Federal Electorate · Area profile
Dawson
15,500 km²
Most people in Dawson rely on their own cars to get around, reflecting a lifestyle tied to a large, sprawling landscape. The area has grown by about 10,500 people since 2011, and it now has a population of 162,083. It is a place where full-time work is common and family homes are typically large. While it shares a similar age profile to the rest of the country, there is a notably strong presence of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 6.7% of the population, which is well above the national figure of 3.2%. The typical resident is 39, and those aged 65 and over have increased to 16.6% since 2011.
The area is much less diverse than most, with only 14.1% of people born overseas, far below the Australian average of 27.7%. Most residents claim English or Australian ancestry.
English is the dominant language, with only 7.2% of people using another tongue at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%. Very few people, just 0.8%, speak little or no English.
About 49.9% of residents identify as Christian. Those with no religion make up 37.0% of the community, a figure that has risen by 18 points since 2011.
Academic qualifications are much lower than in most areas, with only 14.0% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, the proportion of people completing Year 12 rose to 46.6% since 2011.
Personal incomes are higher than in most areas, with a typical weekly pay of $841. Typical weekly household income sits at $1,695, which is about the same as the Queensland figure.
Long-term health conditions affect 26.9% of the population, which is around the national average. About 5.4% of people need help with daily activities, a figure that has risen slightly since 2011.
The area has a high number of former Defence Force members, at 4.0%, which is much higher than most other areas. About 13.6% of residents volunteer their time.
Families with children are common, making up 54.3% of households. Around 25.9% of people live alone, which is slightly above the Queensland average.
Homes here are typically large, with 77.0% having three or more bedrooms and 82.7% being separate houses. Typical weekly rent is $320, which is lower than the national figure.
Car dependency is very high, with 68.3% of people driving to work. Public transport use is low at 1.6%, and only 5.5% of people work from home.
About 40.0% of residents moved in the last five years. While recent arrivals from overseas make up 16.5% of the population, this is 11 points lower than it was in 2011.
Jobs are plentiful, with a low unemployment rate of 4.1% and 64.0% of the workforce employed full-time. Many people work in health care, retail, and mining.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.8. Only 44.0% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of basic amenities, far below the Queensland average of 59.1%.