Bathurst - South

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 10,702 as of February 2026. This figure shows a decrease of 50 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 10,752. The change is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 10,491 in June 2024 and the addition of 41 new addresses validated since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 285 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth in recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for SA2 areas, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from 2032 to 2041. Based on these projections, Bathurst - South is expected to have above median population growth for Australia's regional areas, expanding by 1,911 persons to reach a total of 12,613 by 2041, reflecting an increase of 15.9% 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 granted around 29 residential property approvals annually over the past five financial years ending June 30, totalling 149 homes. As of July-September FY-26, 22 approvals have been recorded. Despite population decline during this period, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, maintaining a balanced market with good buyer choice; new dwellings average $294,000 in construction cost value. This financial year saw $4.9 million in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's residential character.

Compared to Rest of NSW, Bathurst - South has around two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 31st percentile nationally, indicating somewhat limited buyer options while strengthening demand for established properties. Recent construction comprises 46.0% detached houses and 54.0% medium and high-density housing, creating more affordable entry points suitable for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. The area has an estimated 522 people per dwelling approval, reflecting its quiet development environment. Population forecasts suggest Bathurst - South will gain approximately 1,700 residents by 2041 (latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). If current development rates continue, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Population forecasts indicate Bathurst - South will gain 1,700 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Bathurst - South has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 47thth percentile nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of seventeen projects that are likely to impact the area. Notable projects include Bathurst Integrated Medical Centre, Bathurst Intermodal Transport Terminal, Bathurst Hospital Redevelopment, and Bathurst Industrial Park 4-Lot Subdivision. The following list details those projects considered most relevant.

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

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment performance in Bathurst - South has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Bathurst South has an unemployment rate of 4.2% as of September 2025. It has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well represented. There are 5,223 residents employed while the unemployment rate is 0.4% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation in Bathurst South is somewhat lower at 59.0%, compared to Rest of NSW's 61.5%. According to Census responses, only 11.3% of residents work from home. The dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 1.5% of local workers, below Rest of NSW's 5.3%. There are 1.1 jobs per resident in Bathurst South, indicating it functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the 12 months to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 3.6% and employment declined by 5.0%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.3 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of NSW experienced a 0.5% employment decline and a 0.1% labour force decline with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Bathurst South's employment should increase by 6.5% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

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

The median taxpayer income in Bathurst - South SA2 is $48,883 and the average is $57,486 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is lower than the national average of $52,390 median and $65,215 average in Rest of NSW. By September 2025, with an 8.86% increase based on Wage Price Index growth, estimated incomes would be approximately $53,214 median and $62,579 average. According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 29th percentile ($704 weekly) and household income at the 13th percentile. The largest income segment comprises 28.8% of residents earning $800 - $1,499 weekly. Housing affordability pressures are severe with only 81.9% of income remaining, 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 latest Census held on 28 August 2016, comprised 57.6% houses and 42.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compared to Non-Metro NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bathurst - South was at 28.5%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (18.4%) or rented (53.1%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area, as of June 2021, was $1,430, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $295. Nationally, Bathurst - South's mortgage repayments are significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, as of June 2021, while rents are substantially below the national figure of $375 for the same period.

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 account for the remaining 48.8%, with lone person households at 43.2% and group households comprising 5.5%. The median household size is 2.0 people, smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 27.1%, exceeding the SA4 region average of 19.3% and Rest of NSW's 21.3%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 17.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials are held by 35.2% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 9.8% and certificates at 25.4%.

Educational participation is high, with 32.8% currently enrolled in formal education: 10.3% in tertiary, 8.5% in primary, and 6.6% in secondary education.

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

Transport analysis indicates 219 active transport stops operating within Bathurst - South, consisting of a mix of train and bus services. These stops are serviced by 104 individual routes, collectively facilitating 2,385 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 107 meters from the nearest stop. In this primarily residential area, most commuting is outward-bound, with car being the dominant mode at 86%, while 11% of residents walk. Vehicle ownership averages 0.9 per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, a relatively low 11.3% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 340 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 10 weekly trips per individual stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location centrepoint.

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, as assessed by AreaSearch through mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. A variety of health conditions impact both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low at 48% (~5,094 people), compared to 51.9% in Rest of NSW and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 11.7% and 10.2% of residents respectively, while 58.7% report no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Rest of NSW. Working-age population health challenges include elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 21.4% of residents aged 65 and over (2,284 people), lower than the 23.4% in Rest of NSW. Senior health outcomes present some challenges, broadly in line with national rankings.

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 has a lower cultural diversity, with 80.6% citizens, 84.8% born in Australia, and 90.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion, at 54.2%. The population shows an overrepresentation of 'Other' religions (1.7%, compared to 0.8% regionally).

Top ancestry groups are English (29.4%), Australian (27.8%), and Irish (11.6%). Notably, Australian Aboriginal (4.7%) is overrepresented compared to the regional average (4.6%). Lebanese (0.4%) and Scottish (8.2%) also show slight overrepresentation relative to regional averages of 0.2% and 8.0%, respectively.

Bathurst - South's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

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 17.9% of Bathurst - South's population, higher than the Rest of NSW figure, while the 5-14 cohort makes up 7.7%. According to the 2021 Census, the 25-34 age group has increased from 16.7% to 17.9%, and the 15-24 cohort has risen from 15.5% to 16.5%. Conversely, the 55-64 cohort has decreased from 11.4% to 10.1%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Bathurst - South's age profile will change significantly. The 45-54 group is projected to grow by 48%, adding 514 people and reaching a total of 1,580 from the current 1,065. The 65-74 group is expected to show modest growth, with an increase of only 4 residents.