QLD · Toowoomba Council

Birnam, 4352

Est. population · Jun 2025

73

Growth (1 yr)

+1.4%

Growth (5 yr)

+14.1%

Median age

43

Median income

$2,374/wk

Employment rate

77.1%

Languages at home

Mostly English at home

2021 Census · usual residence

    What Birnam is known for:

    Suburb profile

    Birnam is a quieter smaller community in Toowoomba Council, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. Distance from the metro area around Brisbane is part of the appeal, with regional hubs closer to hand than the city. Long-term locals and family households define much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout.

    With limited local amenities, residents regularly travel to a neighbouring town for shops, appointments and a wider choice. Local green pockets are modest, with bigger outdoor outings usually found in neighbouring areas. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here than in denser, more walkable pockets.

    Buyers typically pay more than the metro middle for a home here. Crime trends have improved of late compared with the previous period.

    At a glance

    Birnam snapshot

    A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

    Median house price

    No data available

    Median rent

    No data available

    Population (ERP)

    73

    +1.4% annual growth

    Dwelling vacancy

    13.6%

    Census unoccupied dwellings

    How it compares

    Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

    Safety

    6th

    percentile in state (higher = safer)

    Pop. growth

    59th

    percentile in QLD

    Advantage (IRSAD)

    8/10

    national SEIFA decile

    Population growth

    Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years

    Housing mix

    Dwelling types from the 2021 Census

    Risks & flags

    Quick scan — open a section below for full context

    Living here

    Population

    Estimated resident population

    73(June 2025)

    +1.4% annual · +14.1% over 5 years · 59th percentile in QLD

    Growth figures & methodology
    Annual growth
    +1.4%
    5-year growth
    +14.1%
    Change in 1 year
    +1
    Change in 5 years
    +9
    Growth rank in QLD
    59th percentile

    ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.

    Methodology

    Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.

    The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~100), extrapolated at +2.7% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

    2021 Census figures

    2021 Census

    Population
    63
    Median age
    43
    Median household income / week
    $2,374
    Dwelling vacancy
    13.6%
    Unoccupied private dwellings
    3 of 22
    Median monthly mortgage
    $2,537
    Employment rate
    77.1%
    Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
    21 / 0 / 0

    Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

    Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)

    Data sources & freshness

    • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

      The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

    • Estimated Resident PopulationAustralian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries

    Community & culture

    No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.

    Data sources & freshness

    • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

      The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

    Crime & safety

    Reported offences are running lower than the same point last year.

    Offence counts & rates
    Total offences (Jan 2026 to Aug 2026)
    1
    Against the person
    0
    Against property
    0
    Rate per 1,000 residents
    13.7
    State safety percentile
    5.5th (lower crime is better)
    Decrease (daily rate, partial year)
    -18.9%

    Most common offence types

    • Drug Offences65
    • Other Property Damage33
    • Other Theft (Excl. Unlawful Entry)116
    • Traffic And Related Offences77
    • Unlawful Entry44

    Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

    Crime rate and year-on-year trend

    Data sources & freshness

    • QPS Online Crime MapQueensland Police Service · Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 → Jan 2026 to Aug 2026; Jan 2026 to Aug 2026 · Updated · Calendar-year aggregates

    Family & Lifestyle

    Amenities

    2 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

    1 places of worship

    Local character & venue list

    Local character

    • Limited walkable amenities nearby
    Walkability proxy
    0/100
    Cafés per 1,000 residents
    0
    Food & drink per 1,000 residents
    0
    Parks per 1,000 residents
    0
    Other(2)
    • Parking
    • The ChapelPlace of worship

    Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.

    Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

    Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)

    Data sources & freshness

    • Local amenity insightsSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
    • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

    Places of worship

    1 places of worship within ~1.5 km

    • The Chapel

    From OpenStreetMap within ~1.5 km of the suburb centre.

    Data sources & freshness

    Health access

    Nearest hospital
    Baillie Henderson Hospital (3.7 km)
    Nearest hospital type
    Hospital
    Nearest hospital emergency
    Emergency department

    Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

    Hospitals and GP clinics

    Data sources & freshness

    NDIS participation

    NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
    2
    Participants per 1,000 residents
    27.4

    Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.

    For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.

    Data sources & freshness

    Weather

    Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.

    Summer (Dec–Feb)

    Usual max / min
    29° / 17°
    Rainfall
    287 mm · ~36 rainy days

    Autumn (Mar–May)

    Usual max / min
    25° / 12°
    Rainfall
    153 mm · ~19 rainy days

    Winter (Jun–Aug)

    Usual max / min
    18° / 4°
    Rainfall
    95 mm · ~12 rainy days

    Spring (Sep–Nov)

    Usual max / min
    25° / 11°
    Rainfall
    194 mm · ~24 rainy days

    Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

    Temperature and humidity comfort

    Data sources & freshness

    • Seasonal climate normalsWorldClim 2.1 · Updated

    Future & Planning

    Hazards

    Bushfire planning zone
    No overlay at centroid

    Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via Queensland Bushfire Prone Area mapping.

    Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

    Bushfire hazard overlays

    Data sources & freshness

    • Hazard planning overlaysState government hazard layers · current · Updated

    Politics & representation

    Federal electorate
    Groom
    Member of Parliament
    Garth HAMILTON (Liberal National Party of Queensland)
    Results from
    2025 federal election
    Electorate enrolment (2025)
    119,008
    Turnout (2025)
    91.2%
    Swing since 2022 (2025)
    +0.8 pp toward Labor

    Two-party preferred (2025)

    Coalition 63.4%Labor 36.6%

    Estimated suburb voting profile

    Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 5.4 km away).

    Coalition 60.5%Labor 39.5%

    2.9 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

    Estimated swing since 2022: +1.7 pp toward Labor

    Nearest polling places

    • Gowrie JunctionLabor 30.7% · Coalition 69.3% TPP (2025)3.3 km away
    • RockvilleLabor 44.4% · Coalition 55.6% TPP (2025)4.4 km away
    • HighfieldsLabor 32.2% · Coalition 67.8% TPP (2025)4.7 km away
    • Wilsonton WestLabor 43.1% · Coalition 56.9% TPP (2025)4.8 km away
    • Highfields WestLabor 36.6% · Coalition 63.4% TPP (2025)4.9 km away

    Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.

    Data sources & freshness

    Socio-economic

    IRSAD decile (2021)
    8/10
    IRSD decile (2021)
    9/10

    ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).

    What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?

    IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.

    IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.

    A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.

    Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

    Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)

    Data sources & freshness

    More in Toowoomba Council

    Other suburbs in the same local government area.