Ballarat

Demographics & education

In the 2006 Census, 78,221 people were usually resident in Ballarat: of these 47.8% were male and 52.2% were female. Of the total population 1.0% were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

In the 2006 Census, 19.6% of people usually resident in Ballarat were children aged 0-14 years, and 25.6% were people aged 55 years and over. The median age was 36 years.

In the 2006 Census, 91.4% of people usually resident in Ballarat were Australian citizens, 7.9% were born overseas and 0.3% people were overseas visitors.

In the 2006 Census, 45.6% of people aged 15 years and over usually resident in Ballarat were married, 11.7% were either separated or divorced, 7.4% were widowed and 35.3% were never married.

Cultural & language diversity

In the 2006 Census, 86.2% of people usually resident in Ballarat, stated they were born in Australia. Other common responses for country of birth were England 2.1%, Netherlands 0.7%, New Zealand 0.6%, Scotland 0.4% and India 0.4%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for religious affiliation for people usually resident in Ballarat were Catholic 26.9%, No Religion 21.8%, Anglican 15.0%, Uniting Church 11.1% and Presbyterian and Reformed 4.0%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for language other than English spoken at home by people usually resident in Ballarat were Mandarin 0.3%, Italian 0.3%, Greek 0.2%, German 0.2% and Dutch 0.2%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 92.1%.

Employment

During the week prior to the 2006 Census, 36,391 people aged 15 years and over in Ballarat were in the labour force. Of these 56.4% worked full-time, 31.1% worked part-time, 3.7% were away from work, 2.1% were employed but did not state their hours worked and 6.7% were unemployed. 22,908 people were not in the labour force.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for occupation for Ballarat were Professionals 19.7%, Technicians and Trades Workers 15.5%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 14.1%, Sales Workers 11.5%, Labourers 11.2%, Managers 10.4%, Community and Personal Service Workers 9.9% and Machinery Operators And Drivers 6.2%.

In the 2006 Census, of the employed people aged 15 years and over in Ballarat, the most common responses for industry of employment included Hospitals 6.4%, School Education 6.0%, Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services 4.4%, Supermarket and Grocery Stores 3.0% and Tertiary Education 2.7%.

In the 2006 Census in Ballarat, the median weekly personal income for people aged 15 years and over who were usual residents was $398, the median family income was $1,059 and the median household income was $812.

Family composition

In the 2006 Census, there were 19,938 families in Ballarat: of these 37.6% were couple families without children, 41.1% were couple families with children, 19.5% 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 30,838 occupied private dwellings were counted in Ballarat.

In the 2006 Census, of the occupied private dwellings in Ballarat, 84.7% were separate houses, 4.0% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc, 10.8% were flats, units or apartments and 0.5% were other dwellings.

In the 2006 Census in Ballarat, 33.8% of occupied private dwellings were owned outright, 31.6% were owned with a mortgage and 27.9% were rented.

In the 2006 Census in Ballarat, of the occupied private dwellings being rented, 56.1% were rented from a real estate agent, 18.2% were rented from a State or Territory housing authority and 23.5% were rented from other landlord type.

Dwelling characteristics

In the 2006 Census in Ballarat, the median weekly rent was $160. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,033. 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 Ballarat, 64.2% of occupied private dwellings were family households, 27.5% were single (or lone) person households and 4.6% were group households.