3218.0 - Regional Population Growth, Australia, 2011 Quality Declaration 
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 31/07/2012   
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WESTERN AUSTRALIA


State summary

Population change in Greater Perth

Population change in the remainder of Western Australia

Centre of population


STATE SUMMARY

At June 2011, the estimated resident population of Western Australia (WA) was 2.35 million people, which represented 11% of the total Australian population. WA's population increased by 24% (or 451,100 people) in the ten years to 2011. This was the fastest growth of all the states and territories, and much higher than the national figure of 15%.

SA2 POPULATION CHANGE, Western Australia - 2001-11
Diagram: SA2 POPULATION CHANGE, Western Australia—2001–11


POPULATION CHANGE IN GREATER PERTH

At June 2011, the population of Greater Perth was 1.83 million people, which was 78% of the state's total population. Between 2001 and 2011, Greater Perth increased by 380,100 people, or 26%. This was the fastest growth of all capital cities in Australia.

In the ten years to 2011, the largest population growth in WA occurred in the outer suburban fringes of Greater Perth. The north-eastern SA2 of Ellenbrook had the largest increase, up by 17,700 people. Canning Vale - East in south-east Perth and Madeley - Darch - Landsdale in the north followed, increasing by 15,600 and 15,300 people respectively. Large growth was also recorded in Butler - Merriwa - Ridgewood (up 14,900 people) in the north-west and Baldivis (13,900) in the south-west.

Bertram - Wellard (West), in the south-west, was the fastest-growing SA2 within Greater Perth, increasing at an average annual rate of 22% to reach 8,200 people at June 2011. This was followed by Tapping - Ashby - Sinagra, Forrestdale - Harrisdale - Piara Waters, Baldivis, and Success - Hammond Park, all located on the outer suburban fringes of Perth, which each increased at an average annual rate of 17% or above.

SA2s WITH LARGEST AND FASTEST POPULATION GROWTH, Western Australia

ERP at 30 June
Population Change
2001
2011pr
2001-2011pr
SA2
no.
no.
no.
%

LARGEST GROWTH

Ellenbrook
6 800
24 500
17 700
258
Canning Vale - East
5 900
21 500
15 600
263
Madeley - Darch - Landsdale
4 700
20 000
15 300
323
Butler - Merriwa - Ridgewood
5 300
20 200
14 900
283
Baldivis
3 400
17 300
13 900
412

FASTEST GROWTH(a)

Bertram - Wellard (West)
1 200
8 200
7 000
602
Tapping - Ashby - Sinagra
2 000
13 100
11 200
572
Forrestdale - Harrisdale - Piara Waters
1 300
7 700
6 400
478
Baldivis
3 400
17 300
13 900
412
Success - Hammond Park
2 500
11 600
9 100
367

(a) Excludes SA2s with less than 1,000 people in 2011.


POPULATION CHANGE IN THE REMAINDER OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA

Population growth

Between June 2001 and June 2011, the remainder of WA grew by 71,000 people (or 16%) to 520,100. This represented 22% of the state’s total population.

In the ten years from 2001 to 2011, the Pilbara recorded the largest and fastest population increase (23,300 people or 59%) for an SA3 outside of Greater Perth. Bunbury followed with the next largest increase (19,000), while Augusta - Margaret River - Busselton had the next fastest-growing population (31%).

In the ten years to 2011, Gelorup - Dalyellup - Stratham, in the south-west of WA, had the largest and fastest population increase (7,200 people or 242%) for an SA2 outside of Greater Perth.

Large population increases also occurred in Karratha (up 6,600 people) in the north-west of WA, Busselton (5,800) in the south-west, East Pilbara (5,700) in the north-west, and Australind - Leschenault (4,800) in the south-west.

Rapid growth was also recorded in East Pilbara (226%), Ashburton (76%), Karratha (63%) and Newman (57%), all located in the north-west region of the Pilbara.


Population decline

The Gascoyne was the only SA3 in the remainder of WA to decline between June 2001 and June 2011, down 690 people or 6.6%.

In the ten years to 2011, just over one-quarter of SA2s in the remainder of WA decreased in population, with the largest declines occurring in Manjimup (down 830 people or 13%) in the south-west, and Moora (down 770 people or 14%) in the northern wheatbelt. Other SA2s to experience large population declines were Merredin (down 670) in the northern wheatbelt and Carnarvon (down 610) in the Gascoyne.

The fastest declines were in the SA2s of Gnowangerup (down 16% or 530 people) in the great southern region of WA, and Mukinbudin (down 15% or 610 people) in the northern wheatbelt.

CENTRE OF POPULATION

At June 2011, the centre of population for WA was near the Avon Valley National Park, roughly 20 km west of the town of Toodyay. In the ten years to 2011, the centre moved 4.7 kilometres north-west, partly due to high population growth in the north of the state.

The centre of population for Greater Perth at June 2011 was just east of the Kwinana Freeway in the suburb of Como.