Labrador
QLDLabrador is a growing suburb in QLD with 18,643 residents.
- SAL code
- 31601
- SA2
- 309031238
- Population
- 18,643
- LGA
- Gold Coast
Labrador, QLD had 18,643 residents at the 2021 Census, with the broader statistical area showing a 3.2% growth over the last five years. The predominant age group is 25-34 years, and the median age sits at 45. Households are most often couples without children, and those with a mortgage repay a median of $1,517 a month. Around 50.8% of homes are owner-occupied, with the largest single tenure being rented at 46.4%. Most dwellings are townhouses or semi-detached homes, making up 49.1% of the suburb's housing stock. The suburb has 31 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
Labrador, QLD at a glance
Labrador is a waterfront suburb on the Gold Coast Broadwater ~3 km north of Southport CBD in the City of Gold Coast. The streetscape mixes older walk-up units and post-war cottages with a steady churn of new medium-density and luxury towers along Marine Parade. The data tiles below cover the demographic baseline; this card adds the live market, lifestyle and council pipeline.
For homebuyers
Labrador wraps the western shore of the Broadwater, so daily life leans into the water — kayaking, fishing, the foreshore walk along Marine Parade, and the cafe strip that has built up around it. Housing splits cleanly: older three-storey walk-ups and beach cottages on the back streets, modern townhouses and luxury apartments along the water. Charis Seafoods and Loders Creek anchor the northern end; Australia Fair (Southport) is a five-minute drive south and Harbour Town outlets sit ~3 km north in Biggera Waters. Griffith University and Gold Coast University Hospital are both <10 min away in Southport, and the G:link tram terminates at Helensvale via the Broadwater Parklands precinct. Local schools include Labrador State School and Biggera Waters State School. In short: a waterfront lifestyle suburb where you trade a quieter back-street home for an easy walk or short drive to the Broadwater, Southport jobs and Harbour Town.
For investors
Labrador is a deep, unit-heavy market with strong recent growth and tight leasing. Median house $900,000 (12-month growth +15.38%); median unit $750,000 (+11.94%) per htag.com.au (May 2026). Median rent ~$757/wk houses (~3.99% yield) and units around 4.5% gross (Your Investment Property May 2026). Days-on-market 21 (houses) and 19 (units); 229 house and 331 unit sales in the past 12 months. Vacancy ~0.7% (PRD, late 2024).
Strengths
- Deep transaction market — 560+ combined house + unit sales in 12 months gives easy entry and exit liquidity.
- Strong recent capital growth across both segments (+15.38% houses, +11.94% units, htag May 2026).
- Unit yields ~4.5% (YIP May 2026) make Labrador one of the few inner-Gold-Coast suburbs where a sub-$800K stratified buy still cashflows reasonably.
- Vacancy ~0.7% (PRD 2H 2024) — well below the REIA 3% benchmark; leasing velocity is reliable.
Trade-offs
- House yields modest at ~3.18-3.99% (htag/YIP May 2026) — capital-growth play, not cashflow.
- Heavy unit pipeline along Marine Parade and the Broadwater means future stratified supply can compress unit yields and cap unit growth.
- Days-on-market ~3 weeks (htag May 2026) is healthy but no longer the frenzied pace of 2021-22 — pricing discipline matters.
- Older walk-up unit stock carries higher body-corp + maintenance reserves than newer towers; due-diligence on sinking funds is essential.
What's coming
City of Gold Coast's 2025-26 Annual Plan (theme 'Protecting our lifestyle, investing in the future') continues delivery of the Brisbane Road and Marine Parade stormwater upgrade through Labrador to address known flooding choke-points. Adjacent Broadwater Parklands works (Washington Waters upgrade, Fisherman's Lawn) keep the foreshore amenity moving. Light Rail Stage 4 remains southern-Gold-Coast focused; no Labrador extension is funded.
Bottom line
For homebuyers: a waterfront-lifestyle suburb with genuine cafe + Broadwater amenity and a short hop to Southport jobs. For investors: a liquid, growth-led market with usable unit yields, set against a steady medium-density supply pipeline.
Population
?18,643
Suburb · Census 2021
5-Year Growth
+3.2%
3yr: +4.2% · 10yr: +5.6%
SA2 · 5yr
Household Income
$1,188/wk
Suburb · Census 2021 median
Median Age
45
Suburb · Census 2021
Socio-Economic Index
?2/10
SA2 · more disadvantaged
Unemployment
?6.4%
SA2 · Q4 2025
Schools
1
1 primary
Hospitals
No data for this suburb
Childcare services
?8
6 long day, 2 OSHC
Parks & green space
?31
Parks, reserves
Transport stops
?88
GTFS stops
Dwelling approvals
?859
Gold Coast · 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 — Labrador (SA2)
ABS publishes annual estimates only at SA2; Labrador suburb alone is ~18,643 (Census 2021).
Source: ABS ERP (latest release · 2025) · Census 2021. Numbers refreshed quarterly.
Growth at a Glance
Population grew from 14,502 to 19,745 over 24 years, averaging 1.3% per year.
Schools
1 in suburbSector
1 public
Type
1 primary
Total enrolment
872
Avg per school
872
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 6.1%Mostly townhouses (49.1%), mixed tenure (50.8% own or mortgage), built for families (45% are 2 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
7 zones in suburb| Code | Zone | % covered | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIAL | MEDIUM DENSITY RESIDENTIALResidential | 40.8% | 2.04 km² |
| OPEN SPACE | OPEN SPACEparks | 16.5% | 0.82 km² |
| LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIAL | LOW DENSITY RESIDENTIALResidential | 14.9% | 0.74 km² |
| HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIAL | HIGH DENSITY RESIDENTIALResidential | 3.0% | 0.15 km² |
| MIXED USE, FRINGE BUSINESS PRECINCT | MIXED USE, FRINGE BUSINESS PRECINCTmixed-use | 1.2% | 0.06 km² |
| COMMUNITY FACILITIES | COMMUNITY FACILITIESSpecial use | 1.1% | 0.05 km² |
| NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTRE | NEIGHBOURHOOD CENTREBusiness | 0.9% | 0.05 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.