🔍

Bourke

NSW 2840 • Rest of NSW

1,699
Population (2021)
$81,120
Median Household Income
3882.79 km²
Area
$180/wk
Median Rent
OutbackHistoricIndigenous HeritageRemoteRural

About Bourke

Bourke is a remote outback town in far western New South Wales, located on the Darling River approximately 800 kilometres northwest of Sydney. With a population of around 1,700 and a median age of 35, it has a significantly younger demographic than the national average. Aboriginal Australians make up over a third of the population, giving Bourke a strong Indigenous cultural identity. The town is an important service centre for the surrounding pastoral district and has a rich colonial history with numerous State Heritage-listed buildings.

Bourke is famously associated with the expression "back o' Bourke" meaning the remote Australian outback. Despite its isolation, the town offers essential services including schools, a hospital, and local shops along the main street. Key attractions include the Back O' Bourke Exhibition Centre, the historic Bourke Wharf, and the Darling River for fishing and canoeing. The surrounding region supports cotton farming, sheep and cattle grazing. The town has a strong community spirit with local sporting clubs and events. Government and agricultural workers form the economic backbone of the community.

Bourke falls under postcode 2840 and is governed by Bourke Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Barwon electorate.

📰 Featured In

📰 NSW Suburbs with the Most Housing Commission

📍 Location

State
New South Wales
Postcode
2840
Urban Area
Bourke
LGA / Council
Bourke
Federal Electorate
Parkes
State Electorate
Barwon
Type
Urban
Timezone
Sydney (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-30.19°, 145.99°
Statistical Area
Rest of NSW
Area
3882.79 km²
Elevation
109m

🏷️ Property Prices 2025

Median sale prices in Bourke for 2025. Based on every residential settlement recorded by the NSW Valuer General in 2025.

🏡House
$220K
37 sales · ▼ 32% vs 2024

Source: NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information. Strata-titled sales are counted as units; all others as houses. Suburbs with fewer than 5 sales in a category are omitted.

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$180
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$947
Avg Household Size
2.5 people
Median Age
35 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
13%

47 state housing + 25 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🚌 Transport & Commute

Bus Services

  • NSW TrainLink Coach — Dubbo (connecting to XPT rail) 4 hours

Commute to Sydney CBD

Distance
800 km
By Bus
10-12 hours (coach to Dubbo, then XPT)
By Car (Peak)
9-10 hours
By Car (Off-Peak)
8.5-9 hours

🛣️ Extremely remote outback town. Bourke Airport has occasional regional flights. Dubbo (370 km) is the nearest major centre with rail connection. Most residents rely entirely on private vehicles.

Walkability Car-Dependent

Compact town centre with shops and services within walking distance, but overall car-dependent due to spread and limited infrastructure

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🏛️ Heritage-Listed Places

There are 10 heritage-listed places in or near Bourke, listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.

Towers Drug Company Building (former)
45 Mitchell Street Bourke • SHR #00383
Brewarrina Aboriginal Fish Traps / Baiame's Ngunnhu
Doyle Street, Brewarrina • SHR #01413
Bourke Post Office
47 Oxley Street Bourke • SHR #01404
Brewarrina Aboriginal Mission Site
The Old Mission Road, Brewarrina • SHR #01732
St Ignatius Roman Catholic Church, Convent & Site
3-7 Meek Street Bourke • SHR #00603
Ardsilla
5 Richard Street Bourke • SHR #00198
Bourke Court House
Richard Street, Bourke • SHR #00791
Old London Bank Building
17 Sturt Street Bourke • SHR #00764
The Uiver Collection
33 Richards Street, Bourke • SHR #01995
Toorale Homestead and Woolshed Precinct
Toorale National Park • SHR #02072

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

These are the latest 2025 rates for the Bourke Local Government Area, which contains Bourke. Rates are per 100,000 residents; trends compare 2 and 10 year periods ending Dec 2025.

Break & enter (dwelling)
nc / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
Motor vehicle theft
nc / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Non-DV assault
nc / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
Robbery (unarmed)
nc / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
nc / 100k
2yr Down 63.6% 10yr Down 14.7%
View all 62 offence types for Bourke →

Source: NSW Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research (BOCSAR)

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
1,909
Census 2021
1,699
▼ 11% decline

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$38,948
Personal Income 2021
$44,720
▲ 14.8% increase

2021 Census income breakdown

Personal = median for one earner. Household = all members of a dwelling pooled. Family = related members only. Annual = weekly × 52.

Personal
$44,720 / yr
$860/wk
Household
$81,120 / yr
$1560/wk
Family
$98,696 / yr
$1898/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021
💰 Income: ABS Census 2021

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 1,303
Born Overseas 89

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. India 19
  • 2. Nepal 16
  • 3. Pakistan 10
  • 4. Philippines 7
  • 5. England 5
  • 6. Indonesia 4
  • 7. Ireland 4
  • 8. Malaysia 4
  • 9. China 3

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

Australian 546
English 518
Australian Aboriginal 516
Irish 144
Scottish 105
German 26
Indian 17
Chinese 16
Italian 12
French 8

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

1,218
Both parents born in Australia
109
Both parents born overseas
82
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
59.9%
No Religion
20.1%
Hinduism
1.2%
Islam
0.5%
Buddhism
0.2%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
142 (8.4%)
5-14 years
243 (14.3%)
15-19 years
92 (5.4%)
20-24 years
105 (6.2%)
25-34 years
252 (14.8%)
35-44 years
193 (11.4%)
45-54 years
207 (12.2%)
55-64 years
215 (12.7%)
65-74 years
149 (8.8%)
75-84 years
63 (3.7%)
85+ years
24 (1.4%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Bourke known for? +

Bourke is famously associated with the expression "back o' Bourke" meaning the remote Australian outback.

How far is Bourke from Sydney CBD? +

Bourke is approximately 800 kilometres from Sydney CBD. The drive takes approximately 9-10 hours in peak hour and 8.5-9 hours off-peak.

Does Bourke have public transport? +

Bus services include NSW TrainLink Coach, running to Dubbo (connecting to XPT rail) in approximately 4 hours.

What is the population of Bourke? +

According to the 2021 Census, Bourke has a population of 1,699 residents. The suburb is part of the broader NSW metropolitan area.

Is Bourke a good place to live? +

Bourke is well-suited to a range of residents, offering a comfortable suburban lifestyle in NSW. Despite its isolation, the town offers essential services including schools, a hospital, and local shops along the main street.

What is the postcode for Bourke? +

The postcode for Bourke is 2840. It is located in New South Wales (NSW).

What is the average income in Bourke? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Bourke is about $860 per week (around $44,700 per year). The median household income is $1,560 per week and the median family income is $1,898 per week.

What is the median house price in Bourke? +

As of 2025, the median house price is $220,000, down 32% on the previous year. Figures are based on NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information.

What is the age profile of Bourke? +

The median age in Bourke is 35. The largest age group is 25–34 (252 residents, around 15%). Around 28% of residents are under 20 and about 14% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Bourke a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Bourke is part of the Bourke LGA — see the Crime Statistics section on this page for the latest recorded offence rates per 100,000 residents, along with 2-year and 10-year trends.

How much is rent in Bourke? +

In Bourke, the median weekly rent is $180, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $947 (2021 Census).