Roebourne

Roebourne has shown very soft population growth performance across periods assessed by AreaSearch

According to the analysis by AreaSearch, the population of Roebourne stands at approximately 5,770 in May 2026. This indicates a growth of 583 individuals (11.2%) from the 2021 Census, which documented 5,187 residents. This population shift is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 5,770 combined with 2 validated new addresses registered since the Census. With these numbers, the region has a density ratio of 0.40 persons per square kilometer, which ensures a significant amount of space for each resident. This 11.2% rate of growth since the 2021 census outpaced the national figure of 9.3% and matched the Rest of WA, positioning the area as a regional growth leader. The primary driver of this demographic expansion was natural increase, which accounted for roughly 54.5% of the total population rise in recent times.

AreaSearch utilizes the 2024 population projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia for each SA2 region, using 2022 as the baseline year. For any SA2 localities missing from this dataset, as well as for forecasting growth beyond 2032, AreaSearch applies age cohort growth rates from the latest Greater Capital Region projections published by the ABS in 2023, based on 2022 records. Factoring in these demographic transitions, the locality is projected to experience population growth slightly below the median for regional Australia, expanding by 671 residents by 2041 relative to the latest annual ERP statistics, which translates to a total increase of 11.6% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Roebourne, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Roebourne has seen approximately 40 home approvals granted per year, summing to 201 residential dwellings over the past 5 financial years. In the current FY-26 period, 3 approvals have been logged. An average of 1.2 individuals moved to the area for every new home constructed between FY-21 and FY-25, pointing to balanced supply and demand conditions that support market stability. However, this metric climbed to 16.2 individuals per dwelling over the past 2 financial years, indicating growing demand and a reduction in available supply. Newly constructed residences carry an average estimated value of $220,000, which is below typical regional figures, offering more affordable options for home buyers. Furthermore, commercial approvals have reached $56.8 million this financial year, reflecting substantial local business development.

Compared to the Rest of WA, Roebourne registers 108.0% more new home approvals per capita, providing prospective buyers with a wider selection, even though recent building activity has slowed down. The mix of recent construction consists of 94.0% detached houses and 6.0% townhouses or apartments, which preserves the historically low-density environment and emphasizes family residences for individuals desiring extra space. Notably, building developers are focusing more on detached houses than the historical baseline suggests (which stood at 77.0% during the Census), indicating a sustained preference for family-oriented housing options despite broader density trends. The estimated ratio of 3200 residents for every single approved dwelling underscores the quiet and low-intensity nature of local property development.

Based on the most recent quarterly estimates from AreaSearch, population projections indicate Roebourne will add 671 residents by 2041. Given current rates of construction, the supply of housing is expected to comfortably satisfy this demand, which should create favorable conditions for home buyers and potentially pave the way for growth that surpasses these projections.

Roebourne has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 23rdth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, planning choices, and development initiatives are key drivers of regional economic trends. AreaSearch has identified 15 major projects that are anticipated to influence the area. Leading projects include the Perdaman Urea Project - Project Destiny, the Yuri Hydrogen Project, the Karratha Hotel Development, and The Quarter Karratha, with specific details of relevant projects listed below.

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.

The employment environment in Roebourne shows above-average strength when compared nationally

Roebourne has a balanced employment profile split between white and blue collar jobs, with a notable concentration in industrial and manufacturing sectors, an unemployment rate of only 3.0%, and a yearly employment growth rate estimated at 3.6%. As of March 2026, there are 3,105 employed residents, and the local unemployment rate is 0.5% lower than the 3.5% rate recorded in Regional WA, while the participation rate is relatively typical at 68.6% compared to 65.6% across Regional WA. According to Census responses, a minor 2.4% of the workforce operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by Covid-19 restrictions.

The primary employment sectors for local residents are mining, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The area exhibits a high concentration in mining, where the employment proportion is 3.9 times greater than the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing represents only a small portion of the workforce at 0.5%, compared to 9.3% across the region. With a ratio of 1.2 jobs for every local resident at the time of the Census, the locality serves as a regional employment hub, offering more jobs than it has working residents and drawing in commuters from nearby communities.

An analysis of SALM and ABS statistics by AreaSearch shows that during the 12 months leading up to March 2026, the number of employed persons grew by 3.6% and the total labor force expanded by 3.7%, leading to a 0.1 percentage point rise in unemployment. In comparison, Regional WA experienced a 0.1% drop in employment, a 0.3% rise in the labor force, and a 0.4 percentage point increase in unemployment. National employment projections released in May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide additional context regarding future workforce requirements in Roebourne. These five and ten-year forecasts have been applied to the local workforce structure to model potential growth. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though these rates vary significantly by sector. Applying these industry-specific trends to the local employment distribution suggests that Roebourne's employment will expand by 4.4% over five years and 10.9% over ten years, representing a basic weighted extrapolation for demonstration purposes that does not account for local population growth projections.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

According to postcode-level ATO data compiled by AreaSearch for the 2023 financial year, the median taxpayer income in the Roebourne SA2 is $89,365, with an average of $100,097. This places the area in the highest national brackets, contrasting with the median of $59,973 and average of $74,392 recorded across Regional WA. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates as of March 2026 are approximately $99,133 for the median and $111,038 for the average. Census records show that household, family, and individual incomes in Roebourne are high, landing at the 96th and 96th percentiles nationally. The largest income category is the $4000+ per week bracket, which includes 32.3% of residents (1,863 people), differing from regional trends where 31.1% of households earn between $1,500 and $2,999. The high percentage of top earners, with 49.7% of households receiving more than $3,000 weekly, points to strong local economic resources. After accounting for housing costs, residents retain 93.2% of their income, indicating high disposable income, and the area is positioned in the 5th decile of the SEIFA economic index.

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

The housing mix in Roebourne at the time of the latest Census consisted of 77.0% houses and 23.1% other dwelling styles, such as townhouses, apartments, and alternative structures, compared to 88.5% houses and 11.6% other options in Regional WA. Home ownership in Roebourne was lower than the regional rate, standing at 10.8%, with the remaining properties occupied by people with mortgages (20.1%) or renters (69.1%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $2,167 was significantly higher than the Regional WA average, while the median weekly rent was recorded at $150, compared to regional figures of $1,560 and $265 respectively. On a national scale, mortgage payments in Roebourne are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, whereas rental costs are below the national median of $375.

Roebourne features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Families make up 77.2% of all local households, consisting of 42.3% couples with children, 24.8% couples without children, and 8.6% single parent households. The remaining 22.8% are non-family households, which are dominated by single-person households at 20.7% and group housing setups at 2.1%. The median household size stands at 2.9 individuals, which is larger than the Regional WA average of 2.5.

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

Educational statistics indicate a lower level of academic attainment in the area, with university qualification rates at 15.2%, which is below the national average of 30.4%. This highlights an opportunity for targeted local educational programs. Among those with university degrees, bachelor qualifications are most common at 11.4%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 2.0% and graduate diplomas at 1.8%. Vocational and technical training are highly represented, with 49.6% of residents aged 15 and over possessing vocational certificates, consisting of advanced diplomas at 9.2% and certificates at 40.4%.

A high proportion of residents are engaged in study, with 42.6% of the population enrolled in formal education programs. This group includes 18.6% of residents in primary schools, 12.4% in secondary schools, and 2.6% enrolled in tertiary institutions.

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

Public transport services in Roebourne include 10 active bus stops. These stops are served by 2 distinct routes that provide a total of 21 weekly trips. Accessibility is low, with residents living an average of 1392 meters from their nearest transit stop. The majority of residents commute outside of the area for work, with private cars being the primary mode of travel at 76%, followed by buses at 12% and walking at 6%. The average number of motor vehicles per household is 1.8, which is higher than the regional average. A low proportion of residents (2.4%) worked from home according to the 2021 Census, which was collected during pandemic conditions.

Service frequency across all routes averages 3 trips per day, which translates to approximately 2 weekly trips per transit stop.

Health outcomes in Roebourne are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data points to below-average outcomes in Roebourne, based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality statistics and the prevalence of chronic health conditions. Chronic health issues are slightly more common than average across both youth and older age brackets, while the rate of private health insurance is high, covering approximately 71% of the population (4,119 people). This compares to 56.4% across Regional WA and a national average of 55.7%.

Asthma and mental health conditions are the most prevalent health issues in the region, affecting 6.2% and 5.1% of residents respectively. Conversely, 78.8% of the population reported no chronic health conditions, which is higher than the 69.3% average in Regional WA. Working-age residents show good health profiles with low rates of chronic illness. Residents aged 65 and older represent 6.1% of the local population (354 people), which is lower than the Regional WA figure of 19.2%. Senior health outcomes are above average, with national rankings exceeding those of the general local population.

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

Roebourne shows above-average levels of cultural diversity, with 16.7% of its residents born outside of Australia and 17.1% speaking a non-English language at home. Christianity is the primary religion, followed by 33.7% of the local population. The most significant divergence from regional norms is in the Other religious category, which accounts for 1.9% of local residents compared to 0.7% across Regional WA.

In terms of family heritage and parental birthplaces, the three largest ancestry groups in Roebourne are Australian at 28.1%, English at 24.2% (which is below the regional average of 31.3%), and Australian Aboriginal at 15.0% (which is higher than the regional average of 6.1%). Notable differences are also present in other ethnic ancestries, with Maori making up 1.8% of Roebourne residents (compared to 1.0% regionally), New Zealanders at 1.1% (compared to 0.9% regionally), and South Australians at 0.7% (compared to 0.6% regionally).

Roebourne hosts a young demographic, positioning it in the bottom quartile nationwide

Roebourne has a median age of 34, making it younger than Regional WA where the median is 40, and the national median of 38 years. The 35 - 44 age cohort represents 20.8% of the population, compared to 4.6% for the 65 - 74 age bracket. The concentration of residents aged 35 - 44 is higher than the national average of 14.3%. Since 2021, the 35 to 44 age bracket has increased from 19.3% to 20.8% of the population, and the 65 to 74 group has grown from 3.6% to 4.6%, while the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 15.0% to 12.9%. Projections for 2041 indicate that the 25 to 34 age bracket will increase by 26% (263 people) to reach 1,260 from 996, while the numbers of residents in the 15 to 24 and 5 to 14 cohorts are expected to decrease.