QLD · Gold Coast Council

Molendinar, 4214

Est. population · Jun 2025

6,520

Growth (1 yr)

+0.2%

Growth (5 yr)

+1.1%

Median age

37

Median income

$1,767/wk

Employment rate

60.4%

Languages at home

26.1%non-English

Most common: Mandarin, Korean, Cantonese

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

53.1/100
Average

Top 27% of Queensland's suburbs

Verified 78% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • Green suburb
  • National parks
  • Excellent transport
  • High desirability
  • Education hub
What Molendinar is known for: Green suburb, National parks, Excellent transport, High desirability, Education hub

Suburb profile

Molendinar is a practical mid-sized suburb in Gold Coast Council, well placed for families who want metro access without the inner-city squeeze. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with family life visible on every street. The suburb has a clear multicultural mix alongside longer-term local households.

Sport and recreation are easy to access, with local venues supporting active weekends and after-work routines. Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many metro suburbs, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Buses make it easy to move between neighbouring suburbs without relying on the car.

Housing is expensive relative to much of the state. The streetscape feels settled and established, with older homes giving the area a familiar, lived-in look.

The overall desirability read is around average, pulled by softer safety compared with similar metro suburbs, though schools and education remain brighter spots. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Molendinar snapshot

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

Median house price

No data available

Median rent

$900/wk

Population (ERP)

6,520

+0.2% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

3.3%

Census unoccupied dwellings

Livability profile

Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Desirability

#147

among Metro Brisbane · Established

Safety

47th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

24th

percentile in QLD

Advantage (IRSAD)

6/10

national SEIFA decile

School ICSEA

80th

percentile among schools with ICSEA

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

Desirability

Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
53.1/100 — Average
State standing
Top 27% of Queensland's suburbs
National rank
1784th in Australia
State rank
409th in QLD
Peer rank
#147 among Metro Brisbane · Established suburbs
Cohort rank
#236 among Metro Brisbane suburbs
Data confidence
78%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Housing

All types (Mar 2026)
$900

Median weekly rent from Queensland RTA rental bond data. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.

Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)

Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum

Data sources & freshness

Population

Estimated resident population

6,520(June 2025)

+0.2% annual · +1.1% over 5 years · 24th percentile in QLD

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+0.2%
5-year growth
+1.1%
Change in 1 year
+14
Change in 5 years
+72
Growth rank in QLD
24th 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 (~6,600), extrapolated at +0.2% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
6,450
Median age
37
Median household income / week
$1,767
Dwelling vacancy
3.3%
Unoccupied private dwellings
70 of 2,149
Median monthly mortgage
$1,850
Employment rate
60.4%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,753 / 320 / 9

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)
273
Against the person
34
Against property
157
Rate per 1,000 residents
41.9
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 190 residents
State safety percentile
46.9th (lower crime is better)
Increase (daily rate, partial year)
+5.4%

Most common offence types

  • Assault108
  • Drug Offences271
  • Other Property Damage109
  • Other Theft (Excl. Unlawful Entry)620
  • Traffic And Related Offences180

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

Schools & preschools

Schools within 2 km
1
Median school ICSEA
1,086
Median ICSEA percentile
80th
School list
  • Trinity Lutheran CollegeCombined · Independent · ICSEA 1086 · 80th percentile · LBOTE 20% · 1,322 students · Top SEA quarter 30% · 0.7 km awayView on My School →

Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)

School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA

Data sources & freshness

Public transport

22 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Olsen Ave at Crestwood Plaza
  • Southport Nerang Rd at Ashmore Road
  • Southport Nerang Rd at BP Central Park
  • Southport Nerang Rd at Central Park Plaza
  • Southport Nerang Rd at Parkridge Drive

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

79 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

2 fast food · 3 playgrounds · 12 swimming pools · 1 petrol stations

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • A car helps for daily errands
  • Great for outdoor family life21 parks mapped in suburb, 3 playgrounds nearby
  • Well connected by public transport22 public transport stops
  • Strong local sport and recreation16 sport and outdoor facilities nearby
Walkability proxy
34/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0.31
Parks per 1,000 residents
3.26
Food & drink(2)
  • Country Fried ChickenFast food
  • McDonald'sFast food
Shopping(1)
  • 7-ElevenConvenience store
Community(1)
  • Trinity Lutheran CollegeSchool

    641 Ashmore Road, Molendinar

Sport & outdoors(33)
  • Activity Crescent ReservePark
  • Batchworth Road DrainPark
  • Cathedral ParkPark
  • Ernest Junction ReservePark
  • Geoff Walter Drive ReservePark
  • Kingsway ReservePark
  • Lynne Richardson Community CentrePark
  • Panache ParkPark
  • Park (8)
  • Silver Bridle ParkPark
  • Playground (3)
  • Sports field
  • Swimming pool (12)
Transport(18)

18 bus stops

Other(16)
  • Apartment
  • Bench
  • A.O.LimoCar Rental
  • Austyre N AutomotiveCar repair

    447 Southport-Nerang Road, Molendinar

  • BumperTech Gold CoastCar repair

    Unit 5

  • Coastwide Service CentreCar repair

    Unit Unit 4 8 Reichert Drive, Molendinar

  • SoftwashCar wash
  • RIGDUP AUSTRALIACaravan

    27 Export Drive

  • Bunnings WarehouseDoityourself

    500 Olsen Avenue

  • Ashmore Garden WorldGarden Centre

    Ashmore Road

  • Silver Bridle Neighbourhood GardenNature Reserve
  • Parking (9)
  • 7-ElevenPetrol station

    579 Ashmore Road, Molendinar

  • Public toilets
  • Molendinar Recycling CentreRecycling
  • Weighbridge

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

Parks & reserves

14 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Activity Crescent ReservePark
  • Batchworth Road DrainPark
  • Cathedral ParkPark
  • Ernest Junction ReservePark
  • Geoff Walter Drive ReservePark
  • Kingsway ReservePark
  • Lynne Richardson Community CentrePark
  • Panache ParkPark
  • Silver Bridle Neighbourhood GardenNature reserve
  • Silver Bridle ParkPark

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
29
Parks (OSM)
21

OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)

Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
1
Nearest hospital
Emergency (2.7 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department
Emergency department in suburb
Not in suburb
  • Gold Coast Physio & Sports HealthPhysiotherapist

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
205
Participants per 1,000 residents
31.4

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
28° / 18°
Rainfall
493 mm · ~62 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
25° / 14°
Rainfall
343 mm · ~43 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
20° / 7°
Rainfall
144 mm · ~18 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
25° / 12°
Rainfall
249 mm · ~31 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normalsWorldClim 2.1 · Updated

Future & Planning

Heritage

1 heritage place

  • Ernest Junction Railway TunnelState heritage place

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage registerState heritage authority · current · Updated

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
Moncrieff
Member of Parliament
Angie BELL (Liberal National Party of Queensland)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
125,713
Turnout (2025)
85.7%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+2.4 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 58.8%Labor 41.2%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 4.1 km away).

Coalition 51.4%Labor 48.6%

7.4 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +3.5 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • MolendinarLabor 48.5% · Coalition 51.5% TPP (2025)1.2 km away
  • Southport WestLabor 51.3% · Coalition 48.7% TPP (2025)1.6 km away
  • Keebra ParkLabor 49.6% · Coalition 50.4% TPP (2025)2.0 km away
  • AshmoreLabor 42.7% · Coalition 57.3% TPP (2025)2.4 km away
  • Nerang EastLabor 40.3% · Coalition 59.7% TPP (2025)3.1 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)
6/10
IRSD decile (2021)
4/10

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

Compare with

Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.

More in Gold Coast Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Queensland.

Molendinar, QLD 4214 profile | Suburb Guide