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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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Merredin has an estimated 2,837 residents, up from 2,604 at the 2021 Census — a change of 233 people, or 8.9%. Growth has averaged 0.7% a year over five years. Overseas migration accounts for 81.0% of that increase. Density is about 11 people per 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
According to AreaSearch's evaluation of regional ABS updates alongside post-Census validated addresses, the suburb of Merredin has an estimated population of approximately 2,837 as of Aug 2026. This represents an expansion of 233 people (8.9%) compared to the 2021 Census tally of 2,604 people. Such figures build upon an Estimated Resident Population of 2,835 identified by AreaSearch following the June 2025 ABS ERP release and subsequent address tracking. With a population density of 11.4 persons per square kilometer, the locality offers considerable space per resident. The suburb of Merredin's post-Census growth of 8.9% sits within 0.6 percentage points of the broader SA4 region (9.5%), underscoring solid underlying expansion.
Inbound overseas migration served as the primary growth driver, accounting for roughly 81.0% of recent population gains. SA2-level projections from ABS/Geoscience Australia (issued in 2024 using a 2022 baseline) form the foundation of AreaSearch's modeling for the suburb of Merredin, supplemented by age-cohort rates from the 2023 Greater Capital Region projections (based on 2022 data) for remaining locations and post-2032 modeling. Looking at forecast demographic trends, non-metropolitan regions are anticipated to achieve above-median population growth, with the suburb of Merredin projected to gain 436 persons by 2041 across aggregated SA2 projections, representing an overall expansion of 15.3% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential building activity in Merredin remains subdued, with approvals running at an average of less than 1 per year, amounting to 4 dwellings across the five-year period. These modest construction figures align with rural market conditions, where dwelling requirements are low and development is naturally constrained by local infrastructure and demand. Given the minimal volume of building permits, annual percentage shifts and relative metrics can fluctuate markedly with individual developments. Building volumes in Merredin trail significantly behind the Rest of WA and fall well short of nationwide benchmarks. Furthermore, modern construction has consisted exclusively of separate houses, preserving the locality's spacious, rural character.
An estimated ratio of 628 people per dwelling permit highlights the quiet nature of the local building market.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Merredin
Loading development applications…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 22 current infrastructure and development projects close to Merredin, worth an estimated $7.73 billion. 5 are already under construction and 6 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans transport & logistics, residential development 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
Regional performance and economic activity are fundamentally shaped by capital works and strategic planning developments. AreaSearch has identified no active major projects that directly impact the locality. Broader regional initiatives with potential relevance include the Western Australia Agricultural Supply Chain Improvements, South West Interconnected System Transformation, WA Police Satellite Technology Upgrade, and Goldfields Pipeline Renewal (Stage 1), as outlined in the project summary below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Northam Hydrogen Plant - MEG HP1
Proposed green hydrogen production plant and solar farm expansion near Northam. The project proposes a 10 MW electrolyser plant using power from the existing Northam Solar Farm and up to 13 MW of additional solar panels, producing about 4 tonnes of gaseous hydrogen per day for light and heavy vehicle transport. Public consultation closed on 27 February 2025 and the Part 11B significant development application remains under assessment by the WA planning pathway pending a WAPC determination.
Northam Boulevard Shopping Centre Redevelopment
Redevelopment of the Northam Boulevard shopping centre into a regional retail and community hub, incorporating over 2200 solar panels generating 40% of its electricity, merging with Northam Arcade, and featuring anchors Woolworths and Kmart plus over 22 specialty stores.
Narrogin Health Service Redevelopment
A $50 million major redevelopment of the Narrogin Health Service, officially opened in October 2019. The project delivered a new outpatient building, two new birthing rooms, an inpatient ward, theatre, and sterilising department. It also introduced new dental and chemotherapy services. The facility is notable for its chequerboard facade designed by Silver Thomas Hanley to represent stacked hay bales.
Narrogin Biodiesel Plant
A proposed commercial-scale renewable diesel biorefinery in the Narrogin Renewable Energy Zone. The earlier EPA assessment for the initial site was terminated in March 2025 after the original site was no longer pursued, but FutureEnergy Australia has stated the WA Future Energy Park remains active, with a new site selection process and a potential 50 percent scale increase from about 17-19 million litres to about 25 million litres of renewable fuel per year. The project is expected to produce renewable diesel plus biochar and wood vinegar by-products and support regional jobs and biomass supply chains.
Narrogin Solar Farm & BESS
Approved 200 MW DC solar farm with a co-located 200 MW / 800 MWh four-hour battery energy storage system on private land south of Narrogin. The project will connect to the Narrogin South Substation and export electricity into Western Australia's Wholesale Electricity Market. The site is intended to retain agricultural use, including sheep grazing among the solar panels. Development approval was granted by the Regional Development Assessment Panel in June 2025; the project is awaiting critical project status approval from Western Power, with construction currently indicated by the Shire as about 18 months from February 2028.
Gidgegannup Town Site
A proposed master-planned townsite with approximately 1,500 lots. The project aims to create a sustainable land development with services including roads, water, sewer, telecommunications, and power. The land is currently for sale and seeking a developer.
EastLink WA
EastLink WA is a long-term corridor project that will provide a safer and more efficient route between Perth and Northam. Planning and development for the full corridor has been completed, including the Ultimate Design Concept and land protection requirements. Construction is underway on associated Reid Highway interchanges at Altone Road and Daviot Road/Drumpellier Drive, with a further Henley Brook Avenue interchange funded. The broader EastLink WA mainline remains unfunded and is awaiting future business case and government investment decisions.
Gidgegannup Showgrounds Upgrade
Upgrades to the Gidgegannup Showgrounds including the hall, Burgo's bar, paving, car park, toilets, and arena. The project also includes a new sports pavilion, an advanced skate park, and remodelled BMX jumps.
1,445 residents of Merredin are employed, from a labour force of 1,505. Unemployment sits at 3.9%, with participation at 65.5%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.8% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,140, about 75% 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
Merredin features a diverse labour market encompassing both blue- and white-collar roles across multiple sectors, maintaining a low jobless rate of 3.9% according to AreaSearch's regional data aggregation. By March 2026, employed locals numbered 1,445, with unemployment sitting 0.4% above the 3.5% benchmark for Regional WA, while labour participation matched the Regional WA standard of 65.4%. Census figures recorded just 4.2% of workers operating from home, though pandemic-related lockdown measures should be kept in mind. Health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training stand as the top employer industries for local residents.
The workforce exhibits a marked concentration in wholesale trade, employing staff at 3.5 times the regional rate. In contrast, mining makes up 3.5% of local employment, well beneath the 11.7% seen across the wider region. Comparing the resident tally against the Census-recorded local workforce indicates a constrained local job market. AreaSearch's compilation of ABS and SALM data across broader statistical boundaries indicates that over the 12-month period, the local workforce contracted by 4.9% while overall employment fell by 6.8%, driving an increase in the unemployment rate of 1.9 percentage points. Conversely, across Regional WA, jobs dipped by 0.1%, the workforce expanded by 0.3%, and joblessness rose by 0.4 percentage points. National projections released by Jobs and Skills Australia in Mar-26 provide additional context regarding future employment trends in Merredin across five- and ten-year horizons. Nationally, employment is projected to climb by 6.6% across five years and 13.7% across ten years, though trajectories diverge by sector. Applying these sectoral trajectories to Merredin's industry composition points to potential local job growth of 5.8% over five years and 12.4% over ten years (representing an illustrative weighted calculation that does not incorporate local demographic forecasts).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Merredin is $1,396 a week (about $73,000 a year), with median personal income at $756 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $50,711 a year against an average of $62,932. 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 statistics for financial year 2023 compiled by AreaSearch indicate that taxpayers in the suburb of Merredin earned a median income of $50,711 and an average income of $62,932. These figures sit below nationwide standards and trail the respective Regional WA benchmarks of $59,973 and $74,392. Adjusting for a 10.93% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023 yields estimated values of $56,254 for median earnings and $69,810 on average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census positioned local household, family, and personal earnings within the lower brackets, falling between the 28th and 39th percentiles.
The primary earnings bracket includes 31.9% of residents (905 people) earning between $1,500 - 2,999, mirroring the wider regional proportion of 31.1%. Residents retain 88.7% of income after housing expenses, though disposable earnings remain modest at the 34th percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Merredin had 978 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 95% detached houses and 0% apartments. 33% are owned with a mortgage, 34% rented and 33% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $220 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,074 a month. Rent absorbs 15.8% of household income here and mortgage repayments 17.8%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the time of the latest Census, separate houses constituted 94.5% of Merredin's residential properties, with other dwelling types (including semi-detached units, apartments, and alternative structures) making up 5.5%, whereas Regional WA recorded 88.5% houses and 11.6% other dwellings. Outright home ownership stood at 32.5%, matching Regional WA, while remaining properties were either held with a mortgage (33.2%) or rented (34.3%). Median monthly mortgage costs of $1,074 and median weekly rents of $220 were markedly lower than the Regional WA figures of $1,560 and $265. Relative to nationwide benchmarks, Merredin's monthly mortgage commitments and rental payments sit significantly below the respective Australian averages of $1,863 and $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Merredin counted 978 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 1,066 today, averaging 2.3 people each. 25% are couples with children, against 29% couples without children. 33% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.0 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute the vast majority of local living arrangements at 64.1%, made up of couples without children (28.5%), couples with children (25.0%), and single parent households (10.5%). The remaining 35.9% comprises non-family residences, primarily single-person households at 32.9% alongside group households at 2.8%. At 2.3 people per dwelling, the median household size is below the Regional WA benchmark of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
13.1% of adults in Merredin hold a university qualification, including 9.3% with a bachelor degree and 2.4% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 75% of areas nationally. A further 33.2% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 640 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 972 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
The local educational profile displays low tertiary attainment, with higher education qualification rates at 13.1%, considerably lower than the 30.4% recorded across Australia. Bachelor degrees form the largest segment at 9.3%, followed by postgraduate awards at 2.4% and graduate diplomas at 1.4%. In contrast, vocational and technical training is widely held, with 40.6% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (7.4%) and certificates (33.2%). Formal study engagement is substantial throughout the community, with 30.6% of locals actively enrolled in education. This comprises 12.3% attending primary school, 10.6% in secondary schooling, and 2.0% enrolled in higher education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Merredin means driving: households keep an average of 1.4 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 infrastructure within the suburb of Merredin consists of 2 operational bus stops. These facilities are connected by 2 specific routes that generate 12 passenger services each week. Local transit connectivity is restricted, with dwellings positioned an average of 959 meters from the closest boarding point. Commuters predominantly travel by private vehicle, with driving accounting for 89% of work journeys and walking representing 7%. Households maintain an average of 1.4 vehicles, trailing regional norms, while 4.2% of the workforce operated from home according to the 2021 Census during potential COVID-19 disruptions.
Across the entire transit network, scheduling provides an average of 1 trip per day, delivering around 6 weekly services at each individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
66.1% of residents in Merredin report no long-term health condition. 5.9% need daily assistance with core activities, and 52.2% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.8 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
According to AreaSearch metrics on chronic illness and mortality, Merredin exhibits noticeable health burdens, with chronic conditions showing elevated prevalence across both younger and older cohorts. Private hospital coverage stands at approximately 52% (~1,480 people), marginally higher than the typical SA2 area yet trailing the Regional WA level of 56.4%. Arthritis and asthma represent the most widespread ongoing conditions locally, reported by 9.2% and 8.7% of the population, while 66.1% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 69.3% across Regional WA. Chronic ailments are notably elevated among working-age individuals.
Seniors aged 65 and over account for 18.5% of the community (524 people), with older residents achieving health rankings that exceed both local working-age outcomes and broader national figures.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Merredin is largely Australian-born, at 86.4% of residents, with 6.0% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (33.4%) and English (32.1%). 4.1% 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
Cultural diversity measures for Merredin sit below national averages, with Australian citizens comprising 84.9% of residents, 86.4% born in Australia, and 94.0% communicating solely in English at home. Christianity is the predominant religious affiliation at 46.8%, compared to 44.6% across Regional WA. Regarding ancestral background based on parents' birthplace, the leading lineages in Merredin are Australian at 33.4% (surpassing the regional benchmark of 28.4%), English at 32.1%, and Scottish at 7.1%. Notable variations also appear among other heritages: Australian Aboriginal residents account for 4.1% locally (against 6.1% regionally), Italian ancestry stands at 4.0% (vs 3.0%), and New Zealand ancestry represents 0.8% (vs 0.9%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Merredin is 39. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 28.7% 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
Merredin demonstrates a younger demographic structure than Regional WA overall. As of August 2026 estimates, young people aged 0 - 24 represent 33.4% of the population compared to 29.1% across the region, while the 45 - 64 age bracket makes up 20.8% locally versus 25.2% regionally. The estimated median age sits at 39, down from 40 at the 2021 Census and 1 year below the Regional WA median of 40 from that same Census. The share of residents aged 45 - 64 has declined from 25.9% at the Census to an estimated 20.8%.
Looking forward to 2041, the 25 - 44 age cohort is projected to generate the majority of growth, expanding by 329 residents (42%) to reach 1,106.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Merredin
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 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 · 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. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 4 months ago all 2 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 May 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. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,604 at the 2021 Census → 2,837 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 (SAL50938). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.