Urban Centre · Area profile
Wirrabara
4 km²
A typical resident in Wirrabara is now 61, making it one of the oldest communities in the region. This small settlement of 206 people has seen a dramatic shift since 2011, with the number of seniors rising while the proportion of children fell sharply. It is a place where many people own their homes outright and live alone, and where a strong spirit of volunteering is common. The area feels quiet and stable, with very few people moving in or out recently.
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The community is far older than the national figure, with 37.4% of people aged 65 and over. This is a sharp change from 2011, while the share of children under 15 has fallen to just 6.3%. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people make up 6.3% of the population, which is well above the South Australian figure.
Most residents were born in Australia (80.1%), and English is the most common ancestry at 52.9%. The share of people born overseas is 10.7%, which is far below the national figure.
English is the dominant language, with 91.7% of people using it at home. Very few people use another language (1.5%), and no one in the area speaks little or no English.
Nearly half of the residents (45.6%) report having no religion, a figure that is well above the national average. Christianity is the next most common affiliation at 41.7%.
Education levels are generally lower than the state average, with only 12.8% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Those who completed Year 12 make up 29.7% of the community, which is far below the national figure.
Incomes are much lower than in most other areas, with the typical household earning $756 a week. This is far below the national figure of $1,746, and typical personal weekly income has fallen since 2011 to $491.
Health challenges are common here; 43.7% of people have a long-term health condition, which is far above the national average. Additionally, 9.7% of residents need help with daily activities, a figure that has risen significantly since 2011.
Volunteering is very high, with 29.3% of people helping out, far above the national figure. Many residents also provide unpaid care (19.1%), which is consistent with the high number of seniors needing support.
Homes are small and often occupied by just one person, which is true for 42.9% of households. This is far above the national figure, and it helps explain why there are only 1.8 people per home on average.
The area is almost entirely made up of separate houses (98.1%), and 58.1% are owned outright. This high rate of ownership is far above the state average, and typical mortgage payments are very low at $704 a month.
Cars are essential here, as every single home has at least one motor vehicle. No one in the community uses public transport to get to work, and no one works from home.
The population is very stable, with only 24.1% of people moving in the last five years. This is far below the national figure, and there have been no recent arrivals from overseas since 2016.
While full-time employment is higher than most areas at 58.2%, the unemployment rate is very high at 15.1%. Only 38.8% of adults are working or looking for work, which is far below the national figure.
Most homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries and parks, making it somewhat walkable. However, there are no schools or health services within a 15-minute walk.