Lightning Ridge

Demographics & education

In the 2006 Census, 2,602 people were usually resident in Lightning Ridge: of these 56.7% were male and 43.3% were female. Of the total population 21.3% were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

In the 2006 Census, 20.3% of people usually resident in Lightning Ridge were children aged 0-14 years, and 34.5% were people aged 55 years and over. The median age was 44 years.

In the 2006 Census, 87.5% of people usually resident in Lightning Ridge were Australian citizens, 19.2% were born overseas and 0.8% people were overseas visitors.

In the 2006 Census, 31.4% of people aged 15 years and over usually resident in Lightning Ridge were married, 23.8% were either separated or divorced, 7.5% were widowed and 37.4% were never married.

Cultural & language diversity

In the 2006 Census, 72.8% of people usually resident in Lightning Ridge, stated they were born in Australia. Other common responses for country of birth were England 3.1%, South Eastern Europe 2.2%, New Zealand 1.5%, Germany 1.4% and Croatia 1.3%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for religious affiliation for people usually resident in Lightning Ridge were Anglican 28.7%, Catholic 22.9%, No Religion 17.6%, Presbyterian and Reformed 3.5% and Eastern Orthodox 3.0%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for language other than English spoken at home by people usually resident in Lightning Ridge were Croatian 1.7%, German 1.4%, Serbian 1.3%, Serbo-Croatian/Yugoslavian, so described 1.1% and Hungarian 0.7%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 82.1%.

Employment

During the week prior to the 2006 Census, 887 people aged 15 years and over in Lightning Ridge were in the labour force. Of these 40.7% worked full-time, 36.0% worked part-time, 3.2% were away from work, 3.5% were employed but did not state their hours worked and 16.7% were unemployed. 971 people were not in the labour force.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for occupation for Lightning Ridge were Community and Personal Service Workers 14.6%, Labourers 14.6%, Professionals 13.3%, Machinery Operators And Drivers 12.3%, Technicians and Trades Workers 11.8%, Managers 10.4%, Sales Workers 10.3% and Clerical and Administrative Workers 9.1%.

In the 2006 Census, of the employed people aged 15 years and over in Lightning Ridge, the most common responses for industry of employment included Other Non-Metallic Mineral Mining and Quarrying 7.4%, School Education 7.3%, Hospitals 4.7%, Supermarket and Grocery Stores 4.1% and Accommodation 4.1%.

In the 2006 Census in Lightning Ridge, the median weekly personal income for people aged 15 years and over who were usual residents was $262, the median family income was $575 and the median household income was $434.

Family composition

In the 2006 Census, there were 601 families in Lightning Ridge: of these 40.3% were couple families without children, 32.3% were couple families with children, 26.1% were one parent families and 1.3% were other families.

Dwelling structure

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

In the 2006 Census 1,318 occupied private dwellings were counted in Lightning Ridge.

In the 2006 Census, of the occupied private dwellings in Lightning Ridge, 65.9% were separate houses, 1.2% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc, 6.8% were flats, units or apartments and 26.0% were other dwellings.

In the 2006 Census in Lightning Ridge, 45.5% of occupied private dwellings were owned outright, 9.0% were owned with a mortgage and 27.1% were rented.

In the 2006 Census in Lightning Ridge, of the occupied private dwellings being rented, 18.5% were rented from a real estate agent, 5.9% were rented from a State or Territory housing authority and 61.9% were rented from other landlord type.

Dwelling characteristics

In the 2006 Census in Lightning Ridge, the median weekly rent was $90. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $563. The average people per household was 2.1 and the average number of people per bedroom was 1.2.

Household composition

In the 2006 Census in Lightning Ridge, 44.5% of occupied private dwellings were family households, 37.5% were single (or lone) person households and 3.3% were group households.