Council (LGA) · Area profile
Cassowary Coast
4,688 km²
Older residents are a defining feature of Cassowary Coast, where the typical person is 46, making it far older than the national average. This community is marked by a strong First Nations presence and a workforce heavily tied to the land, with many people working in agriculture. It is a place of contrasting extremes, from its high annual rainfall and vast natural landscape to a typical weekly household income that is well below the state figure. The population has grown modestly to over 29,000 people as the area continues to attract both retirees and new arrivals.
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The area has a significant First Nations population at 11%, which is well above the national figure. Residents are generally older than those in most other areas, with 22.9% aged 65 and over.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up 14.5% of the population, which is far below the national average. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
About 10.2% of people use a language other than English at home, though this is far below the national figure. Punjabi is the most common non-English language spoken.
Christianity remains the most common faith at 49.9%, while those with no religion make up 33.7%, a figure that is well below the national average.
Education levels are far below the national average, with only 10.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Roughly 39.9% of residents completed Year 12.
Typical weekly household income is $1,204, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 9.9% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
People needing help with daily activities are more common here at 6.8% compared to 5.8% nationally. Arthritis is the most reported long-term health condition.
Volunteer rates have fallen since 2011 to 14.7%. A higher than average 3.5% of residents have served in the Defence Force.
First Nations people make up a large part of the community, though they face a much higher unemployment rate of 18.9% compared to the national average.
One-parent families are more common here than in most areas. About 29.2% of people live alone, which is well above the national figure.
Separate houses are very common, making up 86.3% of all homes. Home ownership is high, with 40.2% of residents owning their home outright.
The area is heavily reliant on cars, as there are no public transport stops or routes listed. Only 7.7% of the workforce works from home.
Recent overseas arrivals make up 15.8% of the population, which is a little above the national average. However, fewer people have moved into the area in the last five years compared to the state average.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the biggest industry, employing 20.5% of the workforce. Labourers are the most common occupation group at 20.5%.
The area ranks low for overall advantage and job skills compared to other regions. There are 3,209 businesses operating across the district.
The region is exceptionally wet, with average annual rainfall of 3,586mm, far exceeding the Queensland average. Temperatures are also generally higher than most areas.
Recorded offences are much higher than in most areas, particularly drug offences and assault. Drug offences account for 13.9% of all recorded crime.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 2.1, far below the state average. Only 23.1% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of basic amenities.