Urban Centre · Area profile
Alpha
2 km²
A far older population defines Alpha, where the typical resident is 51. The community has shrunk by 26% since 2011, and there are now far fewer children than in the past. While the population is small, it is quite active, with nearly a third of residents volunteering. The area is mainly made up of separate houses and is highly walkable, with most people living within a short stroll of health services and parks.
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The community is older than most, with 22.8% of people aged 65 and over. There is a growing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, which rose to 6.6% in 2021, while the proportion of children under 15 fell sharply to 13.1%.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the population has very few people born overseas, at 6.2%. English, Irish, and Scottish are the most common ancestries after Australian.
English is the primary language here, with only 1.5% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national figure of 22.3%.
About 60.6% of the community identifies as Christian. While the number of people with no religion rose to 27.8% since 2011, this is still far below the national figure.
Qualifications are lower than in most areas, with only 8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, the share of residents who completed Year 12 rose to 37.2% since 2011.
Typical weekly family incomes are $1,812, which is a little below the national figure. Personal incomes have risen since 2011, with the typical person now earning $769 a week.
Health needs are higher than average, with 36.3% of people reporting a long-term health condition. This is consistent with an older population, as 7.3% of residents need help with daily activities.
Volunteerism is very high at 31.9%, far above the national figure of 14.1%. This strong community spirit is seen alongside a high rate of people providing unpaid care, which rose to 15.5%.
Many people live alone here, accounting for 39.8% of households. One-parent families make up 20.1% of the community, which is well above the national average.
Separate houses dominate the landscape at 98.3%. Rent is very affordable, with a typical weekly rent of $120, and 37.3% of homes are owned outright.
The car is the main way to get around, as no one commutes by public transport. About 19% of people walk to work, and 5% work from home.
The population is quite stable, with only 28.3% of people moving in the last five years. Recent overseas arrivals make up 14.3% of the community.
Employment is strong, with 71.6% of people working full-time and an unemployment rate of 3.4%. Common industries include construction, public administration, and health care.
The area is very walkable, with 85.9% of homes within a 15-minute walk of local amenities. This includes nearly all homes being within a short stroll of health services and parks.