Port Hedland

Demographics & education

In the 2006 Census, 11,557 people were usually resident in Port Hedland: of these 53.8% were male and 46.2% were female. Of the total population 13.2% were Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander people.

In the 2006 Census, 24.4% of people usually resident in Port Hedland were children aged 0-14 years, and 11.1% were people aged 55 years and over. The median age was 31 years.

In the 2006 Census, 66.0% of people usually resident in Port Hedland were Australian citizens, 14.8% were born overseas and 1.3% people were overseas visitors.

In the 2006 Census, 44.2% of people aged 15 years and over usually resident in Port Hedland were married, 11.1% were either separated or divorced, 2.4% were widowed and 42.2% were never married.

Cultural & language diversity

In the 2006 Census, 57.4% of people usually resident in Port Hedland, stated they were born in Australia. Other common responses for country of birth were New Zealand 3.4%, England 2.9%, South Africa 0.9%, Philippines 0.8% and India 0.5%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for religious affiliation for people usually resident in Port Hedland were No Religion 20.5%, Catholic 18.8%, Anglican 12.7%, Islam 3.5% and Uniting Church 2.4%.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for language other than English spoken at home by people usually resident in Port Hedland were Malay 2.6%, Thai 0.4%, Afrikaans 0.4%, Indonesian 0.4% and Serbian 0.3%. English was stated as the only language spoken at home by 64.3%.

Employment

During the week prior to the 2006 Census, 5,161 people aged 15 years and over in Port Hedland were in the labour force. Of these 71.9% worked full-time, 16.1% worked part-time, 4.8% were away from work, 3.1% were employed but did not state their hours worked and 4.0% were unemployed. 1,242 people were not in the labour force.

In the 2006 Census, the most common responses for occupation for Port Hedland were Technicians and Trades Workers 23.3%, Professionals 14.1%, Labourers 13.1%, Machinery Operators And Drivers 12.2%, Clerical and Administrative Workers 12.1%, Managers 9.4%, Community and Personal Service Workers 7.5% and Sales Workers 6.3%.

In the 2006 Census, of the employed people aged 15 years and over in Port Hedland, the most common responses for industry of employment included Metal Ore Mining 15.4%, School Education 5.4%, Hospitals 3.7%, Road Freight Transport 2.9% and Heavy and Civil Engineering Construction 2.9%.

In the 2006 Census in Port Hedland, the median weekly personal income for people aged 15 years and over who were usual residents was $862, the median family income was $2,109 and the median household income was $1,890.

Family composition

In the 2006 Census, there were 2,227 families in Port Hedland: of these 36.0% were couple families without children, 49.7% were couple families with children, 13.2% were one parent families and 1.1% were other families.

Dwelling structure

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

In the 2006 Census 4,513 occupied private dwellings were counted in Port Hedland.

In the 2006 Census, of the occupied private dwellings in Port Hedland, 70.7% were separate houses, 9.2% were semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc, 7.7% were flats, units or apartments and 12.3% were other dwellings.

In the 2006 Census in Port Hedland, 9.5% of occupied private dwellings were owned outright, 20.6% were owned with a mortgage and 41.0% were rented.

In the 2006 Census in Port Hedland, of the occupied private dwellings being rented, 22.0% were rented from a real estate agent, 25.9% were rented from a State or Territory housing authority and 49.4% were rented from other landlord type.

Dwelling characteristics

In the 2006 Census in Port Hedland, the median weekly rent was $114. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,083. The average people per household was 2.7 and the average number of people per bedroom was 1.1.

Household composition

In the 2006 Census in Port Hedland, 48.4% of occupied private dwellings were family households, 15.8% were single (or lone) person households and 2.7% were group households.