🔍

Wee Waa

NSW 2388 • Rest of NSW

2,034
Population (2021)
$35,828
Median Income
934.82 km²
Area
195m
Elevation
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
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

🚌 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

🏠 Housing Costs 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$200
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$1,083
Avg Household Size
2.5 people
Median Age
38 years

👥 Demographics

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

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Income 2016
$31,356
Income 2021
$35,828
▲ 14.3% increase

Income Comparison

📊 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%)

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