Council (LGA) · Area profile
Warrumbungle Shire
12,372 km²
A shrinking population marks the recent trend for Warrumbungle Shire, which has lost about 363 people since 2011. This is a notably older community where the typical resident is now 50, far older than the national figure. The area is defined by its rural character, with a high proportion of people identifying as First Nations and a strong reliance on the agricultural sector. It is a place where home ownership is very common and the pace of life is slower than in the state's cities.
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The community is aging rapidly, with the typical resident now 50 and seniors making up 28.6% of the population. First Nations people make up 10.7% of the area, which is well above the national figure of 3.2%.
The shire is very traditional in its roots, with 80% of people born in Australia and very few overseas-born residents at 6.0%, far below the national average.
English is the primary language here, with only 2.3% of people using another language at home, far below the 22.3% seen across Australia.
More than half of residents identify as Christian, though the number of people reporting no religion rose 12 points since 2011 to reach 26.5%.
Education levels are lower than most areas, with only 33.2% of residents completing Year 12, far below the national figure of 58.8%.
Typical incomes are much lower than the state average, with the usual household earning $1,068 a week, which is far below the New South Wales figure of $1,829.
Long-term health issues are more common here than elsewhere, with 34.2% of people reporting a chronic condition and 7.7% needing help with daily activities.
Volunteering is more common here than in most areas, with 21.7% of people pitching in, although the number of people caring for children unpaid has fallen since 2011.
There are 985 First Nations people in the shire, who tend to be younger than the general population but face a higher unemployment rate of 14.2%.
Living arrangements are often solitary, with 32.8% of people living alone, well above the national average of 25.6%.
Housing is overwhelmingly dominated by separate houses, and nearly half of all homes are owned outright, far above the national figure of 31%.
Cars are essential for getting around, as only 0.4% of people commute by public transport and the area has very few transit stops per person.
The population is relatively stable, with 26.3% of people moving in the last five years, which is far lower than the 40.7% seen across Australia.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the biggest industry, employing 27.6% of the workforce, though the overall rate of people working or looking for work is much lower than average.
The area faces significant disadvantage, ranking in the bottom 30% of regions for overall advantage and access to money and resources.
The shire is wetter than most of the state, with average annual rainfall of 756mm, well above the New South Wales figure of 515mm.
The area has higher than average rates of assault and burglary, and the general crime rate has risen by 34.8% over the last five years.
Most residents are car-dependent, as the walkability score is far below the state average and only 41.7% of homes have a 15-minute-city walkshed.