Did you know that the number of people in Newcastle on 8 August 2006 was 141,752? And that they occupied about 58,755 private dwellings? There are 63,277 private dwellings in total.

You will find these and other statistics here to give you a snapshot view of the population and characteristics of Newcastle.

The first results of the 2006 Census were released on 27 June 2006 by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).  The data is in a preliminary format and several ‘roll-out’ data releases are planned by the ABS over the next six months.  Newcastle Local Government Area (LGA) highlights that are currently available include:

Persons and Dwellings

Newcastle LGA is still below its population peak which was 146,009 persons in 1971.  Continued population growth of 3.2% (4,445 persons) from 2001 - 2006 continues an upward trend that has emerged over the past decade.  The number of total private dwellings has also increased from 2001 - 2006 with an additional 2,496 dwelling. The average occupancy rate (the average number of persons per household) continues to decrease slightly and is below the State and Australian average of 2.6.

Family

In the Newcastle LGA in 2006, there were a total of 36,060 families.The number of families in Newcastle has increased by 1,070 families from 2001 (34,990 families).

There has been a slight decrease in couples with children from 2006 (14,445 or 40.1% of all families) from 2001 (14,305 of families ) and a slight increase in couples without children (13,857 families in 2006 up from 13,206 families in 2001) and lone parent families (6,941 families in 2006 from 6,684 familise in 2001).

Newcastle continues to have higher proportions of lone parent families and couples without children than the NSW average.  Newcastle also has proportionally less families with children (38.4%) than the Australian average (45.3%) or the NSW average (46.2%).

Household Types

Family households have decreased proportionally since 2006 (60.5% or 35,559 households) since 2001 (63.1%) but have increased in number from 2001 (34,642).  Lone person households have also slightly decreased proportionally from 2006 (29% of households) from 2001 (30.6%) but have increased in number in 2006 (17,010 households in 2006 compared to 16,973 in 2001).  Newcastle continues to have a lower proportion of family households than the Australian average.

REGIONALS STATISTICS

Across the Lower Hunter, the population was 493,466 persons in 2006, an increase of 22,856 from the 2001 population of 470, 610. This is spread across the LGAs of:

• Lake Macquarie - 183,138 persons (+5,519 persons/3.1% from 2001 total of 177,619)
• Newcastle - 141,752 persons (+4,445 persons/3.2% from 2001 of 137,307) 
• Port Stephens - 60,484 persons (+3,807 persons/6.7% from 2001 total of 56,677)
• Maitland - 61,880 persons (+ 8,077 persons/15% from 2001 total of 53,803)
• Cessnock - 46,206 persons (+1,002 persons/2.2% from 2001 total of 45,204)

Snapshot Profile 2006

The Snapshot Profile 2006 is currently in development.

• The number of people counted in Newcastle on 8 August 2006 was 141,752 occupying 58,755 private dwellings. This represented an increase of 3.2% ( 4,445 people) from 2001 and continued an overall upward population trend.
• Newcastle is the second most populated Council area in the Lower Hunter region after Lake Macquarie Council. For further information about Local Government areas see ABS data
• Newcastle continues to have a higher proportion of young adults in the 20-24 year age group (8.8%) compared to the State average (6.6%). 
• The 65+ age group (15.8% or 22,412 persons) in 2006 has slightly decreased proportionally from 2001 (16.2% or 22,236 persons) but has increased numerically.The proportion of seniors in newcastle is significantly higher than the NSW state average (13.8%) and the national average (13.3%)
• In 2006, 2.1% (3.021 persons) identified as being indigenous. This is a increase from 2001 when 1.8% (2,411 persons) of the population identified as being indigenous.  

Have a look at Newcastle's planning districts as shown on this map.
Map planning districts 617 kb pdf

Changes in the 2006 Census

The Local Government Area (LGA) of Newcstle used to be mde up of two Statistical Local Areas (SLAs) known as Newcastle Inner (essentially the Newcastle City Centre) and the Newcastle remainder. This is geographical classification changed for the 2006 Census.

The ABS how has three SLAa within the Newcastle LGA in 2006. The SLAs and the suburbs within them are:

Newcastle - Inner City SLA: the suburbs of Newcastle, Newcastle East, Newcastle West, The Hill, Cooks Hill, Bar Beach, Merewether, The Junction, Merewether Heights, Maryville, Wickham, Carrington, Stockton, Islington, Tighes Hill, Mayfield, Mayfield East, Mayfield West, Warabrook, Kooragang

Newcastle - Throsby SLA: the suburbs of Hamilton, Hamilton East, Hamilton South, Hamilton North, Boradmeadow, Adamstown, Adamstown Heights, Kotara, Waratah, Waratah West, Georgetown, Lambton, North Lambton, New Lambton, New Lambton Heights

Newcastle - Outer West SLA: the suburbs of Jesmond, Birmingham Garndes, Callaghan, Shortland, Sandgate, Wallsend, Elermore Vale, Rankin Prk, Maryland, Fletcher, Minmi, Beresfield, Tarro, Blackhill/Leneghan, Hexham. 

Further information

For further information or for your specialised research needs contact Newcastle Region Library's Information & Research Team on 02 4974 5340.

Community groups can contact Council's Community Planning Officer on 02 4974 2961 for further information and assistance.