Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Watchem West
133 km²
Daily life in Watchem West revolves around a small, car-dependent community of just 29 people. It is a remarkably healthy and active place where more than half the residents volunteer and many hold high-level degrees. The area is mostly made up of families and couples, with a notable number of children and a typical resident age of 37, making it a little younger than the national figure. It is a sparsely populated rural setting where most people work in agriculture.
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The community is younger than most similar areas, with 20.7% of residents being children. De facto relationships are very common here, representing 40% of the population, which is far above the national figure.
Most residents were born in Australia, though 10.3% were born overseas, including some from the Philippines. English, German, and Irish ancestries are the most common heritage groups.
English is the only language used at home in this area, which is far below the state and national figures for language diversity.
A majority of residents report no religion at 55.2%, a figure that is far above the national average.
The area is highly qualified, with 32% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, those who finished Year 12 represent only 34.6%, which is far below the state figure.
Typical weekly personal income is $924, which is a little above the national figure. However, no one in the area earns $2,000 or more per week.
Residents are in excellent health, with only 10.3% having a long-term health condition—far below the national figure of 27.7%. No one reported needing help with daily activities or having a mental health condition.
Volunteering is exceptionally high at 52%, far above the national figure. Unpaid care is also common, with 24% of people providing such support, though unpaid housework is among the lowest at this level.
There are no Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people recorded in this area.
About 34.6% of households are couples with children, and one-parent families are a little more common than the national average at 15.4%.
Housing costs are very low compared to the rest of the state, with typical weekly rents at $150 and typical monthly home-loan payments of just $400.
The area is entirely reliant on cars, as there are no public transport stops or routes available. About 19% of the workforce works from home.
About 34.4% of the population moved into the area in the last five years, which is well below the national figure.
Employment is very strong, with 90.5% working full-time and an unemployment rate of 0.0%. Most people work in agriculture, forestry, and fishing.
The area is strictly car-dependent with a very low walkability score of 0.1. There are no schools, shops, or health services within a 15-minute walk.
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