Bourke - Brewarrina

Bourke - Brewarrina has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Bourke-Brewarrina's population, as of November 2025, is approximately 3,520 people. This figure reflects an increase of 92 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 3,428 people. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 3,499 in June 2024 and an additional 33 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 0.10 persons per square kilometer. Bourke-Brewarrina's 2.7% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA3 area average of 2.5%, indicating it as a region leader in growth. Natural growth contributed approximately 68.3% of overall population gains 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 by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections are utilized, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. According to these projections, the area's population is expected to decline by 985 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts are anticipated to grow, notably the 85 and over age group, projected to increase by 68 people.

The level of residential development activity in Bourke - Brewarrina is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Bourke - Brewarrina has had minimal residential development activity in recent years. Over the past five years, from 2016 to 2020 inclusive, there were only 3 dwelling approvals annually, totalling 17 in total. This low level of development reflects the rural nature of the area, where housing development is typically driven by specific local needs rather than broader market demand.

It should be noted that due to the small number of approvals, individual projects can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics for Bourke - Brewarrina. Compared to the rest of NSW and national patterns, there has been significantly less construction activity in Bourke - Brewarrina. Recent construction comprises 67.0% detached houses and 33.0% attached dwellings, marking a significant shift from existing housing patterns which were currently at 94.0% houses. This increasing blend of attached housing types offers choices across price ranges, from spacious family homes to more affordable compact options.

This change suggests diminishing developable land availability and responds to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs. With the population expected to remain stable or decline in Bourke - Brewarrina, there should be reduced pressure on housing, potentially creating opportunities for buyers.

Bourke - Brewarrina has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 14thth percentile nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. A single project has been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting this area. Notable projects include the NSW Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) Program, Macquarie-Castlereagh Alluvium Water Resource Plan, Newell Highway Upgrade, and Castlereagh Country Regional Drought Resilience Plan. The following list details those most likely to be 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 conditions in Bourke - Brewarrina face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Bourke-Brewarrina has a skilled workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 9.2% as of September 2015. As of September 2025, 1,445 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 9.5%, which is 5.3 percentage points higher than the Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation in Bourke-Brewarrina was 57.8% compared to 61.5% in the Rest of NSW. According to Census responses, 13.7% of residents worked from home. The dominant employment sectors are agriculture, forestry & fishing, education & training, and public administration & safety. Agriculture, forestry & fishing employs 3.7 times more residents than the regional average, while manufacturing employs only 1.0%, below the Rest of NSW's 5.8%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data. Over the year to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 4.1% and employment declined by 5.5%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia indicate that Bourke-Brewarrina's employment should increase by 5.6% over five years and 12.2% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's data for financial year 2023 shows Bourke - Brewarrina SA2 had median income of $49,707 and average income of $56,296. This is lower than Rest of NSW's median income of $52,390 and average income of $65,215. By September 2025, with an 8.86% increase from financial year 2023, estimated incomes would be approximately $54,111 (median) and $61,284 (average). According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 42nd percentile ($770 weekly), while household income is at the 24th percentile. Income distribution shows that 27.8% of locals earn between $1,500 and $2,999. Housing costs allow for retention of 91.6%, but disposable income is below average at the 35th percentile.

Bourke - Brewarrina is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Bourke-Brewarrina as of the latest Census, 94.0% of dwellings were houses while 6.0% comprised semi-detached units, apartments, and other types. This differs from Non-Metro NSW's figures of 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bourke-Brewarrina stood at 33.6%, with mortgaged properties at 20.4% and rented ones at 46.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $867, lower than Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in the area was $160, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $330. Nationally, Bourke-Brewarrina's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $867 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Bourke - Brewarrina features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 64.3% of all households, including 23.9% that are couples with children, 22.8% that are couples without children, and 15.3% that are single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 35.7%, with lone person households making up 33.4% and group households comprising 2.5%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the average for the Rest of NSW.

Bourke - Brewarrina faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 19.7%, significantly lower than NSW's average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 14.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.7%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 34.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.3%) and certificates (24.1%). Educational participation is high at 36.7%, with 16.5% in primary education, 9.2% in secondary education, and 2.8% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 36.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 16.5% in primary education, 9.2% in secondary education, and 2.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Bourke-Brewarrina has 110 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are covered by 17 routes providing 165 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport access is limited with residents typically 6653 meters from the nearest stop. The area, predominantly residential, sees outward commuting; cars remain the primary mode at 76%, followed by walking at 19%. Average vehicle ownership per dwelling stands at 1.3, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 13.7% of residents work from home, possibly due to COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 23 trips daily across all routes, equating to roughly one weekly trip per stop. The accompanying map displays the 100 nearest stops to the location's centerpoint.

Health performance in Bourke - Brewarrina is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Bourke - Brewarrina faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment completed on 14th March 2022. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were notably high across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover was found to be low at approximately 48% of the total population (around 1,672 people), compared to 51.9% in Rest of NSW and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions were asthma, affecting 8.6% of residents, and arthritis, impacting 6.7%. However, 70.1% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Rest of NSW. Working-age residents showed a higher than average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area had 16.5% of residents aged 65 and over (580 people), lower than the 23.0% in Rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors presented some challenges, with national rankings even higher than those of the general population.

Bourke - Brewarrina is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Bourke-Brewarrina had a cultural diversity index of 49.3%, with 79.9% of its population being Australian citizens, born in Australia, and speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, practised by 65.5%. This figure is higher than the regional average of 55.9%.

The top three ancestry groups were Australian Aboriginal (27.9%), Australian (26.2%), and English (23.7%). Notably, Irish ancestry was overrepresented at 7.7%, compared to the regional average of 8.8%.

Bourke - Brewarrina's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

The median age in Bourke-Brewarrina is 36 years, significantly lower than Rest of NSW's average of 43 years, and somewhat younger than Australia's median age of 38 years. The 0-4 age group comprises 7.9% of the population compared to Rest of NSW, while the 65-74 cohort is less prevalent at 9.0%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 35-44 age group has grown from 10.8% to 12.4%, and the 75-84 cohort increased from 4.2% to 5.6%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has declined from 12.7% to 9.0%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Bourke-Brewarrina. The 85+ age group is expected to grow by 93%, reaching 130 people from the current 67. Notably, all population growth will be among the combined 65+ age groups, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 0-4 and 45-54 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.