Urban Centre · Area profile
Wilcannia
3 km²
A far higher proportion of people identify as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in Wilcannia than in the rest of the state, with 61.8% of the population. This is a young community where the typical resident is just 30, far younger than the national figure. While the population shrank by 40% since 2011 to 539 people, the area remains a significant hub for families with children. It is a place of stark contrasts, where a high number of one-parent families live alongside very low typical incomes.
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The population is notably young, with 23.7% being children under 15, which is well above the national average. In contrast, seniors aged 65 and over make up only 11.3% of the community, a figure that has fallen since 2011.
The community is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 0.9% born overseas—far below the national figure. Those who do list an ancestry most often cite Australian, English, or Irish heritage.
English is the primary language here, and the 1.7% of people using another language at home is much lower than in most other Australian areas. Very few people, just 0.6%, speak little or no English.
About 40.1% of residents identify as Christian, while 30.6% report no religion. This share of people with no religion has risen by 13 points since 2011, though it remains below the national figure.
Educational attainment is much lower than in most areas, with only 6.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Only 13.6% of residents completed Year 12, and 31.1% finished Year 9 or below.
Incomes are far below the national figure, with a typical family earning just $985 a week. Very few households earn $3,000 or more weekly, and nearly half of all individuals earn under $650 per week.
Residents report fewer long-term health conditions than the national average, with only 17.1% affected. Similarly, the 1.9% of people needing help with daily activities is among the lowest at this level.
Community participation in unpaid work has dropped sharply since 2011. Only 6.6% of people volunteer, and the proportion of people providing unpaid care has fallen to 6.9%.
Family structures are distinctive, with one-parent families making up 52.4% of households—far above the national figure. This helps explain why homes are larger, with a typical 2.8 people per home.
Renting is very common, with 57.7% of households renting, far above the state average. Typical weekly rents are much lower than most areas at $154, and most homes are separate houses.
Car ownership is low, as 33.1% of homes have no motor vehicle, which is far above the national figure. About 20% of people walk to work, and no one commutes via public transport.
The community is relatively stable, with only 17% of people moving in the last five years. This is far below the national figure, while recent overseas arrivals make up 10% of the population.
While 69.8% of the workforce is employed full-time, the overall rate of adults working or looking for work is very low at 27%. The unemployment rate is 13.6%, well above the national figure.
The area is very walkable, with 94.7% of homes within a 15-minute walk of key amenities. Almost every resident can reach a park, school, or grocery store on foot within 15 minutes.