The Australian Bureau of Statistics has just released its annual update on regional population growth. The combined growth of Australia’s capital cities of 1.9% for the year ending 30 June 2014 is above the national growth rate of 1.6%. I’ve analysed the data of Australia’s 550 local government authorities to find the population hotspots.

At a greater-capital city level, Perth continues its status as Australia’s fastest growing city with a growth rate of 2.2%. Perth recently became Australia’s fourth city with a population in excess of 2 million people. Melbourne and Darwin both had growth rates of 2.2%, ahead of Sydney (1.8%) and Brisbane (1.7%). Canberra (1.2%), Adelaide (1.0%) and Hobart (0.6%) continue their trend of being Australia’s slowest growing capital cities.

Of more interest is some of the data at local government level. The fastest growing population in Australia last year was the shire of Serpentine- Jarrahdale, at the southern urban footprint of Perth. With a population of 22,698 its rate of growth for the year was 6.2% - more than three times the national average. The south-west Sydney shire of Camden was a close second with a growth rate for the year of 6.1%.

Casting our eyes across the nation revealed these other population hotspots:

The regional standout was Busselton, in the far south of Western Australia with a growth rate 3.7%, followed closely by the central Queensland industrial powerhouse of Gladstone with 3.5%;

The famous Western Australia wine region of Augusta-Margaret River experienced a 3.4% population growth (twice the Australian average) while the gas city of Karratha in the state’s north grew by 2.9% over the year; 

While South Australia’s total population growth was only 1%, regional towns Gawler (2.8%) and Mount Barker (2.1%) produced surprising results;

A thirst for higher density living in Sydney drove population growth in Botany Bay (3.4%), Canada Bay (3.0%), Strathfield and Parramatta (both 2.9%);

Regional New South Wales towns of Yass Valley (2.3%) and Maitland (2.2%) were well above the national average;

Victoria’s population growth numbers is consistent with its urban sprawl strategy. Wyndham (outer-south-west 5.6%), Whittlesea (outer-north 4.4%), Melton (outer-west 4.0%), and Cardinia (south-east 3.6%) all produced big numbers.

The historic goldfields town of Ballarat with a population of 100,000 produced 1.7% growth;

In Queensland, Somerset (3.0%), Scenic Rim / Beaudesert (2.9%), and Ipswich (2.8%) were strong. The population of Australia’s single biggest local government, Brisbane City Council, grew by 1.5%.

See also:

Mining town Karratha has turned the corner