Toowoomba reaches 175,000 residents as its role as a regional capital strengthens

Toowoomba's population has reached 175,000, crossing a milestone that reinforces the city's position as the largest inland city in Australia and the undisputed regional capital of southern Queensland's vast agricultural and industrial hinterland.

The growth, which has accelerated since the Second Range Crossing opened in 2019 and improved the city's freight logistics position, has been driven by industrial expansion at Wellcamp, population inflow from rural towns across the Darling Downs and South West Queensland, and net migration from south-east Queensland driven by housing affordability.

Toowoomba's median house price of $550,000 is approximately $650,000 below Brisbane's, making it an attractive destination for young families and tradespeople priced out of the capital. The city's employment market in construction, agriculture, healthcare, and education offers a genuine alternative to capital city career pathways, and several employers have noted increased success in attracting professional staff from Brisbane as remote and flexible working arrangements have normalised.

Toowoomba Regional Council mayor Paul Antonio said the population growth required a response across housing, transport, and services. "We are building a supply pipeline of 3,500 lots across four precincts to ensure we have the housing to accommodate growth without price escalation erasing the affordability advantage that is drawing people here," he said.

The council's long-term strategy projects Toowoomba growing to 250,000 residents by 2041, which would make it significantly larger than several current capital cities. A transport planning study examining the need for a second cross-city arterial route to serve the northern growth areas is underway.

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