Council (LGA) · Area profile
Menzies
124,115 km²
Among the smallest areas at this level, Menzies is a tiny outback community with just 524 residents. It is a place of extremes, where a high proportion of the population works in mining and a significant number of residents are First Nations people. The town has a very small number of children and seniors, making it a predominantly adult community. Despite some high individual incomes, it is one of the most disadvantaged areas in the state.
Menzies is well supplied with schools for its relatively small share of children.
Explore Menzies by topic
The population is far more likely to be Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander than the state average, at 21.2%. It is a predominantly adult community, with very few children under 15 (5.5%) and seniors over 65 (9.9%) compared to the national figures.
People born overseas make up 17.0% of the population, which is higher than most similar areas but far below the state average of 32.2%. English (25.4%) and Australian (16.6%) are the most common ancestries.
About 18.3% of residents use a language other than English at home, which is similar to the state average. However, this is a big drop from 2011, when 48.2% of the community did so.
People with no religion make up 36.3% of the community, which is a little below the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 29.0%.
Education levels are far below the national average, with only 32.3% of residents completing Year 12. Only 6.7% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, though many hold qualifications in engineering.
Incomes are mixed; typical family weekly income is far below the national figure at $1,208, yet 27.0% of people earn $2,000 or more a week, which is far above the national average.
Residents report fewer long-term health conditions than most other areas, with only 16.4% having a chronic condition. This is far below the national average of 27.7%.
Community participation is very low, with only 5.9% of people volunteering. This is well below the national figure of 14.1% and has fallen since 2011.
First Nations people make up a significant part of the community, with 56.8% speaking a traditional language. However, the unemployment rate for this group is 37.5%, far above the national average.
Living arrangements are unusual, with 47.0% of people living alone, far above the national figure of 25.6%. Households are typically small, with 2.1 people per home.
Rental properties are common, with 40.9% of households renting, far above the national average. Typical weekly rent is much lower than most areas at just $150.
Most people rely on cars, though 10.9% commute by public transport, which is well above the national average. Conversely, 15.9% of homes have no motor vehicle, much higher than most areas.
The community is relatively stable, with 32.8% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure of 40.7%.
The local economy is dominated by mining, where 61.5% of the workforce is employed. Full-time employment is very high at 84.6%, far above the national average.
Menzies is ranked among the most disadvantaged areas in the region, scoring a 1 out of 10 for overall advantage and access to resources.
The area is very dry and warm, with an average annual rainfall of 128mm, which is well below the state average of 185mm.
The town is almost entirely car-dependent, with a walkability score of 0.6. No homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, or parks.