Walwa

Walwa is an ageing community where 45.5% of residents are aged 65 and over, a figure far above the national level. Children under 15 make up only 4.7% of the population, which is far below the state and national figures.

Most residents were born in Australia (77.0%), and the community has strong English, Australian, and Irish roots. Only 9.9% of people were born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%.

English is the primary language here, with 85.3% of people using it at home. Very few residents use another language (2.1%), and no one reported speaking little or no English, which is well below the state average.

About 39.3% of the community identify as Christian, while 36.6% have no religion. This lack of religious affiliation is a little below the national figure of 38.9%.

Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 34.3% of residents completing Year 12 and 6.7% holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the state and national averages.

Household incomes are far below the national figure, with a typical weekly household income of $924. Only 7.1% of homes earn $3,000 or more per week, which is much lower than most other areas.

Health challenges are common here, with 46.6% of people living with a long-term health condition—far above the national average. Mental health conditions are also well above the national figure at 14.7%.

Walwa has a very high rate of volunteering at 33.9%, which is far above the national figure. About 4% of residents have served in the Defence Force, which is a little above the state and national rates.

There are 3 First Nations people in the community. The typical age for this group is 53, which is much higher than the national typical age of 24.

Homes are small and often occupied by a single person, with 42.4% of people living alone. This is far above the national figure, and the typical home holds just 1.7 people.

Home ownership is very high, with 62.4% of houses owned outright—far above the national figure. Rent is also much lower than usual, with a typical weekly rent of $160.

The area is heavily reliant on cars, as 0.0% of residents commute using public transport. While 25.6% of people work from home, the walk to the nearest public transport stop takes much longer than in most areas.

The population is relatively stable, with 29.4% of people moving in the last five years. This is far below the national figure of 40.7%.

Only 47.2% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far below the national average. Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the most common industries, employing 32.9% of the workforce.

Walwa is mostly car-dependent with a low walkability score of 3.0. No one lives within a 15-minute walk of groceries or health services, which is far below the state average.