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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
Sales Activity
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Population
West Bathurst is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends
West Bathurst's population, as of November 2025, is estimated at around 3,742 people. This figure reflects an increase of 108 individuals since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,634. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of 3,701 residents following examination of ABS' ERP data release in June 2024 and validation of two new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 1,294 persons per square kilometer, exceeding national averages assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, West Bathurst demonstrated resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.2%, outpacing its SA3 area. Natural growth contributed approximately 73.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.
AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year are utilized. Future population trends forecast a significant increase in the top quartile of national non-metropolitan areas, with West Bathurst expected to expand by 1,021 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 28.9% over the 17 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Residential development activity is lower than average in West Bathurst according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets
West Bathurst has seen limited development activity with an average of 2 approvals per year over the past five years (13 approvals in total). This low level of development reflects the rural nature of the area, where housing needs typically drive development rather than broad market demand. The small sample size means individual projects can significantly influence annual growth statistics.
West Bathurst has shown less construction activity compared to the Rest of NSW and is below national averages. Recent developments have been solely detached houses, maintaining the area's rural character with emphasis on space. With approximately 2517 people per dwelling approval, West Bathurst indicates a highly mature market. By 2041, West Bathurst is projected to gain 1,082 residents (as per AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate).
If current development rates persist, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting stronger price growth.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Infrastructure
West Bathurst has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally
The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of five projects that are expected to impact this particular area. Notable among these are Bathurst Hospital Redevelopment, Windradyne 1100 Subdivision, Bathurst Integrated Medical Centre, and 56 Colville Street Residential Development. The following list provides details about those projects likely to be most relevant.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) Transmission Project
Australia's first coordinated Renewable Energy Zone transmission project. It involves the delivery of 90km of 500kV and 150km of 330kV transmission lines, along with energy hubs at Merotherie and Elong Elong. The project will initially unlock 4.5 GW of network capacity, increasing to 6 GW by 2038. ACEREZ (Acciona, Cobra, Endeavour Energy) is the Network Operator responsible for design, construction, and 35 years of maintenance. Major construction is currently ramping up with a 1,200-bed workforce camp at Merotherie and a 600-bed site at Cassilis supporting thousands of local jobs.
Central-West Orana REZ Transmission Network
Major transmission infrastructure project involving the design, construction, and operation of new 500kV and 330kV transmission lines to connect the Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone (REZ) to the National Electricity Market. The project includes network upgrades and new substations centered around Dubbo, Dunedoo, and Mudgee, connecting to the existing grid near Wollar and Mount Piper. It will unlock at least 4.5GW of new network capacity by the late 2020s.
Central-West Orana Renewable Energy Zone
Australia's first Renewable Energy Zone (REZ), covering 20,000 square kilometres centered around Dubbo and Dunedoo. The project involves constructing 90km of 500kV and 150km of 330kV transmission lines, plus new energy hubs at Merotherie and Elong Elong. It will unlock 4.5 GW of initial network capacity, supporting up to 7.7 GW of solar, wind, and battery storage projects. Construction began in mid-2025 and is expected to power over 2.7 million homes while attracting up to $25 billion in private investment.
Bathurst Hospital Redevelopment
The $200 million Bathurst Hospital Redevelopment is a major healthcare upgrade delivering a mix of new-build expansions and refurbishments. Key clinical enhancements include an expanded Emergency Department, enhanced Maternity services with a Special Care Nursery, and a new non-acute mental health inpatient unit known as Panorama Clinic. The project also provides improved inpatient and outpatient services, additional operating theatres, expanded cardiology, a new paediatrics zone, and a new main entry on Mitre Street. The redevelopment includes over 70 additional car parking spaces and is designed with a strong Connection to Country, featuring light-filled spaces and improved access to Victoria Park.
Bathurst Integrated Medical Centre
A proposed six-level integrated medical precinct on the former Clancy Ford site. The facility is designed to include a private hospital with four operating theatres, radiology, pathology, womens health, and specialist practices. The project includes a multi-level carpark with a link bridge to the medical centre to provide approximately 580 to 950 spaces. Recent updates indicate ongoing negotiations between the developer and Bathurst Regional Council regarding carpark funding and capacity.
Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy
State-wide NSW planning reforms to enable diverse low and mid-rise housing, including dual occupancies, terraces, townhouses, and apartment buildings up to 6 storeys. The policy applies to residential zones within 800m of 171 nominated transport hubs and town centres. Stage 1 (dual occupancies) commenced 1 July 2024, and Stage 2 (mid-rise apartments and terraces) commenced 28 February 2025. In June 2025, further amendments adjusted aircraft noise thresholds and clarified storey definitions to expand the policy's reach. The initiative is expected to facilitate approximately 112,000 additional homes by 2030.
Robin Hill Convenience Centre
A 6,500-square-metre convenience centre including a 7-Eleven service station, Subway, Red Rooster, and McDonald's. The development transformed an existing car dealership site and was completed and opened in March 2024.
The Gateway Bathurst
The Gateway Bathurst is a 27-hectare landmark mixed-use commercial and business precinct located in Kelso, featuring 1 kilometre of frontage to the Great Western Highway. The development is being delivered in multiple stages, with Stage 1 focused on quick-service restaurants, a service station, and childcare. Subsequent stages include large-format retail, vehicle showrooms, and light industrial services. Operational tenants include Metro Petroleum, Imagine Childcare, Oporto, and KFC, with major retail additions such as Harvey Norman, Beacon Lighting, and Rebel Sport under development or recently opened.
Employment
AreaSearch assessment indicates West Bathurst faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets
West Bathurst has a skilled workforce with essential services sectors well-represented. As of September 2025, the unemployment rate is 4.9%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.
The area has 1,938 residents in work, with an unemployment rate 1.1% higher than Rest of NSW's rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation is at 58.4%, slightly above Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade, with notable concentration in education & training at 1.3 times the regional average. Agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence, with only 1.6% employment compared to the regional average of 5.3%.
The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities. Over the 12 months to September 2025, labour force levels decreased by 3.7%, and employment fell by 5.4%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 1.7 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of NSW saw employment fall by 0.5% and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. State-level data from 25-Nov-25 shows NSW employment contracted by 0.03% (losing 2,260 jobs), with the state unemployment rate at 3.9%. Nationally, the unemployment rate is 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to West Bathurst's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.4% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch
According to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data released on 1 July 2023 for financial year 2023, West Bathurst had a median income among taxpayers of $48,443. The average income stood at $58,424. This is lower than the national average and compares to levels of $52,390 and $65,215 across Rest of NSW respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $52,735 (median) and $63,600 (average) as of September 2025. Census data from 2021 shows household, family and personal incomes in West Bathurst rank modestly, between the 20th and 34th percentiles. Income brackets indicate that 32.0% of individuals earn within the $1,500 - 2,999 range, reflecting patterns seen in surrounding regions where similarly 29.9% occupy this income band. Housing affordability pressures are severe in West Bathurst, with only 83.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 20th percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
West Bathurst is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region
The latest Census evaluation showed that West Bathurst's dwelling structure comprised 94.8% houses and 5.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 86.1% houses and 13.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in West Bathurst was at 32.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 28.7% and rented ones at 38.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,443, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent figure in West Bathurst was $310, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $315. Nationally, West Bathurst's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
West Bathurst features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size
Family households constitute 62.0% of all households, including 19.9% couples with children, 23.0% couples without children, and 17.6% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 38.0%, with lone person households at 34.2% and group households comprising 4.1%. The median household size is 2.3 people, smaller than the Rest of NSW average of 2.5.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Educational outcomes in West Bathurst fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment
The area's university qualification rate is 20.0%, significantly lower than the NSW average of 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 13.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 39.6% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas (9.9%) and certificates (29.7%). Educational participation is high, with 31.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.
This includes 10.5% in primary education, 8.7% in secondary education, and 4.2% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is good compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
West Bathurst has 77 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, totaling 43 individual services. Together, these routes facilitate 676 weekly passenger trips in the area.
The accessibility of transport is rated as excellent, with residents typically residing just 119 meters from their nearest transport stop. On average, there are 96 trips per day across all routes, which translates to approximately eight weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health performance in West Bathurst is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts
West Bathurst faces significant health challenges, as indicated by health data. Both younger and older age groups have a notable prevalence of common health conditions.
Approximately 50% (~1,873 people) of West Bathurst's total population has private health cover, which is lower than the national average of 55.7%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions in the area, affecting 11.2 and 11.1% of residents respectively. However, 60.9% of residents report having no medical ailments, compared to 63.5% across Rest of NSW. West Bathurst has an 18.1% (677 people) senior population, which is lower than the 19.4% in Rest of NSW. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in West Bathurst are challenging but perform better than the general population in health metrics.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
West Bathurst is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics
West Bathurst's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 89.0% of its population being citizens, 90.8% born in Australia, and 94.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion in West Bathurst, comprising 56.0% of people, compared to 61.6% across Rest of NSW. The top three ancestry groups are English (30.9%), Australian (29.4%), and Irish (10.5%).
Notably, Australian Aboriginal representation is higher at 7.3% in West Bathurst than the regional average of 4.6%. Welsh and Lebanese populations also diverge from regional averages, with 0.6% and 0.2%, respectively, compared to 0.4% and 0.3%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
West Bathurst's population is slightly younger than the national pattern
The median age in West Bathurst is 36 years, which is significantly lower than Rest of NSW's average of 43 years and somewhat younger than Australia's median age of 38 years. The 15-24 age group constitutes 14.9% of the population in West Bathurst, compared to the Rest of NSW, while the 65-74 cohort makes up 8.2%. According to data from the post-2021 Census, the 15-24 age group has increased from 14.2% to 14.9%, whereas the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 11.2% to 9.8% and the 5-14 group has dropped from 12.9% to 11.7%. By 2041, West Bathurst's population is forecasted to experience substantial demographic changes. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 67%, adding 370 people and reaching a total of 921 from the current 550. Conversely, the 45-54 and 55-64 cohorts are expected to see population declines.