Australia Yearbook - 2009-10

and the neighbouring Sydney (C) - West (7,500).
Waverley (A), which is located just east of the
Sydney (C) LGA and contains the beach-side
suburbs of Coogee, Bronte and Bondi, also had
one of the highest population densities in
Australia at 7,200 people per square kilometre.
The most densely populated SLA in Victoria was
Melbourne (C) - Inner with 7,300 people per
square kilometre, making it the third most
densely populated SLA in the country. Port Phillip
(C) - St Kilda, which is on the shores of the bay
just south of the city centre, with 6,200 people
per square kilometre, completes the list of
Australian SLAs that had more than 6,000 people
per square kilometre at June 2008. At the other
extreme, there were over 250 SLAs in Australia
with less than 1 person per square kilometre,
close to one-third of which were located in
Western Australia. The density of Australia's
population at June 2008 is shown in map 7.14.
Regional population change
At June 2008, capital city Statistical Divisions
(SDs) were home to 13.7 million people, or
around two-thirds (63.9%) of Australia's
population. The capital city SD of Melbourne
experienced the largest increase in population of
capital cities between 2003 and 2008, followed by
Sydney and Brisbane. In terms of percentage
growth, however, Darwin was the fastest growing
capital city between 2003 and 2008, with an
average annual growth rate of 2.3% per year.
Perth and Brisbane experienced the next highest
average annual growth rates over this period
(both at 2.2%). Table 7.15 illustrates the changes
in population of Australia's major regions over the
five-year period 2003–08.
Generally, the largest growth outside capital city
SDs occurred in Australia's coastal regions. Of
these regions, the largest increase in population
between 2003 and 2008 occurred in Gold
Coast-Tweed, up by an average 16,700 people per
year (or 3.3% per year). Hervey Bay recorded the
fastest growth over the same period with an
average growth rate of 5.4% per year. This growth
was also faster than any capital city. Mandurah
and Bunbury, south of Perth, also had average
annual growth rates above 4.0% during the same
period.
Interstate migration
A key contributor changing the distribution of
Australia's population is internal migration.
During 2007–08, 360,800 people moved from one
state or territory to another. This is an increase of
2,100 people compared with the previous year.
In 2007–08, Queensland, Western Australia,
Tasmania and the Northern Territory all
experienced net interstate migration gains, while
New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and
the Australian Capital Territory experienced net
interstate migration losses. Queensland has
experienced positive net interstate migration for
more than 30 years; in contrast, New South Wales
has experienced net losses every year since
1978–79. As table 7.16 illustrates, however, any
losses due to interstate migration in 2007–08
were offset by growth due to natural increase
and/or net overseas migration.
Queensland was the most popular destination for
Australians moving interstate, receiving the
largest number of arrivals during 2007–08
(100,600 persons). New South Wales and Victoria
followed with 85,200 and 65,500 arrivals
respectively.
The most common moves were between the
three most populous states: New South Wales,
Queensland and Victoria. The largest interstate
flow was from New South Wales to Queensland
(50,400 persons), while the counter flow from
Queensland to New South Wales was the second
largest (35,500 persons), followed by the flow
from New South Wales to Victoria (23,500
persons).
There were also significant movements between
bordering states and territories. This is especially
apparent between the Australian Capital Territory
and surrounding New South Wales, with 10,900
arrivals to the Australian Capital Territory from
New South Wales and 10,400 departing from the
Australian Capital Territory to New South Wales in
2007–08.
The largest net flow in 2007–08 was between New
South Wales and Queensland with Queensland
gaining a net 14,900 from New South Wales, and
the second largest net movement was between
Victoria and Queensland, with Queensland
gaining a net 4,400 people from Victoria.
Chapter 7 — Population 199