Donnybrook - Balingup

Population growth drivers in Donnybrook - Balingup are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Donnybrook-Balingup's population was around 6,748 as of May 2026. This reflected a growth of 593 people from the 2021 Census figure of 6,155, inferred from ABS estimated resident population data in June 2025 and validated new addresses since then. The population density was 4.3 persons per square kilometer. Donnybrook-Balingup's growth rate of 9.6% exceeded the SA3 area average of 9.3% and the national average, indicating strong regional leadership in population growth. Interstate migration contributed approximately 51.6% to overall population gains recently, with all factors including overseas migration and natural growth being positive. AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and ABS Greater Capital Region projections from 2023 based on 2022 data for areas not covered by the first set.

Future demographic trends suggest above median population growth outside capital cities, with Donnybrook-Balingup projected to expand by 1,007 persons to 2041, reflecting a 14.2% increase over 16 years based on latest annual ERP population numbers.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Donnybrook - Balingup when compared nationally

Donnybrook-Balingup has seen approximately 44 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25. A total of 220 homes were approved during this period, with an additional 24 approved in FY26 so far. Each dwelling built has resulted in an average increase of 2.1 new residents per year over these five years, indicating strong demand that supports property values.

The average construction cost value of new homes is $238,000, which is below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. In FY26, $9.0 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting the area's predominantly residential nature. Compared to the rest of WA, Donnybrook-Balingup has seen slightly higher development activity, with 14.0% more approvals per person over the past five years.

This maintains good buyer choice while supporting existing property values. The new development in the area consists of 93.0% detached dwellings and 7.0% attached dwellings, preserving its traditional low-density character focused on family homes. There are approximately 166 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Donnybrook-Balingup is expected to grow by 957 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Donnybrook - Balingup has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 5thth percentile nationally

The performance of an area can greatly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 8 projects that are expected to have an impact on the area. Notable among these are the Donnybrook Town Centre Revitalisation Project, Bridge Street Housing Project (Independent Living Units), Collie to Mumballup Road Upgrade, and Global Advanced Metals Tantalum Processing facility. The following list provides details of those projects deemed most relevant.

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

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.

AreaSearch analysis places Donnybrook - Balingup well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Donnybrook-Balingup has a skilled workforce with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors. The unemployment rate is 2.6%, with an estimated employment growth of 5.4% over the past year as of December 2025. In this period, 3,471 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.0% lower than Regional WA's rate of 3.5%.

Workforce participation is similar to Regional WA at 66.0%. According to Census responses, 13.4% of residents work from home. Dominant employment sectors include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and mining. The area has a notable concentration in agriculture, forestry & fishing with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average.

However, accommodation & food services have limited presence with 5.4% employment compared to 7.1% regionally. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by Census working population vs resident population count. In the 12-month period ending December 2025, employment increased by 5.4% while labour force grew by 5.3%, resulting in a slight unemployment decrease of 0.1 percentage points. This contrasts with Regional WA where employment rose by 1.0%, labour force grew by 1.4%, and unemployment rose by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Donnybrook-Balingup. These projections estimate national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Donnybrook-Balingup's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.3% over five years and 11.8% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localized population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

The median taxpayer income in Donnybrook - Balingup SA2 is $49,654 and the average is $63,852 according to AreaSearch's aggregation of postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023. This is lower than national averages; Regional WA has a median income of $59,973 and an average of $74,392. By March 2026, estimated incomes would be approximately $55,081 (median) and $70,831 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since financial year 2023. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Donnybrook - Balingup fall between the 20th and 22nd percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 27.0% of locals (1,821 people) earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, similar to the surrounding region where 31.1% fall into this bracket. After housing costs, 86.0% of income remains, ranking at the 25th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

Donnybrook - Balingup is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure in Donnybrook-Balingup, as per the latest Census, comprised 96.9% houses and 3.0% other dwellings. In comparison, Regional WA had 88.5% houses and 11.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Donnybrook-Balingup was 45.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 39.2% and rented ones at 15.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,562, higher than Regional WA's average of $1,560. Median weekly rent in Donnybrook-Balingup was $290, compared to Regional WA's $265. Nationally, mortgage repayments were lower at $1,863 and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Donnybrook - Balingup has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 73.4% of all households, including 25.9% couples with children, 38.6% couples without children, and 7.9% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 26.6%, with lone person households at 24.5% and group households comprising 2.1%. The median household size is 2.4 people, smaller than the Regional WA average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in Donnybrook - Balingup fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 17.4%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.6%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 41.4% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 10.9% and certificates at 30.5%. A total of 24.2% of the population is actively engaged in formal education, including 10.3% in primary, 7.6% in secondary, and 1.4% in tertiary education.

A substantial 24.2% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 10.3% in primary education, 7.6% in secondary education, and 1.4% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Donnybrook-Balingup has eight operational public transport stops, all of which are bus services. These stops are served by four different routes that together facilitate 30 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is considered limited, with residents typically residing 1903 meters away from the nearest stop. Primarily residential, most commuters travel outward, predominantly by car at a rate of 90%, while 5% walk. On average, there are 1.8 vehicles per dwelling, exceeding the regional norm. According to the 2021 Census, only 13.4% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages four trips daily across all routes, equating to approximately three weekly trips per individual stop.

Donnybrook - Balingup's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Donnybrook's health metrics closely align with national benchmarks, as assessed by AreaSearch using mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are seen across both young and old age cohorts at a fairly standard level. Private health cover is relatively low, with approximately 50% of the total population (~3,407 people), compared to Regional WA's 56.4% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (10.5%) and mental health issues (8.3%), while 66.1% report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Regional WA's 69.3%. Health outcomes among working-age residents are typical. The area has 23.6% of residents aged 65 and over (1,589 people), higher than Regional WA's 19.2%. Senior health outcomes rank nationally even higher than the general population.

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

Donnybrook-Balingup, surveyed in 2016, showed low cultural diversity with 80.2% of residents born in Australia and 88.3% being citizens. English was the primary language spoken at home by 94.9%. Christianity was the predominant religion, practiced by 44.3%.

Judaism, while still minor at 0.1%, was overrepresented compared to Regional WA's 0.0%. Ancestry-wise, English (35.7%) and Australian (28.6%) were dominant, followed by Scottish (8.3%). Notably, Dutch (1.7%), Italian (4.9%), and New Zealand (0.8%) ethnicities had higher representation than the regional averages of 1.5%, 3.0%, and 0.9% respectively.

Donnybrook - Balingup hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Donnybrook-Balingup's median age of 48 years is notably higher than Regional WA's 40 years and the national norm of 38 years. Compared to the Regional WA average, the 65-74 cohort is significantly over-represented at 14.6% locally, while the 15-24 age group is under-represented at 8.3%. This concentration of the 65-74 cohort is well above the national average of 9.4%. Between 2021 and present, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 8.1% to 11.2% of the population. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group has declined from 13.7% to 11.5%, and the 65 to 74 cohort has dropped from 15.9% to 14.6%. Demographic modeling suggests that Donnybrook-Balingup's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 25 to 34 age group is projected to expand notably, increasing by 300 people (40%) from 759 to 1,060. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 85+ and 15 to 24 cohorts.