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Home > Regions > Northern > Housing in Queensland (Bulletin 13 Census 2001)

Housing in Queensland (Census 2001 Bulletin no. 13)

Contents


This bulletin contains information on housing in Queensland and covers tenure type, dwelling type, home finance and homelessness. Most of the data come from the 2001 Census of Population and Housing carried out by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS). The bulletin also draws on other ABS publications and first home owner statistics from the Office of State Revenue. Unless otherwise indicated, census data are provided on a place of enumeration basis.

Key Points

Tenure Type

At the time of the 2001 census, 62 per cent of households in Queensland were homeowners, comprising 37 per cent who owned their home outright and 26 per cent who were purchasing their home (see Figure 1). A further 30 per cent of households were renting, with 1 in 8 of these households renting from a state/territory housing authority.

Over the past three censuses, there has been an increase in the percentages of households purchasing their home and renting, but a reduction in the percentage owning their home outright.

Figure 1: Tenure type by census year, Queensland

Source: ABS, Census of Population and Housing, 1991, 1996 and 2001

Tenure by age of reference person

The proportion of households in Queensland in 2001 owning their home increased with the age of the reference person (usually the first named person on the census form), while the proportion of renters fell in each age group (see Figure 2).

Fifty-two per cent of households where the reference person was aged 25-29 years were renters. For households where the reference person was aged 30-49 years the predominant tenure type was purchasing their home. For those households where the reference person was 50 years and over the greatest proportion owned their home outright.

Figure 2: Tenure type by age of reference person, Queensland, 2001

Source: ABS, Census of Population and Housing, 2001

Home ownership by age by census year

Home ownership rates (fully owned and being purchased) in Queensland in 2001 increased with the age of the household reference person from 43 per cent for those aged 25-29 years to 86 per cent for those aged 65 years and over. Rates were lower or the same for all age groups in 2001 compared with 1991 and 1996 (see Figure 3).

Figure 3: Home ownership rate by age of reference person by census year, Queensland

Source: ABS, Census of Population and Housing, 1991, 1996 and 2001

The number of dwellings being purchased in Queensland by the age of the reference person by census year is shown in Figure 4. The number of persons aged 25-29 years and 65 years and over who were purchasing a home changed little between censuses. However, the number of persons in most other age groups buying a home rose sharply, with persons aged 50-59 years more than doubling over the decade to 2001.

Figure 4: Dwellings being purchased by age of reference person by census year, Queensland

Source: ABS, Census of Population and Housing, 1991, 1996 and 2001

Tenure by family type

Tenure type by family type in Queensland in 2001 is shown in Figure 5. The predominant tenure type was owner with a mortgage for couple families with children (44 per cent), and owner without a mortgage for couple families without children (53 per cent). For one parent families 53 per cent were renters.

Figure 5: Tenure type by family type, Queensland, 2001

Source: ABS, Census of Population and Housing, 2001

Home ownership by region

Home ownership rates (fully owned and being purchased) by Queensland statistical division in 2001 are shown in Figure 6. In general, rates were lower the further away from the south-east corner. Wide Bay-Burnett had the highest home ownership rate (67 per cent), followed by Darling Downs (66 per cent). North West had the lowest home ownership rate (48 per cent).

Figure 6: Home ownership rate by statistical division, Queensland, 2001

Source: ABS, Census of Population and Housing, 2001

First Home Owners Grant

The Commonwealth Government introduced the First Home Owners Grant Scheme in July 2000 to encourage home ownership by offsetting the costs of purchasing a home, which increased, in part, due to the goods and services tax introduced at the same time. The value of the grant has changed over time with different amounts being paid for the purchase of an existing home compared with the building or purchase of a > new home.

The amount paid under the First Home Owners Grant Scheme in Queensland over time is shown in Figure 7. The amount paid out for the grant increased from $44 million in September quarter 2000 to a peak of $111 million in December quarter 2001. Since then it has steadily declined with $48 million paid in June quarter 2003.

Data from the ABS (cat. no. 5609.0) indicate that the average loan size for a first home buyer in Queensland in 2002 was $125,400. The average for Australia was $145,300.

Figure 7: First Home Owners Grant Scheme payments, Queensland

Source: Office of State Revenue

Housing affordability

The average home loan size for a new loan in Queensland increased from $67,000 in September 1991 to $181,000 in September 2003 (see Figure 8). The increase reflects the increase in house prices and a decline in housing loan interest rates over this period.

Figure 8: Average home loan size, Queensland

Source: ABS, Housing Finance for Owner Occupation, Australia, cat. no. 5609.0

The median monthly housing loan repayment according to the 2001 census was $800-999 for Queensland as a whole. This was the median repayment for most statistical divisions. The exceptions, with a median repayment of $600-799, were Wide-Bay Burnett, Darling Downs, South West, Fitzroy and Central West.

Median weekly rent in 2001 was $150-199 for Queensland as a whole. This rent was recorded for Brisbane and Moreton statistical divisions, with lower rent recorded for all other statistical divisions.

The household composition where housing costs were more than a quarter of gross income is shown in Figure 9.

Figure 9: Household composition where housing costs were more than a quarter of gross income, Queensland, 1999

Source: ABS, Australian Housing Survey, 1999, cat. no. 4182.0


The chart shows that 51 per cent of lone parent households with dependent children spent more than a quarter of their income on housing costs compared with 21 per cent of couple families with dependent children. Fifteen per cent of one parent households with dependent children spent more than half their income on housing costs. Thirty per cent of lone person households spent more than a quarter of their income on housing costs.

Twenty-eight per cent of owners with a mortgage spent over a quarter of their income on housing costs. Thirty-six per cent of private landlord renters spent more than a quarter of their income on housing costs compared with 12 per cent of state housing authority renters.

The Index of Economic Resources by local government area is shown in Figure 10. This index profiles the economic resources of families within geographic areas, reflecting a combination of factors such as family income, expenditure, rent and dwelling size.

Figure 10: Index of Economic Resources by local government area, Queensland, 1999

Source: ABS, Australian Housing Survey, 1999, cat. no. 4182.0

A high score indicates the area has a relatively high proportion of families on high incomes, a low proportion on low incomes and more households living in large houses. A low score indicates the area has a relatively high proportion of households on low incomes and living in smaller dwellings. Many local government areas with a high index are in remote locations, while areas with a low index are concentrated in Wide Bay-Burnett and Darling Downs statistical divisions.

Dwelling characteristics

Seventy-seven per cent of occupied dwellings in Queensland in 2001 were separate houses compared with 80 per cent in 1991 (see Figure 11). Semi-detached, row or terrace houses and townhouses accounted for 7 per cent of dwellings in 2001 compared with 4 per cent in 1991.

Figure 11: Dwelling structure by census year, Queensland

Source: ABS, Census of Population and Housing, 1991, 1996 and 2001

Eighty-six per cent of persons in Queensland in 2001 who owned their home lived in a separate house compared with 93 per cent of those buying their home and 57 per cent of renters. Five per cent of owners lived in a flat, unit or apartment compared with 26 per cent of renters.

Fifty-four per cent of occupied separate houses in Queensland had three bedrooms, with a further 33 per cent having four or more bedrooms. In contrast, 82 per cent of flats, units or apartments had one or two bedrooms.

Figure 12 shows that in Queensland in 2001, 95 per cent of couple families with children lived in a separate house compared with 84 per cent of couple families without children, 81 per cent of one parent families and 58 per cent of lone person households. Correspondingly, 25 per cent of lone person households lived in a flat, unit or apartment, with a further 12 per cent living in a semi-detached, row or terrace house or townhouse.

Figure 12: Family type by dwelling type, Queensland, 2001

Source: ABS, Census of Population and Housing, 2001

Homelessness

Census figures for Queensland show that there were 23.7 homeless persons per ten thousand population in 2001. About 1,200 persons were enumerated in hostels for the homeless, night shelters or refuges on the night of the census. A further 7,019 persons were counted in an improvised home or a tent or were classified as sleepers-out.

Non-private dwellings

Thirty six per cent of persons in non-private dwellings in Queensland on census night were enumerated in hotels and motels (see Figure 13). A further 9.3 per cent were enumerated in accommodation for the retired or aged and 8.9 per cent were in nursing homes.

Figure 13: Persons in non-private dwellings, Queensland, 2001

Source: ABS, Census of Population and Housing, 2001

Last reviewed 1 July 2008