Newcastle

Demographics & education

In the 2006 Census, 288,732 people were usually resident in Newcastle: of these 48.8% were male and 51.2% were female. Of the total population 2.3% were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

In the 2006 Census, 18.4% of people usually resident in Newcastle were children aged 0-14 years, and 27.6% were people aged 55 years and over. The median age was 38 years.

In the 2006 Census, 91.5% of people usually resident in Newcastle were Australian citizens, 10.1% were born overseas and 0.4% people were overseas visitors.

In the 2006 Census, 47.6% of people aged 15 years and over usually resident in Newcastle were married, 12.1% were either separated or divorced, 7.4% were widowed and 32.9% were never married.

Cultural & language diversity

In the 2006 Census, 84.0% of people usually resident in Newcastle, stated they were born in Australia. Other common responses for country of birth were England 2.3%, New Zealand 0.9%, Scotland 0.6%, Germany 0.5% and Italy 0.4%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for religious affiliation for people usually resident in Newcastle were Anglican 26.5%, Catholic 24.9%, No Religion 15.7%, Uniting Church 8.2% and Presbyterian and Reformed 3.9%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for language other than English spoken at home by people usually resident in Newcastle were Macedonian 0.6%, Italian 0.5%, Greek 0.4%, Cantonese 0.3% and Mandarin 0.3%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 90.6%.

Employment

During the week prior to the 2006 Census, 134,082 people aged 15 years and over in Newcastle were in the labour force. Of these 56.3% worked full-time, 30.6% worked part-time, 3.7% were away from work, 2.4% were employed but did not state their hours worked and 7.0% were unemployed. 89,187 people were not in the labour force.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for occupation for Newcastle were Professionals 21.2%, Technicians and Trades Workers 15.8%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 15.1%, Sales Workers 11.0%, Managers 9.9%, Labourers 9.7%, Community and Personal Service Workers 9.5% and Machinery Operators And Drivers 6.3%.

In the 2006 Census, of the employed people aged 15 years and over in Newcastle, the most common responses for industry of employment included School Education 5.0%, Hospitals 4.9%, Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services 4.0%, Supermarket and Grocery Stores 2.5% and Tertiary Education 2.5%.

In the 2006 Census in Newcastle, the median weekly personal income for people aged 15 years and over who were usual residents was $402, the median family income was $1,121 and the median household income was $905.

Family composition

In the 2006 Census, there were 77,325 families in Newcastle: of these 38.0% were couple families without children, 42.2% were couple families with children, 18.2% were one parent families and 1.7% were other families.

Dwelling structure

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

In the 2006 Census 114,726 occupied private dwellings were counted in Newcastle.

In the 2006 Census, of the occupied private dwellings in Newcastle, 79.6% were separate houses, 9.2% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc, 10.2% were flats, units or apartments and 1.0% were other dwellings.

In the 2006 Census in Newcastle, 35.3% of occupied private dwellings were owned outright, 30.7% were owned with a mortgage and 27.3% were rented.

In the 2006 Census in Newcastle, of the occupied private dwellings being rented, 50.5% were rented from a real estate agent, 21.6% were rented from a State or Territory housing authority and 25.6% were rented from other landlord type.

Dwelling characteristics

In the 2006 Census in Newcastle, the median weekly rent was $190. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300. The average people per household was 2.5 and the average number of people per bedroom was 1.1.

Household composition

In the 2006 Census in Newcastle, 66.4% of occupied private dwellings were family households, 25.9% were single (or lone) person households and 4.0% were group households.