Suburb / Locality · Area profile
Collie
53 km²
Daily life in Collie revolves around a largely car-dependent town where most people live in separate houses. It is an older community than the state average, with a high number of seniors and a strong presence of people with no religious affiliation. The town is marked by a distinct workforce focused on mining and trades, though it faces challenges with lower typical incomes and higher unemployment than most similar areas. This blend of industrial roots and an ageing population shapes its quiet, residential character.
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The typical resident is 43, making the town noticeably older than the state and national figures. This is reflected in the high proportion of seniors aged 65 and over, who make up 22.9% of the population.
Collie is predominantly Australian-born, with 81% born here and only 11% born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language for 89% of the community. Very few people use another language at home (2.6%), a figure far below both the state and national averages.
More than half the population (51.9%) reports having no religion, which is far above the national figure of 38.9%.
Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 29.6% of residents completing Year 12 and just 5.3% holding a bachelor degree or higher.
Incomes are well below the state and national averages, with a typical household earning $1,177 a week. Only 12% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is lower than most similar areas.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 34.2% of people living with a long-term health condition and 6.9% needing help with daily activities.
Unpaid housework is more common here than in the rest of the state, with 25.1% of people spending 15 or more hours a week on these tasks. Volunteering rates are about the same as the state average.
First Nations people make up 4.8% of the population and are noticeably younger than the wider community, with a typical age of 21. Unemployment is very high among this group at 25.2%.
A high number of people live alone (32.5%) or in one-parent families (17.5%), both of which are well above the state average. Typical home sizes are also slightly smaller than usual.
Most people live in separate houses, and 40.3% own their home outright, which is far above the state average. Typical weekly rent is $250, well below the national figure of $375.
Cars are essential, as only 2.1% of people work from home and the drive time to the city is very long at 120 minutes. Very few people use public transport to commute.
The community is relatively stable, with 30.4% moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure of 40.7%. Recent overseas arrivals are also far below the national average.
Mining is the largest industry, employing 17.9% of the workforce. However, the unemployment rate of 8.7% is well above the state and national figures of 5.1%.
The town is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.5. While many homes are near a school, only 35.1% of residents can walk to groceries within 15 minutes.