Median house price
—
No data available
NSW · Central Darling Council
Wilcannia, 2836
Population
735
Growth (1 yr)
0.0%
Growth (5 yr)
-3.4%
Median age
32
Median income
$1,211/wk
Employment rate
31.9%
Languages at home
2.1%non-English
Mostly English at home
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- Heritage area
- National parks
Suburb profile
In Central Darling Council, Wilcannia keeps a rural calm, a smaller community with room to breathe and a strong local rhythm. A younger crowd gives the area energy, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice.
Parks and open space are a real strength relative to many regional towns, easy for walks, sport and weekend downtime. Day-to-day life is more car-oriented here, with buses covering longer trips across the wider area. Purchase and rent costs sit on the more affordable side of the local range.
Reported crime has been falling recently. This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.
Versus similar regional towns, the suburb reads below average on desirability, chiefly because community and employment trail behind. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
At a glance
Wilcannia snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
—
No data available
Population (Census)
735
0.0% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
28.0%
Census unoccupied dwellings
Livability profile
Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)
How it compares
Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles
Desirability
#159
among Country & regional · Established
Safety
100th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
37th
percentile in NSW
Advantage (IRSAD)
1/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
2nd
percentile among schools with ICSEA
Population growth
Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years
Housing mix
Dwelling types from the 2021 Census
Risks & flags
Quick scan — open a section below for full context
Living here
Desirability
Ranks & confidence
- Desirability score
- 21.1/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6631st in Australia
- State rank
- 2102nd in NSW
- Peer rank
- #159 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #1020 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 89%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Population
Population growth
0.0% annual · -3.4% over 5 years · 37th percentile in NSW
Growth rates are from ABS Estimated Resident Population at SA2 level. Headcount uses 2021 Census when allocated ERP is too low relative to Census to display reliably.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 735
- Median age
- 32
- Median household income / week
- $1,211
- Dwelling vacancy
- 28%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 75 of 268
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,350
- Employment rate
- 31.9%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 162 / 12 / 3 (+ 4 other)
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries
Community & culture
No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Crime & safety
Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.
Offence counts & rates
- Total offences (Jan 2025 to Dec 2025)
- 323
- Against the person
- 110
- Against property
- 90
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 3,755.8
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 7 residents
- State safety percentile
- 100th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -35.7%
Most common offence types
- Breach Apprehended Violence Order46
- Breach Bail Conditions43
- Domestic Violence Related Assault59
- Intimidation, Stalking And Harassment49
- Malicious Damage To Property32
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- BOCSAR postcode crime statistics — NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research · Jan 2024 to Dec 2024 → Jan 2025 to Dec 2025; Jan 2025 to Dec 2025 · Updated · Rolling 12-month windows
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 706.5
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 2th
School list
- St Therese's Community Parish SchoolPrimary · Catholic · ICSEA 740 · 2th percentile · LBOTE 4% · 25 students · Top SEA quarter 1%View on My School →
- Wilcannia Central SchoolCombined · Government · ICSEA 673 · 1th percentile · LBOTE 63% · 65 students · Top SEA quarter 3%View on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Wilcannia Public School Preschool (Barlu Kurli)kindergarten
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Public transport
7 public transport stops in this suburb
- Barrier Hwy Opp Homestead Dr
- Emmdale Coach Stop
- Wilcannia Coach Stop
- Wilcannia RTC, Reid St
- Wilcannia RTC, Reid St
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- Timetables Complete GTFS stops (© Transport for NSW, CC BY 4.0) — Transport for NSW — Open Data Hub · current · Updated · Nightly GTFS feed
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- Local amenity insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Parks & reserves
3 parks and public open space in this suburb
- Baker ParkPark
- Burke ParkPark
- Reconciliation ParkPark
Data sources & freshness
- Parks & reserves — State government + ABS LGA boundaries · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 4
- Parks (OSM)
- 4
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 2
- Nearest hospital
- Wilcannia Hospital (36.2 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- On site
- Wilcannia HospitalHospital
- Wilcannia Multi-Purpose ServiceRoss StreetHospital
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 2
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 23.3
Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.
For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.
Data sources & freshness
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
Weather
Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.
Summer (Dec–Feb)
- Usual max / min
- 35° / 20°
- Rainfall
- 79 mm · ~10 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 27° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 60 mm · ~8 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 19° / 5°
- Rainfall
- 57 mm · ~7 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 27° / 13°
- Rainfall
- 54 mm · ~7 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
Planning & development
Development applications from NSW Planning Portal.
2026· 2 proposals
April 2026
- Hotel or motel accommodation; Restaurant or cafe; Advertising and signage; Footpaths - outdoor dining; Outdoor dining - general; Change of use of land or a building or the classification of a building under the Building Code of Australia; Food and drink premise; Take away food and drink; Hours of operation and trading65 REID STREET WILCANNIA 2836Determined
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development88 WOORE STREET WILCANNIA 2836Determined
2025· 3 proposals
October 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure112 WOORE STREET WILCANNIA 2836Determined
July 2025
- Dwelling house; Erection of a new structure112 WOORE STREET WILCANNIA 2836Determined
February 2025
- Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing100 HOOD STREET WILCANNIA 2836Determined
2024· 6 proposals
November 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Neighbourhood shop40A-40B REID STREET WILCANNIA 2836Determined
October 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Non-standard Housing100 HOOD STREET WILCANNIA 2836Determined
August 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home; Moveable dwelling25 MCINTYRE STREET WILCANNIA 2836Determined
May 2024
- Demolition; Shed; Erection of a new structure; Supporting Development88 WOORE STREET WILCANNIA 2836Determined
- Erection of a new structure; Telecommunications facility30-40 JAMES STREET WILCANNIA 2836Determined
March 2024
- Erection of a new structure; Manufactured home1963 OPAL MINERS WAY WILCANNIA 2836Determined
2023· 5 proposals
November 2023
- Erection of a new structure; Temporary building, structure or use; Transport Infrastructure"WILCANNIA AERODROME" Wilcannia Aerodrome roadDetermined
July 2023
- Demolition; Other42 REID STREET WILCANNIA 2836Determined
June 2023
- Health services facilitiesBONNEY STREET WILCANNIA 2836Determined
February 2023
- Dual occupancy71 WOORE STREET WILCANNIA 2836Determined
- Dual occupancy23-25 CLEATON STREET WILCANNIA 2836Determined
2022· 9 proposals
December 2022
- Dwelling42 ADAMS STREET WILCANNIA 2836Determined
November 2022
- OtherBARRIER HIGHWAY WILCANNIA 2836Determined
September 2022
- Business premises39 REID STREET WILCANNIA 2836Withdrawn
- Health services facilitiesBONNEY STREET WILCANNIA 2836Determined
- Alterations and additions to residential development119-121 WOORE STREET WILCANNIA 2836Determined
- Recreational Uses76-92 HOOD STREET WILCANNIA 2836Determined
May 2022
- Alterations and additions to residential development; Alterations and additions to commercial development; Mixed use development65-67 REID STREET WILCANNIADetermined
April 2022
- Dwelling3711 Warrali Avenue WilcanniaDetermined
- Demolition; Other42 REID STREET WILCANNIA 2836Determined
2021· 11 proposals
November 2021
- Shed3 Woore Street Wilcannia 2836Determined
- Health services facilitiesBONNEY STREET WILCANNIA 2836Determined
August 2021
- Telecommunications and communication facilities1-7 ROSS STREET WILCANNIA 2836Determined
May 2021
- Other30-40 James Street WilcanniaDetermined
- Out of school hours care105 HOOD STREET WILCANNIA 2836Determined
April 2021
- Farm buildings5-19 WILSON STREET WILCANNIA 2836Determined
- Multi-dwelling housing; Other119-121 WOORE STREET WILCANNIA 2836Determined
March 2021
- Other23061 BARRIER HIGHWAY WILCANNIA 2836Determined
February 2021
- Dwelling14-16 REID STREET WILCANNIA 2836Deferred Commencement
- Other30-40 JAMES STREET WILCANNIA 2836Determined
January 2021
- Other23-25 Hood Street Wilcannia 2836Determined
Contributes to desirability score · Future Growth (7%)
Development and planning activity
Data sources & freshness
- Online DA development application register — NSW Department of Planning, Housing and Infrastructure · 2026 · Updated · Daily feed (from Oct 2018)
Heritage
1 heritage place
- Wilcannia Post Office and Post Master’s Residence 45 Reid St, Wilcannia SHR
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · current · Updated
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via NSW bush fire prone land mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Parkes
- Member of Parliament
- Jamie CHAFFEY (The Nationals)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 130,841
- Turnout (2025)
- 89.2%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +5.2 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 63.0%Labor 37.0%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 223.3 km away).
Coalition 38.2%Labor 61.8%
24.8 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +14.1 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- WilcanniaLabor 62.9% · Coalition 37.1% TPP (2025)45.5 km away
- MenindeeLabor 73.2% · Coalition 26.8% TPP (2025)174.5 km away
- IvanhoeLabor 35.9% · Coalition 64.2% TPP (2025)198.1 km away
- CobarLabor 37.5% · Coalition 62.5% TPP (2025)211.1 km away
- Broken Hill NorthLabor 66.6% · Coalition 33.4% TPP (2025)220.3 km away
Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.
Data sources & freshness
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 1/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).
What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?
IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.
IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.
A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
More in Central Darling Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of New South Wales.