Council (LGA) · Area profile
Leonora
31,915 km²
A much younger and more transient community than most similar areas, Leonora is a small hub in Western Australia. The population shrank by 37% since 2011, though it remains a place of high earning power. It is a predominantly working-class town where mining dominates the local economy. This industrial focus is reflected in a population that is noticeably younger than the national figure, with a high proportion of adults in de facto relationships.
Despite high local incomes, the area's schools serve a less advantaged intake.
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The typical resident is just 33, which is noticeably younger than the national figure of 38. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 10% of the population, well above the state average, while seniors over 65 are far less common here than across Australia.
About 18.3% of residents were born overseas, which is higher than most similar areas, though far below the state average. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, followed by Irish and Scottish.
People using a language other than English at home rose to 11.5% since 2011, though this remains far below the national figure. English is the main language for 56.8% of the community.
People with no religion now make up 39.1% of the population, a rise of 12 percentage points since 2011. This is about the same as the national figure, though lower than the state average.
Education levels are among the lowest for similar areas, with only 31.4% of people completing Year 12, far below the national figure. Qualifications are heavily weighted toward trade certificates and engineering.
Typical weekly personal income is $1,508, which is far above the national figure. This high earning power is seen in the 19.6% of people earning over $2,000 a week, a figure well above the state and national averages.
Residents report far fewer long-term health conditions than the national average, with only 15% of people affected. Similarly, those needing help with daily activities are among the lowest for this level.
Community participation is low, with only 10% of people volunteering, which is well below the national figure. Rates of unpaid care and housework are also among the lowest for similar areas.
First Nations people in Leonora are notably older than the national average, with a typical age of 27. A very high 36.5% speak a First Nations language, which is far above the national figure.
One-parent families are much more common here than in most areas, making up 17.7% of households. People living alone also make up a higher share than usual at 31.5%.
Rentals are far more common than in most areas, accounting for 45.5% of homes. While typical weekly rent is very low at $93, homes owned outright are far below the national average.
Public transport use is well above the national figure at 12.1%, despite there being no official public transport stops in the area. About 12.9% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is much higher than most areas.
The community is quite mobile, with 15.8% of residents arriving from overseas recently, a rate well above the state average. However, the proportion of people who moved in the last five years fell since 2011.
Mining is the primary industry, employing 38.4% of the workforce. Full-time employment is far above the national average at 77.1%, and the unemployment rate is a low 2.8%.
The area is ranked low for overall advantage and education skills compared to most areas. Population growth since 2021 has been very slow at 0.5%, far below the state average.
Leonora is very dry, with average annual rainfall of 115mm, which is far below the state average. Temperatures are typically high, with an average maximum of 29.7 degrees.
The area is mostly car-dependent with a low walkability score of 2.3. While most people can walk to a park or school, almost no one lives within a 10-minute walk of public transport.