West Wollongong

Demographics & education

In the 2006 Census, 4,144 people were usually resident in West Wollongong: of these 48.9% were male and 51.1% were female. Of the total population 1.3% were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

In the 2006 Census, 18.5% of people usually resident in West Wollongong were children aged 0-14 years, and 26.8% were people aged 55 years and over. The median age was 36 years.

In the 2006 Census, 87.5% of people usually resident in West Wollongong were Australian citizens, 22.7% were born overseas and 0.7% people were overseas visitors.

In the 2006 Census, 49.7% of people aged 15 years and over usually resident in West Wollongong were married, 11.0% were either separated or divorced, 6.4% were widowed and 32.8% were never married.

Cultural & language diversity

In the 2006 Census, 70.5% of people usually resident in West Wollongong, stated they were born in Australia. Other common responses for country of birth were England 3.4%, China 1.7%, Italy 1.3%, Croatia 1.1% and Scotland 1.1%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for religious affiliation for people usually resident in West Wollongong were Catholic 27.9%, Anglican 19.4%, No Religion 14.7%, Eastern Orthodox 8.4% and Uniting Church 5.8%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for language other than English spoken at home by people usually resident in West Wollongong were Serbian 2.7%, Italian 2.0%, Greek 1.9%, Macedonian 1.8% and Mandarin 1.4%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 75.9%.

Employment

During the week prior to the 2006 Census, 1,883 people aged 15 years and over in West Wollongong were in the labour force. Of these 56.5% worked full-time, 29.0% worked part-time, 4.6% were away from work, 2.7% were employed but did not state their hours worked and 7.2% were unemployed. 1,316 people were not in the labour force.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for occupation for West Wollongong were Professionals 26.6%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 15.3%, Technicians and Trades Workers 14.8%, Managers 9.8%, Community and Personal Service Workers 9.2%, Sales Workers 8.8%, Labourers 7.4% and Machinery Operators And Drivers 6.6%.

In the 2006 Census, of the employed people aged 15 years and over in West Wollongong, the most common responses for industry of employment included School Education 8.4%, Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services 4.4%, Basic Ferrous Metal Manufacturing 4.2%, Hospitals 4.2% and Tertiary Education 4.2%.

In the 2006 Census in West Wollongong, the median weekly personal income for people aged 15 years and over who were usual residents was $397, the median family income was $1,119 and the median household income was $868.

Family composition

In the 2006 Census, there were 1,117 families in West Wollongong: of these 39.3% were couple families without children, 41.9% were couple families with children, 17.8% were one parent families and 1.0% were other families.

Dwelling structure

Dwellings include visitor only and other not-classifiable households unless otherwise stated

In the 2006 Census 1,741 occupied private dwellings were counted in West Wollongong.

In the 2006 Census, of the occupied private dwellings in West Wollongong, 67.7% were separate houses, 13.4% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc, 18.9% were flats, units or apartments and 0.0% were other dwellings.

In the 2006 Census in West Wollongong, 36.9% of occupied private dwellings were owned outright, 27.5% were owned with a mortgage and 28.9% were rented.

In the 2006 Census in West Wollongong, of the occupied private dwellings being rented, 58.6% were rented from a real estate agent, 12.7% were rented from a State or Territory housing authority and 27.0% were rented from other landlord type.

Dwelling characteristics

In the 2006 Census in West Wollongong, the median weekly rent was $171. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,400. The average people per household was 2.4 and the average number of people per bedroom was 1.1.

Household composition

In the 2006 Census in West Wollongong, 63.5% of occupied private dwellings were family households, 26.4% were single (or lone) person households and 5.5% were group households.