Urban Centre · Area profile
Silkwood
1 km²
A rural setting defines Silkwood, a small community in the Cassowary Coast where every home is a separate house. The population has shrunk by 50% since 2011, now totalling 211 people. It is an older community, with a typical resident aged 50, which is far older than the national figure. This shift toward an older population is reflected in the high number of seniors and a significant increase in people needing help with daily activities.
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The typical resident is 50, making the area far older than the state and national averages. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 5.7% of the population, which is a little above the national figure, though this has fallen since 2011.
While most residents were born in Australia, the proportion of people born overseas has risen to 14.7%. This is still far below the national figure, with English, Scottish, and Italian ancestries following Australian as the most common.
About 7.1% of residents use a language other than English at home, a figure that has risen since 2011. While English remains dominant, Punjabi is the most common other language spoken.
Religious affiliation is higher here than in most areas, with 56.9% of people identifying as Christian. Those with no religion make up 28.4%, which is far below the national figure.
Educational attainment is lower than most areas, with only 8.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, the number of people who completed Year 12 rose by 16 points since 2011.
Typical incomes are well below the national figure, with the usual family earning $1,325 a week. Only 7% of households earn $3,000 or more per week, which is far below the state average.
A high proportion of residents face health challenges, with 13.7% needing help with daily activities—a figure well above the national average. Long-term health conditions are also more common than usual, particularly arthritis.
Unpaid care is very common here; 21% of people provide unpaid care, which is well above the national figure. Additionally, 7.2% of residents have served in the Defence Force, among the highest rates for similar areas.
Family sizes are around the middle for this level, with 2.3 people per home. About 30.2% of people live alone, which is well above the state and national figures.
Housing is dominated by separate houses, with 46.5% owned outright—far above the national figure. Renting is far less common than in the rest of the state, and typical weekly rents are well below the national figure at $280.
The community is entirely car-dependent, with no one commuting by public transport and 0% of people working from home. Most homes have at least one vehicle, and 12% have four or more.
About 38.6% of residents moved in the last five years, which is higher than most similar areas. Despite this, there have been no recent arrivals from overseas.
While 48.1% of adults are working or looking for work—far below the national figure—those who are employed are often in full-time roles. Common industries include retail, manufacturing, and agriculture.
The area is entirely car-dependent, with no parks, schools, shops, or health services within a 15-minute walk. Its walkability score of 0.1 is far below the state average.