Moving to Bourke NSW 2840
What the official numbers say about living in Bourke — before you pack a box.
At a glance
Housing: buy or rent
Renting? The census median is $180 a week, against a median household income of $1,560 a week.
About 54% of homes are owner-occupied and 41% rented, and the most common dwelling type is the house.
Who you'll be living with
Bourke shrank 31% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses (2,465 → 1,699 people).
Around 66% of households are families, averaging 2.5 people per home.
Largest overseas birthplaces: India, Nepal, Pakistan; most spoken languages besides English: Australian Indigenous, Nepali, Malayalam.
On the ABS advantage scale (SEIFA), Bourke scores below the national average (decile 2 of 10).
The commute
The most common way to work is by car (76% of workers), while 6% work from home.
Nearest airport: Bourke Airport, 5.8 km north.
The Sydney CBD is roughly 650 km away in a straight line.
Daily life
Mapped locally so far: 5 schools · 1 cafe or restaurant · 1 supermarket · 8 parks — see them all on the Bourke profile.
What's actually nearby
Schools: Bourke High School 550 m · Bourke Public School 600 m · Bourke-Walgett School of Distance Education 650 m · St Ignatius Primary School 1.3 km · Koinonia Christian Academy 1.6 km
Groceries: Khan's Supa IGA Plus Liquor 950 m
Parks and reserves: Waters Park 300 m · Hobson Park 400 m · Central Park 600 m · Railway Park 800 m · Rotary Park 800 m · Jones Park 900 m · Mercy Park 1.2 km · Alf Edwards Park 1.6 km
What you'll see in the garden
Birds recorded around Bourke, most often seen first: Magpie-lark · Black Kite · Willie Wagtail · Crested Pigeon · White-plumed Honeyeater · House Sparrow.
Before you move — quick checklist
- Your council will be Bourke — bins, rates, pets and permits live there.
- You'll vote in the federal electorate of Parkes — update your enrolment address.
- The postcode is 2840 — handy for utility sign-ups and quotes.
- Check street-level details on the full Bourke profile (map, streets, amenities, wildlife).
In short
Renters pay a median $180 a week, and about 41% of homes here are rented.
The population fell 31% between the 2011 and 2021 censuses, from 2,465 people to 1,699. It sits about 650 km from the Sydney CBD in a straight line. Local government is Bourke council, and the federal seat is Parkes.
Keep an eye on Bourke
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