Bathurst - South
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in Bathurst - South reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Bathurst - South's population was approximately 10,564 as of August 2025. This figure represents a decrease of 188 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 10,752. The change is inferred from an estimated resident population of 10,514 in June 2024 and an additional 42 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 281 persons per square kilometer. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections from 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts, the area is expected to have above median population growth, expanding by 1,911 persons to 2041, reflecting a 17.4% increase over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Bathurst - South, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Bathurst - South has recorded approximately 29 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years ending June 30th each year. This totals to 149 homes approved in this period. As of July 1st, 2026 (FY-26), 11 approvals have been recorded. The population has decreased during this time, yet housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, indicating a balanced market with good buyer choice.

The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings is $337,000, which is below regional norms, offering more affordable housing options for purchasers. In the current financial year ending June 30th, 2026, there have been $4.9 million in commercial approvals, suggesting limited focus on commercial development. Compared to the rest of NSW, Bathurst - South shows approximately 62% of the construction activity per person and places among the 31st percentile of areas assessed nationally, resulting in relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing homes. The new development in Bathurst - South consists of 46.0% detached dwellings and 54.0% townhouses or apartments, indicating a trend towards denser development that provides accessible entry options for downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. The estimated count of people per dwelling approval is 522, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment.

Population forecasts indicate Bathurst - South will gain approximately 1,838 residents by the year 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth in the future.

Bathurst - South has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 34thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 17 projects likely to affect this region. Notable ones include Bathurst Integrated Medical Centre, Bathurst Industrial Park 4-Lot Subdivision, Bathurst Intermodal Transport Terminal, and Bathurst Hospital Redevelopment. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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The employment landscape in Bathurst - South presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 3.5%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Bathurst South has a skilled workforce with its essential services sectors well represented. Its unemployment rate is 3.5%.

As of June 2025, there are 5,313 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.2% lower than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.7%. Workforce participation in Bathurst South is somewhat below the state average at 52.2%, compared to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 1.5% of local workers, lower than Rest of NSW's 5.3%. There is a ratio of 1.1 workers for every resident in Bathurst South, indicating it functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the 12 months to June 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.3% combined with employment decreasing by 3.6%, resulting in a rise of 1.3 percentage points in unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Bathurst South's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.5%% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

Bathurst - South had a median taxpayer income of $46,782 and an average income of $56,421 in financial year 2022, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This was below the national average for that year, with Rest of NSW having a median income of $49,459 and an average income of $62,998. By September 2025, estimates based on Wage Price Index growth suggest the median income would be approximately $52,681 and the average income around $63,536. In Bathurst - South, personal income ranked at the 29th percentile ($704 weekly) according to 2021 Census figures, while household income was at the 13th percentile. The largest segment of income distribution comprised 28.8% earning $800-$1,499 weekly (3,042 residents), differing from the surrounding region where the $1,500-$2,999 category predominated at 29.9%. Housing affordability pressures were severe in Bathurst - South, with only 81.9% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 12th percentile.

Bathurst - South displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Dwelling structure in Bathurst - South, as evaluated at the 2016 Census, comprised 57.6% houses and 42.4% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro NSW had 86.1% houses and 13.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bathurst - South was 28.5%, with dwellings either mortgaged (18.4%) or rented (53.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,430, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent was $295, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $315. Nationally, Bathurst - South's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,430 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Bathurst - South features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 51.2% of all households, including 14.4% couples with children, 23.4% couples without children, and 11.9% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 48.8%, with lone person households at 43.2% and group households making up 5.5%. The median household size is 2.0 people, smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.5.

Bathurst - South shows below-average educational performance compared to national benchmarks, though pockets of achievement exist

The area's university qualification rate stands at 27.1% among residents aged 15+, surpassing the SA4 region average of 19.3% and the Rest of NSW average of 21.3%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 17.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 35.2% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas comprise 9.8% and certificates make up 25.4%.

Educational participation is high at 32.8%, including 10.3% in tertiary education, 8.5% in primary education, and 6.6% pursuing secondary education. Eleven schools serve a total of 4,205 students with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 985) offering balanced educational opportunities. The area functions as an education hub with 39.8 school places per 100 residents, significantly higher than the regional average of 16.8, attracting students from surrounding communities.

Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Bathurst-South has 207 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 105 individual routes that facilitate 2,489 weekly passenger trips in total. Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 107 meters to the nearest stop.

Service frequency stands at 355 trips daily across all routes, translating to about 12 weekly trips per stop.

Health performance in Bathurst - South is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Bathurst - South faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older residents. Private health cover stands at approximately 48%, covering around 5,070 people, which is lower than the Rest of NSW average of 51.4% and the national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 11.7% and 10.2% of residents respectively.

About 58.7% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 63.5% in Rest of NSW. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 21.3% (2,249 people) than the Rest of NSW average of 19.4%. Health outcomes among seniors generally align with those of the broader population.

Bathurst - South ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Bathurst-South, as per the 2016 Census, had a cultural diversity index of below average. Its population was predominantly Australian-born citizens: 80.6% were citizens, and 84.8% were born in Australia. English was spoken at home by 90.1%.

Christianity was the main religion, practiced by 54.2% of the population. Notably, the 'Other' religious category comprised 1.7%, higher than the Rest of NSW average of 0.8%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (29.4%), Australian (27.8%), and Irish (11.6%). Some ethnic groups showed notable differences: Australian Aboriginal was overrepresented at 4.7% compared to the regional average of 4.6%, Lebanese at 0.4% versus 0.3%, and Scottish at 8.2% versus 7.8%.

Bathurst - South's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Bathurst - South has a median age of 38, which is lower than the Rest of NSW figure of 43 but equivalent to the national norm of 38. The 25-34 age group constitutes 17.6% of its population, higher than the Rest of NSW figure, while the 5-14 cohort makes up 7.8%. According to the 2021 Census, the 15-24 age group has increased from 15.5% to 16.5%, and the 55-64 cohort has decreased from 11.4% to 10.4%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Bathurst - South's age profile will change significantly. The 45-54 group is projected to grow by 46%, adding 495 people and reaching 1,580 from 1,084. The 65-74 group is expected to grow by 3%, with an increase of 33 residents.