Wollongong

Demographics & education

In the 2006 Census, 14,363 people were usually resident in Wollongong: of these 51.7% were male and 48.3% were female. Of the total population 1.3% were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

In the 2006 Census, 9.9% of people usually resident in Wollongong were children aged 0-14 years, and 26.3% were people aged 55 years and over. The median age was 34 years.

In the 2006 Census, 78.1% of people usually resident in Wollongong were Australian citizens, 28.9% were born overseas and 1.6% people were overseas visitors.

In the 2006 Census, 32.8% of people aged 15 years and over usually resident in Wollongong were married, 13.2% were either separated or divorced, 6.4% were widowed and 47.6% were never married.

Cultural & language diversity

In the 2006 Census, 59.7% of people usually resident in Wollongong, stated they were born in Australia. Other common responses for country of birth were England 3.0%, China 2.8%, Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 2.3%, Croatia 1.5% and Italy 1.4%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for religious affiliation for people usually resident in Wollongong were Catholic 24.0%, No Religion 17.1%, Anglican 15.6%, Eastern Orthodox 10.2% and Uniting Church 3.6%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for language other than English spoken at home by people usually resident in Wollongong were Macedonian 3.6%, Mandarin 2.7%, Serbian 2.6%, Italian 2.2% and Greek 2.2%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 64.8%.

Employment

During the week prior to the 2006 Census, 7,110 people aged 15 years and over in Wollongong were in the labour force. Of these 57.3% worked full-time, 28.4% worked part-time, 3.0% were away from work, 1.7% were employed but did not state their hours worked and 9.6% were unemployed. 4,432 people were not in the labour force.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for occupation for Wollongong were Professionals 26.9%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 14.1%, Technicians and Trades Workers 12.8%, Managers 10.9%, Community and Personal Service Workers 10.5%, Sales Workers 10.2%, Labourers 8.0% and Machinery Operators And Drivers 5.2%.

In the 2006 Census, of the employed people aged 15 years and over in Wollongong, the most common responses for industry of employment included School Education 5.2%, Basic Ferrous Metal Manufacturing 5.0%, Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services 5.0%, Tertiary Education 4.3% and Hospitals 4.1%.

In the 2006 Census in Wollongong, the median weekly personal income for people aged 15 years and over who were usual residents was $408, the median family income was $1,111 and the median household income was $793.

Family composition

In the 2006 Census, there were 3,131 families in Wollongong: of these 48.6% were couple families without children, 29.2% were couple families with children, 18.3% were one parent families and 3.9% were other families.

Dwelling structure

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

In the 2006 Census 7,129 occupied private dwellings were counted in Wollongong.

In the 2006 Census, of the occupied private dwellings in Wollongong, 21.2% were separate houses, 8.2% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc, 69.6% were flats, units or apartments and 0.9% were other dwellings.

In the 2006 Census in Wollongong, 23.5% of occupied private dwellings were owned outright, 14.1% were owned with a mortgage and 49.4% were rented.

In the 2006 Census in Wollongong, of the occupied private dwellings being rented, 62.8% were rented from a real estate agent, 15.5% were rented from a State or Territory housing authority and 20.2% were rented from other landlord type.

Dwelling characteristics

In the 2006 Census in Wollongong, the median weekly rent was $195. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,536. The average people per household was 2.0 and the average number of people per bedroom was 1.1.

Household composition

In the 2006 Census in Wollongong, 43.3% of occupied private dwellings were family households, 35.8% were single (or lone) person households and 10.9% were group households.