WA · Derby-West Kimberley Council
Derby, 6728
Current weather
28.4°CClear sky
49% humidity · 7.9 km/h wind · 30.4° / 19.8° today · 0 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Affordable
- Rural
- Green space
- Schools
- Established
Suburb profile
Derby is a quieter mid-sized suburb in Derby-West Kimberley, where peace, space and a country-town pace still dominate. Far from the capital hubbub, it offers genuine distance, local character and room to live at a slower pace. The landscape itself is part of the lifestyle: open paddocks, big skies and room to breathe.
Families and commuters make up much of the community, with a strong presence of young families throughout. Life here is grounded in local routine rather than big-city choice, and that is part of the charm. Schools and education options in the area make family routines easier to manage.
The area offers approachable housing costs alongside a lifestyle that still feels complete. Tree-lined streets and established homes set the tone, with little pressure to reinvent the neighbourhood.
On the desirability index, the suburb sits below average overall, with local dining and lifestyle amenities and housing affordability the main drags compared with similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 3,222
- Median age
- 35
- Median household income / week
- $1,713
- Dwelling vacancy
- 27.4%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 312 of 1,140
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,638
- Employment rate
- 40.6%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 127 / 78 / 0
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 Census release
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
Housing
- All types (wa-rental-bond/Monthly Bond Lodgement Summary (CSV)-(01-12-2025-31-12-2025).csv)
- $411
- Rental bonds lodged (wa-rental-bond/Monthly Bond Lodgement Summary (CSV)-(01-12-2025-31-12-2025).csv)
- 377
Median weekly rent from WA rental bond lodgements. Figures can be unreliable where few bonds were lodged in the quarter.
Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)
Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum
Data sources & freshness
- WA rental bond lodgements — Department of Communities (WA) · Period: wa-rental-bond/Monthly Bond Lodgement Summary (CSV)-(01-12-2025-31-12-2025).csv · Updated on site · Monthly bond summaries
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 5
- Median school ICSEA (5 schools)
- 742
- Derby District High SchoolCombined
- Holy Rosary SchoolPrimary
- Kimberley School Of The AirPrimary
- Nyikina Mangala Community SchoolCombined
- Wananami Remote Community SchoolCombined
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Period: 2025 · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
Amenities
No OpenStreetMap amenities mapped for this suburb yet.
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics
- 1
- Emergency department
- On site
- Derby Regional Hospitalhospital
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Period: current · Updated on site
Socio-economic (SEIFA)
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 2/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 1/10
SEIFA indexes from ABS 2021. Decile 10 = most advantaged / least disadvantaged in Australia.
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)
Data sources & freshness
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Period: 2021 · Updated on site · 2021 SEIFA release
Heritage
11 state heritage places
- Derby Town CommonageCnr Gibb River Rd & Derby Broome Hwy, Derby7214
- Derby Tramway WoolshedLoch St, Derby4661
- Frostys PoolDerby-Gibb River Rd 4 km from, Derby Town Commonage7207
- Holman HouseGibb River turnoff, Derby9741
- Numbala Nunga, Derby37 Sutherland St, Derby9743
- Royal Flying Doctor Service, House and Office90 Clarendon St, Derby9727
- Bungarun (Leprosarium), DerbyBungarun Rd, Derby2980
- Derby Police GaolLoch St, Derby692
- Myall's BoreDerby-Gibb River Rd 4 km from, Derby695
- Prison Boab TreeDerby-Gibb River Rd 4 km from, Derby Town Commonage693
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Period: current · Updated on site
Hazards
- Bushfire planning zone
- Overlay applies
Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via WA bush fire prone area mapping.
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Bushfire hazard overlays
Data sources & freshness
- Hazard planning overlays — State government hazard layers · Period: current · Updated on site
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 3
- Parks (OSM)
- 3
OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.
Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)
Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)
Data sources & freshness
- OpenStreetMap green cover features — OpenStreetMap contributors · Period: current · Updated on site · Weekly refresh
Desirability Index
- Desirability score
- 21.6/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6413th in Australia
- State rank
- 585th in WA
- Peer rank
- #130 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #245 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 58%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Derby Town CommonageheritageCnr Gibb River Rd & Derby Broome Hwy, Derby7214
- Derby Tramway WoolshedheritageLoch St, Derby4661
- Frostys PoolheritageDerby-Gibb River Rd 4 km from, Derby Town Commonage7207
- Holman HouseheritageGibb River turnoff, Derby9741
- Numbala Nunga, Derbyheritage37 Sutherland St, Derby9743
- Royal Flying Doctor Service, House and Officeheritage90 Clarendon St, Derby9727
- Bungarun (Leprosarium), DerbyheritageBungarun Rd, Derby2980
- Derby Police GaolheritageLoch St, Derby692
- Myall's BoreheritageDerby-Gibb River Rd 4 km from, Derby695
- Prison Boab TreeheritageDerby-Gibb River Rd 4 km from, Derby Town Commonage693
Data sources & freshness
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site
More in Derby-West Kimberley Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Western Australia.