Moreton Bay, QLD

About the Moreton Bay region

This Queensland region packs a whole lot into just 2,037 km² of land. Located between 20 and 50 km north of the Brisbane CBD, Moreton Bay is bordered by the Sunshine Coast region to the north, Brisbane City to the south, the Ipswich & West Moreton region to the west and the Coral Sea to the east.

The region is home to the major regional centres of Caboolture, Redcliffe and Bribie Island, along with a host of other rural, urban and bay-side localities striking in both their beauty and their diversity. 

The Quandamooka People are the traditional owners of the land on which the Moreton Bay region now lies.

Climate information

The Moreton Bay region has a sub-tropical climate, as does most of south-east Queensland. Its average temperature is 24 °C in summer, 20 °C in both autumn and spring, and 14 °C in winter. The region experiences an annual average rainfall of about 800-1000 mm. 

Population

The estimated population of the Moreton Bay region is reported as 459,600 as of 2018.

Education

This Queensland region is home to numerous high-quality pre-schools, kindergartens, primary schools and secondary schools, in addition to several special schools. 

Students who wish to go on to pursue tertiary qualifications can study at one of the region's universities, which include campuses of the University of Sunshine Coast at Caboolture and Moreton Bay. They may also choose to study vocational fields at TAFE campuses in Caboolture and Redcliffe. 

Employment and local businesses

The Moreton Bay region has a Gross Regional Product of $18.6 billion, and is home to approximately 118,800 local jobs. The region's top five industries by number of people employed are healthcare & social assistance, retail, construction, education & training, and accommodation & food services. 

Housing

The median house price for the Moreton region sits at $469,739, which hovers slightly above Queensland's median of $458,360. 

The region has a median weekly house rental (for a 3-bedroom home) of $395, which is the same as the state median. 

Events

• Redcliffe KiteFest

Where: Clontarf, QLD

When: Annually, in June 

What: A great day out for the whole family, Redcliffe KiteFest is a paradise for kids and kids-at-heart. Local, national and international professional kite flyers make the trek to Pelican Park alongside over 40,000 spectators for a weekend of peaceful aesthetic appreciation and celebration. The festival also offers a jam-packed live entertainment program that is a hit with kids, having previously featured Paw Patrol, PJ Masks and Justice League.

• Woodford Folk Festival

Where: Woodford, QLD

When: Annually, in late December and early January

What: This folk festival draws crowds of over 132,000 annually, brought together to appreciate the more than 400 performances and events the festival has on offer. The festival begins with the high-energy Opening Ceremony and closes with the Fire Event on New Year’s Day, always be a remarkable spectacle. The site of the festival is unique; a formerly barren dairy farm, it has been lovingly revitalised by the community that supports the Woodford Folk Festival through the planting of over 120,000 subtropical rain forest trees, orchids, ferns and sedges.

• Abbey Medieval Festival

Where: Caboolture, QLD

When: Annually, in July

What: Every year in July, the Abbey Museum of Art and Archaeology opens its doors and invites visitors to experience life in medieval times at a festival they'll never forget. This iconic Australian living history event includes medieval banquets, performers and food vendors. Its highlight is without a doubt the Tournament Weekend, which invites jousters and re-enactors to participate in medieval tournaments in front of thousands of spectators.