# Bega-Eden Hinterland

Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile

Located in: New South Wales › Rest of NSW › Bega Valley › 2550, NSW

Area: 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.

## Demographics & Identity

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.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Total population | 9,557 | +9.0% since 2011 |
| Median age | 51 yrs | +10.9% since 2011 |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander population | 3.8% | +80.0% since 2011 |
| People aged 65 and over | 23.9% | +65.8% since 2011 |
| Children under 15 | 15.6% | -19.9% since 2011 |
| People in a de facto relationship | 16.1% | +13.7% since 2011 |

**Age structure** — Older adults (45–64) 34.1%, Seniors (65+) 23.9%, Young adults (25–44) 17.5%, Children (0–14) 15.6%, Youth (15–24) 8.9%

**Marital status** — Married 48.3%, Never married 32.6%, Divorced 11.4%, Widowed 4.2%, Separated 3.6%

## Ancestry & Birthplace

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.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People born overseas | 11.0% | -8.3% since 2011 |

**Country of birth** — Australia 80.9%, England 4.0%, New Zealand 1.4%, South Africa 0.3%, Philippines 0.2%, Italy 0.1%, India 0.1%, Vietnam 0.1%, Nepal 0.0%

**Ancestry** — English 42.8%, Australian 42.4%, Irish 13.7%, Scottish 11.9%, German 5.6%, Dutch 2.3%, Italian 1.8%, Chinese 0.4%, Filipino 0.3%, Greek 0.2%, Indian 0.1%

## Language

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.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People using another language at home | 2.2% | -17.8% since 2011 |
| People who speak little or no English | 0.1% | -54.0% since 2016 |

**Language used at home** — English only 90.8%, Mandarin 0.1%, Italian 0.1%, Tagalog 0.1%, Greek 0.1%, Arabic 0.0%, Vietnamese 0.0%, Cantonese 0.0%, Punjabi 0.0%, Hindi 0.0%

## Religion

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.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with no religion | 49.9% | +56.3% since 2011 |

**Religious affiliation** — No religion 49.9%, Christianity 38.7%, Not stated 9.7%, Buddhism 0.8%, Other religions 0.6%, Hinduism 0.2%, Islam 0.1%, Judaism 0.1%

## Education & Qualifications

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.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Completed Year 12 | 43.7% | +18.9% since 2011 |
| Adults with a bachelor degree or higher | 18.1% | +26.0% since 2011 |
| Schools | 8 | — |
| Schools per 1,000 children | 5.37 | — |
| Schools within 3 km | 17 | — |
| School enrolments | 408 | — |
| Average school size | 51 | — |
| Average school ICSEA | 954 | — |

**Highest year of school** — Year 12 43.7%, Year 10 29.0%, Year 9 or below 10.7%, Year 11 7.8%

**Highest qualification level** — Certificate III / IV 34.9%, Bachelor degree 18.1%, Advanced diploma / diploma 14.3%, Postgraduate degree 5.7%, Graduate diploma / certificate 4.1%, Certificate I / II 2.1%

**Field of qualification** — Engineering & related 13.8%, Management & commerce 11.4%, Society & culture 11.3%, Health 10.3%, Education 9.5%, Architecture & building 7.5%, Agriculture & environment 6.0%, Food, hospitality & personal services 4.8%, Creative arts 3.7%, Natural & physical sciences 2.7%, Information technology 1.1%

## Income

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.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median personal income (weekly) | $603 | +42.9% since 2011 |
| Median household income (weekly) | $1,220 | +43.4% since 2011 |
| Median family income (weekly) | $1,457 | +46.6% since 2011 |
| People earning $2,000+ a week | 5.2% | — |
| Households earning $3,000+ a week | 9.8% | — |

**Household income distribution** — $650–$1,499 33.7%, $1,500–$2,999 25.7%, Under $650 22.4%, $3,000–$3,999 5.5%, $4,000 or more 4.4%

**Personal income distribution** — Under $650 48.4%, $650–$1,499 30.7%, $1,500–$2,999 10.5%, $3,000 or more 1.5%

## Health & Disability

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.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People with a long-term health condition | 33.3% | — |
| People with a mental health condition | 10.2% | — |
| People needing help with daily activities | 5.4% | +17.7% since 2011 |

**Long-term health conditions reported** — Arthritis 12.6%, Mental health 10.2%, Other condition 8.9%, Asthma 8.6%, Heart disease 5.1%, Diabetes 4.5%, Cancer 4.0%, Lung condition 2.8%, Stroke 0.9%, Dementia 0.4%

**Number of long-term health conditions** — None 57.2%, One condition 21.8%, Two conditions 7.6%, Three or more 4.0%

## Community Participation

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.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Volunteers | 23.3% | -19.3% since 2011 |
| People providing unpaid care | 14.0% | -3.8% since 2011 |
| People caring for children unpaid | 23.9% | -11.2% since 2011 |
| People who served in the Defence Force | 4.0% | — |
| People doing 15+ hours of unpaid housework | 30.9% | -7.6% since 2011 |

## First Nations

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.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander people | 367 | — |
| First Nations median age | 25 yrs | — |
| First Nations Year 12 completion | 29.0% | — |
| First Nations unemployment rate | 4.8% | — |
| First Nations median personal income | $471 | — |
| First Nations household income | $1,485 | — |
| Speaks a First Nations language | 5.4% | — |

## Family & Households

Most households consist of couples, with 48.5% having children and 39% without. About 26.1% of people live alone.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average household size | 2.4 | -4.0% since 2011 |
| One-parent families | 11.9% | -0.7% since 2011 |
| People living alone | 26.1% | +16.7% since 2011 |

**Family composition** — Couples with children 48.5%, Couples without children 39.0%, One-parent families 11.9%, Other families 0.6%

**Household size** — 2 people 42.8%, 1 person 26.1%, 3 people 12.0%, 4 people 10.8%, 5 people 5.3%, 6 or more 3.0%

## Housing & Dwellings

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.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Median rent (weekly) | $265 | +65.6% since 2011 |
| Median mortgage repayment (monthly) | $1,300 | +8.3% since 2011 |
| Average people per bedroom | 0.80 | -27.3% since 2011 |
| Households renting | 10.8% | -24.5% since 2011 |
| Homes owned outright | 53.7% | +12.9% since 2011 |
| Separate (detached) houses | 97.4% | +0.7% since 2011 |
| Homes with three or more bedrooms | 72.0% | -1.3% since 2011 |

**How homes are owned or rented** — Owned outright 53.7%, Owned with a mortgage 30.6%, Rented 10.8%, Other tenure 3.0%, Not stated 1.8%

**Types of homes** — Separate house 97.4%, Other dwelling 1.6%, Townhouse / semi-detached 0.6%, Flat or apartment 0.1%

**Bedrooms per home** — 3 bedrooms 41.8%, 4 bedrooms 23.4%, 2 bedrooms 17.2%, 5 or more 6.8%, 1 bedroom 6.7%, Studio / none 2.2%

**Weekly rent distribution** — $200–$349 48.5%, $350–$549 21.0%, Under $200 19.8%, $750 or more 1.0%, $550–$749 0.8%

**Monthly mortgage distribution** — $1,000–$1,799 36.8%, Under $1,000 30.0%, $1,800–$2,999 22.4%, $3,000 or more 5.8%

## Transport & Vehicles

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.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Homes with no motor vehicle | 1.4% | -27.8% since 2011 |
| People working from home | 16.3% | +36.2% since 2011 |
| Commuting by public transport | 0.3% | -57.2% since 2011 |
| Public transport stops | 32 | — |
| PT stops per 1,000 people | 3.35 | — |
| Weekly PT departures per 1,000 people | 43.4 | — |
| Public transport routes | 6 | — |

**How people get to work** — Car (driver) 60.9%, Worked at home 16.3%, Walked 3.4%, Car (passenger) 2.9%, Bus 0.3%, Bicycle 0.2%

**Motor vehicles per home** — 2 vehicles 42.3%, 1 vehicle 27.2%, 3 vehicles 18.1%, 4 or more 10.9%, No vehicle 1.4%

## Migration & Movement

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%).

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| People who moved in the last 5 years | 29.4% | -2.0% since 2011 |
| Recent arrivals from overseas | 3.1% | +6.8% since 2011 |

## Jobs & Industry

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.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unemployment rate | 3.3% | -47.5% since 2011 |
| Labour-force participation | 54.4% | -4.8% since 2011 |
| Employed full-time | 49.7% | -5.1% since 2011 |

**Industries people work in** — Agriculture, forestry & fishing 14.4%, Health care & social assistance 13.9%, Construction 11.4%, Retail trade 8.3%, Education & training 7.7%, Manufacturing 6.7%, Accommodation & food 6.5%, Public administration & safety 5.3%, Professional & technical 4.2%, Other services 3.5%, Transport & warehousing 3.2%, Administrative & support 3.1%, Wholesale trade 2.4%, Arts & recreation 1.5%, Finance & insurance 1.2%, Electricity, gas & water 0.9%, Rental & real estate 0.6%, Media & telecommunications 0.5%, Mining 0.2%

**Occupations people work in** — Managers 18.6%, Professionals 15.7%, Technicians & trades 14.9%, Labourers 13.6%, Community & personal service 11.5%, Clerical & administrative 9.8%, Sales workers 7.1%, Machinery operators & drivers 6.9%

## Economy & Advantage

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.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile) | 4 | — |
| Socio-economic disadvantage (IRSD decile) | 4 | — |
| Economic resources (IER decile) | 6 | — |
| Education & occupation (IEO decile) | 4 | — |
| Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD score) | 954 | — |
| Population estimate | 9,955 | — |
| Population growth since 2021 | 4.5% | — |
| Businesses | 1,032 | — |

## Environment & Climate

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.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Average annual rainfall | 1,052 | — |
| Average maximum temperature | 20.3 | — |
| Average minimum temperature | 8.9 | — |

## Walkability

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.

| Statistic | Value | Change since |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Walkability score | 1.4 | — |
| Amenity types within a 15-minute walk | 1.6 | — |
| Homes with a 15-minute-city walkshed | 19.7% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of groceries | 22.0% | — |
| Homes within 10 min walk of public transport | 17.1% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a school | 23.6% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of a park | 23.5% | — |
| Homes within 15 min walk of health services | 5.1% | — |
| Walkable amenities per 1,000 residents | 17.0 | — |
| Street connectivity (intersections/km²) | 0 | — |
| Mean terrain slope | 11.4% | — |

## Schools serving Bega-Eden Hinterland

17 schools, 2,921 students, average ICSEA 990.

By sector: Government 13, Independent 3, Catholic 1

By type: Primary 14, Combined 2, Secondary 1

Nearest 10 shown:

| School | Sector | Type | Distance | Students |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Wyndham Public School | Government | Primary | 7.6 km | 27 |
| Wolumla Public School | Government | Primary | 11.5 km | 109 |
| Candelo Public School | Government | Primary | 11.5 km | 84 |
| Pambula Public School | Government | Primary | 17.1 km | 257 |
| Merimbula Public School | Government | Primary | 20.0 km | 428 |
| Bournda Environmental Education Centre | Government | Combined | 22.8 km | — |
| Sapphire Coast Anglican College | Independent | Combined | 23.0 km | 454 |
| Towamba Public School | Government | Primary | 23.6 km | 23 |
| Thomas More Christian Montessori School | Independent | Primary | 24.5 km | 26 |
| St Patrick's Primary School | Catholic | Primary | 25.2 km | 175 |

## Areas within Bega-Eden Hinterland

[Bega-Eden Hinterland Block 1](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104102001/10104102001) · [Bega-Eden Hinterland Block 2](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104102002/10104102002) · [Bega-Eden Hinterland Block 3](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104102003/10104102003) · [Bega-Eden Hinterland Block 4](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104102004/10104102004) · [Bega-Eden Hinterland Block 5](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104102005/10104102005) · [Bega-Eden Hinterland Block 6](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104102006/10104102006) · [Bega-Eden Hinterland Block 7](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104102007/10104102007) · [Bega-Eden Hinterland Block 8](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104102008/10104102008) · [Bega-Eden Hinterland Block 9](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104102009/10104102009) · [Bega-Eden Hinterland Block 10](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104102010/10104102010) · [Bega-Eden Hinterland Block 11](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104102011/10104102011) · [Bega-Eden Hinterland Block 12](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104102012/10104102012) · [Bega-Eden Hinterland Block 13](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104102013/10104102013) · [Bega-Eden Hinterland Block 14](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104102014/10104102014) · [Bega-Eden Hinterland Block 15](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104102015/10104102015) · [Bega-Eden Hinterland Block 16](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa1/10104102016/10104102016)

## Nearby areas

[Eden](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101041023/eden) · [Merimbula - Tura Beach](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101041025/merimbula-tura-beach) · [Bega - Tathra](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101041019/bega-tathra) · [Bombala](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101031013/bombala) · [Narooma - Bermagui](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101041027/narooma-bermagui) · [Orbost](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/205021085/orbost) · [Deua - Wadbilliga](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101041022/deua-wadbilliga) · [Cooma](https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101031014/cooma)

Interactive profile: https://censusatlas.au/region/sa2/101041020/bega-eden-hinterland