Weddell

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

Weddell's population is 4,746 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 457 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,289 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 4,738 in June 2025 and an additional 15 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 3.4 persons per square kilometer. Weddell's growth rate of 10.7% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average of 9.3%. Natural growth contributed approximately 54.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 post-2032 growth estimates, AreaSearch applies growth rates by age cohort from the ABS's latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Considering projected demographic shifts, Weddell is expected to increase by 544 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 11.3% over the 16-year period.

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

Weddell averaged approximately 16 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, with a total of 82 homes approved between FY-21 and FY-25. As of FY-26, 20 homes have been approved. The average construction cost value for these dwellings was $231,000, which is below regional levels, indicating more affordable housing options for buyers.

In the current financial year, $37.6 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting strong local business investment. Compared to Greater Darwin, Weddell's new home approvals per capita are comparable, maintaining market balance with surrounding areas. However, these figures are below national averages, reflecting the area's maturity and potential planning constraints. All recent developments have consisted of standalone homes, preserving Weddell's low-density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers.

The estimated population density is 468 people per dwelling approval. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Weddell is projected to grow by 536 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favorable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Weddell has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 8thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 18 projects likely influencing the region. Notable ones are Darwin Renewable Energy Hub, Manton Dam Return to Service, Adelaide River Off-Stream Water Storage, and Zuccoli Aspire. The following details those 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 conditions in Weddell remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Weddell has a diverse workforce with both white and blue-collar jobs. The construction sector is notably prominent, with an unemployment rate of 3.8% and an estimated employment growth of 1.1% in the past year as of December 2025. There are 2,529 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.5%, slightly higher than Greater Darwin's rate of 3.1%.

Workforce participation is lower at 69.7% compared to Greater Darwin's 72.5%. Census responses indicate that only 11.4% of residents work from home. The dominant employment sectors are construction, public administration & safety, and agriculture, forestry & fishing. Weddell has a high specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing (8.7 times the regional level), but lower representation in health care & social assistance (7.1% vs regional average of 14.2%).

The area offers limited local employment opportunities, with the working population being fewer than residents. In the 12 months prior to December 2025, employment increased by 1.1%, while the labour force grew by 1.2%, keeping unemployment relatively stable at 3.8%. Greater Darwin experienced similar growth rates but had a marginal drop in unemployment rate. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Weddell's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 5.5% over five years and 11.6% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

The median taxpayer income in Weddell SA2 was $52,426 according to AreaSearch's aggregation of postcode level ATO data for the financial year 2023. This is lower than the national average, with Greater Darwin having a median income of $66,956 and an average income of $77,199 in the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth from financial year 2023 to March 2026 (an increase of 9.41%), estimated incomes for Weddell SA2 would be approximately $57,359 (median) and $70,652 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Weddell cluster around the 69th percentile nationally. The largest income segment comprises 30.7% of residents earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly. High housing costs consume 16.3% of income. Despite this, disposable income ranks at the 63rd percentile nationally, with Weddell's SEIFA income ranking placing it in the 4th decile.

Weddell is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Weddell's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 95.6% houses and 4.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Darwin metro had 63.5% houses and 36.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Weddell was at 30%, with mortgaged dwellings at 53.1% and rented ones at 16.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,167, higher than Darwin metro's $2,100. Median weekly rent in Weddell was $323, lower than Darwin metro's $385. Nationally, Weddell's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,167 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially lower at $323 compared to the national figure of $375.

Weddell has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 74.1% of all households, including 33.8% couples with children, 29.7% couples without children, and 9.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 25.9%, with lone person households at 24.4% and group households comprising 1.8%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Greater Darwin average of 2.6.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 14.7%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 31.3%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 10.1%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.4%) and postgraduate qualifications (2.2%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 51.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.7%) and certificates (40.4%). Educational participation is high at 36.6%, with 16.3% in primary education, 9.9% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 36.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 16.3% in primary education, 9.9% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Weddell has seven active public transport stops, all offering bus services. These stops are served by twenty-one different routes, collectively facilitating 1,362 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is limited, with residents typically located 12534 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most commuters travel outward; cars remain the primary mode of transport at 88%, while walking accounts for 4%. On average, there are 1.9 vehicles per dwelling, exceeding the regional norm. According to the 2021 Census, only 11.4% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 194 trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately 194 weekly trips per individual stop.

Weddell's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Weddell's health metrics are close to national benchmarks, based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are fairly standard, with common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts.

Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 51% of the total population (~2,429 people), compared to 57.8% in Greater Darwin. The most common medical conditions are arthritis (7.6%) and asthma (7.2%). 72.2% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 77.1% across Greater Darwin. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 16.5% of residents aged 65 and over (781 people), which is higher than the 11.0% in Greater Darwin. National rankings for health outcomes are broadly in line with the general population.

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

Weddell's cultural diversity was below average, with 78.7% citizens, 84.5% born in Australia, and 92.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 36.7%. Buddhism, at 3.3%, was overrepresented compared to Greater Darwin's 3.3%.

Ancestry-wise, Australian (31.7%) and English (27.4%) were most prevalent, exceeding regional averages of 22.6% and 21.7% respectively. Australian Aboriginal ancestry stood at 7.3%. Notable divergences included Dutch at 1.7%, Vietnamese at 1.4%, and German at 4.2%, all higher than regional averages.

Weddell's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Weddell's median age is 40, which is higher than Greater Darwin's figure of 34 and slightly above Australia's average of 38 years. The age group of 55-64 shows strong representation in Weddell at 14.5%, compared to Greater Darwin. However, the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent in Weddell at 10.1%. Between 2021 and present, the 75-84 age group has grown from 2.7% to 4.5% of the population, while the 65-74 cohort increased from 9.4% to 11.1%. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort has declined from 11.7% to 10.1%, and the 45-54 group dropped from 15.6% to 14.1%. Looking ahead to 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Weddell's age structure. The 65-74 age group is expected to grow by 30%, reaching 688 from 527, comprising 64% of the projected growth due to aging population dynamics. Meanwhile, the 25-34 and 0-4 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.