Deception Bay
QLDDeception Bay is a growing suburb in QLD with 19,573 residents.
- SAL code
- 30819
- SA2
- 313041373
- Population
- 19,573
- LGA
- Moreton Bay
Deception Bay, QLD had 19,573 residents at the 2021 Census, with the broader statistical area showing a 8.7% growth over the last five years. The predominant age group is 5-14 years, and the median age sits at 40. Households are most often couples without children, and those with a mortgage repay a median of $1,517 a month. Around 58.3% of homes are owner-occupied, with the largest single tenure being rented at 38.7%. Most dwellings are separate houses, making up 85.7% of the suburb's housing stock. The suburb has 39 parks and reserves mapped within its boundary. Source: ABS Census 2021 and Estimated Resident Population, with amenity counts from state Open Data and OpenStreetMap.
Suburb analysis
Deception Bay, QLD at a glance
Deception Bay is a coastal working-class suburb on the southern shore of Moreton Bay, ~30 km north of Brisbane CBD in the City of Moreton Bay. Genuine waterfront access at affordable price points defines the place; older inland stock dominates while the foreshore strip carries the lifestyle premium. The data tiles below cover the demographic baseline; this card adds the live market, lifestyle and council pipeline.
For homebuyers
Deception Bay is a casual, unpretentious foreshore suburb where the esplanade does most of the lifestyle work — bay views, fishing, walking tracks and shallow water for kayaks and paddleboards. Inland streets carry mostly post-war and 80s-90s detached stock on standard lots. Local retail centres on the MKT Shop (Woolworths) and the suburb is roughly 10 minutes by car to Westfield North Lakes for the larger format and Costco. Schools include Deception Bay North State School, Christ The King Catholic Primary, Deception Bay State School and Deception Bay State High. The closest train is Kippa-Ring on the Redcliffe Peninsula Line (~10-15 min drive); Brisbane CBD is around 35-45 min off-peak by car, longer in the morning rush. In short: an affordable, genuinely waterside spot if you're comfortable trading a polished town centre for bay frontage and price.
For investors
Deception Bay is a cashflow-and-growth combination that has run hard recently. Median house $790,000 against $600/week rent is a ~4.04% gross yield; units sit around $600,000 / $550 per week / 4.59% (Your Investment Property May 2026). Twelve-month house growth +12.86%, units +17.65%. 342 house and 87 unit sales in the past 12 months — a deep, liquid market. Days-on-market 15 for houses, 12 for units; SQM vacancy ~0.8% (November 2025).
Strengths
- Strong recent capital growth — houses +12.86% YoY, units +17.65% (Your Investment Property May 2026).
- Tight leasing — SQM vacancy ~0.8% (Nov 2025), days-on-market 12-15.
- Deep market — 342 house and 87 unit sales in 12 months gives easy entry and exit.
- Genuine waterfront access at sub-$800K medians is rare in greater Brisbane.
Trade-offs
- Yield is moderate (~4.0-4.6%) — recent price growth has compressed cashflow versus older Deception Bay numbers.
- No major shopping centre in-suburb; reliance on Westfield North Lakes for the big-box catchment caps amenity-driven uplift.
- No train station — the Redcliffe Peninsula Line terminates at Kippa-Ring, so commuters drive or bus to rail.
- Coastal exposure — Captain Cook Parade seawall replacement is in the council disaster-ready program; due-diligence on storm-surge / erosion zoning matters near the foreshore.
What's coming
The City of Moreton Bay's $1bn 2025/26 Budget (~$400m capex) lists several Deception Bay items: a new $3.75m SES Depot, the Captain Cook Parade seawall replacement under the NEMA Disaster Ready Fund, planning for a Lipscombe Road / Mariner Avenue intersection upgrade (works 2027/28), new fitness equipment at North Ridge Circuit Park, and a Bayview Terrace streetscape concept under consultation.
Bottom line
For homebuyers: an affordable bayside option with honest character if you can live without a polished town centre. For investors: a deep, tight-vacancy market that has already run — yield is moderate, not high.
Population
?19,573
Suburb · Census 2021
5-Year Growth
+8.7%
3yr: +8.1% · 10yr: +10.3%
SA2 · 5yr
Household Income
$1,270/wk
Suburb · Census 2021 median
Median Age
40
Suburb · Census 2021
Socio-Economic Index
?1/10
SA2 · more disadvantaged
Unemployment
?7.1%
SA2 · Q4 2025
Schools
8
5 primary, 4 secondary
Hospitals
No data for this suburb
Childcare services
?12
7 long day, 6 OSHC
Parks & green space
?39
Parks, reserves
Transport stops
?47
GTFS stops
Dwelling approvals
?312
Moreton Bay · Feb 2026
Median Weekly Rent
Based on rental bond lodgements recorded by the state government.
Median House Sale Price
state Valuer-General sale price data not yet loaded for QLD
Safety & Crime
2025 Q4Reported incidents from QLD police. Offence rates may not reflect all crime.
Population over time — Deception Bay (SA2)
ABS publishes annual estimates only at SA2; Deception Bay suburb alone is ~19,573 (Census 2021).
Source: ABS ERP (latest release · 2025) · Census 2021. Numbers refreshed quarterly.
Growth at a Glance
Population grew from 16,838 to 25,304 over 24 years, averaging 1.7% per year.
Schools
8 in suburbSector
4 public · 4 private
Type
4 primary · 3 secondary · 1 K-12
Total enrolment
2,581(4 of 8 reporting)
Avg per school
645
Government school catchment
Catchment data is not yet available for QLD.
Source when available: QLD Department of Education — QSpatial State School Catchment Areas.
Profile
Census snapshot
Housing
Public housing 5.8%Almost entirely detached houses (85.7%), mixed tenure (58.3% own or mortgage), built for families (51% are 3 bed).
Dwelling mix
Tenure
QLD 33%
Number of bedrooms
Bushfire risk
Source: QLD QRA Bushfire Prone Area
As of Apr 2026
Overlap is the percentage of the suburb's land area inside the mapped bushfire polygons. Always verify the exact property address with the relevant authority before making decisions.
Flood risk
Source: QLD Local Government Flood Planning Areas
As of May 2026
Overlap is the percentage of the suburb's land area inside the mapped flood polygons. Always verify the exact property address with the relevant authority before making decisions.
Planning zones
9 zones in suburb| Code | Zone | % covered | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| GENERAL RESIDENTIAL | GENERAL RESIDENTIALResidential | 27.4% | 5.33 km² |
| ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATION | ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT AND CONSERVATIONEnvironmental | 17.3% | 3.36 km² |
| RURAL | RURALRural | 15.9% | 3.09 km² |
| RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE | RECREATION AND OPEN SPACERecreation | 5.3% | 1.02 km² |
| RURAL RESIDENTIAL | RURAL RESIDENTIALRural | 5.1% | 0.99 km² |
| COMMUNITY FACILITIES | COMMUNITY FACILITIESSpecial use | 3.0% | 0.58 km² |
| INDUSTRY | INDUSTRYIndustrial | 2.8% | 0.54 km² |
| LIMITED DEVELOPMENT | LIMITED DEVELOPMENTSpecial use | 2.3% | 0.44 km² |
| CENTRE | CENTREBusiness | 0.5% | 0.10 km² |
Source: QLD DSDILGP Local Government Planning Scheme Zones (ZONE_QLD/2026-05-12/be11464ce5af1cd4) · As of May 2026. Zone boundaries are amended periodically; verify the exact property with the relevant council before relying on permitted use.