Barkly

Barkly has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

Barkly's population was approximately 2,643 as of February 2026. This figure represents an increase of 440 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,203. The growth is inferred from the estimated resident population of 2,547 in June 2024 and an additional 37 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 0.00 persons per square kilometer. Barkly's 20.0% population increase since the 2021 census exceeds both the national average (9.9%) and the state average, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Natural growth accounted for approximately 77.2% 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 and to estimate post-2032 growth, AreaSearch applies age cohort-based growth rates from the ABS's latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Future population projections indicate a median increase for regional areas nationwide, with Barkly expected to expand by 256 persons to reach approximately 2,899 by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 6.0% over the 17-year period.

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

Barkly has received approximately seven dwelling approvals per year on average. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, 38 homes were approved, with one additional approval in FY26 so far. Despite population decline, Barkly's housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with good buyer choice.

The average expected construction cost value of new homes is $649,000, indicating a focus on the premium market and high-end developments. This financial year, $627,000 worth of commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting Barkly's residential nature. Compared to Rest of NT, Barkly has around three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person, placing it among the 68th percentile nationally. However, development activity has increased in recent periods.

The area's low-density character is maintained, with 86.0% detached houses and 14.0% medium to high-density housing. Barkly reflects a developing area, with around 195 people per approval. Population forecasts indicate an increase of 160 residents by 2041. Current construction levels should meet demand adequately, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Barkly has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 9thth 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 17 projects that are likely to impact the area. Notable projects include Barkly Regional Deal, Connection Between Eastern Gas Markets And Gas Suppliers, Urban Public Housing - Peko Road, and Venture Housing - Social and Affordable Homes. The following list details those projects 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 Barkly face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Barkly has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs, diverse sector representation, and an unemployment rate of 10.8% as of September 2025. Compared to the Rest of NT's unemployment rate of 5.9%, Barkly's is 4.9% higher, indicating room for improvement. Workforce participation in Barkly lags behind the Rest of NT at 62.7% compared to 70.4%.

Census responses show that only 10.7% of residents work from home. Key industries of employment include agriculture, forestry & fishing, education & training, and public administration & safety. Barkly has a particular specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 9.6 times the regional level. However, health care & social assistance is under-represented at 2.5% of Barkly's workforce compared to 18.8% in Rest of NT.

The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities based on Census data comparing working population to resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, Barkly's labour force decreased by 1.2%, while employment declined by 1.7%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.5 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Barkly's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 3.8% over five years and 9.3% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

Income data from AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO figures for financial year 2023 indicates that Barkly SA2 has lower incomes compared to the national average. The median income is $48,323, while the average stands at $55,331. This contrasts with Rest of NT's median income of $53,572 and average income of $63,776. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.44% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $52,401 (median) and $60,001 (average). Census 2021 data shows Barkly's household, family, and personal incomes all fall between the 1st and 11th percentiles nationally. The largest income segment in Barkly comprises 36.2% earning $800 - $1,499 weekly, with 956 residents, differing from regional levels where the $1,500 - $2,999 category is predominant at 33.6%. Despite modest housing costs allowing for 94.7% income retention, total disposable income ranks at just the 22nd percentile nationally.

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

In Barkly, as per the latest Census evaluation, 94.8% of dwellings were houses with the remaining 5.1% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This is in contrast to Non-Metro NT's dwelling structure, which was 75.6% houses and 24.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Barkly stood at 10.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 1.3% and rented ones at 88.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Barkly was $109, significantly lower than the Non-Metro NT average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure in Barkly was recorded at $70, substantially below the Non-Metro NT figure of $150 and the national average of $375. Nationally, Barkly's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863.

Barkly features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 77.9% of all households, including 39.7% couples with children, 17.1% couples without children, and 19.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 22.1%, with lone person households at 19.8% and group households comprising 1.7%. The median household size is 3.7 people, larger than the Rest of NT average of 3.1.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 7.4%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 4.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.7%) and graduate diplomas (0.9%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 32.8% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (4.8%) and certificates (28.0%).

Educational participation is high, with 30.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 18.1% in primary, 6.2% in secondary, and 1.8% in tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Barkly is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Barkly faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover is very low at approximately 47% of the total population (around 1,252 people), compared to 51.6% in the rest of the Northern Territory (NT) and 55.7% nationally.

The most common medical conditions are diabetes and heart disease, affecting 7.1% and 5.1% of residents respectively. However, 81.7% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 78.4% in the rest of NT. As of 2021, 5.7% of residents are aged 65 and over (around 149 people), which is lower than the 8.3% in the rest of NT. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in Barkly are above average, with national rankings even higher than those of the general population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Barkly records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Barkly's overseas-born population stands at 4.0%, higher than its average, with 57.9% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Barkly, comprising 65.8% of its population, compared to 54.1% across Rest of NT. In terms of ancestry, Australian Aboriginal is the most represented group, making up 66.8% of Barkly's population, significantly higher than the regional average of 43.6%.

Australian and English groups each comprise 10.6% of Barkly's population. Notably, Russian ethnicity is overrepresented in Barkly at 0.3%, compared to the regional average of 0.1%.

Barkly hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Barkly has a median age of 26, which is younger than the Rest of NT figure of 31 and significantly below the national average of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 15-24 are prominent at 20.0%, while those aged 45-54 are smaller in number at 8.7% compared to the Rest of NT. This concentration of 15-24 year-olds is higher than the national figure of 12.5%. Between 2021 and present, the population aged 25 to 34 has grown from 18.8% to 19.8%, while the 0 to 4 age group has declined from 8.4% to 7.2%. By 2041, Barkly's age profile is projected to change significantly. The 25 to 34 age cohort is expected to increase by 109 people (21%) from 523 to 633. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 55 to 64 and 35 to 44 age cohorts.