Urban Centre · Area profile
Hamley Bridge
1 km²
Life in Hamley Bridge is largely car-dependent, with almost every home within a short walk of a school or park but no shops or health services nearby. This small community of 615 people is noticeably older than the national average, with a typical resident aged 46. It is a place where many people live in detached houses and a high number of residents are now without a religious affiliation. The town has seen its population shrink slightly since 2011, reflecting a quiet, rural character.
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The community is aging, with the typical resident being 46 and those aged 65 and over making up 22.4% of the population, which is well above the national figure. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 3.4% of the population, a figure that has risen since 2011.
While 77.7% of residents were born in Australia, the area has a higher proportion of overseas-born people than most similar areas. English, Irish, and Scottish ancestries are the most common among those with heritage from other countries.
English is the primary language for 91.5% of the community. Very few people use another language at home, and there are no residents who speak little or no English, which is far below the state and national figures.
A large majority of residents—60.7%—report having no religion. This is far above the national figure and represents a significant increase of 26 percentage points since 2011.
Educational qualifications are much lower than in most areas, with only 5.9% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Just 32% of residents completed Year 12, which is far below the state and national averages.
Typical incomes are well below national figures, with the usual household earning $922 a week. Only 8.5% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, although this has risen since 2011.
Health challenges are very high here, as 43.7% of people have a long-term health condition and 13.3% need help with daily activities. Both figures are among the highest for similar areas.
The area has a high rate of volunteering at 18.6% and a strong history of service, with 5.3% of residents having served in the Defence Force, which is much higher than most areas.
One-parent families make up 22.6% of the community, a figure that is well above the national average and has risen since 2011. About 30.6% of people live alone.
The town consists almost entirely of separate houses, 94.5% of which are detached. Typical weekly rents are very low at $225, and the usual monthly home-loan payment is $997, which is far below the national figure.
Car travel is essential, as no one commutes by public transport and 75.5% of workers drive themselves. Only 4.8% of people work from home, a figure that is far below the national average.
The population is relatively stable, with 35.1% of residents moving in the last five years. There have been no recent arrivals from overseas since 2011.
The unemployment rate is 9.1%, which is well above the state and national figures. Many residents work in health care, manufacturing, or construction, and the rate of adults working or looking for work is far below the national average.
While almost every home is within 15 minutes of a park or school, the town is highly car-dependent. There are no grocery stores or health services within walking distance, resulting in a very low walkability score.