Development history

Southern Downs Regional Council is located in South Eastern Queensland, south of Toowoomba, and is part of the Darling Downs region. The municipality is predominantly rural, with a number of settlements servicing the community. Warwick, on the banks of the Condamine River, was settled for its rich grazing land and is now the largest town and regional centre of the Council. Stanthorpe is the largest settlement in the region’s south and has notable historic importance for the wealth of minerals mined in the area. Southern Downs Regional Council was formed in 2008 following the merger of the Shire of Warwick and the Shire of Stanthorpe. It retains agricultural importance for sheep and cattle grazing, with economic impact also in the industries of forestry and viticulture – Stanthorpe and surrounds are part of the granite belt wine country. The region boasts a wealth of national parks, which together with its offerings for hobbyists around Warwick (the Rose and Rodeo city) make for an attractive tourist destination.

Migration patterns

Historical migration flows, Southern Downs Regional Council, 2016-2021

Population and household forecasts, 2021 to 2046, prepared by .id (informed decisions), July 2023.

Note: The migration flows depicted above are historical and do not represent future or forecast migration flows or subsequent council boundary changes. The arrows represent migration flows to the area as a whole and do not indicate an origin or destination for any specific localities within the area. Overseas flow shows overseas arrivals based on answers to the census question "where did the person usually live 5-years ago" and .id estimates of international out-migration.

*Please note, the 2021 Census was undertaken during the COVID-19 pandemic, at a time where border restrictions had largely halted overseas in-migration for the 15 months prior. 2016-2021 net overseas migration levels reflect this and therefore should not necessarily be considered indicative of longer-term trends.

The region underwent European settlement from the mid-19th century. The two major towns – Warwick and Stanthorpe – saw small incremental population growth through the 20th century, which stagnated in the 1970s as agricultural practices altered and jobs were lost. There was some reorganisation of residents between the larger towns and smaller townships in the 1980/90s, as the expansion of amenities and attractions drew population into Warwick and to a smaller extent into Stanthorpe. Small incremental growth has so far continued into the 21st century, with small population gains from nearby LGAs, and some losses to major cities of Brisbane and Sunshine Coast.

Housing role and function

The larger townships hold a role supporting the administration and commercial aspects of the LGA, with housing for these workers being largely detached. It is assumed that an ongoing modest demand for dwellings will continue as retail trade and health care industries continue to attract local employment. Smaller populations live in the rural areas, and site-specific Workers Accommodation can increase the non-permanent population significantly when they are present. Workers Accommodation for permanent residents may also be present for some of the larger agricultural and intensive agricultural enterprises.

Housing supply

There are no limitations on the availability of land for housing in the townships. Current demand is, however, moderate. It is therefore assumed that the supply of residential property will be made up of individual or small developments for the near future.