Wonthella

An assessment of population growth drivers in Wonthella reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, as of November 2025, the estimated population of the suburb of Wonthella is around 1,695. This reflects a decrease since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,711 people. The current estimate is inferred from AreaSearch's validation of resident population as 1,689 following examination of ABS ERP data release in June 2024 and two additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to approximately 456 persons per square kilometer. Population growth for the suburb was primarily driven by overseas migration during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and post-2032 estimations, AreaSearch utilises growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data. Future population trends indicate an above median growth for the suburb, with an expected increase of 238 persons to reach a total population of 1,933 by 2041, reflecting a 19.6% increase over the 17-year period.

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

Wonthella had minimal construction activity with one new dwelling approved annually on average over the five-year period from 2016 to 2020, totalling five dwellings. This low development level reflects the rural nature of the area where housing needs typically drive development rather than broad market demand. Note that the small sample size means individual projects can significantly influence annual growth and relativity statistics.

Wonthella had substantially lower development levels compared to Rest of WA during this period, with its development pattern also well below national averages. Recent building activity consisted entirely of detached dwellings, reflecting the area's rural character where larger properties are typical. Interestingly, developers built more traditional houses than the current mix suggests at Census, indicating strong demand for family homes. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Wonthella's population is forecasted to gain 332 residents by 2041.

At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Wonthella has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 6thth percentile nationally

No infrastructure changes have been identified by AreaSearch that could impact this area. Key projects include the Geraldton Green Connect Project, Geraldton Youth Precinct Masterplan Development, Dongara-Geraldton-Northampton Route (DGN Route), and WA Police Satellite Technology Upgrade, with the following list providing details on those most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch assessment indicates Wonthella faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Wonthella has a diverse workforce with both white and blue-collar jobs, representing various sectors. Its unemployment rate is 5.0%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of June 2025, there are 818 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 6.2% compared to Rest of WA's 4.4%. Workforce participation in Wonthella stands at 54.7%, slightly below Rest of WA's 59.4%. Major employment sectors include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and construction. Retail trade is particularly prominent with an employment share 1.7 times the regional level, while mining has lower representation at 4.7% compared to the regional average of 11.7%.

The area hosts more jobs than residents, with a worker-to-resident ratio of 1.2, indicating it serves as an employment hub attracting workers from nearby areas. Between June 2024 and June 2025, labour force levels in Wonthella decreased by 1.6%, alongside a 2.2% decline in employment, leading to a 0.5 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. In contrast, Rest of WA saw employment growth of 1.1% and labour force growth of 0.5%, with a 0.6 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest that over five years, national employment is projected to expand by 6.6%, and over ten years by 13.7%. Applying these projections to Wonthella's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by approximately 6.2% over five years and 13.0% over ten years.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 2022 shows that median income in Wonthella is $50,638 and average income is $63,301. This contrasts with Rest of WA's figures where median income is $57,323 and average income is $71,163. Based on a 14.2% increase in wages from financial year ending June 2022 to September 2025, estimated median income for Wonthella would be approximately $57,829 and average income would be around $72,290 by that date. According to Census 2021 data, incomes in Wonthella fall between the 5th and 13th percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. Income brackets indicate that 28.8% of residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, aligning with metropolitan regions where this cohort represents 31.1%. Housing affordability pressures are severe in Wonthella, with only 83.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 6th percentile nationally.

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

Wonthella's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 80.9% houses and 19.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro WA's 87.5% houses and 12.5% other dwellings. Home ownership in Wonthella was at 29.4%, with mortgages at 25.7% and rentals at 44.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,300, below Non-Metro WA's average of $1,517. Median weekly rent in Wonthella was $230, compared to Non-Metro WA's $250. Nationally, Wonthella's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,300 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 56.0% of all households, consisting of 17.3% couples with children, 22.6% couples without children, and 14.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 44.0%, with lone person households at 41.1% and group households making up 2.5% of the total. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Rest of WA average of 2.4.

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

The area's university qualification rate is substantially lower than the Australian average, at 10.2% compared to 30.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common among those with university qualifications, at 8.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.6%) and graduate diplomas (0.6%). Trade and technical skills are prominent in the area, with 42.8% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (8.1%) and certificates (34.7%).

Educational participation is high, with 25.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes primary education (9.3%), secondary education (9.2%), and tertiary education (1.6%). Allendale Primary School serves the Wonthella area, with an enrollment of 338 students as of a recent report. The school focuses exclusively on primary education, with secondary options available in surrounding areas.

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

Transport analysis in Wonthella shows 21 active public transport stops operating. These are mixed bus services. There are 4 routes serving these stops, providing a total of 120 weekly passenger trips.

Transport accessibility is rated excellent with residents typically located 169 meters from the nearest stop. Service frequency averages 17 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 5 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Wonthella is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Wonthella faces significant health challenges, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover is more common here than average, at approximately 52% (~886 people). The most frequent medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 9.6% and 9.6% of residents respectively. A total of 59.5% report no medical ailments, compared to 66.8% in the rest of WA. There are 18.0% seniors aged 65 and over (305 people). Health outcomes among seniors present challenges but perform better than the general population in health metrics.

Wonthella ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Wonthella, as per the census conducted on 9 August 2016, exhibited lower than average cultural diversity. The population was predominantly Australian citizens, with 85.4%. Born in Australia, they constituted 85.3%, and 91.6% spoke English exclusively at home.

Christianity was the predominant religion, practiced by 46.8% of Wonthella's residents. However, Islam, at 1.3%, was notably higher than the regional average of 1.3%. The top three ancestral groups were Australian (30.5%), English (29.2%), and Australian Aboriginal (7.7%). Notable disparities existed in the representation of Maori (1.2% vs regional 0.7%), Filipino (1.8% vs 1.0%), and New Zealand (0.8% vs 0.6%) ethnic groups.

Wonthella hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Wonthella is 42 years, which is slightly higher than Rest of WA's average of 40 years, and considerably older than Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Rest of WA, Wonthella has a higher percentage of residents aged 25-34 (15.3%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (9.7%). According to the 2021 Census, the proportion of the population aged 25 to 34 increased from 12.7% to 15.3%, while the percentage of those aged 85 and above decreased from 3.6% to 1.5%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Wonthella's age structure. The 25-34 age group is expected to grow by 57%, reaching 406 people from the current 259. Conversely, the population of those aged 85 and above, as well as the 75-84 cohort, is projected to decline.