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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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Margaret River (WA) has an estimated 10,789 residents, up from 8,918 at the 2021 Census — a change of 1,871 people, or 21.0%. Growth has averaged 3.6% a year over five years, faster than 91% of areas nationally. 423 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Interstate and internal migration accounts for 46.0% of that increase. That puts 176 residents on each square kilometre. 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 suburb of Margaret River (WA) has an estimated population of around 10,789, determined through AreaSearch's review of ABS broader-area updates and newly validated post-Census addresses. Compared to the 8,918 people documented in the 2021 Census, this represents an expansion of 1,871 people (21.0%). The estimate draws upon a resident figure of 10,669 calculated by AreaSearch using the ABS June 2025 ERP release alongside 423 validated new addresses confirmed since the Census. Density stands at 175 persons per square kilometer, preserving ample personal space alongside capacity for subsequent development.
Outpacing both the 9.5% national benchmark and Rest of WA, the 21.0% expansion since the 2021 census establishes the locality as a regional leader in population expansion. Inbound interstate migration served as the primary catalyst by generating roughly 46.0% of recent gains, supported concurrently by positive overseas migration and natural growth. Projections for the suburb of Margaret River (WA) rely on 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 modeling with a 2022 base year, supplemented post-2032 or for unlisted SA2s by ABS Greater Capital Region age-cohort projections from 2023 based on 2022 data. Over the 16 years running to 2041, aggregated SA2 projections indicate an expansion of 2,058 persons—a cumulative gain of 18.0%—surpassing the median growth rate projected across non-metropolitan Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
621 new dwellings have been approved in Margaret River (WA) over the past five years, an average of 124 a year. That places the area in the 95th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 11 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 116 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 97% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 159, 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
Over the past 5 financial years between FY-21 and FY-25, Margaret River has averaged approximately 124 residential building approvals each year, accumulating to 621 homes according to AreaSearch analysis of ABS statistical data. In FY-25 to date, 159 approvals have been logged. The local market has added 2.9 new residents annually per completed dwelling over the past 5 financial years, reflecting solid buyer demand that underpins values. Construction costs average $500,000 per dwelling, sitting slightly higher than regional norms to reflect premium builds. Commercial approvals of $6.3 million registered this financial year further highlight the predominantly residential nature of the local development pipeline.
Per capita building approvals in Margaret River match broader Rest of WA trends to maintain market stability, even as local building pace has intensified recently to well above the Australian benchmark. The pipeline shows an overwhelming focus on low-density living, with 97.0% detached houses and 3.0% townhouses or apartments catering to buyers seeking standalone properties. The ratio of approximately 64 people per dwelling approval demonstrates sustained expansion in the local market. According to the latest quarterly estimate from AreaSearch, Margaret River is forecast to add 1,938 residents through to 2041. Present rates of residential construction appear well positioned to satisfy demand, creating favorable buyer conditions while potentially enabling population gains to outpace existing projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Margaret River (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 6 current infrastructure and development projects inside Margaret River (WA), worth an estimated $521 million. A further 34 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $3.25 billion. 11 are already under construction and 20 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, tourism 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
Local infrastructure initiatives and major developments play a critical role in shaping regional momentum. AreaSearch has pinpointed 10 notable projects anticipated to influence the locality, featuring prominently the Margaret River Net-Positive Circular Hotel, Witchcliffe Ecovillage, and Goldfields Group Darch Road Development, Margaret River Wa 6285.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Margaret River Net-Positive Circular Hotel
Australia's first net-positive circular hotel in Margaret River with 32 rooms and 5 villas, designed to enhance local tourism while operating with net-positive environmental impact through renewable energy and sustainable design.
Witchcliffe Ecovillage
A pioneering sustainable residential development featuring 350+ homes across 11 residential clusters with extensive permaculture areas, community gardens, renewable energy systems, and environmental conservation areas. The 120-hectare ecovillage is designed to be self-sufficient in renewable energy, water, and fresh food production.
Goldfields Group Darch Road Development
A major residential development by Goldfields Group featuring a 400-lot masterplanned residential community with various housing densities, parks, and community facilities located near Margaret River township.
Margaret River South Structure Plan
A comprehensive 67.63-hectare residential development featuring 411 residential lots at a variety of densities ranging from R10-R60, a 250-dwelling lifestyle living component, and an integrated open space network. The structure plan facilitates subdivision and development following LPS1 Amendment 74.
Margaret River Wa 6285
A high-end hotel and spa in Margaret River region, restoring a historic homestead destroyed by bushfire with luxury accommodation and wellness facilities designed to showcase the region's natural beauty.
Witchcliffe Streetscape Plan and Activation
A streetscape improvement plan for Witchcliffe main street including enhanced park areas around Druid Park, improved pedestrian connectivity, public art, and commercial precinct revitalization.
Lot 500 Wirring Road Cowaramup Structure Plan
An approved structure plan by the WA Planning Commission for residential development on Lot 500 Wirring Road near Cowaramup providing for future housing growth in the area.
Cowaramup Country Estate by Yolk Property Group
A masterplanned community development featuring 180+ residential lots and a 250-dwelling lifestyle living component set within the agricultural landscape near Cowaramup township.
6,110 residents of Margaret River (WA) are employed, from a labour force of 6,243. Unemployment sits at 2.1%, with participation at 72.3%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.5% 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 8,469, about 79% 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
A well-qualified workforce, significant tourism and hospitality presence, an unemployment rate of 2.1%, and annual employment growth of 0.9% characterize Margaret River based on AreaSearch statistical aggregations. March 2026 data shows 6,110 employed locals, an unemployment rate 1.4% lower than the 3.5% reported across Regional WA, and high labour force participation of 72.3% versus 65.4% regionally. Working from home was recorded at 11.9% of residents at the Census, although Covid-19 restrictions may have influenced these figures. Resident employment centers primarily around accommodation & food, retail trade, and construction. Concentration in accommodation & food is notable, capturing 2.0 times the regional employment share, whereas mining accounts for only 6.7% locally compared to 11.7% in the wider region.
Comparing Census-recorded resident numbers against local worker counts points to relatively constrained employment capacity within the immediate area. AreaSearch data from ABS and SALM statistical aggregations indicates that during the year leading to March 2026, local employment grew 0.9% and the labour pool rose 1.0%, while unemployment stayed virtually flat. Over that identical timeframe, Regional WA recorded a 0.1% decline in employment, 0.3% growth in the labour force, and a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Looking ahead, Jobs and Skills Australia Mar-26 projections forecast nationwide employment growth of 6.6% across five years and 13.7% across ten years. Applying these industry benchmarks to the local workforce composition points to potential employment gains in Margaret River of 5.5% over five years and 11.9% over ten years, calculated via simple weighted extrapolation without factoring in local population trajectories.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Margaret River (WA) is $1,640 a week (about $85,000 a year), with median personal income at $839 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $46,818 a year against an average of $62,404. 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
According to AreaSearch's financial year 2023 postcode-level ATO records, personal earnings in Margaret River sit under nationwide averages, displaying a median of $46,818 and a mean of $62,404, compared to Regional WA benchmarks of $59,973 and $74,392 respectively. Factoring in 10.93% Wage Price Index inflation since financial year 2023 yields estimated values of $51,935 (median) and $69,225 (average) as of March 2026. Across personal, family, and household levels, Census earnings sit around the 50th percentile nationally. A 35.7% plurality (3,851 residents) earns $1,500 - 2,999 weekly, aligning with the 31.1% recorded regionally.
Housing affordability presents notable strain, with disposable income after housing at 83.4% (44th percentile), while SEIFA indices place the area in the 5th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Margaret River (WA) had 3,076 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 92% detached houses and 0% apartments. 43% are owned with a mortgage, 27% rented and 30% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $380 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,694 a month. Rent absorbs 23.2% of household income here and mortgage repayments 23.8%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census records indicate that Margaret River's housing stock consists of 92.4% separate houses and 7.6% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes and flats, differing from Regional WA which recorded 88.5% houses and 11.6% other dwellings. Outright homeownership was 29.7%, trailing regional benchmarks, with 42.9% mortgaged and 27.4% occupied by renters. Median monthly mortgage repayments stood at $1,694, below the national benchmark of $1,863 but above Regional WA's $1,560. Conversely, weekly median rents reached $380, exceeding both the $265 regional level and the $375 national benchmark.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Margaret River (WA) counted 3,076 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 3,721 today, averaging 2.6 people each. 32% are couples with children, against 27% couples without children. 23% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families comprise 72.1% of local households, consisting of couples with children (32.3%), couples without children (27.0%), and single parent families (12.4%). Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 27.9%, divided between lone person households at 22.5% and group households at 5.2%. The median household size is 2.6 people, slightly larger than the Regional WA average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
28.8% of adults in Margaret River (WA) hold a university qualification, including 21.0% with a bachelor degree and 4.6% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 78% of areas nationally. A further 27.7% hold a vocational qualification. 5 schools serve the area, with 2,487 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,048 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 in Margaret River outpace regional standards, with 28.8% of individuals aged 15+ holding tertiary degrees compared to 17.6% across Rest of WA and 18.0% in the SA4 region. Attainment is led by bachelor degrees at 21.0%, postgraduate credentials at 4.6%, and graduate diplomas at 3.2%. Technical qualifications are also widespread, as 40.4% of residents aged 15+ possess vocational training across certificates (27.7%) and advanced diplomas (12.7%). A total of 30.6% of residents participate in formal study across the locality. This cohort includes 12.6% attending primary schools, 9.2% enrolled in secondary education, and 2.2% studying at the tertiary level.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Margaret River (WA) means driving: households keep an average of 1.5 vehicles, and scheduled services reach only a handful of stops. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transit in Margaret River includes 1 active bus stop serviced by 1 separate route, providing a total of 22 weekly passenger trips. Service accessibility remains limited, with an average distance of 1957 meters to the nearest transit stop. The area functions primarily as a commuter base, with 88% of commuting trips made by car, 5% on foot, and 2% by bicycle, alongside average motor vehicle ownership of 1.5 per dwelling. Census data from 2021 recorded 11.9% working from home, potentially reflecting COVID-19 settings. Across all operating routes, transit services run at an average frequency of 3 trips per day, delivering approximately 22 weekly trips at each active stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
75.9% of residents in Margaret River (WA) report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 79% of areas nationally. 3.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 52.0% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.7 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 Margaret River show low prevalence of common chronic conditions and strong mortality metrics across all age cohorts according to AreaSearch data. Private health insurance is held by approximately 52% of residents (~5,608 people), slightly under the average SA2 and the 56.4% figure registered across Regional WA. Asthma and mental health conditions are the most prevalent ailments locally, reported by 6.2% and 7.4% of residents respectively, while 75.9% reported no diagnosed medical issues compared to 69.3% in Regional WA. Health metrics among working-age individuals remain positive, while residents aged 65 and over make up 14.7% (1,585 people), lower than the 19.1% share seen in Regional WA.
Seniors in the locality achieve particularly favorable health rankings that surpass national averages.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
26.9% of Margaret River (WA) residents were born overseas and 10.8% speak a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (33.1%) and Australian (25.4%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in Margaret River sits above average benchmarks, with 26.9% of residents born abroad and 10.8% speaking a non-English language at home. Christianity represents the most common religious affiliation at 27.5% of the population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented at 0.1% of the population, whereas virtually no presence was recorded across Regional WA. English (33.1%), Australian (25.4%), and Irish (7.9%) form the top three parental ancestries across Margaret River. Several other backgrounds show elevated representation relative to regional patterns, including French at 1.2% versus 0.4% regionally, New Zealand at 1.2% versus 0.9%, and Welsh at 0.8% versus 0.6%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Margaret River (WA) is 39. 22.8% 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
Demographic estimates updated to August 2026 show Margaret River maintaining a younger profile than Regional WA, with young to middle aged adults (25 - 44) comprising 30.6% compared to 26.6% regionally, and seniors (65+) representing 14.7% versus 19.1%. The median age remains steady from the 2021 Census at 39, 1 year younger than the Regional WA median of 40 from that same Census. Cohorts aged 0 - 24 have decreased from 30.2% at the Census to an estimated 28.6%. Projections to 2041 indicate that the 25 - 44 bracket will lead expansion, growing by 914 residents (28%) to total 4,215.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Margaret River (WA)
8 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 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 8 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 · Jun 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 last 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. | ||
| 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 3 sections | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Jul 2025 about a year ago all 6 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 2025. | ||
| 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 — 423 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (8,918 at the 2021 Census → 10,789 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 (SAL50903). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.