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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
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Derby (WA) has an estimated 4,631 residents, up from 3,222 at the 2021 Census — a change of 1,409 people, or 43.7%. Growth has averaged 3.8% a year over five years, faster than 97% of areas nationally. Natural increase accounts for 52.0% 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
As of Aug 2026, the population of the suburb of Derby (WA) is estimated at around 4,631, based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS broader regional updates alongside new addresses verified since the Census. In comparison to the 2021 Census tally of 3,222 people, this represents an expansion of 1,409 people (43.7%). This calculation draws on an estimated resident total of 4,630 determined by AreaSearch from the latest ABS ERP release (June 2025) plus 39 validated new addresses confirmed post-Census. With a resulting density ratio of 9.9 persons per square kilometer, the locality offers generous personal space.
Pacing ahead of both the Rest of WA and the national average (9.5%), the suburb of Derby (WA) stands as a prominent growth hub following its 43.7% post-2021 Census surge. Over recent timeframes, natural growth served as the primary demographic driver, accounting for roughly 52.0% of all population increases. Projections published in 2024 (using 2022 as a base year) by the ABS and Geoscience Australia are applied by AreaSearch across SA2 locations. For unlisted SA2 zones, as well as forward projections beyond 2032 across all areas, calculations incorporate age-cohort expansion rates from the ABS Greater Capital Region series (released in 2023, based on 2022 data). Demographic modeling indicates the suburb of Derby (WA) will track above the median growth pace of regional Australia. Aggregated SA2-level figures project an addition of 587 persons to 2041, representing a cumulative increase of 12.2% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
21 new dwellings have been approved in Derby (WA) over the past five years, an average of 4 a year. That places the area in the 61st percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 1 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 13, running ahead of that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Analysis of ABS building approvals by AreaSearch shows that the locality registers approximately 4 dwellings approved for construction per year. Over the previous 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), roughly 21 homes received permits, including 13 so far in FY-25. Across those 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), an average of 24.4 people arrived annually for every home built, indicating that residential building activity falls markedly short of demand and tends to intensify buyer competition and elevate cost pressures. An average expected construction cost of $848,000 indicates building developers are focusing primarily on higher-end, premium housing.
Additionally, commercial development approvals totaling $75,000 this financial year highlight the predominantly residential nature of the area. Recent residential construction has consisted exclusively of single-family detached houses, preserving a spacious low-density environment that appeals to buyers seeking extra room. With a ratio of approximately 273 people per approval, local property development is navigating a transitional phase. Long-term forecasts from AreaSearch quarterly estimates indicate that the community will add 563 residents by 2041. Should current construction approval rates persist, housing supply could lag demographic growth, likely intensifying buyer competition and reinforcing upward pressure on prices.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Derby (WA)
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 10 current infrastructure and development projects inside Derby (WA), worth an estimated $4.48 billion. A further 68 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $21.7 billion. 22 are already under construction and 22 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans transport & logistics, communities, precincts & urban renewal and ports, marinas, fisheries & aquaculture. 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
Major infrastructure developments and urban planning initiatives play a decisive role in shaping local community growth. AreaSearch has pinpointed a total of 10 projects positioned to influence the area. Key undertakings feature the Derby Fertilizer and Petrochemical Complex, the Derby Tidal Power Project, the Derby District High School Redevelopment, and the Fairbairn Street Upgrade, with details of the most significant works outlined below.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Derby Fertilizer and Petrochemical Complex
Proposed $4.1 billion large scale ammonia, methanol, urea and complex fertilizer facility near Derby, including an on-site power station. The project aims to convert gas from the Canning Basin into fertilizer and petrochemicals. Targeted production includes 3,500 tpd liquid ammonia, 5,000 tpd methanol, and 4,000 tpd urea.
Derby Tidal Power Project
A long-proposed 40MW tidal power station at Doctor's Creek designed to leverage the Kimberley region's 11m tides. The project uses a double-basin system to generate renewable energy for the West Kimberley. While it received EPA environmental approval in 2013 (Ministerial Statement 941), it remains in a stalemate due to a lack of federal funding and technical delays. As of 2026, Horizon Power is advancing an alternative 'Derby Future Energy System' focused on solar and battery storage, casting further doubt on the tidal project's viability.
Fairbairn Street Upgrade
Shire of Derby/West Kimberley upgrade to improve safety and access near Derby District High School, coordinated with Derby Bus Services. State Black Spot funding is supporting detailed design in 2025/26 with construction allocation in 2026/27. Works include sealing and widening, formal parking and bus bays, new pedestrian path, kerbing and lighting focused on school frontage and bus operations.
Design and Construct Modular Staff Accommodation, Derby
Procurement activity by WA Country Health Service to deliver modular staff housing in Derby, including design, documentation, fabrication and associated forward works (site preparation, earthworks, electrical and plumbing).
Derby East Construction Sands Project
Macro Metals Limited and WA Limestone completed the acquisition of the Derby East Construction Sands Project in July 2025. The project comprises granted exploration licences located about 24 km east of the Port of Derby, accessed via the Derby-Gibb River Road. The partners are progressing planning and market engagement for potential export of construction sand to Southeast Asia (including Singapore) subject to approvals.
Derby Light Industrial Estate
A planned light industrial estate by DevelopmentWA, strategically located off the Derby Highway to meet the growing demand for industrial land in the area.
Port of Derby Upgrade - Permanent Barge Landing
Construction of a new permanent barge landing ramp at the Port of Derby to replace the existing temporary facility. This project aims to enhance the town's ability to receive domestic freight by sea and improve the region's supply chain resilience.
Derby Early Learning and Family Centre
A $6.1 million project to establish a new Early Learning and Family Centre in Derby. The project aims to improve the development, health, and learning outcomes of young children in the community.
1,551 residents of Derby (WA) are employed, from a labour force of 1,960. Unemployment sits at 20.9%, with participation at 52.5%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.9% 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. The working-day population is estimated at 3,706, about 80% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Statistical area aggregations from AreaSearch indicate a skilled local workforce with robust representation in core service sectors, alongside an unemployment rate of 20.9% and an estimated 5.7% employment expansion over the preceding year. As of March 2026, 1,551 residents are employed. The jobless rate sits 17.4% higher than the Regional WA figure of 3.5%, leaving room for improvement, while the labour participation rate of 52.5% trails the Regional WA benchmark of 65.4%. Census figures showed only 5.0% of local workers working from home, a metric influenced by Covid-19 restrictions. Workforce participation is concentrated in health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and education & training.
Employment within health care & social assistance is particularly pronounced, tracking at 2.0 times the wider regional proportion. In contrast, mining represents just 1.8% of the local workforce compared to 11.7% across the region. Comparisons between the resident tally and Census working population figures suggest local job availability within the immediate boundary is relatively constrained. Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, aggregated from broader statistical areas, during the year to March 2026, employment levels increased by 5.7% and labour force increased by 5.5%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.1 percentage points. In contrast, Regional WA experienced employment decline of 0.1% and labour force growth of 0.3%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Mar-26 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Derby. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Derby's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.3% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Derby (WA) is $1,713 a week (about $89,000 a year), with median personal income at $855 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $96,602 a year against an average of $113,009. 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
ATO postcode figures released by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 report a median taxpayer earnings figure of $96,602 and an average of $113,009, levels that rank exceptionally high nationwide and exceed Regional WA marks of $59,973 (median) and $74,392 (average). Accounting for a 10.93% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, estimated earnings stand at approximately $107,161 for the median and $125,361 on average as of March 2026. Across national income percentiles, Census metrics place personal, household, and family incomes around the 53rd percentile. In total, 38.7% of taxpayers (1,792 people) earn between $1,500 - 2,999, mirroring the wider regional proportion of 31.1%.
After covering accommodation expenses, householders retain 89.5% of income, providing strong residual spending capacity.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Derby (WA) had 827 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 87% detached houses and 0% apartments. 16% are owned with a mortgage, 66% rented and 18% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $180 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,638 a month. Rent absorbs 10.5% of household income here and mortgage repayments 22.1%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census dwelling classifications indicate that houses represent 87.3% of the local stock, with 12.7% comprising other residential formats (apartments, semi-detached, and 'other' dwellings), relative to 88.5% houses and 11.6% other dwellings across Regional WA. Outright property ownership stands at 17.7%, trailing regional benchmarks, while mortgaged properties account for 15.9% and rental accommodation represents 66.4%. Median monthly mortgage costs of $1,638 sit above the Regional WA level of $1,560, whereas median weekly rents of $180 track well below the regional rate of $265. Across the country, local mortgage repayments remain noticeably lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are substantially less than the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Derby (WA) counted 827 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 1,189 today, averaging 2.5 people each. 22% are couples with children, fewer than in 80% of areas nationally, against 25% couples without children. 35% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.9 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute 63.1% of all local households, divided into couples without children (25.3%), couples with children (22.1%), and single parent families (13.1%). The remaining 36.9% consists of non-family arrangements, dominated by lone person households at 34.5% alongside group households at 2.5%. The median household size of 2.5 people aligns exactly with the Regional WA average.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
19.9% of adults in Derby (WA) hold a university qualification, including 13.8% with a bachelor degree and 3.4% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 77% of areas nationally. A further 30.4% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 728 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 835 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
Higher education qualifications present an area for potential growth, with university attainment standing at 19.9%, compared to the Australian benchmark of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are held by 13.8% of residents, postgraduate degrees by 3.4%, and graduate diplomas by 2.7%. Vocational and technical training is widely held, with 39.1% of residents aged 15+ possessing vocational credentials, including certificates (30.4%) and advanced diplomas (8.7%). A substantial 43.9% of the local population is actively engaged in formal study. This student cohort includes 21.0% enrolled in primary schooling, 10.3% attending secondary institutions, and 3.3% participating in tertiary courses.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Derby (WA) means driving: households keep an average of 1.2 vehicles, and no scheduled public transport appears in the current timetable feeds. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
74.3% of residents in Derby (WA) report no long-term health condition. 3.8% need daily assistance with core activities, and 71.9% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 9.3 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Analyses of mortality statistics and chronic disease occurrences by AreaSearch point to notable healthcare considerations, with common ailments present across younger and older demographics alike. Private health insurance uptake is remarkably high, held by roughly 72% of residents (3,330 people), substantially surpassing the Regional WA rate of 56.4% and the national mark of 55.7%. The leading diagnosed conditions are diabetes and arthritis, recorded among 6.5 and 5.9% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 74.3% of residents reported having no medical ailments, outperforming the Regional WA figure of 69.3%. Health measures among the under-65 cohort are stronger than average.
Residents aged 65 and over make up 12.3% of the community (569 people), below the 19.1% seen across Regional WA, with senior health indicators achieving higher relative national standing than the overall local population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Derby (WA) is largely Australian-born, at 87.1% of residents, with 14.8% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian Aboriginal (36.0%) and Australian (19.7%). 36.0% 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
Cultural diversity measures place the locality below regional averages, with 64.1% holding Australian citizenship, 87.1% born within Australia, and 85.2% using solely English at home. Christianity represents the primary religious affiliation, accounting for 51.1% of residents. The Other religious grouping demonstrates a notable presence, comprising 1.3% of residents compared to 0.7% in Regional WA. Looking at ancestral heritage (parents' birthplaces), the three largest groups are Australian Aboriginal at 36.0% (substantially exceeding the regional average of 6.1%), Australian at 19.7% (below the regional benchmark of 28.4%), and English at 17.7% (trailing the wider regional level of 31.3%).
Other ancestries include Maori at 1.0% (vs 1.0% regionally), Filipino at 0.9% (vs 1.2%), and New Zealand at 0.8% (vs 0.9%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Derby (WA) is 34, younger than 76% of areas nationally. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 30.1% 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 local age distribution has a smaller proportion of older residents than Regional WA. As at August 2026, adults aged 25 - 44 represent 32.7% of the populace, compared to 26.6% regionally, while seniors and retirees aged 65+ make up 12.3% versus 19.1% across the wider region. As at August 2026, the estimated median age is 34, down from 35 at the 2021 Census and 6 years below the Regional WA Census level of 40. Since the Census, the 25 - 44 cohort has expanded from 30.2% to an estimated 32.7%.
By 2041, this 25 - 44 demographic is projected to add 402 residents (27%) to reach 1,916, whereas child and youth cohorts are expected to decrease over the same duration.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Derby (WA)
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Sep 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) 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) | Aug 2026 last month 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 Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Sep 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 Sep 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 last month all 10 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 6 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 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago 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 — 39 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (3,222 at the 2021 Census → 4,631 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 Aug 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 (SAL50405). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.