WHERE PEOPLE LIVE

Where people live can influence the cultural venues and events they attend, as well as the type and amount of participation in sporting events. Regional locations may cater for different requirements and lifestyles than the city and resources such as stadiums, theatres and art spaces in the city may vary from those available in regional areas.

In 2005-06, attendance rates at cultural venues and events (for people aged 15 years and over) in the six state capital cities was higher than for people in the rest of Australia. Conversely, attendance at sporting events was higher for people living outside the six state capital cities (46%) than those living in the six state capital cities (43%) (ABS 2009d).

For most cultural venues and events, residents in the Australian Capital Territory recorded the highest attendance rates. Western Australian residents had the highest attendance rate for zoos and aquariums, and South Australian residents had the highest attendance rates for other performing arts, and libraries (ABS 2007a).

In 2005-06, the Northern Territory had the highest attendance rate (50%) at sporting events and New South Wales the lowest (42%) (ABS 2007c).

People living in the Australian Capital Territory had the highest participation in sport and physical recreation (80%), followed by those in Western Australia (70%) and Queensland (66%) (ABS 2009d).