Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Bega-Eden Hinterland
4,710 km²
A growing number of older residents has shifted the character of Bega-Eden Hinterland since 2011. This rural area is now far older than the national average, with the typical resident aged 51. It is a community where many people own their homes outright and a high proportion of adults volunteer. The area is largely residential and non-urban, with a population that has grown by 9% over the last decade.
Bega-Eden Hinterland is well supplied with schools for its relatively small share of children.
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The community is significantly older than the rest of the country, with 23.9% of people aged 65 and over. Children under 15 make up 15.6% of the population, which is much lower than most similar areas.
The area is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with 80.9% born here and only 11% born overseas, a figure far below the New South Wales average.
English is the primary language for 90.8% of the community. Very few people use another language at home (2.2%), which is among the lowest rates in the region.
About half of the population (49.9%) reports having no religion, a figure far above the national average. This has risen by 18 points since 2011.
Many adults have a Certificate III or IV, though only 43.7% finished Year 12, which is far below the state average. There are many small primary schools serving the area.
Typical weekly household incomes are much lower than the national figure, at $1,220. Only 9.8% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Long-term health conditions are much more common here than in most areas, affecting 33.3% of residents. Arthritis and mental health are the most reported conditions.
Volunteering is very high, with 23.3% of people helping out, far above the national rate. Unpaid care and housework are also more common here than in most similar areas.
First Nations people make up 3.8% of the population. This group has a much lower unemployment rate (4.8%) than the national average for First Nations people.
Most households consist of couples, with 48.5% having children and 39% without. About 26.1% of people live alone.
Housing is dominated by separate houses (97.4%), and 53.7% of these are owned outright, far above the state average. Weekly rents are much lower than usual at $265.
The area is heavily car-dependent, with only 0.3% of people using public transport to get to work. Most homes have at least two vehicles.
The population is relatively stable, with 29.4% moving in the last five years, which is much lower than the national figure. Recent overseas arrivals are also very few (3.1%).
Agriculture and health care are the main industries. While unemployment is low at 3.3%, the proportion of adults working or looking for work is well below the national average.
The area has a moderate level of access to money and resources, though its overall advantage score is lower than about 68% of similar areas.
The hinterland is wetter and cooler than most of the state, with an average annual rainfall of 1,052mm and a typical maximum temperature of 20.3°C.
The area is highly car-dependent with a very low walkability score of 1.4. Most homes are far from parks, schools, and health services.
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