MELBOURNE EXPERIENCES LARGEST POPULATION GROWTH IN 2001-02
Melbourne experienced the largest population growth of Australia's state and territory capital cities in the year to June 2002, increasing by 52,500 people, while Sydney experienced the second largest increase (42,700 people). This was the first year since 1990-91 that Melbourne's growth was larger than Sydney's. Brisbane recorded the fastest population growth in 2001-02, increasing by 2.3% (38,700 people).
Within Melbourne, large increases in population were recorded in outer suburban areas such as the Local Government Areas (LGA) of Casey (up 10,100 people), Melton (5,900) and Wyndham (5,500), while in Sydney the largest growth was recorded in Blacktown (5,300 people), Baulkham Hills (4,500) and Liverpool (4,400). This pattern was also apparent in the other capital cities, with significant growth in outer suburban areas such as Parkinson-Drewvale in Brisbane, Salisbury in Adelaide, Wanneroo in Perth, Bakewell in Darwin, Kingborough in Hobart and Amaroo in Canberra, although the magnitude of these increases was smaller than that of those recorded in Melbourne and Sydney.
Inner city areas of capital cities continued to experience high levels of growth in 2001-02. The LGA with the fastest increasing population in Australia was the city of Perth (up 11.8%), while the LGAs of the city of Sydney and city of Melbourne also experienced continuing high growth (up 6.8% and 6.5% respectively).
Population growth in many coastal regions continued during 2001-02. The largest increase in population outside of capital cities occurred in the city of Gold Coast in Queensland. In New South Wales, increases in population were recorded in every coastal LGA outside Sydney, while in Victoria the LGAs of Bass Coast and Surf Coast continued to experience high growth.
Further information, including final 1997 and 2001 estimates for Statistical Local Areas and Local Government Areas, as well as state/territory and national data, may be found in the publication Regional Population Growth, Australia and New Zealand, 2001-02 (cat. no. 3218.0). LGA population estimates for June 2002 are also available freely on the ABS website <www.abs.gov.au>
For more information please contact Matthew Montgomery on (02) 6252 6487 or matthew.montgomery@abs.gov.au
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