Orana

Orana is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

In the suburb of Orana, the local population is estimated to have reached approximately 2,157 by May 2026, a figure calculated using ABS demographic updates and address datasets verified by AreaSearch. Compared to the 2,035 individuals recorded during the 2021 Census, this represents an expansion of 122 residents, or 6.0%. This current estimate is guided by an AreaSearch resident figure of 2,143, established after analyzing the ABS June 2025 release of Estimated Resident Population data alongside recent post-Census address confirmations. The resulting density sits at 906 persons per square kilometer, alignable with typical ratios observed across comparable locations. The 6.0% post-Census growth rate for the suburb of Orana remains competitive, falling within 2.8 percentage points of the broader SA3 area's 8.8% growth rate. Natural increase served as the primary contributor to these gains, accounting for approximately 37.0% of the growth, though all other metrics including interstate and overseas migration also registered positive trends.

Projections for each SA2 district are based on 2024 releases from the ABS and Geoscience Australia, using 2022 as their baseline year. For regions lacking direct coverage or for timeframes extending beyond 2032, calculations utilize age cohort growth statistics from the ABS Greater Capital Region forecasts published in 2023, which stem from 2022 records. Reflecting these anticipated demographic shifts, areas situated outside major metropolitan zones are expected to experience expansion rates exceeding the median, with aggregated SA2 projections indicating a rise of 326 individuals in the locality by 2041, representing a total growth of 14.5% across the 16 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Orana according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Building activity remains highly restricted in Orana, with approvals averaging 3 annually, summing to 16 over the latest five-year timeframe. This minimal construction volume is characteristic of the rural setting, where new projects generally respond to specific local housing requirements rather than broader market forces. Due to the limited volume of activity, individual construction projects can cause substantial shifts in annual growth statistics and relative comparisons.

The volume of construction in Orana is substantially below the levels observed across Rest of WA, and similarly trails national benchmarks. The entirety of this recent construction has consisted of detached houses, focusing on single-family residences designed for individuals seeking rural space and lifestyle. Averaging approximately 328 people per dwelling approval, the locality exhibits the standard traits of a low density environment.

Based on the most recent AreaSearch quarterly projections, the local population is expected to grow by 312 residents by 2041. Should building rates remain at their current levels, the supply of new housing may fail to meet population demands, which could heighten buyer competition and support elevated home prices.

Orana has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 29thth percentile nationally

Local planning decisions, infrastructure investment, and major works are primary drivers of regional development. A total of 4 projects have been identified by AreaSearch as having a potential impact on the locality. Notable developments include the South Lockyer Structure Plan, Centennial Park Urban Renewal Area, Mount Lockyer Primary School Rebuild, and South Regional TAFE - Albany Trade Workshop, with details provided on those most relevant to the area.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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Employment drivers in Orana are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

The local workforce exhibits an even distribution between professional and manual occupations, with lifestyle and commerce segments showing significant representation, alongside an unemployment rate of 4.6% as derived from compiled regional datasets. By March 2026, there are 970 employed residents, with an unemployment rate that exceeds the Regional WA average of 3.5% by 1.1% points, while workforce participation is notably lower at 57.2% compared to the regional figure of 65.6%. According to Census records, a minor 2.6% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure may reflect the influence of pandemic restrictions.

The primary employment sectors for local workers are retail trade, health care & social assistance, and accommodation & food services. The locality shows a pronounced concentration in retail trade, where the proportion of workers is 2.0 times that of the wider region. Conversely, mining represents a minor fraction of local employment at 2.8%, compared to the regional benchmark of 11.7%. The comparison between resident numbers and locally based jobs indicates that this primarily residential area offers limited employment options within its boundaries.

Based on compiled SALM and ABS statistics for the year ending March 2026, the local labor pool contracted by 6.1% and the number of employed residents fell by 8.1%, which led to a 2.1 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. This differs from Regional WA, where employment dropped by 0.1%, the labor force expanded by 0.3%, and the unemployment rate rose by 0.4 percentage points. Projected employment trends from Jobs and Skills Australia dated May-25 offer additional context on future labor needs. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce composition to outline future trends. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though these rates vary widely across different sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to the local workforce mix points to an estimated employment increase of 5.6% over five years and 12.2% over ten years, representing a basic weighted extrapolation that does not incorporate specific local population forecasts.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

According to the latest ATO postcode statistics for financial year 2023, resident incomes in the suburb of Orana trail the national benchmarks, with a recorded median of $39,562 and an average of $49,864. These figures are lower than the Regional WA median of $59,973 and average of $74,392. Adjusting for Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes would be approximately $43,886 for the median and $55,314 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census data indicates that household, family, and individual incomes all rank between the 3rd and 10th percentiles nationwide. The largest income group comprises 29.4% of residents (634 people) earning within the $400 - 799 weekly range, contrasting with the wider region where the $1,500 - 2,999 range is the most common at 31.1%. Housing cost pressures are pronounced, with residents retaining only 79.3% of their income, placing the area in the 4th percentile for affordability.

Orana is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Census data reveals that the local housing stock is composed of 88.3% separate houses and 11.7% alternative housing types like townhouses, apartments, or other structures, which is comparable to the 88.5% houses and 11.6% other dwellings recorded across Regional WA. Homeownership in the area stands at 30.0%, trailing the regional average, with the remaining properties divided between those under a mortgage (30.6%) and those occupied by tenants (39.4%). The median monthly mortgage payment is $1,370, which is lower than the Regional WA average of $1,560, while the median weekly rent is $275, slightly higher than the regional average of $265. Compared to national statistics, mortgage payments are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are below the national median of $375.

Orana features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households represent the largest share at 62.6% of the local total, consisting of couples with children at 20.4%, couples without children at 24.3%, and single-parent households at 16.7%. The remaining 37.4% of households are non-family units, which include single-person households at 34.9% and group living arrangements at 2.6%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which is smaller than the Regional WA average of 2.5.

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

Educational attainment levels present local challenges, with 7.6% of residents holding a university qualification, which is below the national rate of 30.4%. Among these qualifications, bachelor degrees are the most common at 6.4%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 0.8% and graduate diplomas at 0.4%. Vocational and technical training is widely represented, with 42.9% of residents aged 15+ possessing vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas at 8.4% and certificate-level qualifications at 34.5%.

Participation in study is high, with 27.7% of the population enrolled in an educational institution. This enrollment includes 10.2% in primary schools, 8.3% in secondary schools, and 1.2% in tertiary programs.

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

Public transit infrastructure includes 11 active bus stops located within Orana. These stops serve 2 distinct routes, which provide 105 weekly passenger services. Accessibility is good, with residents living an average of 233 meters from the nearest stop. The suburb is primarily residential, and most workers commute out of the area, with private vehicles remaining the primary mode of travel for 94% of commuters. Household vehicle ownership averages 1.3 cars, which is below the regional average. A low 2.6% of residents worked from home, according to 2021 Census records, which may have been influenced by pandemic conditions.

Transit services average 15 daily trips across all routes, which translates to approximately 9 weekly departures per stop.

Health performance in Orana is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Significant health issues are apparent across the suburb of Orana, as shown by mortality and chronic illness statistics, which impact both younger and older demographics, while the rate of private health coverage is low, standing at approximately 47% of residents (~1,013 people). This is below the 56.4% coverage rate observed across Regional WA and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health conditions and arthritis are the most frequently reported medical issues, affecting 11.2% and 10.1% of the population respectively, while 59.6% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 69.3% in Regional WA. The working-age cohort shows elevated rates of chronic illness, and residents aged 65 and over make up 18.5% of the population (399 people). Senior health profiles are broadly consistent with national benchmarks for the demographic.

In terms of cultural diversity, Orana records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

The local population displays levels of cultural diversity similar to the regional average, with citizens making up 87.3% of the community, 81.0% of residents born in Australia, and 90.2% speaking only English in their households. Christianity is the primary religious affiliation, representing 40.1% of residents. The most distinct variance from regional averages is in Judaism, which accounts for 0.2% of the population, whereas across Regional WA no residents were recorded in this category.

In terms of parent country of birth, the three largest ancestry groups are English at 34.7%, Australian at 28.9%, and Scottish at 6.1%. Specific ethnic backgrounds show notable variances from regional levels, with Welsh backgrounds representing 1.1% of residents compared to 0.6% regionally, Dutch backgrounds at 2.7% compared to 1.5%, and Filipino backgrounds at 3.2% compared to 1.2%.

Orana's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age of residents is 38 years, which is slightly younger than the Regional WA average of 40 and matches the Australian median of 38. The 15 - 24 age bracket is highly represented locally at 14.5% of the population, while children aged 5 - 14 are less represented at 10.3%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 25 to 34 increased from 13.4% to 15.2%, and the 15 to 24 age group grew from 13.4% to 14.5%. Conversely, the 5 to 14 year-old cohort decreased from 12.7% to 10.3%, and the 45 to 54 cohort fell from 12.2% to 11.0%. Long-term projections indicate that the demographic profile will shift by 2041, with the 25 to 34 age group expected to grow by 45%, adding 147 residents to reach a total of 475, while both the 85+ and 15 to 24 age brackets are expected to experience declines in numbers.