Sea Change & Ivanhoe

The ABS has just released the latest analysis of Australia's regional population as a pipe opener to the real data to come from the 2006 Census. Based on 2006 estimates coastal Australia continued to experience the most prominent growth. Gold Coast City recorded the second largest increase in population in Australia (up 13,600 people), behind Brisbane, which increased by 14,000 people. Large population increases continued in many other Queensland coastal areas such as Cairns, Maroochy Shire and Caloundra. In New South Wales, strong population growth occurred in most coastal areas outside Sydney, with the largest increases recorded in the Tweed area, Shoalhaven, Coffs Harbour and Newcastle.

Despite all the sea change activity, the geographic centre of Australia's population is 55 kilometres east of the NSW central west town of Ivanhoe (population 500) in the Central Darling area. But some coastal towns are not all young trendies telecommuting to their city jobs. Oldest town by median age is South Australian coastal town of Victor Harbour - median age 53.3. South Australia is the oldest state at 38.8, just piping Tasmania at 38.7. Northern Territory is youngest state at 30.9 and youngest area is Mornington Island aboriginal settlement at 25.9, 12 degrees south of the equator and population 1,044.

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