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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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East Arnhem has an estimated 8,130 residents, up from 6,983 at the 2021 Census — a change of 1,147 people, or 16.4%. Natural increase accounts for 87.1% of that increase. Fewer than ten people live on each square kilometre, across a boundary that takes in surrounding rural land. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to assessments conducted by AreaSearch, the population of East Arnhem stands at approximately 8,130 in May 2026. This represents a gain of 1,147 individuals (16.4%) relative to the 2021 Census, when the count was 6,983 people. This adjustment is calculated using the ABS estimated resident population of 8,130 in June 2025 alongside 31 validated new addresses registered after the Census. Such a population size results in a density of 0.30 persons per square kilometer, ensuring a spacious environment for residents. With its 16.4% expansion rate since the 2021 census, the area outpaced the national average (9.3%) and the state, positioning itself as a regional growth leader.
Natural increase was the primary engine of this growth, accounting for roughly 87.1% of the total population gains in recent times. Projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 with a 2022 baseline are utilized by AreaSearch for each SA2 district. For areas lacking this data, and to project trends beyond 2032, cohort-specific growth rates are applied based on the latest Greater Capital Region projections published by the ABS in 2023 using 2022 data. Future demographic paths suggest an expansion rate slightly under the median for non-metropolitan parts of the nation, with the region projected to grow by 885 residents by 2041 relative to the latest annual ERP statistics, indicating a overall rise of 10.9% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
125 new dwellings have been approved in East Arnhem over the past five years, an average of 25 a year. That is 3.1 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 16, well below that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Approximately 25 residential approvals have been granted annually in East Arnhem, amounting to 125 dwellings over the last 5 financial years. In the current FY-26, 15 approvals have been documented. Since the population declined in the prior period, this level of construction has been relatively sufficient, which benefits purchasers, while the average expected construction cost for new homes is $137,000—below regional benchmarks—showing more budget-friendly choices for buyers. Furthermore, commercial building approvals of $1.2 million have been registered this financial year, pointing to limited commercial development. Compared to Rest of NT, East Arnhem shows 53.0% more construction activity on a per capita basis, offering buyers plenty of options despite a downward trend in building rates in recent years.
This level remains below the national average, reflecting the established status of the area and pointing to possible planning constraints. New construction consists of 80.0% detached houses and 20.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the low-density profile of the area with a focus on stand-alone homes that appeal to buyers wanting space. This is a clear shift from the current housing stock (96.0% houses), reflecting a decrease in available development land and adapting to shifting lifestyle choices and budget considerations. Long-term forecasts indicate East Arnhem will add 885 residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch. Current building volumes suggest housing supply will successfully satisfy demand, establishing positive conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth that outpaces current predictions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around East Arnhem
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks one current infrastructure or development project inside East Arnhem, worth an estimated $9 million. A further 21 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $6.1 billion. 9 are already under construction and 9 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans energy, environmental & disaster management and communities, precincts & urban renewal. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
The performance of a region is heavily shaped by updates to infrastructure, major developments, and urban planning. AreaSearch has identified a total of 3 projects that are expected to influence the local area. Principal developments include the Gunyangara (Gove Port) Tourism Precinct, the Bunggulwuy Close Housing Development, the Nhulunbuy Master Plan, and the Australia-Asia PowerLink (AAPowerLink), with the following list detailing those of primary relevance.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Gunyangara (Gove Port) Tourism Precinct
A $9.3 million upgrade of marine and land tourism infrastructure at Inverell Bay, Gunyangara, near Nhulunbuy, to support tourism and marine industry growth in East Arnhem as the region diversifies away from mining. Works delivered over three packages included a new 100 metre extended rock groyne, careening facilities for vessel maintenance, a 60 metre detachable floating pontoon, a washdown bay, sealed car park and lighting upgrades, a new entry structure, toilet facilities, and shade and seating at Gove Boat Club.Early works were completed in 2022, with the main $6.9 million construction package running from September 2024 to August 2025. The project achieved 28 percent Aboriginal employment and was officially opened in December 2025. Gove Boat Club now operates the facilities in collaboration with the Ngarrariyal Aboriginal Corporation and Gumatj Corporation.
Bunggulwuy Close Housing Development
A landmark $7 million community-led housing initiative to deliver 11 new two-bedroom units (four duplexes and a triplex) in Nhulunbuy. The homes are designed to meet long-term accommodation needs for essential service providers like St John NT and Miwatj Health Aboriginal Corporation, and the project includes a strong commitment to Aboriginal employment and training opportunities, supporting the post-mining economic transition of the region.
Nhulunbuy Master Plan
A strategic roadmap guiding the redevelopment and renewal of Nhulunbuy as it transitions from a mining town to a sustainable regional hub. The plan translates the Yolngu Traditional Owners' Vision into a framework for future land tenure, essential services, and infrastructure, ensuring long-term liveability post-2029 mine closure.
Growing Tourism in Kakadu Infrastructure Upgrades
Australian Government program to upgrade visitor infrastructure across Kakadu National Park and support Jabiru's transition to a tourism-based economy after the Ranger Uranium Mine closure. The package includes road and access upgrades, campground and visitor facility improvements, communications works, Jabiru remediation, and up to $60 million toward a new Indigenous-led World Heritage Visitor Centre. Current works include road upgrades to Kubara, Maguk and Jim Jim Falls roads, with further works planned for Gimbat and Gunlom roads, plus boardwalk, accessibility and amenity upgrades at key visitor areas including Twin Falls, Warradjan Aboriginal Cultural Centre, Yellow Water and multiple campgrounds.
Jabiru Masterplan
The Jabiru Masterplan is a 446 million dollar redevelopment transforming the former uranium mining town into a sustainable tourism and regional services hub within Kakadu National Park. Governed by the Gundjeihmi Aboriginal Corporation Jabiru Town (GACJT) on behalf of the Mirarr Traditional Owners, the project includes the Jabiru Lakeside Precinct, a new World Heritage Visitor Centre, and the Bininj Resource and Development Centre. Following the 2021 land hand back, the project focuses on reorienting the town towards the lake, upgrading essential infrastructure, and implementing renewable energy solutions to ensure a vibrant post-mining future for the community.
Jabiru Hybrid Renewable Power Station
Hybrid microgrid supplying Jabiru with at least 50% renewable energy over the long term, integrating a 3.9 MW solar farm, a 3 MW/5 MWh battery, and 4.5 MW of diesel generation. Operations commenced in February 2022.
Jabiru Housing Remediation
Refurbishment of over 160 residential properties in Jabiru to ensure they meet government standards prior to handover to Traditional Owners. The project included a range of works from minor refurbishments to extensive overhauls, including asbestos removal.
RAAF Base Tindal Redevelopment
Major upgrade program at RAAF Base Tindal near Katherine, NT, to enhance airbase capacity and resilience. Scope includes runway and taxiway upgrades, new air movements terminal and parking apron, expanded fuel storage, facilities for the new Triton remotely piloted drone fleet, power, water, and sewer upgrades, and 108 new live-in units for personnel. Works are being delivered under Stage 6 Redevelopment and the US Force Posture Initiatives, managed by Lendlease with packages led by contractors including BMD.
1,960 residents of East Arnhem are employed, from a labour force of 2,474. Unemployment sits at 20.8%, with participation at 39.3%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.2% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth, so in an area growing as fast as this one it understates the likely rise in local jobs. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local economy features a diverse workforce across professional and manual occupations, with a strong presence in essential services, an unemployment rate of 20.8%, and a 2.1% expansion in employment over the last year. In March 2026, 1,960 local residents are employed, while the unemployment rate is 14.9% higher than the 5.9% rate in Regional NT, indicating potential for progress, and labor force participation is notably low (39.3% vs 69.9% in Regional NT). Census records indicate that a minimal 1.3% of workers operated from home, though the influence of Covid-19 restrictions must be kept in mind.
The major employment sectors for residents are education & training, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. The region exhibits a highly pronounced concentration in education & training, where employment is 2.2 times the regional average. Conversely, public administration & safety accounts for only 12.9% of the workforce, which is lower than the 17.9% average for Regional NT. The comparison between the Census working population and resident population suggests that local employment opportunities are somewhat constrained. Based on AreaSearch evaluations of SALM and ABS statistics, employment rose by 2.1% and the labor force expanded by 2.7% during the year leading to March 2026, which led to a 0.5 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. By comparison, Regional NT saw employment expand by 2.8% and the labor force grow by 2.7%, resulting in a slight decrease. National employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia as of May-25 offer additional perspective on prospective demand in East Arnhem. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to local workforce data to project future growth. Nationally, employment is expected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though individual industries vary widely. Applying these sectoral projections to the employment structure of East Arnhem suggests local employment will rise by 6.2% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, representing a basic weighted extrapolation for illustrative purposes that excludes local population forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in East Arnhem is $1,552 a week (about $81,000 a year), with median personal income at $298 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $47,002 a year against an average of $61,767. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Based on the compilation of the most recent postcode ATO statistics for the 2023 financial year, taxpayers in the East Arnhem SA2 recorded a median income of $47,002 and an average income of $61,767. These figures are below the national averages and compare to $53,572 (median) and $63,776 (average) for Regional NT. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index growth of 9.41% since the 2023 financial year yields estimated figures of approximately $51,425 for the median and $67,579 for the average in March 2026. The 2021 Census reports that individual incomes are at the 0th percentile ($298 per week), whereas household incomes are stronger at the 38th percentile.
In terms of distribution, the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly bracket includes 38.8% of the community (3,154 people), which is close to the wider region where this segment accounts for 33.6%. Housing outlays are manageable with 94.4% of income retained, though disposable income is below average at the 50th percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
East Arnhem had 1,076 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 96% detached houses and 0% apartments. 1% are owned with a mortgage, 94% rented and 5% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $90 a week and the median mortgage repayment $997 a month. Rent absorbs 5.8% of household income here and mortgage repayments 14.8%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Residential structures in East Arnhem at the time of the latest Census consisted of 96.2% houses and 3.8% other dwelling types (such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and alternative housing), compared to 75.6% houses and 24.5% other dwellings in Regional NT. Home ownership in East Arnhem was lower than the Regional NT rate, standing at 5.2%, with remaining residences being mortgaged (0.8%) or rented (94.0%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $997 was significantly below the Regional NT average, while the median weekly rent was $90, compared to Regional NT figures of $1,733 and $150.
On a national level, mortgage payments in East Arnhem are far lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are also well below the national benchmark of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
East Arnhem counted 1,076 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 1,253 today, averaging 5.1 people each. 42% are couples with children, more than in 83% of areas nationally, against 13% couples without children. 11% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.8 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up the vast majority of households at 88.2%, consisting of couples with children (42.2%), couples without children (12.6%), and single parent households (27.7%). Non-family households represent the remaining 11.8%, with single-person households at 11.4% and group living situations at 1.0%. The median household size of 5.1 persons is larger than the Regional NT average of 3.1.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
8.2% of adults in East Arnhem hold a university qualification, including 5.1% with a bachelor degree and 2.0% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 97% of areas nationally. A further 14.5% hold a vocational qualification. 10 schools serve the area, with 1,570 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 604 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Educational outcomes in the area present challenges, as the university qualification rate of 8.2% is considerably below the national benchmark of 30.4%. This represents both a difficulty and a focus area for customized educational programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common higher qualification at 5.1%, followed by postgraduate degrees (2.0%) and graduate diplomas (1.1%). Vocational training accounts for 17.4% of qualifications for residents aged 15 and older, consisting of advanced diplomas (2.9%) and certificates (14.5%). Enrolment rates are high, with 29.0% of the population participating in formal education. This group comprises 14.6% in primary school, 9.0% in high school, and 1.0% in higher education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
82.3% of residents in East Arnhem report no long-term health condition. 4.6% need daily assistance with core activities, and 49.8% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 15.0 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health indicators in East Arnhem are close to national averages, according to AreaSearch evaluations of mortality and chronic disease rates, with typical rates of common health conditions observed across both younger and older cohorts, and private health insurance coverage is relatively low at about 50% of the population (~4,048 residents), compared to a national average of 55.7%. Heart disease and diabetes are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 6.1% and 4.1% of the population respectively, while 82.3% of residents reported having no medical issues, compared to 78.4% in Regional NT.
Residents aged 65 and older make up 5.8% of the population (475 people), which is lower than the Regional NT level of 8.5%. Health status among older residents is especially positive, with national rankings surpassing those of the broader local population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
East Arnhem is largely Australian-born, at 98.1% of residents, with 94.1% speaking a language other than English at home. Australian Aboriginal is the largest reported ancestry, at 89.1% of residents. 89.1% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
East Arnhem exhibits high levels of cultural diversity, with 1.9% of residents born overseas and 94.1% using a language other than English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 59.9% of the population. The most prominent divergence is in the Other category, which represents 24.1% of the population, significantly higher than the Regional NT average of 5.2%. Looking at parent countries of birth, the top three ancestries in East Arnhem are Australian Aboriginal at 89.1% (substantially higher than the regional average of 43.6%), English at 3.0% (notably lower than the regional average of 14.3%), and Australian at 2.5% (notably lower than the regional average of 14.9%).
Other ethnic representations show specific variations, such as Samoan heritage representing 0.1% of East Arnhem (compared to 0.2% across the region).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of East Arnhem is 28, younger than 99% of areas nationally. 36.1% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The median age of 28 years in East Arnhem is slightly below the Regional NT average of 31 and considerably below the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to Regional NT, East Arnhem has a higher proportion of residents aged 15 - 24 (17.5%) but fewer people aged 55 - 64 (8.4%). Since the 2021 Census, the 35 to 44 age bracket grew from 14.7% to 16.3% of the population, and the 65 to 74 cohort rose from 3.3% to 4.8%. In contrast, the 15 to 24 group shrank from 20.4% to 17.5% and the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 16.8% to 14.8%.
Projections for 2041 indicate notable shifts in the age profile, with the 45 to 54 group leading the changes by expanding 33% (283 people) to reach 1,157 from 873. Conversely, contractions are expected in the 5 to 14 and 15 to 24 cohorts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for East Arnhem
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2026 last month all 1 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Jul 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 31 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (6,983 at the 2021 Census → 8,130 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (702041063). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.