Council (LGA) · Area profile
Wiluna
181,297 km²
The population of Wiluna has shrunk by 54% since 2011, leaving a small community of 535 people. It is a young area where the typical resident is 35, and First Nations people make up a significant 26.4% of the population. The town is heavily tied to the mining industry, which employs nearly 40% of the workforce. While many residents are young adults, there are high numbers of people living alone and a notable proportion of one-parent families.
Plenty of schools here relative to how few children live in the area.
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Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 26.4% of the community, a figure far above the national average. While the typical age is 35, the number of seniors has risen to 8.6% since 2011. De facto relationships are very common here, involving 28.0% of residents.
Most residents were born in Australia, though 14.0% were born overseas. This is far below the national figure of 27.7%, and the proportion of overseas-born residents has fallen since 2011.
Language diversity is high, with 24.1% of people using a language other than English at home, which is well above the state average. Despite this, very few people speak little or no English.
People with no religion make up 36.6% of the population, though this is lower than the state and national figures. This group has grown by 12 points since 2011.
Education levels are much lower than most areas, with only 28.6% of residents completing Year 12 and just 9.1% holding a bachelor degree or higher. Both figures have fallen since 2011.
Typical weekly household income is $1,109, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. While typical personal incomes are higher than the state average, the number of people earning $2,000 or more a week has fallen sharply since 2011.
Residents report fewer long-term health conditions than most areas, with only 18.1% having one. Mental health conditions are also much less common here than across the state.
Participation in unpaid work is very low, with only 6.4% of people volunteering and few providing unpaid care or housework compared to the state average.
First Nations people in Wiluna are noticeably older than those elsewhere in the state, with a typical age of 29. Language is strong, as 77.3% speak a First Nations language, though unemployment is high at 25.0%.
Living arrangements are distinctive, with 42.9% of people living alone and 35.6% of families being single-parent homes. Both figures are far above the national average.
The area is almost entirely made up of separate houses, though 48.8% of homes are rented. Rent is very affordable at a typical weekly cost of $118, though this has risen since 2011.
Cars are the main way to get around, though 20.4% of people walk to work. Public transport is virtually non-existent, with no routes or stops listed in the area.
The community is relatively stable, as 31.1% of people moved in the last five years, which is well below the national figure. Recent overseas arrivals have also fallen since 2011.
Mining is the dominant industry, employing 39.3% of workers. While full-time employment is very high at 77.6%, only 44.9% of adults are working or looking for work.
The town has a very low overall advantage score, ranking among the lowest for access to money and resources. Population growth has also been slightly negative since 2021.
Wiluna is hot and dry, with average maximum temperatures of 32.1°C. Its annual rainfall of 233mm is well above the state average for such a dry climate.
The town is mostly car-dependent, but residents can easily reach groceries and health services on foot. However, there is no public transport within walking distance.