Merriwa

Demographics & education

On Census Night 7th August 2001, 4,053 people were counted in Merriwa: of these 47.8% were male and 52.2% were female. Of the total population 2.2% were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

On Census Night 2001 in Merriwa there were 1,204 children aged 0-14 years and 951 people aged 55 years and over.

On Census Night 2001 in Merriwa, 3,414 people were Australian citizens, 1,162 were born overseas and 17 people were overseas visitors.

On Census Night 2001 in Merriwa, 56.0% of people aged 15 years and over were married, 11.7% were separated or divorced, 6.6% were widowed and 25.6% were never married.

Cultural & language diversity

On Census Night 2001 in Merriwa, 66.3% of people stated they were born in Australia. Other common responses for country of birth within Merriwa were England 13.8%, New Zealand 4.0%, Scotland 1.8%, Ireland 0.6% and Afghanistan 0.6%.

Of all people counted in Merriwa on Census Night 2001, the most common responses for religious affiliation were Anglican 26.3%, No Religion 21.5%, Catholic 18.2%, Uniting Church 4.0% and Presbyterian & Reformed 2.4%.

On Census Night 2001 in Merriwa, the most common responses for languages other than English spoken at home were Persian 0.8%, Arabic (incl. Lebanese) 0.8%, Spanish 0.6%, Polish 0.4% and Italian 0.4%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 88.7% of people counted.

Employment

During the week prior to Census Night 2001, 1,393 people aged 15 years and over in Merriwa were in the labour force. Of these 52.6% worked full-time, 33.3% worked part-time, 2.5% were employed but did not state their hours worked and 11.6% were unemployed. 1,358 people were not in the labour force.

On Census Night 2001 in Merriwa, the most common responses for occupation were Tradespersons and Related Workers 8.1%, Intermediate Clerical, Sales and Service Workers 7.6%, Elementary Clerical, Sales and Service Workers 6.0%, Labourers and Related Workers 5.6%, Intermediate Production and Transport Workers 5.1%, Associate Professionals 4.2%, Professionals 3.3%, Managers and Administrators 1.8% and Advanced Clerical and Service Workers 0.9%.

On Census Night 2001, of the employed people aged 15 years and over in Merriwa, the most common responses for industry of employment included Food Retailing 4.4%, Business Services 4.2%, Construction Trade Services 3.6%, Personal and Household Good Retailing 2.7% and Motor Vehicle Retailing and Services 1.9%.

Family composition

On Census Night 2001 in Merriwa, 1,150 families were counted: of these, 36.9% were couple families without children, 42.4% were couple families with children, 19.5% were one parent families and 1.2% were other families.

Dwelling structure

Dwellings include visitor only and other not-classifiable households unless otherwise stated

On Census Night 2001 in Merriwa, 1,463 occupied private dwellings were counted.

On Census Night 2001, of occupied private dwellings counted in Merriwa, 72.8% were separate houses, 26.5% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc, 0.2% were flats, units or apartments and 0.0% were other dwellings.

On Census Night 2001 in Merriwa, 14.6% of occupied private dwellings were owned outright, 45.7% were being purchased and 14.9% were rented.

On Census Night 2001 in Merriwa, of the occupied private dwellings being rented 40.4% were rented from a real estate agent, 22.0% were rented from a State or Territory housing authority and 40.4% were rented from an other landlord type.

Household type

On Census Night 2001 in Merriwa, 78.0% of the occupied private dwellings were family households, 17.8% were single (or lone) person households and 2.0% were group households.