Council (LGA) · Area profile
Upper Lachlan Shire
7,127 km²
Fewer than 10% of Australian areas share the high level of overall advantage found in Upper Lachlan Shire. This is an older community where the typical resident is 49, and a quarter of the population are seniors. The area is defined by a strong connection to the land, with nearly a quarter of the workforce in agriculture. It is a stable, predominantly Australian-born region that has grown by 18% since 2011, attracting a well-qualified population to its spacious, detached homes.
Plenty of schools here relative to how few children live in the area.
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The population is far older than the national figure, with 25% of residents aged 65 or over. This senior population has grown since 2011, while the proportion of children under 15 has fallen slightly to 16.6%.
The shire is very traditional in its roots, with 83.5% of people born in Australia. This is far below the state and national figures for overseas births, and ancestral ties are overwhelmingly Australian, English, or Irish.
English is the primary language for 89.3% of the community. Only 2.5% of residents use another language at home, which is far below the national average.
Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 60.2%. While the number of people with no religion has risen 16 points since 2011, it is still far below the national figure of 38.9%.
The area is more qualified than most similar places, with 15.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Schooling is highly accessible, with a much higher number of schools per child than most areas.
Typical family incomes are a little below the national figure at $1,906 a week, though the number of high-earning households earning $3,000+ has risen sharply since 2011.
Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in the rest of the country, affecting 34.8% of people. Arthritis is the most reported condition, affecting 14.3% of residents.
This is a highly active community where 21.9% of people volunteer, a figure well above the national average. There is also a stronger presence of former Defence Force members compared to most areas.
First Nations residents have a very low unemployment rate of 2.5%, which is well below the national figure. This group also shows higher than average Year 12 completion and household incomes.
Most homes are occupied by couples, with 52.7% having children. One-parent families are much less common here than in most other areas.
Housing is dominated by detached homes, which make up 96.6% of all dwellings. About half of these are owned outright, and rental rates are far below the state average.
The community is heavily reliant on cars, with only 0.3% of people using public transport to commute. Most homes own multiple vehicles, and 21.3% of the workforce works from home.
The population is relatively stable, as fewer people have moved house in the last five years compared to the state average. Recent arrivals from overseas are also far less common than elsewhere in Australia.
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the primary industries, employing 24.3% of the workforce. The unemployment rate is very low at 3.0%.
The shire is in the top 20% of areas for overall advantage, scoring 8 out of 10. This is supported by high marks for access to resources and job skills.
The local climate is cooler and wetter than the state average, with an average annual rainfall of 937mm and much lower minimum temperatures.
The area is very safe, with recorded offences per 100,000 people being among the lowest in the country. Rates of theft and property damage are similarly low.
The shire is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. Most homes are not within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, or schools.