Urban Centre · Area profile
Chillagoe
1 km²
A small rural settlement in the Mareeba region, Chillagoe is a sparsely populated area of just 150 people. It is a notably older community, where the typical resident is 50 and nearly a quarter of the population are seniors. The area has seen a significant increase in its Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population, which now makes up 24% of the community. With low typical incomes and a shrinking population, it maintains a quiet, residential character.
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The community is far older than the national figure, with 23.3% of people aged 65 and over. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 24% of the population, which is far above the Queensland figure of 4.6% and has risen 18 points since 2011.
English and Australian are the most common ancestries. While 15.3% of residents were born overseas, this is well below the Queensland figure of 22.7%.
English is the main language, with only 4% of people using another language at home. This is far below the national figure of 22.3%.
People with no religion make up 40.7% of the population, which is about the same as the Queensland figure. This represents a 28 point increase since 2011.
Education levels are much lower than most areas, with only 4.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. This is far below the national figure of 26.3%.
Incomes are very low, with a typical weekly household income of $784, which is far below the national figure of $1,746. No households in the area earn $3,000 or more per week.
Residents report fewer long-term health conditions than most areas, with 26.7% having a condition, which is a little below the national figure of 27.7%.
More people do 15 or more hours of unpaid housework here (26.8%) than in most areas. However, volunteering has fallen 6.8 points since 2011.
The area has a very high proportion of people living alone at 43.3%, far above the national figure of 25.6%. Consequently, homes are smaller than usual, with only 2.0 people per home.
Home ownership is strong, with 47.8% of homes owned outright, far above the national figure of 31%. Rent is also very low, with a typical weekly cost of $170.
Cars are the primary way to get around, but 30% of workers walk to their jobs. Working from home has risen significantly since 2011 to 16%.
The area is relatively stable, with 35% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national figure of 40.7%.
Full-time employment is very high at 86%, though the overall number of adults working or looking for work is much lower than most areas. Mining is a key industry, employing 24% of the workforce.
The area is somewhat walkable, and most homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries (92.2%) and a school (84.7%), although there are no parks or public transport within a 15-minute walk.