aitkenvale	$585K	4.60%	+22%	0.80%	Established middle-tier
Garbutt	$585K	4.50%	+15%	0.90%	Inner affordable
Kelso	$585K	4.50%	+21%	0.90%	Volume (246 sales/yr)
Heatley	$565K	4.60%	+21%	0.90%	Affordable inner-suburb
Balgal Beach	$538K	5.10%	+9%	1.00%	Most affordable LGA entry. Coastal village

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