Council (LGA) · Area profile
Blackall Tambo
30,537 km²
Far older than most similar areas, Blackall Tambo is a shrinking rural community where the typical resident is 48. The population has fallen by 13% since 2011, with a particularly sharp rise in the number of seniors. It is a place of deep roots, where most people were born in Australia and a large proportion own their homes outright. This aging trend is reflected in a high demand for health services and a workforce heavily tied to the land.
Blackall Tambo is well supplied with schools for its relatively small share of children.
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The area is significantly older than the national figure, with seniors making up 26.1% of the population. While the total population shrank by 13% since 2011, the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people rose slightly to 5.8%.
This is a community with very few overseas arrivals; only 4.6% of people were born abroad, which is far below the national figure. Most residents claim Australian or English ancestry.
English is the primary language for 90.3% of the community. Only 1.7% of people use another language at home, and there are virtually no residents who speak little or no English.
Christianity remains the dominant faith at 66.5%. While the number of people with no religion rose 12 points since 2011, the 24.4% total remains far below the national figure.
Educational qualifications are much lower than in most areas, with only 9.6% of adults holding a bachelor degree. Year 12 completion is also far below the national figure at 36.7%.
Typical weekly family incomes are well below the national figure at $1,557. Only 10.3% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, though this figure rose 5.2 points since 2011.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 31.6% of people. This is consistent with the older population, as 6.2% of residents need help with daily activities.
Volunteering is a standout feature, with 26.1% of people helping out—far above the national figure. However, the proportion of people caring for children unpaid is much lower than most areas.
First Nations residents are typically far older than those in the rest of the state, with a median age of 38. Their unemployment rate is 8.5%, which is well below the national figure.
A large number of people live alone—30.7%—which is well above the national figure. The typical home holds 2.3 people, barely changing since 2011.
The housing stock is almost entirely detached houses, and 42.2% are owned outright, far above the national average. Rents are also much lower than usual, with a typical weekly payment of $157.
Cars are essential here, as 0% of people commute by public transport and there are no public transport stops. However, working from home is much more common than in most areas, at 19.6%.
The community is relatively stable, with 33.6% of people moving in the last five years—well below the national figure. Recent arrivals from overseas fell 9.7 points since 2011.
The local economy is driven by agriculture, forestry, and fishing, which employ 34.2% of the workforce. Full-time employment is well above the national figure at 68.6%, and unemployment is very low at 2.2%.
The area's overall advantage score is lower than about 60% of similar areas. While it has a moderate level of access to resources, it ranks poorly for education and job skills.
The region is quite hot, with an average maximum temperature of 30.9 degrees. Annual rainfall is 512mm, which is well above the Queensland average.
Recorded offences are much lower than in most areas, and the burglary rate is particularly low. However, the rate of sexual offences is higher than most areas.
The area is mostly car-dependent with a low walkability score. While there are many parks and amenities within walking distance for some, no homes are within 10 minutes of public transport.