Mount Isa vs Alpurrurulam

Mount Isa and Alpurrurulam are two distinct outback areas separated by about 141 km. Mount Isa has a much larger First Nations population, with 4,020 people compared to 335 in Alpurrurulam. There are stark differences in income and education for First Nations residents; the typical household income in Mount Isa is $1,534, which is far higher than the $811 seen in Alpurrurulam. Year 12 completion is also far higher in Mount Isa at 32.8%, while it is just 4.4% in Alpurrurulam.

Both areas are mostly car-dependent, and neither has any homes within a 10-minute walk of public transport. However, they offer different types of local access. In Alpurrurulam, 86% of people speak a First Nations language, and most homes are within a 15-minute walk of health services and groceries. In contrast, Mount Isa has far more homes within walking distance of parks. The gap in First Nations unemployment remains wide, as the rate is well higher in Alpurrurulam at 25.5% compared to 16% in Mount Isa.