Council (LGA) · Area profile
Bathurst Regional
3,818 km²
Higher typical incomes than most similar areas make Bathurst Regional a relatively prosperous community. It is a growing region with over 43,000 people, characterized by a strong presence of First Nations people and a preference for large, detached family homes. The area is largely Australian-born and English-speaking, maintaining a traditional regional character while seeing a steady rise in people moving in from other districts.
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The population is notably diverse in its heritage, with First Nations people making up 7.2% of the community, which is well above the national figure. Residents are generally young or middle-aged, with a typical age of 38, though the proportion of seniors has risen by 4.6 points since 2011.
The area is far less diverse than the state average, as only 10.0% of people were born overseas. Most residents claim Australian or English ancestry.
English is the dominant language, with only 5.4% of people using another tongue at home. This is far below the national figure of 22.3%.
Over half of the population identifies as Christian. While the number of people reporting no religion has risen by 17 points since 2011, this figure is still well below the national average.
Qualifications are rising, with 19.0% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is a higher standing than most similar areas, though it remains well below the state average.
Typical weekly family income is $2,026, which is higher than most similar areas. Weekly personal income has also seen a significant increase, rising by $252 since 2011.
Health challenges are more common here than in most similar areas, with 32.9% of people living with a long-term condition. Mental health conditions are particularly high, affecting 10.9% of the population.
Unpaid care is a common part of local life, with 27.1% of people caring for children. This is a little above the national figure, although the number of volunteers has fallen since 2011.
A strong First Nations community exists here, with 3,153 people. This group is notably young, with a typical age of 23, and has an unemployment rate of 9.4%, which is lower than most similar areas.
Homes here tend to be larger, with 2.5 people per household. There is a much higher rate of one-parent families compared to most other areas, at 16.9%.
Large homes are the norm, as 81.0% of dwellings have three or more bedrooms. Separate houses make up 84.8% of the market, which is far above the state average.
Car travel is essential, with 65.5% of people driving to work and only 0.3% using public transport. Very few people work from home compared to the state average.
The area is experiencing significant movement, as 41.2% of residents have moved house in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas account for 13.7% of the population.
Job prospects are strong, with an unemployment rate of 4.0% and a higher proportion of adults working or looking for work than in most similar areas. Health care and education are the primary industries.
The region is generally well-off, scoring a 7 out of 10 for overall advantage. This places it in a higher position than about 70% of similar areas.
The climate is cooler and wetter than the state average, with an average maximum temperature of 20.6 degrees and annual rainfall of 768mm.
Recorded offences are higher than in most similar areas. Drug offences and assault rates are particularly high, while burglary rates remain lower than average.
While there are more walkable amenities per person than in the state average, only 55.8% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of basic services. This is far below the state figure of 71.9%.