Council (LGA) · Area profile
Upper Gascoyne
57,810 km²
A strong First Nations presence defines Upper Gascoyne, where 55.9% of the population identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander. This is a young community with 27.6% of residents under 15, which is well above the national figure. While the total population shrank by 32% since 2011 to just 170 people, the area remains distinct for its high proportion of young families and its remote, arid character in Western Australia.
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The community is notably young, with a typical age of 37 and very few seniors, as only 5.9% are aged 65 or over. De facto relationships are far more common here than in the rest of the state, making up 22.5% of the population.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has a much lower percentage of overseas-born people (5.9%) than the national figure of 27.7%. The most common ancestries are Australian, English, and Scottish.
While English is the main language, the number of people using another language at home rose to 12.9% since 2011. Notably, no one in the area reported speaking little or no English.
Half of the population report having no religion, which is far above the national figure of 38.9%. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 35.3%.
Education levels are generally lower than the state average, with only 33.6% of residents completing Year 12. However, the area has a high number of schools per 1,000 children.
Typical weekly household incomes are $1,300, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Despite this, there has been a significant rise in the number of households earning $3,000 or more per week since 2011.
Mental health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 10.0% of residents. Conversely, very few people (2.9%) need help with daily activities.
Caregiving is a major part of local life, with 36.4% of people providing unpaid child care, a figure far above the national average. Volunteering is also slightly higher than the state figure at 18.6%.
First Nations residents are a cornerstone of the community, with 21.1% speaking a First Nations language, which is well above the national average. However, typical personal incomes and Year 12 completion rates are much lower than the national figures.
Homes tend to be larger, with 2.9 people per household. One-parent families are much more common than in most areas, representing 20.8% of households.
Renting is far more common here than across Australia, with 45.6% of households renting. While 82.5% of homes have three or more bedrooms, the typical weekly rent is very low at $75.
The area is entirely dependent on cars, as there are no public transport stops or routes available. Almost half of the workforce walks to work, while 32.1% drive.
The community is quite mobile, with 47.1% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas are far more common here than in the rest of the state.
Full-time employment is higher than the national average at 66.1%, though only 51.9% of adults are working or looking for work. The main industries are agriculture, public administration, and education.
The area is ranked among the most disadvantaged in the region, with a low score for access to money and resources. However, it ranks better for the education and job skills of its residents.
Upper Gascoyne is a hot, dry region with an average maximum temperature of 32.8 degrees and low annual rainfall of 155mm.
The area is mostly car-dependent with a low walkability score of 3.0. While many homes are within a short walk of groceries and parks, there is no access to health services or public transport on foot.