Urban Centre · Area profile
Coolgardie
7 km²
A significant shift in population has shaped Coolgardie (L) since 2011, with the community growing by 34% to 763 people. The area has become much older and more diverse, with a far higher proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander residents than the state average. It is a place of contrasting demographics, where a rise in single-person households and seniors sits alongside a notable increase in recent overseas arrivals. This shift is reflected in a community that feels more established yet is changing in its cultural makeup.
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The typical resident is now 49, which is far older than the national figure of 38. This aging trend is clear, with seniors making up 19.5% of the population, while the proportion of children has fallen 11 points since 2011.
English and Australian ancestries are the most common, though 15.1% of residents were born overseas. This is far below the national figure, despite a recent increase in people arriving from other countries.
English is the main language, but the proportion of people using another language at home rose 4.1 points since 2011 to 6.2%. However, this remains far below the state and national averages.
About 38.5% of people identify as Christian, while 37.9% report no religion. This last figure has risen slightly since 2011 but remains well below the Western Australian average.
Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 5.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. The proportion of people who completed Year 12 has also fallen 16 points since 2011.
Typical weekly household income is $1,302, which is well below the state and national figures. While personal incomes rose $112 since 2011, the share of households earning over $3,000 a week has fallen.
Long-term health conditions affect 28.4% of the population, which is about the same as the national figure. Mental health conditions are reported by 6.8% of residents, a rate much lower than in most other areas.
Unpaid care and housework have declined since 2011, with only 7.6% of people providing unpaid care. Notably, 5.5% of residents served in the Defence Force, which is much higher than most areas.
Living arrangements have shifted toward smaller groups, with 35.5% of people now living alone. One-parent families have also become much more common, rising 14 points since 2011 to reach 19.6%.
Most people live in separate houses, and 38.8% own their home outright. While renting has risen 18 points since 2011, the typical monthly mortgage payment is $927, far below the national average.
Cars are the main way to get around, though 6.7% of homes have no motor vehicle. Very few people work from home, with only 1.4% doing so.
The community has seen a surge in new arrivals from overseas, rising 11 points since 2011 to 13.0%. However, overall movement is lower than in most areas, with 31.8% of people moving in the last five years.
Mining is the biggest industry, employing 26.0% of the workforce, and full-time work is much more common here than in most areas. However, fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to the state average.
The area is somewhat walkable, with 80.2% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries. This is far above the state average, although access to health services and parks is lower.