2016.4 - Census of Population and Housing: Selected Characteristics for Urban Centres and Localities, South Australia, 1996  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 29/01/1998   
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SOUTH AUSTRALIA




PREFACE

This document contains data from the 1996 Census of Population and Housing, and describes the characteristics of people in South Australia and their housing arrangements. It is just a sample of what is available in the publication series Census of Population and Housing: Selected Characteristics for Urban Centres and Localities (Cat. nos 2016.0-7), available for each State and Territory, and nationally.

The data presented in this document relate to where people were counted on census night, and therefore data for each geographical area include visitors to that area but exclude those people who were away on census night. The document uses both the Urban Centre/Locality (UC/L) and the Section of State (SOS) geographic classifications which classify areas according to size of the population. Whilst the UC/L classification covers only part of the State or Territory, the SOS classification covers the State or Territory in its entirety.

This document presents only a selection of data from the full range of census variables. For further information about other census or Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data refer to the Directory of Census Statistics, 1996 or elsewhere on this site. Concepts and definitions used in this document, including UC/L and SOS, are explained in the Explanatory Notes and more detailed information is available in the Census Dictionary, 1996 (Cat. no. 2901.0)

The ABS draws extensively on information provided freely by individuals, businesses, governments and other organisations. Their continued cooperation is very much appreciated: without it, the wide range of statistics published by the ABS would not be available. Information received by the ABS is treated in strict confidence as required by the Census and Statistics Act 1905.

P. Gardner
Regional Director



    SUMMARY OF FINDINGS


            POPULATION AND HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS
      POPULATION DISTRIBUTION
          Since the 1991 Census there had been a 2% increase in the number of people counted in South Australia (SA) and a small increase in the share of people counted in the urban areas. In the 1996 Census, some 86.1% of the people were counted in urban areas, comprising 978,100 in the Major Urban area and 250,731 in the Other Urban area. This represented an increase of one percentage point from 85.1% in 1991.

          Just three of the 62 Urban Centres in SA recorded census counts of more than 20,000 people - Adelaide (978,100), Whyalla (23,382) and Mount Gambier (22,037). However, in total, these three areas accounted for 71.7% of the State's population of 1,427,936.

      SEX
          In 1996 there were more females counted in SA (50.8%) than males, and this was also the case with the Major Urban (51.5%) and Other Urban (50.7%) areas. However, proportionally more males were counted in the Bounded Locality (50.1%) and the Rural Balance (52.8%).

          Females outnumbered males in the majority (59.2%) of UC/Ls, particularly in Wilmington (L) (55.6%), Riverton (L) (53.5%), Crystal Brook and Springton (L) (53.4% each). In contrast, very high proportions of males were recorded in the opal mining areas of Mintabie (L) (63.6%), Andamooka Opal Fields (L) (58.3%) and Coober Pedy (55.4%), as well as Roxby Downs (58.1%), Woomera (57.6%) and Leigh Creek (55.3%).

      AGE
          The population in SA is aging. In 1996 the median age for SA was 35 years, compared with 33 years in 1991. The proportion of people aged 65 years or more also increased from 12.7% in 1991 to 13.8% in 1996.

          The highest proportion (17.4%) of people aged 65 years or more was recorded in the Bounded Locality. The Rural Balance recorded both the highest proportion of children (aged 0–14 years) (24.6%) and the lowest proportion of people aged 65 years or more (8.3%), a pattern which also occurred in 1991 (25.2% and 7.4% respectively).

          UC/Ls recording the highest percentages of people aged 65 years or more were the waterside localities of Port Vincent (L) (39.5%), Stansbury (L) (38.0%) and Port Broughton (L) (35.5%), and very low levels were recorded in the UC/Ls of Woomera (1.9%), Leigh Creek (1.9%), and Roxby Downs (1.3%). The highest proportions of children were recorded in the UC/Ls of Yalata (L) (33.7%),

          Roseworthy (L) (33.6%) and Angle Vale (32.2%), and the lowest in Port Victoria (L) (11.9%), Port Broughton (11.1%), Coffin Bay (L) (11.1%) and Port Vincent (L) (10.1%).

      BIRTHPLACE
      Australian-born
          Just over three-quarters (75.5%) of those counted in the Census in SA were Australian-born, representing a slight decrease since 1991 (76.1%). The Major Urban area recorded a smaller proportion (71.7%) of Australian-born than that for the State.

          Yalata (L) in the Yalata Aboriginal Lands, along with Tantanoola (L) and Lucindale (L) in the far south-east recorded the highest proportions of Australian-born people (97.1%, 95.4% and 95.2% respectively). Woomera and Coober Pedy recorded the lowest Australian-born proportions (52.4% and 53.8%).

      Overseas-born
          About one-tenth (10.1%) of the people counted in SA stated that they had been born in the United Kingdom (UK), Ireland or New Zealand (NZ), a decrease of one percentage point since 1991 (11.1%). The Major Urban area (11.1%) recorded the highest proportion of people born in these countries. Similarly, high proportions were also recorded in Springton (L) (22.7%), Sellicks Beach (21.2%) and
          Carrickalinga (L) (20.1%).

          In1996, 11.0% reported that they had been born in countries other than the UK, Ireland or NZ, which was similar to the 1991 figure (11.2%). Adelaide recorded the highest proportion (13.8%) of people born in these other countries. Likewise, high proportions were noted in Virginia (L) (35.5%), Woomera (27.4%) and Coober Pedy (26.1%).

      INDIGENOUS ORIGIN
          The number of people who reported being of Indigenous origin increased by 25.9% between 1991 and 1996, from 16,232 to 20,442. As a proportion of the SA population, this represented an increase in the Indigenous population from 1.2% to 1.4%.

          In 1996, the proportion of Indigenous people was higher in the Other Urban area and the Rural Balance (each 2.6%), than in the Major Urban area and the Bounded Locality.

          Yalata (L) and Ceduna on the Bight recorded the highest proportions of Indigenous people (87.3% and 23.9% respectively). In contrast, in almost three-quarters (73.0%) of the UC/Ls, the Indigenous proportion was at or less than the State average of 1.4%.

      LONE PERSON HOUSEHOLDS
          In 1996 there were 138,995 lone person households in SA, an increase of 25.9% over 1991 (110,432). This increase occurred mainly in the Major Urban area of Adelaide, which increased by 26.6% (21,253 households).

          Around one-quarter of households in the Major Urban area (26.2%), the Bounded Locality (25.8%) and the Other Urban area (25.4%) consisted of lone persons. The proportion of lone person households was much lower for the Rural Balance (15.8%).

          UC/Ls with very high percentages of lone person households were Mintabie (L) (40.0%), Andamooka Opal Fields (L) (38.2%) and Iron Knob (L) (37.1%). Very low percentages of lone person households were recorded in Summertown (L) (9.7%), Roxby Downs (9.6%), Roseworthy (L) (9.6%), Houghton (L) (9.4%) and Angle Vale (4.3%).

      FAMILIES WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN
          There were 184,045 family households with dependent children in SA in 1996, a slight decline (1.0%) since 1991 (186,005). Almost half (47.9%) of all family households in 1996 had at least one dependent child (50.0% in 1991).

          The percentages of family households with dependent children ranged from 45.3% in the Bounded Locality to 49.8% in the Rural Balance.

          UCL/s with high percentages of family households with dependent children were Yalata (L) (81.6%), Roxby Downs (68.8%), Angle Vale (67.0%) and Mount Compass (65.7%). On the other hand, the coastal areas of Port Victoria (L) (24.7%), Port Broughton (L) (22.6%), Port Vincent (L) (20.1%) and Coffin Bay (L) (19.7%), registered the lowest proportions.

            LABOUR FORCE CHARACTERISTICS (For persons aged 15 years and over)
      EMPLOYED
          The 1996 Census found there were 592,507 employed people in SA compared with 602,907 in 1991, representing a decrease of 1.7%. The majority of these were enumerated in the Major Urban area (68% in both 1991 and 1996).

          In the Major Urban and Other Urban areas, and the Bounded Locality, around one in every two people were employed (51.9%, 50.0%, and 48.0% respectively). In the Rural Balance, 61.7% of people were employed.

      Full-time employment
          Of the 592,507 people employed in SA, 65.3% (387,081) worked full-time, which remained virtually unchanged since 1991 (65.6%). Just over two-thirds (67.4%) of the full-time workers were males, which was similar to the situation in 1991 (68.1%). There were proportionally more male full-time workers in the Bounded Locality (71.5%) than in the Major Urban area (66.1%). These figures were slightly lower than the corresponding figures in 1991 (71.8% and 66.9% respectively).

          The highest percentages of male full-time employees were recorded in Owen (L) (91.4%), Wirrabara (L) (81.8%), Carrickalinga (L) (81.8%) and Mount Burr (L) (81.0%). The highest percentage of female full-time employees was recorded in Port Vincent (L) (42.9%).

      Part-time employment
          The proportion of the workforce who were employed part-time had increased by around one-third, from 27.8% (168,002) in 1991 to 36.6% (193,824) in 1996. The majority (68.0%) of these workers were female, a slight decrease from 70.2% in 1991. The highest proportions of female part-time workers were recorded in the Major Urban and Other Urban areas (68.3% in both).

          UC/Ls which recorded the highest percentages of part-time employees who were female were Oakbank (L) (79.5%), Roxby Downs (78.1%), Crystal Brook (77.8%), Woomera (77.3%) and Freeling (77.0%).

      Occupation
          In 1996, 26.4% of the employed people were Managers and administrators or Professionals, compared with 24.0% in 1991. In both 1996 and 1991, the Rural Balance recorded the highest percentage employed in these occupations - 40.9% and 39.8% respectively. UC/Ls with the highest percentages were Crafers-Bridgewater (42.9%) and Houghton (L) (40.6%).

          In 1996, 10.1% of employed people were Labourers and related workers, compared with 9.8% in 1991. The Bounded Locality recorded the highest percentages employed in these occupations (14.2% in 1996 and 13.3% in 1991). UC/Ls with the highest percentages were Yalata (L) (43.0%) and Nangwarry (L) (39.7%).

      Industry
          Almost two-fifths (39.6%) of the employed people worked in Manufacturing, Retail trade, or Health and community services in 1996 (37.2% in 1991) - the top three employing industries in the State. The proportion of people employed in these industries was much lower in the Rural Balance (26.1%) than in the Major Urban (41.7%) and Other Urban (41.6%) areas.

          In comparison, some UC/Ls recorded quite low proportions of people employed in these industries, such as Woomera (11.0%), and the mining areas of Andamooka Opal Fields (L) (12.1%) and Roxby Downs (12.3%). The highest proportions were recorded in the localities of Yalata (L) (74.4%), Nangwarry (L) (69.7%) and Tarpeena (L) (64.0%).

      Private Sector
          The proportion of people employed in the SA private sector increased considerably between 1991 (69.9%) and 1996 (78.8%). In both censuses the Rural Balance proportion exceeded the State figure (83.0% in 1996 and 76.4% in 1991) while the Major Urban area was similar to it (78.4% in 1996 and 69.7% in 1991).

          In all except two UC/Ls (Woomera - 46.9% and Leigh Creek - 27.1%), the majority of employed people worked in private enterprise. UC/Ls which recorded the highest private sector percentages were Virginia (L) (92.2%) and Roxby Downs (91.4%).

      UNEMPLOYED
          In 1996, there were 68,559 unemployed people in SA compared with 80,005 in 1991- a decrease of 16.7%. The overall unemployment rate was 10.4% (11.7% in 1991), while the rate for people aged 15-24 years was 18.4% (20.0% in 1991). Both rates were highest in the Other Urban area (11.2%, and 20.0% for 15-24 years) and lowest in the Rural Balance (7.5% and 14.0% respectively).

          UC/Ls which recorded comparatively high unemployment rates and numbers of people were Peterborough (22.3% and 149 respectively), Moonta (21.1% and 191), Aldinga Beach (20.3% and 368) and Wallaroo (20.3% and 171).

          UC/Ls which recorded comparatively high unemployment rates and numbers for people aged 15-24 years were Aldinga Beach (35.9% and 112), Port Pirie (30.4% and 362) and Port Lincoln (25.6% and 235).

            OCCUPIED PRIVATE DWELLINGS
      TENURE TYPE
          In 1996, there were 386,106 occupied private dwellings in the Major Urban area accounting for 69.5% of such dwellings in the State. Another 98,326 occupied private dwellings (17.7%) were located in the Other Urban area, and the remaining 71,402 were in the Bounded Locality (3.0%) and the Rural Balance (9.8%).
      Fully owned
          About two-fifths of the private dwellings counted in SA were fully owned by their occupants (40.3% in 1996 and 39.9% in 1991). In both 1996 (51.0%) and 1991 (48.8%) the Rural Balance recorded the highest ownership levels.

          In over one-third (36.8%) of the UC/Ls, the majority of the occupied private dwellings were fully owned. The localities of Port Vincent (L) (72.2%), Mintabie (L) (70.4%) and Port Neill (L) (68.2%) recorded the highest rates of home ownership.

      Being purchased
          In SA as a whole, over a quarter (27.4% in 1996 and 27.6% in 1991) of the private dwellings were being purchased by their occupants. The Major Urban area recorded the highest percentage (28.0% in 1996 and 29.0% in 1991).

          UC/Ls which recorded high levels of homes being purchased were Angle Vale (66.4%), Wasleys (L) (64.5%), Mount Compass (L) (56.7%), Callington (L) (56.0%) and Meadows (L) (55.8%).

      Rented
          Similarly, about a quarter of the occupied private dwellings in SA were being rented (27.9% in 1996 and 27.7% in 1991). The Other Urban area recorded the highest percentages of rented dwellings (31.4% in 1996 and 34.8% in 1991).

          In 1996, very high percentages of dwellings were being rented by their occupants in the north central urban centres of Leigh Creek (89.7%) and Woomera (84.0%).

      HOUSEHOLD INCOME
          The median household income in 1996 of $553 per week showed an increase of 9.7% over 1991 ($504). In 1996 the State median was exceeded by both the Rural Balance ($586) and the Major Urban area ($570). The Other Urban area recorded a median of $489 and the Bounded Locality recorded $455.

          In 1996, UC/Ls which recorded the highest median household weekly incomes were the uranium mining area of Roxby Downs ($1,244), Leigh Creek ($990), Crafers-Bridgewater ($847) and Houghton (L) ($843). The lowest median household incomes were recorded in the opal mining areas of Andamooka Opal Fields (L) ($279) and Mintabie (L) ($236).

      HOUSING LOAN REPAYMENTS
          Between 1991 and 1996, the median housing loan repayment for the State increased by 37.1%, from $474 to $650 per month. The highest median housing loan repayment was recorded for the Major Urban area ($650). In contrast, in 1991 the highest median payment was recorded for the Rural Balance ($515).

          Comparatively high median housing loan repayments were recorded in Oakbank (L) ($867), Houghton (L) ($823), Mount Torrens (L) ($780) and Crafers-Bridgewater ($760).

      RENT PAYMENTS
          The median weekly rent payment for SA of $90 in 1996 represented an increase of 8.4% on the 1991 figure of $83. The 1996 median rent recorded for the Major Urban area ($100) was the highest, and this was also the case in 1991 ($91).

          At the UC/L level, the highest median weekly rent payments were recorded in Crafers-Bridgewater ($145), Kersbrook (L) ($140), Hahndorf ($135), Angle Vale and Balhannah (L) (both $130), all in the Adelaide hinterland.

    Person and Household Characteristics, Section of State
    Persons
    Households
    Males
    Females
    Aged
    0-14 years
    Aged 65 years or more
    Indigenous origin
    Australian- born
    O'seas- born (UK, Ireland and NZ)
    O'seas- born (Other)
    Total persons
    Lone person
    Family with dependent children
      Section of State
    no.
    no.
    %
    %
    no.
    no.
    no.
    no.
    no.
    no.
    no.
      1996
      SA Major Urban
    474 543
    503,557
    19.4
    14.4
    9 056
    701 538
    108,948
    135,145
    978,100
    101,054
    124,335
      SA Other Urban
    123,673
    127,058
    22.8
    14.7
    6,523
    207,475
    21,071
    12,720
    250,731
    24,976
    33,101
      SA Bounded Locality
    20,814
    20,758
    22.3
    17.4
    796
    35,443
    3,252
    1,546
    41,572
    4,300
    5,243
      SA Rural Balance
    82,844
    74,091
    24.6
    8.3
    4,059
    132,674
    11,564
    8,165
    156,935
    8,665
    21,366
      SA Migratory
    341
    257
    3.5
    22.2
    10
    403
    55
    58
    598
    -
    -
      Total
    702,215
    725,721
    20.6
    13.8
    20,444
    1,077,533
    144,890
    157,634
    1,427,936
    138,995
    184,045
      1991
      SA Major Urban
    465 983
    491,497
    19.9
    13.3
    6,682
    689,395
    117,983
    131,413
    957,480
    79 801
    125,044
      SA Other Urban
    116,043
    119,045
    23.4
    13.4
    4,659
    197,964
    20,233
    12,714
    235,088
    19,423
    32,180
      SA Bounded Locality
    22,092
    21,963
    23.5
    15.5
    2,412
    38,136
    3,635
    1,663
    44,055
    3,780
    5,670
      SA Rural Balance
    86,306
    77,172
    25.2
    7.4
    2,467
    138,988
    12,933
    9,006
    163,478
    7,428
    23,111
      SA Migratory
    344
    177
    4.2
    13.8
    3
    346
    72
    40
    521
    -
    -
      Total
    690,768
    709,854
    21.2
    12.7
    16,223
    1,064,829
    154,856
    154,836
    1,400,622
    110,432
    186 005

    Urban Centres and Localities, Ranked by Total Number of Persons
    Rank
      Urban Centre/Locality
    Persons
    Rank
      Urban Centre/Locality
    Persons
    1
      Adelaide
    978,100
    77
      Meadows (L)
    686
    2
      Whyalla
    23,382
    78
      Kimba (L)
    677
    3
      Mount Gambier
    22,037
    79
      Birdwood (L)
    668
    4
      Gawler
    15,484
    80
      Port MacDonnell (L)
    662
    5
      Port Augusta
    13,914
    81
      Gladstone (L)
    660
    6
      Port Pirie
    13,633
    82
      Mallala (L)
    652
    7
      Crafers-Bridgewater
    13,027
    83
      Greenock (L)
    644
    8
      Murray Bridge
    12,831
    84
      Eudunda (L)
    642
    9
      Port Lincoln
    11,678
    85
      Port Broughton (L)
    628
    10
      Mount Barker (SA)
    7,908
    86
      Two Wells (L)
    624
    11
      Victor Harbor
    7,343
    87
      Hamley Bridge (L)
    617
    12
      Millicent
    4,717
    88
      Pinnaroo (L)
    606
    13
      Naracoorte
    4,674
    89
      Gumeracha (L)
    590
    14
      Aldinga Beach
    4,638
    90
      Normanville (L)
    590
    15
      Renmark
    4,366
    91
      Nangwarry (L)
    563
    16
      Berri
    3,912
    92
      Orroroo (L)
    557
    17
      Goolwa
    3,723
    93
      Port Wakefield (L)
    543
    18
      Kadina
    3,589
    94
      Wudinna (L)
    527
    19
      Tanunda
    3,499
    95
      Stansbury (L)
    524
    20
      Nuriootpa
    3,486
    96
      Mount Pleasant (L)
    516
    21
      Loxton
    3,310
    97
      Lameroo (L)
    516
    22
      Strathalbyn
    2,962
    98
      Laura (L)
    507
    23
      Moonta
    2,898
    99
      Andamooka Opal Fields (L)
    506
    24
      Clare
    2,815
    100
      Morgan (L)
    492
    25
      Coober Pedy
    2,762
    101
      Echunga (L)
    454
    26
      Ceduna
    2,599
    102
      Tarpeena (L)
    454
    27
      Wallaroo
    2,516
    103
      Port Vincent (L)
    446
    28
      Nairne
    2,450
    104
      Beachport (L)
    441
    29
      Roxby Downs
    2,446
    105
      Uraidla (L)
    440
    30
      Bordertown
    2,337
    106
      Oakbank (L)
    439
    31
      McLaren Vale
    2,313
    107
      Yankalilla (L)
    434
    32
      Kapunda
    2,195
    108
      Snowtown (L)
    429
    33
      Mannum
    1,966
    109
      Saddleworth (L)
    409
    34
      Angaston
    1,862
    110
      Edithburgh (L)
    400
    35
      Peterborough
    1,855
    111
      Coffin Bay (L)
    396
    36
      Barmera
    1,837
    112
      Mount Burr (L)
    391
    37
      Waikerie
    1,798
    113
      Summertown (L)
    384
    38
      Hahndorf
    1,727
    114
      Roseworthy (L)
    375
    39
      Willunga
    1,622
    115
      Mount Compass (L)
    367
    40
      Lobethal
    1,558
    116
      Milang (L)
    347
    41
      Kingscote
    1,529
    117
      Carrickalinga (L)
    333
    42
      Tailem Bend
    1,488
    118
      Karoonda (L)
    327
    43
      Balaklava
    1,441
    119
      Callington (L)
    325
    44
      Kingston S.E.
    1,431
    120
      Kalangadoo (L)
    322
    45
      Jamestown
    1,430
    121
      Booleroo Centre (L)
    320
    46
      Port Elliot
    1,427
    122
      Hawker (L)
    319
    47
      Woodside
    1,384
    123
      Wasleys (L)
    319
    48
      Woomera
    1,349
    124
      Port Victoria (L)
    311
    49
      Crystal Brook
    1,323
    125
      Auburn (L)
    303
    50
      Sellicks Beach
    1,241
    126
      Tintinara (L)
    296
    51
      Penola
    1,189
    127
      Virginia (L)
    287
    52
      Williamstown
    1 154
    128
      Houghton (L)
    283
    53
      Tumby Bay
    1,151
    129
      Blyth (L)
    282
    54
      Freeling
    1,144
    130
      Wirrabara (L)
    282
    55
      Lyndoch
    1,137
    131
      Mount Torrens (L)
    278
    56
      Keith
    1,089
    132
      Yalata (L)
    273
    57
      Ardrossan
    1,081
    133
      Lucindale (L)
    272
    58
      Quorn
    1,038
    134
      Kersbrook (L)
    265
    59
      Angle Vale
    1,011
    135
      Wilmington (L)
    261
    60
      Streaky Bay
    1,011
    136
      Tantanoola (L)
    260
    61
      Burra
    1,008
    137
      Bute (L)
    258
    62
      Leigh Creek
    1,006
    138
      Blanchetown (L)
    256
    63
      Maitland (L)
    999
    139
      Cobdogla (L)
    256
    64
      Maslin Beach (L)
    958
    140
      Swan Reach (L)
    255
    65
      Balhannah (L)
    947
    141
      Napperby (L)
    241
    66
      Meningie (L)
    918
    142
      Mintabie (L)
    239
    67
      Robe (L)
    816
    143
      Springton (L)
    238
    68
      Paringa (L)
    753
    144
      Warooka (L)
    236
    69
      Cowell (L)
    748
    145
      Port Germein (L)
    235
    70
      Cleve (L)
    747
    146
      Coonalpyn (L)
    233
    71
      Minlaton (L)
    733
    147
      Owen (L)
    229
    72
      Middleton (L)
    730
    148
      Iron Knob (L)
    224
    73
      Cummins (L)
    695
    149
      Elliston (L)
    217
    74
      Riverton (L)
    694
    150
      Port Neill (L)
    207
    75
      Yorketown (L)
    692
    151
      Spalding (L)
    204
    76
      Macclesfield (L)
    692
    152
      Moorook (L)
    201