Hervey Bay

Demographics & education

In the 2006 Census, 41,225 people were usually resident in Hervey Bay: of these 48.3% were male and 51.7% were female. Of the total population 2.6% were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

In the 2006 Census, 18.9% of people usually resident in Hervey Bay were children aged 0-14 years, and 36.5% were people aged 55 years and over. The median age was 44 years.

In the 2006 Census, 89.3% of people usually resident in Hervey Bay were Australian citizens, 16.5% were born overseas and 2.3% people were overseas visitors.

In the 2006 Census, 54.0% of people aged 15 years and over usually resident in Hervey Bay were married, 13.8% were either separated or divorced, 7.8% were widowed and 24.4% were never married.

Cultural & language diversity

In the 2006 Census, 77.9% of people usually resident in Hervey Bay, stated they were born in Australia. Other common responses for country of birth were England 6.1%, New Zealand 3.1%, Germany 0.9%, Scotland 0.8% and Netherlands 0.7%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for religious affiliation for people usually resident in Hervey Bay were Anglican 25.0%, Catholic 19.7%, No Religion 19.6%, Uniting Church 8.2% and Presbyterian and Reformed 4.6%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for language other than English spoken at home by people usually resident in Hervey Bay were German 0.6%, Dutch 0.3%, Italian 0.2%, French 0.2% and Hindi 0.1%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 92.5%.

Employment

During the week prior to the 2006 Census, 15,445 people aged 15 years and over in Hervey Bay were in the labour force. Of these 53.9% worked full-time, 31.2% worked part-time, 3.6% were away from work, 2.7% were employed but did not state their hours worked and 8.6% were unemployed. 16,104 people were not in the labour force.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for occupation for Hervey Bay were Technicians and Trades Workers 16.7%, Professionals 14.9%, Labourers 13.4%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 13.1%, Sales Workers 12.5%, Community and Personal Service Workers 11.9%, Managers 10.6% and Machinery Operators And Drivers 5.2%.

In the 2006 Census, of the employed people aged 15 years and over in Hervey Bay, the most common responses for industry of employment included School Education 6.4%, Cafes, Restaurants and Takeaway Food Services 4.4%, Accommodation 3.7%, Residential Building Construction 3.7% and Supermarket and Grocery Stores 3.2%.

In the 2006 Census in Hervey Bay, the median weekly personal income for people aged 15 years and over who were usual residents was $348, the median family income was $797 and the median household income was $648.

Family composition

In the 2006 Census, there were 11,801 families in Hervey Bay: of these 49.6% were couple families without children, 33.1% were couple families with children, 16.3% were one parent families and 0.9% were other families.

Dwelling structure

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

In the 2006 Census 17,758 occupied private dwellings were counted in Hervey Bay.

In the 2006 Census, of the occupied private dwellings in Hervey Bay, 78.3% were separate houses, 5.1% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc, 8.1% were flats, units or apartments and 8.3% were other dwellings.

In the 2006 Census in Hervey Bay, 41.3% of occupied private dwellings were owned outright, 22.0% were owned with a mortgage and 29.0% were rented.

In the 2006 Census in Hervey Bay, of the occupied private dwellings being rented, 54.9% were rented from a real estate agent, 8.9% were rented from a State or Territory housing authority and 33.8% were rented from other landlord type.

Dwelling characteristics

In the 2006 Census in Hervey Bay, the median weekly rent was $190. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,100. 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 Hervey Bay, 65.3% of occupied private dwellings were family households, 21.3% were single (or lone) person households and 3.1% were group households.