Suburb / Locality · Area profile
South Hedland
22 km²
Among the largest of its kind, South Hedland is a young, high-earning community with a strong First Nations presence. The typical resident is just 32, and a quarter of the population are children, making it noticeably younger than the state and national figures. This youthful character is matched by high incomes and a workforce heavily focused on mining, though the high number of renters suggests a transient population. It is a place where many people move for work and start families.
Household incomes here are high, yet South Hedland's schools draw a notably less advantaged community.
South Hedland has many young families but fewer schools per child than most areas.
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South Hedland is far younger than the national average, with 25.2% of people being children and only 3.8% aged 65 or over. About 22.2% of the population are Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, a figure far above the state average.
While 63.5% of residents were born in Australia, 20.9% were born overseas, which is much higher than most similar areas. The most common ancestries are Australian and English, followed by Irish, Scottish, and Filipino.
English is the main language for 67.4% of the community, but 15.9% use another language at home, which is much higher than in most similar areas. Tagalog is the most common non-English language spoken.
About 42.8% of residents have no religion, a figure that sits around the middle for its level and is well above the national figure. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 32.6%.
Educational attainment is lower than in most areas, with only 10.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Many residents hold trade qualifications, with 37.3% having a Certificate III or IV.
Incomes are very high here, with typical personal weekly earnings of $1,415, which is far above the national figure. About 37.9% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, placing the area among the highest for income.
Residents are generally healthier than those in most similar areas. Only 16.8% have a long-term health condition, which is far below the national figure, and only 4.6% report a mental health condition.
Caring for children is common, with 29% of people doing so unpaid. However, volunteering (10.9%) and providing other types of unpaid care (6%) are both much lower than in most similar areas.
There are 2,454 First Nations people in the area, and 16.5% speak a First Nations language, which is well above the national average. Typical personal income for First Nations residents is $631, which is above the state figure.
Families with children are common, making up 62.6% of households. Homes are slightly larger than average, with 2.7 people per home and a higher-than-usual proportion of one-parent families at 15.5%.
The rental market is dominant, with 67.3% of households renting, which is far above the state average. Because of this, only 6.9% of homes are owned outright, among the lowest for its level.
Most people drive to work (72%), and 41.4% of homes have two vehicles. While public transport stops are numerous and easy to reach, very few people (1.1%) actually use them to commute.
The community is very mobile, with 55.7% of residents moving in the last five years, far above the national figure. This is consistent with a high number of recent overseas arrivals at 17%.
Employment is strong, with 71.7% of people working full-time and a low unemployment rate of 4.1%. Mining is the biggest industry, employing 25.7% of the workforce, often in technician or trade roles.
Most homes are within a short walk of a park or public transport, but far fewer are within reach of groceries (34.1%) or health services (6.9%) compared to the state average.