South West, WA
About the South West region
This region of WA is the state's most populous and diverse region outside of the Perth metropolitan area. Its 24,000 km² of land spans a diverse range of landscapes, from coastline to national parks and state forest. The South West is bordered to the north by the Peel region, to the east by the Great Southern and Wheatbelt regions, and to the east by the Indian and Southern oceans.
The region is home to the major regional cities of Bunbury and Busselton, along with smaller localities (such as Margaret River and Donnybrook) and quaint rural towns.
The Noongar people are the traditional owners of the land on which the South West region now stands. Archaeological evidence shows that Aboriginal history in the region dates back some 45,000 years.
Local councils
WA's South West region includes 12 municipalities: Shire of Augusta-Margaret River, Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Shire of Boyup Brook, City of Bunbury, City of Busselton, Shire of Capel, Shire of Collie, Shire of Dardanup, Shire of Donnybrook-Balingup, Shire of Harvey, Shire of Manjimup, and Shire of Nannup.
Climate information
The South West enjoys a Mediterranean climate, experiencing hot, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Temperatures range from a mean maximum of 34 °C in February, at the height of summer, to 16 °C in July, during the depths of winter.
The region receives about 900 mm of rainfall annually, on average.
Population
The estimated population of the South West region is reported as 179,791 as of 2019.
Education
This region of WA is home to a number of excellent kindergartens, pre-schools, primary schools and secondary schools, giving parents a diversity of choice when deciding where to send their children. There are 100 government schools located in the region.
The South West is home to campuses of Edith Cowan University (in Bunbury), Curtin University (in Margaret River), and The Rural Clinical School of WA, a branch of the University of WA (in Busselton). There are also a host of South Regional TAFE campuses located across the region.
Employment and local businesses
The South West region has a Gross Regional Product of $14.5 billion, and supports 71,633 local jobs. The region's top three industries by number of people employed are retail, healthcare & social assistance, and construction.
The region has a burgeoning economy. It is endowed with rich mineral resources and exports significant quantities of alumina, lithium and mineral sands, it is Australia's only silicon manufacturer, and is home to thriving agriculture and tourism sectors.
Housing
The median house price varies across the South West region. Bunbury's has a median of $540,000, while Busselton's sits at $427,500. The region had a median weekly house rental (for a 3-bedroom home) of $340 in Bunbury and $400 in Busselton.
Both median rental and purchase prices are quite high in the South West region.
Events
Where: Busselton, WA
When: Annually, in February
What: This grassroots event is a celebration of the seaside culture of Busselton, along with the city's iconic local landmark, the Busselton Jetty. Nearly 3000 competitors make their way to the laid-back WA city every year, working in teams or challenging themselves solo to complete the tough open-water swim. They're supported by about 7,500 spectators, who come both to cheer on their loved ones and to enjoy the music, entertainment, and family beach games also made available by the event organisers.
Where: Margaret River, WA
When: Annually, in March
What: This unique event combines business and pleasure, bringing people working in creative fields together for an inspiring long weekend that is sure to get the cogs turning. Emergence describes itself as an 'anti-conference', offering keynotes from industry professionals alongside more unconventional activities such as hands-on workshops, inspiring pop-ups and satellite events. Whether it’s ideas, inspiration, networking, or insights into emerging trends you’re after, the festival has something for everyone.
South West Craft Beer Festival
Where: Busselton, WA
When: Annually, in February
What: WA's South West is home to a host of award-winning craft breweries, which this festival brings together for one glorious day in February. Attendees are invited to sample over 120 local brews — including some one-off and limited-edition tastes — while enjoying great music and delicious food from around the region. For those who aren't big beer-drinkers, the festival also has delectable local wines and craft ciders on offer, so no one is left out.
Additional Information
South West has 12 subregions. Use the list below or the map above to learn more about individual subregions.
South West Schools
- Government Schools
- Independent Schools
Combined
- Boyup Brook District High School BOYUP BROOK WA 6244
- Donnybrook District High School DONNYBROOK WA 6239
- Nannup District High School NANNUP WA 6275
- Northcliffe District High School NORTHCLIFFE WA 6262
- Pemberton District High School PEMBERTON WA 6260
Primary
- Adam Road Primary School SOUTH BUNBURY WA 6230
- Allanson Primary School ALLANSON WA 6225
- Amaroo Primary School COLLIE WA 6225
- Augusta Primary School AUGUSTA WA 6290
- Australind Primary School AUSTRALIND WA 6233
- Balingup Primary School BALINGUP WA 6253
- Boyanup Primary School BOYANUP WA 6237
- Bridgetown Primary School BRIDGETOWN WA 6255
- Brunswick Junction Primary School BRUNSWICK JUNCTION WA 6224
- Bunbury Primary School BUNBURY WA 6230
- Busselton Primary School BUSSELTON WA 6280
- Capel Primary School CAPEL WA 6271
- Carey Park Primary School CAREY PARK WA 6230
- Clifton Park Primary School CLIFTON PARK WA 6233
- Cooinda Primary School EAST BUNBURY WA 6230
- Cowaramup Primary School COWARAMUP WA 6284
- Dalyellup Primary School DALYELLUP WA 6230
- Dardanup Primary School DARDANUP WA 6236
- Djidi Djidi Aboriginal School BUNBURY WA 6230
- Donnybrook District High School - Donnybrook Junior Campus (K-6) DONNYBROOK WA 6239
- Dunsborough Primary School DUNSBOROUGH WA 6281
- East Manjimup Primary School MANJIMUP WA 6258
- Eaton Primary School EATON WA 6232
- Fairview Primary School COLLIE WA 6225
- Geographe Primary School BUSSELTON WA 6280
- Glen Huon Primary School EATON WA 6232
- Greenbushes Primary School GREENBUSHES WA 6254
- Harvey Primary School HARVEY WA 6220
- Karridale Primary School KARRIDALE WA 6288
- Kingston Primary School AUSTRALIND WA 6233
- Kirup Primary School KIRUP WA 6251
- Maidens Park Primary School BUNBURY WA 6230
- Manjimup Primary School MANJIMUP WA 6258
- Margaret River Primary School MARGARET RIVER WA 6285
- Parkfield Primary School AUSTRALIND WA 6233
- Picton Primary School GLEN IRIS WA 6230
- Rapids Landing Primary School MARGARET RIVER WA 6285
- River Valley Primary School BUREKUP WA 6227
- South Bunbury Primary School SOUTH BUNBURY WA 6230
- Treendale Primary School AUSTRALIND WA 6233
- Tuart Forest Primary School DALYELLUP WA 6230
- Vasse Primary School VASSE WA 6280
- Walpole Primary School WALPOLE WA 6398
- West Busselton Primary School BUSSELTON WA 6280
- Wilson Park Primary School COLLIE WA 6225
- Yarloop Primary School YARLOOP WA 6218
Secondary
- Australind Senior High School AUSTRALIND WA 6233
- Bridgetown High School BRIDGETOWN WA 6255
- Bunbury Senior High School BUNBURY WA 6230
- Busselton Senior High School BUSSELTON WA 6280
- Cape Naturaliste College VASSE WA 6280
- Collie Senior High School COLLIE WA 6225
- Dalyellup College DALYELLUP WA 6230
- Eaton Community College EATON WA 6232
- Harvey Senior High School HARVEY WA 6220
- Manea Senior College BUNBURY WA 6230
- Manjimup Senior High School MANJIMUP WA 6258
- Margaret River Senior High School MARGARET RIVER WA 6285
- Newton Moore Senior High School SOUTH BUNBURY WA 6230
- Western Australian College Of Agriculture - Harvey WOKALUP WA 6221
Special
- College Row School BUNBURY WA 6230
- Geographe Education Support Centre BUSSELTON WA 6280
- Manjimup Education Support Centre MANJIMUP WA 6258
- Newton Moore Education Support Centre BUNBURY WA 6230
- South Bunbury Education Support Centre SOUTH BUNBURY WA 6230
Combined
- Bunbury Baptist College DALYELLUP WA 6230
- Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School GELORUP WA 6230
- Child Side School BOYANUP WA 6237
- Cornerstone Christian College BUSSELTON WA 6280
- Georgiana Molloy Anglican School YALYALUP WA 6280
- Grace Christian School GLEN IRIS WA 6230
- Hope Christian College ROELANDS WA 6226
- Kearnan College MANJIMUP WA 6258
- Ocean Forest Lutheran College DALYELLUP WA 6230
- South-West John Calvin Christian College CAPEL WA 6271
- St Mary MacKillop College BUSSELTON WA 6280
Primary
- Cornerstone Christian College DUNSBOROUGH WA 6281
- Geographe Grammar School AUSTRALIND WA 6233
- Leschenault Catholic Primary School AUSTRALIND WA 6233
- Margaret River Independent School FOREST GROVE WA 6286
- Margaret River Montessori School MARGARET RIVER WA 6285
- Our Lady of Lourdes School DARDANUP WA 6236
- Our Lady of the Cape Primary School DUNSBOROUGH WA 6281
- St Anne's School HARVEY WA 6220
- St Brigid's School BRIDGETOWN WA 6255
- St Brigid's School COLLIE WA 6225
- St Joseph's Primary School BUNBURY WA 6230
- St Joseph's School PEMBERTON WA 6260
- St Mary's Catholic Primary School BUNBURY WA 6230
- St Mary's Catholic School BOYUP BROOK WA 6244
- St Mary's School DONNYBROOK WA 6239
- St Michael's School BRUNSWICK WA 6224
- St Thomas More Catholic Primary School MARGARET RIVER WA 6285
- Yallingup Steiner School YALLINGUP WA 6282
Secondary
- Bunbury Catholic College BUNBURY WA 6230
- Bunbury Catholic College - Mercy Campus AUSTRALIND WA 6233
- Our Lady of Mercy College AUSTRALIND WA 6233
Special
- Bunbury Regional Community College BUNBURY WA 6231
- Bunbury Regional Community College - Blair Street Campus BUNBURY WA 6231
South West Housing
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Houses in South West
The price of a house in South West ranges from around $141,000 to $5,500,000.
A typical house in has 4 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms & parking for 2 cars.
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Apartments in South West
The price of a apartment in South West ranges from around $83,000 to $550,000.
A typical apartment in has 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom & parking for 1 car.
South West Census Information
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Dwelling Type
What types of residential properties are available in South West?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Tenure Type
Which residential properties in South West are owned, mortgaged or rented out?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Change in Residence
Did people in South West change address in the last year?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Working Population
What age groups are most strongly represented in South West?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Top 5 Industries
What industries do people in South West work in?
- Retail trade
- Health care and social assistance
- Construction
- Manufacturing
- Education and training
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP -
Family Size
How many people live in a household in South West?
Source: ABS 2016 Census GCP
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Properties in South West
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- For Rent