The Wheatbelt covers an area of 154,862 square kilometres. The region surrounds the Perth metropolitan area, extending north from Perth to the Midwest region and east to the Goldfields-Esperance region and is bordered to the south by the South West and Great Southern regions and to the west by the Indian Ocean, Perth metropolitan area and Peel region.
It is home to three distinct Aboriginal groups – Njaki Njaki Nyoongar, Ballardong Nyoonger and Gubrun.
The region is popular with tourists thanks to its character townships, pioneering history, golden fields, rural farms and wildflowers. It is known for the world famous Wave Rock, which stretches 100 metres and stands 15 metres high, and the region’s Dryandra Woodland is one of Western Australia’s most important areas for wildlife preservation.
The Wheatbelt is Western Australia’s largest agricultural producer and is the source of nearly two-thirds of the State's wheat production, half of its wool production, and the majority of its lamb and mutton, oranges, honey, cut flowers and a range of other agricultural and pastoral products.
Tourism and gold, nickel and iron ore mining also contribute to the region’s economy.
Total Population
76,000
The Wheatbelt population totals around 76,000 people with a median age of 44 years and approximately 4.5% of the population comprises of those identifying as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent. (Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Wheatbelt south, Wheatbelt north).
Cost of living
According to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development’s Regional Price Index 2017, the cost of living in the Midwest region is 1.7% more expensive than Perth. (Source: Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development).
The Wheatbelt climate is characterised by high rainfall and mild temperatures near its coastal areas and hot, arid dry summers and mild winters in the eastern areas of the region.
In summer (December to February), the average daily maximum temperature is 34oC with daily minimum temperatures averaging around 17 oC. In winter (June to August), the average daily maximum temperature is 17
The average annual rainfall is 328mm, with most rainfall received between March and November.
Sport and recreation
Sport and recreation play a vital role in communities across the Wheatbelt and are a large part of the social fabric that brings the region’s communities together.
Popular outdoor recreational activities include
Other recreational pursuits such as arts and crafts, dance, music, theatre and performing arts are also well supported in the region.
The sporting community in the Wheatbelt is strong and diverse and the region has produced a number of talented athletes across a range of sports.
There are a number of clubs throughout the region, representing a range of recreational activities including hockey, football, cricket, netball, basketball, swimming, golf, athletics, lawn bowls, equestrian, horse racing, greyhound racing, pony clubs, cycling, rifle shooting, soccer, tennis, BMX and martial arts. Sport in the region is supported by the Wheatbelt Sportshouse, which provides support to sport and recreation organisations in the delivery of services to those living in the Wheatbelt.
For more information, visit:
Events and attractions
The Wheatbelt region hosts a number of events throughout the year, including farmer’s markets; agricultural field days and shows; film nights; musters; live music and theatre events; wildflower, music, arts, cultural, and food festivals; horse races;
The Wheatbelt is a region of rich pioneering history coupled with country charm where you can experience the character of outback pubs scattered across the region or experience farm life in the region with a local farm stay.
The region houses a number of natural attractions, the most famous being Wave Rock - an amazing rock formation that stretches 100 metres and stands 15 metres high in the shape of a giant wave about to crash over the surrounding bush. It is also home to a number of nature reserves and parks that can be easily accessed by vehicle and explored on foot.
The Dryandra Woodland is one of Western Australia’s most important areas for wildlife preservation and is home to numbats, tammar wallabies, brushtail possums, kangaroos and tawny frogmouth owls. Throughout June to early November, the region presents a dazzling display of Western Australian wildflowers, from carpets of everlastings to unique wreath flowers.
For more information on the region’s main events and attractions, visit:
- Australia’s Golden Outback
- Central Wheatbelt Visitors Centre
- Country Arts WA
- Parks and Wildlife Service
- Tourism WA
Services and facilities
You will find a range of every day services and facilities throughout the Goldfields region, including banks, ATMs, libraries, business centres/telecentres, post offices, shopping (food, grocery and other), hardware stores, police stations, butchers, bakers, cafes, service stations, pubs/taverns, takeaways, newsagents, churches, pharmacies and restaurants. Most of these are located in the region’s main town centres of Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Esperance.
For more information, visit the Tourist Information and Visitor Centre located in each town.
Schooling
The Goldfields region provides a range of government and non-government schooling options for primary, secondary and tertiary education.
In the public school sector, there are 54 government schools across the region, supported by a number of private schools.
For a comprehensive list of schools in the Goldfields, visit:
The region also provides higher education options through TAFE and university facilities. For more information, visit:
Accommodation
The Wheatbelt offers a range of housing and rental options for those living in the region.
The median house price for the Wheatbelt region is $267,500 with the overall median weekly rental costing $280 per week (Source: REIWA Market Update; December 2017).
For more information, visit the REIWA website.
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For more information, visit:
Health Statistics
Population: 76,180
MMM*: 4
Hospitals: 25
General Practices: 59
Aboriginal Medical Services: 0
Health Services
The Wheatbelt region covers four health districts – Coastal, Western, Southern and Eastern.
There is a network of public and private health providers servicing the Wheatbelt, who deliver a range of health services across the region including emergency response, primary health, mental health, population health and other ambulatory care services, residential and community aged care and inpatient acute services. Public health services in the region are well supported by private General Practitioners (GPs), government and not-for-profit agencies, allied health professionals and other private providers.
Aboriginal Health Services are integrated into existing public and private health services throughout the region.
Health Profile
(Courtesy of WA Country Health Services, Wheatbelt Health Profile, January 2018)
For a comprehensive overview of the health profile of the Wheatbelt region, download WA County Health’s Wheatbelt Health Profile 2018.