🔍

Wee Waa

NSW 2388 • Rest of NSW

2,034
Population (2021)
$66,872
Median Household Income
934.82 km²
Area
$200/wk
Median Rent
RuralAgriculturalHistoricCotton IndustryAffordable

About Wee Waa

Wee Waa is a historic rural town in the Lower Namoi Valley of northwestern New South Wales, located 41km from Narrabri and 571km from Sydney. Known as the "Cotton Capital of Australia", this agricultural community has a population of 1,571 (2021 census). The town name derives from the Kamilaroi word meaning "Fire for Roasting". Established as the oldest town on the Namoi River, it became the birthplace of Australia's commercial cotton industry in 1961.

Wee Waa serves as a gateway to the far west, including Lightning Ridge opal fields. The town offers essential services including two motels, four schools, medical centre, swimming pool, golf course, and bowling club. The tight-knit community enjoys an affordable rural lifestyle, though the town experiences periodic flooding from the Namoi River. Agriculture remains the primary employer, with cotton, wheat, and cattle farming dominating the local economy.

Wee Waa falls under postcode 2388 and is governed by Narrabri Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Barwon electorate.

📍 Location

State
New South Wales
Postcode
2388
Urban Area
N/A
LGA / Council
Narrabri
Federal Electorate
Parkes
State Electorate
Barwon
Type
Rural
Timezone
Sydney (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-30.31°, 149.39°
Statistical Area
Rest of NSW
Area
934.82 km²
Elevation
195m

🏷️ Property Prices 2025

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

🏡House
$310K
45 sales · ▲ 30.5% 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)
$200
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$1,083
Avg Household Size
2.5 people
Median Age
38 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
6.7%

33 state housing + 14 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Wee Waa
0.5 km
5-8 min

Bus Services

  • NSW TrainLink Coach — Narrabri / Moree 45 min to Narrabri

Commute to Narrabri

Distance
40 km
By Train
Limited rail service
By Bus
45 min coach
By Car (Peak)
30-35 min
By Car (Off-Peak)
30 min

🛣️ Regional town on Kamilaroi Highway. Daily air services via Narrabri airport. Limited rail.

Walkability Somewhat Walkable

Town centre walkable for local shops and services; car needed for farming properties.

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

🏛️ Heritage-Listed Places

There is 1 heritage-listed place in or near Wee Waa, listed on the NSW State Heritage Register.

Waterloo Creek Massacre Site
Millie Road, Jews Lagoon • SHR #02053

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

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

Break & enter (dwelling)
406.4 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
Motor vehicle theft
265.7 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
Non-DV assault
586.1 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
Robbery (unarmed)
7.8 / 100k
2yr — 10yr —
Steal from vehicle
554.9 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Stable
View all 62 offence types for Narrabri →

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

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
2,080
Census 2021
2,034
▼ 2.2% decline

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$31,356
Personal Income 2021
$35,828
▲ 14.3% 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
$35,828 / yr
$689/wk
Household
$66,872 / yr
$1286/wk
Family
$86,216 / yr
$1658/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

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

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 1,637
Born Overseas 90

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. New Zealand 18
  • 2. England 17
  • 3. United States 12
  • 4. Germany 5
  • 5. Ireland 5
  • 6. South Korea 5
  • 7. Philippines 3

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

Australian 921
English 667
Australian Aboriginal 354
Irish 192
Scottish 127
German 66
New Zealander 14
Chinese 13
Welsh 13
Dutch 12

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

1,497
Both parents born in Australia
115
Both parents born overseas
122
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

Christianity
62.3%
No Religion
22.7%
Buddhism
0.3%
Hinduism
0.2%
Islam
0.1%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
146 (7.2%)
5-14 years
313 (15.4%)
15-19 years
112 (5.5%)
20-24 years
114 (5.6%)
25-34 years
248 (12.2%)
35-44 years
222 (10.9%)
45-54 years
214 (10.5%)
55-64 years
294 (14.5%)
65-74 years
198 (9.7%)
75-84 years
130 (6.4%)
85+ years
46 (2.3%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Wee Waa known for? +

Wee Waa is proudly known as the Cotton Capital of Australia, reflecting the region's dominance in the cotton industry centred on the rich soils of the Lower Namoi Valley. The town also serves as a gateway to the far west and the opal fields at Lightning Ridge.

How far is Wee Waa from Narrabri? +

Wee Waa is approximately 41 kilometres east of Narrabri, the nearest major regional centre, with a drive time of around 35-40 minutes via the Kamilaroi Highway.

Does Wee Waa have public transport? +

Wee Waa has limited bus services connecting to Narrabri and other towns in the region. The Narrabri train station provides the nearest rail connection to the broader NSW network, including services to Sydney.

What is the population of Wee Waa? +

According to the 2021 Census, Wee Waa has a population of approximately 2,034 residents within the Narrabri Shire local government area.

Is Wee Waa a good place to live? +

Wee Waa offers a traditional country town lifestyle in the heart of Australia's cotton country. It is well-suited to farming families and those who value community, affordable living, and a connection to agricultural heritage. The town has essential services including schools, medical care, and shopping.

What is the postcode for Wee Waa? +

The postcode for Wee Waa is 2388.

What is the average income in Wee Waa? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in Wee Waa is about $689 per week (around $35,800 per year). The median household income is $1,286 per week and the median family income is $1,658 per week.

What is the median house price in Wee Waa? +

As of 2025, the median house price is $310,000, up 30.5% on the previous year. Figures are based on NSW Valuer General — Property Sales Information.

What is the age profile of Wee Waa? +

The median age in Wee Waa is 38. The largest age group is 5–14 (313 residents, around 15%). Around 28% of residents are under 20 and about 18% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is Wee Waa a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. Wee Waa is part of the Narrabri 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 Wee Waa? +

In Wee Waa, the median weekly rent is $200, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $1,083 (2021 Census).