Population and Settlement

This content is currently under review. Statistics are from 1990.

At the 1996 Census, the Murray-Darling Basin had an estimated population of 1,956,765 (compared with 1,899,081 in 1991), 10.94 per cent of the total Australian population (10.99 per cent in 1991). This was an overall increase of 57,684 or 3.0 per cent on the 1991 Census. In 1991, there was an increase of 105,916 or 5.9 per cent on the 1986 Census population of 1,793,165.

Population distribution and settlements

Like almost all of inland Australia, the Basin is very sparsely populated, with the exception of a few areas. Population density is less than 5 persons per square kilometre over almost all of the Basin; in fact, over most of it, especially the western and northern parts, the density is below 1 person per square kilometre (ABS 1994) (Figure 1 and Table 1).

The population is essentially a rural one. Many people live on farms, at varying distances from even the smallest communities. In the western parts of the Basin, where the semi-arid pastoral properties can cover vast areas, the distances to even the smallest town can be considerable. Many of the individual farming properties and small communities are in very remote locations, especially in the western parts of the Basin, certainly with respect to larger urban centres.

The remoteness has a range of economic consequences as well as social ones, including the very limited access to services, facilities and opportunities that most urban Australians take for granted (DPIE 1994).

There are numerous small towns and communities scattered throughout the Murray-Darling Basin. However, more than half of those with fewer than 1,000 people are declining in population. There are various reasons for this. Farm numbers, families and workers continue to decline, resulting in smaller markets for the service industries in the small towns. In turn, businesses close and services are rationalised; for example, banks and post offices are closing and concentrating their services in the larger towns. Once one or more such key services go, others follow. This further reduces the employment opportunities, only adding to the exodus of people, especially the younger ones. Another factor is improved road communications, making it easier and quicker to travel to the larger country towns. For those who remain in such communities, the social as well as the economic consequences of such population declines are substantial.

There are many small communities of under 1,000 people, of which the following are some illustrations. Boggabilla, on the New South Wales bank of the Macintyre River, has a population of 639 in 1996 (751 in 1991), much smaller than its Queensland neighbour, Goondiwindi (4, 374: 4,331 in 1991). It is at the junction of the Newell and Bruxner Highways and the railhead of the line from Moree. As with 'twin towns' along the NSW bank of the Murray, Boggabilla also has a large club. Further south, are the nearby communities of Coolah (828: 889 in 1991), home of the original black stump, and Dunedoo (781: 829 in 1991). On the banks of the Edward River, Moulamein (459: 459 in 1991) is among the oldest settlements in the Riverina, but was bypassed as transport routes developed. In the Victorian Wimmera, near Lake Hindmarsh, is Rainbow (562: 587 in 1991), with its wheat and barley silos.

Country towns

There are many small towns of between 1,000 and 10,000 people. Most of those between 1,000 and 5,000 have populations that are static or showing very small increases. They are predominantly the classic rural service centres, meeting the needs of the surrounding farming areas, as well as perhaps undertaking some processing of agricultural commodities. In some such towns, other functions are also important, largely by reason of their location. Others have remote locations and so have more facilities and functions than their size alone would suggest, for example, Balranald (1,429: 1,327 in 1991), Bourke (2,775: 2,976 in 1991), and Cobar (4,524: 4,138 in 1991).

Cunnamulla (1,461: 1,683 in 1991), on the Warrego River, serves a large wool producing area in western Queensland. To the south, Brewarrina (1,113: 1,168 in 1991) is another small town that serves a large wool producing area, to which crop production has been added over recent years. Located on the Barwon River, it is also the location of the important Aboriginal Cultural Museum. Very different is Cootamundra (5,879: 6,386 in 1991), serving an important grazing and arable farming area, with important stockyards, an abattoir and some food processing. It was also an important railway junction. Cootamundra is also known for its wattle and as the birthplace of Sir Donald Bradman. Hay (2,896: 2,817 in 1991), on the banks of the Murrumbidgee River, at the junction of the Sturt and Cobb Highways, has always been an important transport centre. As well as meeting the needs of travellers, it serves a large semi-arid grazing area in south-western New South Wales. Ouyen (1,251: 1,337 in 1991) is a small town located in the heart of the Victorian Mallee wheat belt, at the junction of the Mallee and Sunraysia Highways. Since the early years of this century, Loxton (3,310: 3,222 in 1991) has served the needs of the farmers and graziers over a large are of the South Australian mallee lands. At the end of the Second World War, its character was changed dramatically with the establishment of the largest soldier-settlement scheme in South Australia, the Loxton Irrigation Area. Now, as well as continuing to meet the needs of dryland farmers, it serves a major irrigation area and has a number of related fruit processing industries.

Small urban centres

These are towns with populations in the range 10,000 to under 20,000 people (Table 2). Again, they all have important service centre functions, to which have been added other functions, largely due to their locations. Examples include Echuca-Moama, Griffith, Moree, Horsham, Wangaratta, Warwick, and Murray Bridge.

There are a small number of larger towns with populations up to around 25,000. These include Mildura, Broken Hill, and Bathurst, as well as Queanbeyan and Wodonga which are linked to their much larger neighbours, Canberra and Albury.

Dating from the 1840s, Horsham is the unofficial capital of the Victorian Wimmera and the major service centre for an important arable and grazing area, with wheat and wool major commodities. It has agricultural research and education facilities and clothing and light engineering industries. The Grampians to the south contribute to Horsham's tourist industry. It has a population of some 12,591 (12,552 in 1991).

Located on the banks of the upper Condamine River in the Granite Belt of south-east Queensland, Warwick is the main service centre for a farming area that produces a variety of crop and livestock products, some of which are processed in the town. The area is also noted for its gemstones and minerals. It has a population of over 10,947 (10,393 in 1991).

With a population of 26,029 at the 1996 Census (24,682 in 1991), Bathurst is one of the larger of the small urban centres. Dating from 1815, it is Australia's oldest inland settlement and has many historic buildings. As well as being a major service centre, it has important industrial activities, not all of which are based on agricultural commodities from the surrounding region. Bathurst has state and regional administrative functions, a campus of Charles Sturt University, and is the location of the Mount Panorama motor racing circuit.

Large urban centres

These are towns with populations of over 25,000. With one exception, this category includes all the major urban centres in the Basin, including Albury-Wodonga, Dubbo, Orange, Tamworth, Wagga Wagga, Bendigo, Shepparton-Mooroopna, and Toowoomba. They are all major regional service centres.

Located in northern Victoria, Bendigo had its origins in the gold discoveries of the early 1850s. The initial alluvial workings were soon exhausted, but great wealth followed in the 1870s-90s from the underground mines. Much of its heritage and tourist attractions date from this period, such as the Central Deborah Gold Mine, the Victorian buildings (probably the finest collection in any Australian city), the Chinese influence, and the vintage trams. As well, there are the Bendigo Pottery (National Trust classified), the Bendigo Woollen Mills, numerous industries (including wineries), and the University College. Bendigo is a major regional and rural service centre, with important state and regional administrative functions. It has a population of 59,936 (57,427 in 1991), the larger urban area being over 71,000.

Located on the Murrumbidgee River, Wagga Wagga is the largest inland city in New South Wales, with a population of 42,848 (40,875 in 1991). It is an important regional, administrative and agricultural service centre and the commercial centre for southern NSW. Its other functions include a major livestock marketing centre, a heritage and tourist centre, and important manufacturing industries. In addition, there is the main campus of Charles Sturt University (which contributes over $60 million to the regional economy) and defence force facilities (Kapooka army training base and Forest Hill RAAF base and training facilities, with over 3,500 personnel).

Dubbo is located on the Macquarie River, close to the geographical centre of NSW. The name means 'red earth'. Regarded as the 'capital of western NSW', it is a major administrative, agricultural and commercial service centre for a large area of western NSW north to the Queensland border. Reflecting its early establishment, it is of historical interest, with many heritage buildings, of both government and private origin, dating from the latter part of the nineteenth century. It is also a tourist centre, a major attraction being the Western Plains Zoo, where over 800 exotic animals live in open range environments, as well as over 1,000 native animals and birds. The town has a population of 30,102 (28,064 in 1991).

Toowoomba is located on the eastern rim of the Darling Downs, 125 kilometres west of Brisbane. With a population of some 83,350 in 1996 (75,900 in 1991), it is the largest inland provincial urban centre in Australia. The Darling Downs form the most productive agricultural region in Queensland and the size and nature of Toowoomba are directly linked to the region's agricultural industries. The city has important administrative and regional service functions. Many of the its manufacturing industries are based on the region's agricultural produce. It is the location of the University of Southern Queensland. At an altitude of 600 metres, atop the eastern escarpment of the Great Dividing Range, it does not experience the more extreme summer conditions of the humid coastal plains or the hot, dry conditions further to the west. These facts, together with its 'Garden City' image, have contributed to its attraction as a retirement location (Wadley 1993).

Canberra, the nation's capital

Canberra is the Basin's and Australia's largest inland city. With the adjoining NSW town of Queanbeyan, the urban area has a population of 322,723 (299,876 in 1991). Canberra is not only the national capital (see Tourism and Recreation), but is also a regional service centre for a large area of south-eastern New South Wales, particularly for retail, education and medical services (ACTSPC 1995).

Rural decline: an illustration

While the regional and smaller urban centres continue to experience varying rates of population growth, for most of the Basin and certainly most of the small rural communities, the story is one of declining population and the reduction of services and facilities. One such community is Bundarra, located in the sheep and cattle grazing country of the upper Gwydir River valley, south of Inverell, with a population of 319 in 1996 (324 in 1991 and 377 in 1981). In the mid-1990s, it perhaps had more services than many such places, with a primary school, police station, church, nursing home and health centre, two garages, general store, combined post office and bank, agricultural supplies store, and hotel. But these were a significant reduction on what was present no more than fifteen years earlier, both in number and size of operations (e.g. the combined post office-bank agency was now privately run, while the nursing home and health centre was once the local hospital). In terms of employment, Bundarra had felt the impact of the closure of the Woodsreef asbestos mine in 1985 (located some 50 kilometres to the south-west), the rural recession, and the extended drought of the mid to late 1990s - upstream on the Gwydir, the Copeton Reservoir was virtually dry for an extended period of time. The continued impacts of these changes were seen not only in a declining population, but also in the high levels of unemployment, especially among young people. Even a significant improvement in the district's agricultural fortunes is unlikely to make any significant positive impact on employment opportunities and hence population numbers in a small community such as Bundarra (Lawton & Crabb 1996).

The Aboriginal population*

In 1991, the Aboriginal population of the Basin is 36,248, or 1.9 per cent of the total population (compared with a national figure of 1.6 per cent) (ABS 1993e). The major concentrations of Aboriginal people are in northern New South Wales. In the North Western Statistical Division, they account for 7.9 per cent of the total population. In some locations, the percentage figures are much higher, notably Brewarrina (42 per cent), Bourke (23), Walgett (18), and Coonamble (14). In terms of actual numbers, the largest Aboriginal populations in 1991 were in Morree Plains (2,359), Dubbo (1,846), Canberra (1,775), Walgett (1,496), Tamworth (1,181), Toowoomba (1,139), and Bourke (1,025) (Table 3 and Figure 2).

* : Not all of the data from the 1996 Census for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Population and the MDB were available at the time of writing. Thus this paragraph only presents the 1991 data. The information will be up-dated when the full data are available.

Conclusion

The kinds of changes experienced over the past fifty years in terms of the Basin's population and distribution will continue. Most of the smaller centres will continue to decline and the larger towns and cities will continue to grow. Predictions made in 1994 of the growth of Australia's major urban centres suggested that the Basin will contain three of the 'top twenty' locations, namely Canberra-Queanbeyan (at number 7, with a 2001 population 384,700), Albury-Wodonga (number 15, 104,950), and Toowoomba (number 18, 92,250) (The Australian, August 12, 1994).

But do such predictions take any account of 'carrying capacity'? In considering Australia's Population 'Carrying Capacity', the Jones (1994) committee report does not make any direct statements relating to the present and future populations of the Murray-Darling Basin. However, it does make some very direct comments on the current environmental and resource management problems of the Basin. The Report certainly gives rise to the question: what is the population carrying capacity of the MDB? It is doubtful if the resources exist for a very large inland city, or even another one the size of Canberra, either in terms of a water supply (without a reduction in supplies to other present users) or disposal of wastes (without a significant change from current methods). There is no doubt that future population growth within the Basin will be limited by the nature of the its limited natural resources.

References

ABS (1993a): 1991 Census: census counts for small areas: New South Wales. Catalogue No. 2730.1. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.

ABS (1993b): 1991 Census: census counts for small areas: Victoria. Catalogue No. 2730.2. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.

ABS (1993c): 1991 Census: census counts for small areas: Queensland. Catalogue No. 2730.3. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.

ABS (1993d): 1991 Census: census counts for small areas: South Australia. Catalogue No. 2730.4. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.

ABS (1993e): Australia's Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Population 1991 Census. Catalogue No. 2740.0. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.

ABS (1994): Population Distribution, Australia. (Map). Statistical Mapping Unit, Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.

ABS (1997a): 1996 Census of Population and Housing. Selected Social and Housing Characteristics for Statistical Local Areas: New South Wales and Jervis Bay. Catalogue No. 2015.1. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.

ABS (1997b): 1996 Census of Population and Housing. Selected Social and Housing Characteristics for Statistical Local Areas: Victoria. Catalogue No. 2015.2. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.

ABS (1997c): 1996 Census of Population and Housing. Selected Social and Housing Characteristics for Statistical Local Areas: Queensland. Catalogue No. 2015.3. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.

ABS (1997d): 1996 Census of Population and Housing. Selected Social and Housing Characteristics for Statistical Local Areas: South Australia. Catalogue No. 2015.4. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.

ABS (1997a): 1996 Census of Population and Housing. Selected Social and Housing Characteristics for Statistical Local Areas: Australian Capital Territory. Catalogue No. 2015.8. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.

ABS (1998a): 1996 Census of Population and Housing. Selected Characteristics of Urban Centres and Locations: New South Wales and Australian Capital Territory. Catalogue No. 2016.1. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.

ABS (1998b): 1996 Census of Population and Housing. Selected Characteristics of Urban Centres and Locations: Victoria. Catalogue No. 2016.2. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.

ABS (1998c): 1996 Census of Population and Housing. Selected Characteristics of Urban Centres and Locations: Queensland. Catalogue No. 2016.3. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.

ABS (1998d): 1996 Census of Population and Housing. Selected Characteristics of Urban Centres and Locations: South Australia. Catalogue No. 2016.4. Australian Bureau of Statistics, Canberra.

ACTSPC (1995): Draft ACT and Sub-region Planning Strategy. ACT and Sub-region Planning Commitee, Queanbeyan.

DPIE (1994): Rural, Remote and Metropolitan Areas Classification 1991 Census Edition. Department of Primary Industries and Energy / Department of Human Services and Health, Canberra.

Jones, B.O. et al. (1994): Australia's Population 'Carrying Capacity': one nation - two ecologies. Report of the House of Representatives Standing Committee for Long Term Strategies. Australian Government Publishing Service, Canberra.

Lawton, C. & Crabb, P. (1996): "Bundarra: recent change in a small New South Wales rural community". Geography Bulletin, 28(2), 41-43.

Wadley, D. (1993): Reef, Range and Red Dust: the adventure atlas of Queensland. Queensland Department of Lands, Brisbane.

Figure 1 Population distribution and density in the MDB, 1991 (source: ABS 1993)

Figure 2 Major locations of Aboriginal populations in the MDB, 1991 (source: ABS 1993)

Table 1 Population, by State, Statistical Division and Statistical Sub-Division, for the Murray-Darling Basin, 1986, 1991 and 1996 (source: ABS 1993; 1997)

* Changes to Statistical sub-division boundaries at the 1996 Census make comparisons at this level with the 1991 Census invalid.

** Because of major changes to the boundaries of Victorian Statistical Divisions and Statistical Sub-divisions, as well as some name changes, following the reorganisation of local government in the State, the data presented are limited and few comparisons can be made with previous censuses.

 Table 2 1996 and 1991 Populations of Urban Centres with over 4,000 people in 1991 (source: ABS 1993; 1998)

Table 3 Statistical Local Areas with Aboriginal Populations of over 500 in 1991 (source: ABS 1993e)