Moving to Shelly Beach QLD 4551
What the official numbers say about living in Shelly Beach — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $450 a week, against a median household income of $2,026 a week.
About 72% of homes are owner-occupied and 26% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Shelly Beach grew 7% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (866 → 925 people).
Around 73% of households are families, averaging 2.5 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: New Zealand, England, United States; most spoken languages besides English: Spanish, German, Afrikaans.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Shelly Beach sits in the country’s more advantaged bracket (decile 9 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (70% of workers), while 27% work from home.
Nearest bus interchange: Caloundra Bus Station, 1.6 km south-west.
Nearest airport: Caloundra Airport, 4.2 km west.
The Brisbane CBD is roughly 76 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 9 schools · 35 cafes & restaurants · 7 supermarkets · 34 parks · 7 beaches — see them all on the Shelly Beach profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Our Lady of the Rosary Primary School 250 m · Caloundra State School 1.1 km · Caloundra State High School 1.9 km · Currimundi Special School 2.2 km · Currimundi State School 2.5 km · Caloundra Christian College 2.7 km · Golden Beach State School 3.6 km · Talara Primary College 3.9 km
Groceries: The Grocer Moffat Beach 1.1 km · Seasons IGA Caloundra 1.4 km · The Source Bulk Foods 1.5 km · IGA X-press Dicky Beach 1.6 km · Coles 2.2 km · Woolworths 2.4 km · Aldi 2.7 km
Parks and reserves: Shelly Beach Foreshore Reserve 300 m · Edmund Park 400 m · Watson Park 500 m · Alexandra Park 600 m · Queen of Colonies Foreshore Reserve 650 m · Centaur Park 650 m · Shelly Beach Headland 700 m · Anzac Park 750 m
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Shelly Beach, most often seen first: Torresian Crow · Silver Gull · Australian White Ibis · Crested Tern · Noisy Miner · Welcome Swallow.
How the neighbours compare
The suburbs nearest to Shelly Beach, side by side.
| Suburb | People | Median house | Advantage | Canopy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shelly Beach here | 925 | — | 9/10 | 12% |
| Kings Beach | 3,042 | — | 4/10 | 8% |
| Moffat Beach | 2,691 | — | 8/10 | 18% |
| Caloundra | 3,932 | — | 2/10 | 20% |
| Dicky Beach | 1,921 | — | 6/10 | 14% |
| Battery Hill | 2,596 | — | 5/10 | 7% |
| Aroona | 3,466 | — | 7/10 | 25% |
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Sunshine Coast — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Fisher — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 4551 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Shelly Beach profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $450 a week, and about 26% of homes here are rented.
The population grew 7% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 866 people to 925. It sits about 76 km from the Brisbane CBD in a straight line. Local government is Sunshine Coast council, and the federal seat is Fisher.
Weighing up alternatives?
Side-by-side: Shelly Beach vs Dicky Beach · Shelly Beach vs Battery Hill.
Nearby guides: Kings Beach · Moffat Beach · Caloundra · Dicky Beach · Battery Hill · Aroona.
Keep an eye on Shelly Beach
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