Council (LGA) · Area profile
Bruce Rock
2,725 km²
A far older population than the state average defines Bruce Rock, where the typical resident is 48. This rural community has a steady population of 979 people and is marked by a high proportion of seniors. Many residents have deep roots here, which is reflected in the low number of recent arrivals and high rates of home ownership. It is a place where traditional family structures and a strong volunteering spirit remain central to local life.
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The community is significantly older than the national figure, with 26.5% of people aged 65 and over. This senior population has grown by 9.2 percentage points since 2011, while the proportion of children under 15 has fallen by 5.8 points over the same period.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up only 9.0% of the population, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. English, Australian, and Scottish are the most common ancestries reported.
English is the dominant language, and only 3.9% of people use another language at home, a figure far below the state and national averages. Very few residents speak little or no English, at just 0.6%.
Christianity is the most common religion at 43.8%. Those reporting no religion make up 37.8% of the population, a figure that has risen by 15 percentage points since 2011.
Educational attainment is lower than in most areas, with only 9.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, 39.7% of residents have completed Year 12, a small increase since 2011.
Typical personal weekly income is $817, which is about the same as the national figure. While typical household incomes are well below the state average, 12.5% of people earn $2,000 or more a week, which is much higher than in most similar areas.
A higher proportion of residents live with a long-term health condition compared to the rest of the country, at 31.2%. Arthritis and asthma are the most frequently reported conditions.
Volunteering is very common here, with 29.3% of people volunteering, which is far above the national figure of 14.1%. Conversely, the proportion of people providing unpaid care is much lower than in most areas.
First Nations residents are noticeably younger than the state average, with a typical age of 20. This group shows high educational achievement, with 54.5% completing Year 12, far above the national figure of 37.0%.
About 29.5% of people live alone, which is well above the state average. Most households are couples, with 53.8% having children and 33.9% without.
Home ownership is very high, with 50.6% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure of 31.0%. Typical weekly rents are much lower than most areas at just $160.
The area is heavily reliant on cars, with 0% of people using public transport to commute. Most homes have multiple vehicles, and 16.3% of the workforce works from home, which is well above the state average.
The population is very stable, with only 24.7% of people moving in the last five years, far below the national figure of 40.7%. No new arrivals from overseas were recorded in the latest census.
Full-time employment is much higher than in most areas, at 69.3%. The local economy is driven by agriculture, forestry and fishing, which employs 37.5% of the workforce.
The area has 149 businesses and an overall advantage score of 958, which is slightly below the national average but higher than about 54% of all areas.
The area receives an average annual rainfall of 309mm, which is far above the state average of 185mm. Average maximum temperatures are 26.2°C, slightly below the state figure.
Bruce Rock is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 2.9, far below the state average. There are no public transport stops within a 10-minute walk of any home.