Chart Color Schemes
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
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
Find a Recent Sale
Sales Detail
Wadeye has an estimated 2,271 residents, up from 1,924 at the 2021 Census — a change of 347 people, or 18.0%. Natural increase accounts for 100.0% of that increase. That puts 109 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
According to AreaSearch's evaluation of recent ABS updates for the surrounding region along with post-Census validated address figures, the suburb of Wadeye has an estimated resident count of 2,271 as of Aug 2026. This marks an expansion of 347 people (18.0%) compared to the 2021 Census tally of 1,924 people. This updated figure of 2,271 follows review of ABS ERP figures from June 2025 combined with ongoing address verification. With a density of 109 persons per square kilometer, the suburb of Wadeye offers ample physical room and capacity for future expansion.
The suburb of Wadeye outpaced both Northern Territory benchmarks and the 9.5% Australian average with its 18.0% post-2021 increase, establishing it among regional growth leaders. This demographic expansion was almost entirely produced by natural increase, serving as the main source of population gains. Forecast modeling incorporates 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia projections pegged to a 2022 baseline for local SA2 zones, supplemented by age-bracket trends from 2023 Greater Capital Region figures (based on 2022 data) for remaining locations and post-2032 modeling. Looking ahead, the suburb of Wadeye is anticipated to record gains slightly below median figures for regional Australia, expanding by 241 persons to 2041 under consolidated SA2 projections, representing an overall increase of 10.6% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Residential construction in the locality remains exceptionally quiet, averaging 1 dwelling approvals on an annual basis (representing minimal dwellings over the five-year period). Such restrained building activity aligns with the district's remote character, where property initiatives arise primarily from targeted local community requirements rather than speculative market activity. Because approval numbers are so small, individual building proposals have a disproportionate effect on yearly development trends. Building volumes in the community fall well short of figures across Rest of NT, while also trailing nationwide trends. Recent residential construction has been comprised entirely of separate houses, matching regional expectations for generous lot sizes and privacy.
Builders are focusing on detached dwellings at a higher proportion than the historical stock (73.0% at Census), underscoring sustained interest in standard family housing regardless of broader density considerations. A ratio of 646 people for every approved dwelling highlights this subdued, low-volume planning landscape.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Wadeye
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 41 current infrastructure and development projects close to Wadeye, worth an estimated $6.29 billion. 14 are already under construction and 12 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics 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 project delivery and major capital works play a decisive role in shaping local economic momentum. At present, no major infrastructure initiatives have been identified by AreaSearch as directly influencing the locality. Notable regional developments of interest include the East Kimberley Clean Energy Project, Australia-Asia PowerLink (AAPowerLink), Northern Territory Freight Rail And Logistics Capacity Improvements, and Network Optimisation Program - Rail.
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
Project Sea Dragon
Project Sea Dragon is a large-scale, integrated, land-based black tiger prawn aquaculture project. Following a period of voluntary administration and liquidation of its previous subsidiary, Seafarms Group Limited successfully re-acquired the project assets in December 2025 through its new subsidiary, Sea Dragon Shrimp Pty Ltd. The project involves a staged development including a founder stock centre in Exmouth, a breeding facility at Bynoe Harbour, and massive grow-out ponds at Legune Station. The developer is currently seeking project financing and a Final Investment Decision (FID) within the 2025-2026 financial year.
Ord River Irrigation Area Expansion - Goomig and Knox Plain
Major staged expansion of the Ord River Irrigation Area (ORIA) in the East Kimberley, building on the wider Ord-East Kimberley Expansion Project. The ORIA Strategy 2024-34 sets a long-term vision to grow the irrigation area from around 28,000 hectares today to up to 50,000 hectares, with value-add processing to drive jobs and regional economic growth. Current works centre on the 7,400 hectare Goomig Farmlands (Weaber Plain) and the new 5,500 hectare Knox Plain release, leased to Kimberley Agricultural Investment in 2024 in partnership with Keep Farming.To unlock Knox, the Water Corporation is delivering a 77 million dollar upgrade of the M1 supply channel from Lake Kununurra, widening around 10 kilometres of channel, installing new control structures and offtakes, and lifting peak flow capacity by 570 megalitres per day, with completion targeted in 2027. The new 60 million dollar Kimberley Cotton Gin in Kununurra was officially opened in August 2025 with capacity for around 100,000 bales per year, anchoring a fast-growing local cotton industry alongside crops such as sandalwood, maize, mangoes, melons and pumpkin. Project partners include the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development, Water Corporation, Kimberley Agricultural Investment, the Ord Irrigation Cooperative and Miriuwung Gajerrong Traditional Owners.
Aboriginal Employee Housing Kununurra
A project to deliver six new homes for Aboriginal employees in Kununurra, funded by the State Government's North-West Aboriginal Housing Fund.
Coolibah Estate
Located near the Kununurra town centre, Coolibah Estate is a 124-home residential development situated close to schools, childcare, medical facilities, local shops, and sporting clubs. The estate is designed to provide a diverse range of housing products including single residential, grouped housing, commercial, and mixed-use sites.
Moonamang Road Sealing Project
WA Government $18.3 million commitment to seal remaining 7.5km of Moonamang Road to NT border. Provides year-round all-weather access to Legune Station supporting Project Sea Dragon and regional connectivity.
Kununurra Town Centre Revitalisation
State Government commitment of $327,500 to develop revitalisation plan for Kununurra Town Centre, modernising key gateway destination into WA and the Kimberley. Partnership between Shire, MG Corporation, East Kimberley Chamber of Commerce and Kimberley Development Commission. Plan aims to make the town centre more welcoming, vibrant and attractive for residents, businesses and visitors, and to lay the foundation for precinct-level improvement of infrastructure and amenities.
Kununurra Primary Health Centre
One-stop-shop healthcare hub for East Kimberley community enabling more people to access care closer to home. Part of $54 million East Kimberley Development Package health infrastructure allocation.
Weaber Plain Light Industrial Estate
Development of a light industrial estate providing fully serviced lots to expand the existing industrial precinct in Kununurra. The estate supports local industry and agricultural operations within the Ord River Irrigation Area with underground power, water, and sewer connections.
464 residents of Wadeye are employed, from a labour force of 629. Unemployment sits at 26.2%, with participation at 35.5%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.0% 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 1,959, about 86% 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
The local labour market features a blend of white-collar and manual positions with substantial presence in public services, alongside an unemployment rate of 26.2% and annual job growth estimated at 1.8% via AreaSearch district aggregations. Total employed residents stood at 464 as of March 2026, though unemployment exceeds the 5.9% recorded in Regional NT by 20.3%, and the local participation rate of 35.5% trails the 69.8% benchmark in Regional NT significantly. Census records showed only 1.4% working remotely from home, a metric that may reflect prevailing Covid-19 restrictions at the time.
Key employment sectors across the workforce include education & training, public administration & safety, as well as other services. The community demonstrates marked concentration in education & training, holding a workforce share 2.4 times that of regional levels. In contrast, accommodation & food accounts for just 1.7%, compared with the broader regional level of 6.9%. Differences between resident worker counts and local daytime positions suggest that this predominantly residential setting provides restricted employment options within its boundaries. Review of aggregated SALM and ABS statistics shows that across the 12 months to March 2026, local employment grew by 1.8% against a 4.0% rise in the labour pool, which increased unemployment by 1.6 percentage points. During that timeframe, Regional NT achieved a 2.8% rise in employment and a 2.7% expansion in the labour force, accompanied by a slight decrease in joblessness. National employment outlooks from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 provide context on potential future workforce requirements. Projecting these industry-level figures—which anticipate nationwide increases of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years—against the local industry base suggests employment expansion of 6.0% over five years and 12.8% over ten years (note this is an illustrative weighting model that excludes localized population projections).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Wadeye is $767 a week (about $40,000 a year), with median personal income at $181 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $29,616 a year against an average of $39,533. 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
Aggregated ATO data compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 indicates that taxpayer earnings in the suburb of Wadeye sit below Australian benchmarks. The median income is $29,616 with an average of $39,533, falling short of the $53,572 median and $63,776 average recorded in Regional NT. Adjusted for the 9.41% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, modeled figures reach roughly $32,403 (median) and $43,253 (average) as of March 2026. The lowest income category represents the largest cohort locally, capturing 28.5% of taxpayers (647 people), whereas the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket is the primary group regionally at 33.6%.
With 50.2% under $800/week, family finances are generally constrained. Although occupants retain 93.5% of their earnings after shelter costs, overall discretionary funds place the district at the 3rd percentile nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Wadeye had 339 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 73% detached houses and 2% apartments. 0% are owned with a mortgage, 99% rented and 1% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $50 a week. 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 the local housing stock consisted of 72.7% separate houses and 27.4% alternative dwelling types (encompassing townhouses, apartments, and other configurations), differing moderately from Regional NT proportions of 75.6% houses and 24.5% other dwellings. Outright home ownership in the locality stood at 1.1%, trailing regional benchmarks, while remaining homes had no active mortgages (with none being mortgaged) or were rented (98.9%). Median monthly mortgage costs were zero dollars compared to the $1,733 benchmark in Regional NT, and median weekly rental payments reached $50 against $150 in Regional NT.
At the national scale, local housing loan commitments are vastly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents sit well below the nationwide typical amount of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Wadeye counted 339 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 400 today, averaging 4.8 people each. 50% are couples with children, more than in 95% of areas nationally, against 13% couples without children. 12% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.8 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 85.0%, with couples with children accounting for 50.1%, couples without children making up 12.5%, and single parent families representing 20.8%. Non-family dwellings make up the remaining 15.0%, consisting of 11.9% single-person setups and 3.3% shared group households. The typical household size sits at 4.8 people, exceeding the 3.1 average across Regional NT.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
9.9% of adults in Wadeye hold a university qualification, including 6.4% with a bachelor degree and 2.3% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 98% of areas nationally. A further 10.8% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 456 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 656 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
Tertiary attainment poses a notable challenge in the locality, with only 9.9% holding higher education degrees compared to the 30.4% national rate, highlighting a vital area for training development. Bachelor degrees comprise the largest segment at 6.4%, accompanied by postgraduate qualifications at 2.3% and graduate diplomas at 1.2%. Technical and vocational credentials represent 15.3% of formal achievements among residents aged 15+, consisting of 4.5% with advanced diplomas and 10.8% with certificates. Participation in study is substantial, with 33.5% of the population actively enrolled in an educational institution. This proportion is comprised of 19.6% attending primary school, 8.8% in secondary schooling, and 1.5% undertaking tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
86.7% of residents in Wadeye report no long-term health condition. 3.9% need daily assistance with core activities, and 42.6% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 14.4 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
General health conditions across the community align reasonably well with national standards across age groups, based on AreaSearch mortality and health analyses, though private hospital and medical insurance uptake is notably low at roughly 43% (~967 people). This trails the 51.6% coverage rate across Regional NT and the 55.7% national average. Heart disease and asthma are the most prevalent diagnosed conditions, recorded among 4.7 and 3.4% of community members, respectively, while 86.7% reported having no diagnosed health conditions, outperforming the 78.4% figure across Regional NT. Seniors aged 65 and over represent 5.0% of the population (113 people), below the Regional NT proportion of 8.5%, with older residents demonstrating particularly favorable wellness metrics relative to broader Australian benchmarks.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Wadeye is largely Australian-born, at 97.4% of residents, with 87.2% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian Aboriginal (83.4%) and Australian (4.0%). 83.4% 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 is pronounced, with 2.6% of residents born abroad and 87.2% utilizing a non-English language at home. Christianity is the primary declared faith, practiced by 46.5% of the community. A notable variance appears in Other religions, which represent 14.1% locally—substantially higher than the 5.2% figure found across Regional NT. Regarding ancestral background, the three most common parental ancestries are Australian Aboriginal at 83.4% (markedly above the 43.6% regional level), Australian at 4.0% (substantially below the 14.9% regional rate), and English at 3.9% (considerably below the 14.3% regional benchmark). Minor variations also emerge across other groups, such as Korean ancestry accounting for 0.2% in the locality against 0.1% across the region.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Wadeye is 28, younger than 99% of areas nationally. That is 1 year older than at the 2021 Census. 38.6% 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 suburb of Wadeye maintains a younger demographic distribution than Regional NT overall. In August 2026, AreaSearch estimates that 42.8% of inhabitants are aged 0 - 24, compared with 35.2% in Regional NT, whereas the 45 - 64 bracket forms 17.7% locally versus 21.4% regionally. The estimated median age reached 28 as at August 2026, up from 27 at the 2021 Census and below the regional median of 31 at that Census, as well as the Australian median of 38 at that Census. Since the Census, the youth and young adult proportion decreased from 45.8% to 42.8%.
Through to 2041, the largest numerical increase is anticipated in the 45 - 64 cohort, adding 214 residents (53%) to reach 616, while the fastest growth rate is projected among residents aged 65+, rising 59% to 181, alongside an expected decrease in youth cohorts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Wadeye
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 · Jun 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, 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 (1,924 at the 2021 Census → 2,271 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 (SAL70275). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.