WA · Meekatharra Council
Meekatharra, 6642
Current weather
16.8°CClear sky
49% humidity · 10.6 km/h wind · 17.4° / 5.4° today · 0 mm rain
Updated
Desirability score
- Affordable
- Rural
- Schools
- Established
- Residential
Suburb profile
Meekatharra offers a slower smaller community life in Meekatharra, with open surrounds and a close-knit community feel. Remote from the metro area in the best sense: quiet streets, big skies and a town that runs on its own timetable. Open skies and rolling countryside set a calm backdrop to everyday routines.
A younger crowd gives the area energy, with plenty of young families in the mix. Everyday life leans local, with a handful of trusted shops, a familiar main street and neighbours who know your name. Housing remains accessible compared with many parts of the state.
This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.
The desirability score is below average, pulled down chiefly by weaker housing affordability and local dining and lifestyle amenities relative to similar regional towns. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.
Population
- Population
- 849
- Median age
- 33
- Median household income / week
- $1,273
- Dwelling vacancy
- 36.9%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 132 of 358
- Median monthly mortgage
- $650
- Employment rate
- 44.3%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 42 / 7 / 9
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.
Schools & preschools
- Schools & preschools
- 2
- Median school ICSEA (2 schools)
- 600
- Karalundi CollegeSecondary
- Meekatharra District High 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
Public transport
2 public transport stops in this suburb
- Great Northern Hwy Transwa Meekatharra
- Great Northern Hwy Transwa Meekatharra
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Period: current · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
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
- Meekatharra 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)
- 1/10
- 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
3 state heritage places
- Bundi Club, Meekatharra58 Darlot St, Meekatharra1531
- Masonic Lodge (fmr), Meekatharra80 Darlot St, Meekatharra1530
- Presbyterian Church, Meekatharra75 Darlot St, Meekatharra1529
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)
- 2
- Parks (OSM)
- 2
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
- 14.4/100 — Below average
- National rank
- 6855th in Australia
- State rank
- 674th in WA
- Peer rank
- #166 among Country & regional · Established suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #310 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 65%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived score) · Period: current · Updated on site · Derived from source metrics
Recent changes
- Bundi Club, Meekatharraheritage58 Darlot St, Meekatharra1531
- Masonic Lodge (fmr), Meekatharraheritage80 Darlot St, Meekatharra1530
- Presbyterian Church, Meekatharraheritage75 Darlot St, Meekatharra1529
- Meekatharra Hospitalhealthhospital
- Great Northern Hwy Transwa Meekatharratransport
- Great Northern Hwy Transwa Meekatharratransport
- Karalundi CollegeschoolsSecondary
- Meekatharra District High SchoolschoolsCombined
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · Updated on site · Annual ACARA release
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · Updated on site
- State heritage register — State heritage authority · Updated on site
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · Updated on site · GTFS static feed
More in Meekatharra Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Western Australia.