Density of Dwellings in the ACT - Census Factsheet #15

Medium and high density dwellings in the ACT 2011 Census fact sheets Issue #15 April 2013

At the time of the 2011 Census, there were 19,659 semi-detached, row or terrace houses, townhouses etc and 18,156 flats, units or apartments in the ACT. Medium and high density dwellings represented 27 per cent of dwelling stock in 2011, but only 20 per cent of people in the ACT were counted in them While low density dwellings Distribution of dwellings and population by density category, ACT, 2011 (separate houses) represented 100.0 72.8 per cent of the ACT What is a dwelling? 80.0 dwelling stock in 2011, A dwelling is a structure, which is intended to 60.0 medium density have people live in it, and which is habitable 40.0 (19.0 per cent) and high on Census Night. 20.0 density dwellings 0.0 (8.0 per cent) accounted for Each dwelling classification is determined by Low density Med density High density more than one in every four the Census collector at the point of collection. Dwellings Persons dwellings at the time of the Dwellings include: 2011 Census. Despite representing 27.0 per cent of the dwelling stock, medium  Separate house (14.7 per cent) and high (5.3 per cent) density dwellings only housed a total of 20.0 per cent of the enumerated population (excludes visitor only and non-classifiable  Semi-detached, row or terrace house, households). townhouse, etc.  Flat, unit or apartment An additional 20,000 dwellings were added to the ACT dwelling  Other dwelling: stock in the decade to 2011  Caravan, cabin, houseboat  Improvised home, tent, sleepers-out Nearly 60 per cent (58.7 per cent) of the dwellings added to ACT dwelling stock  House or flat attached to a shop, office, over the decade to 2011 were either medium (28.1 per cent) or high density (30.6 etc. per cent) (see definitions below left). Just over 9,000 separate houses were also added representing nearly half (44.8 per cent) of the total increase to ACT dwelling stock.

Share of change in dwelling stock by density category, These additions meant that How is a dwelling classified? ACT, 2001-11 medium density dwellings A dwelling can be classified as being either increased from 17.6 per cent of stock in 2001 to reach private occupied or unoccupied, or a non- High-density, 30.6% Separate 19.2 per cent of stock in private dwelling. house, 44.8% Occupied Private Dwelling is a private 2011, while high density dwelling occupied by one or more people. dwellings increased from Med-density, 5.0 per cent to 8.8 per cent. 28.1% Unoccupied Private Dwellings are structures (Includes visitor only and non- built specifically for living purposes which are classifiable households). habitable, but were unoccupied on Census Night. Vacant houses, holiday homes, huts, cabins newly completed dwellings are counted The increase was most rapid as unoccupied dwellings. for high density dwellings, Dwelling stock by density category, ACT, 2001 and 2011 Non-Private Dwellings (NPDs) are those which more than doubled 120,000 dwellings, not included above, that provide a over the decade 100,000 (up 107.6 per cent) from communal or transitory type of 80,000 5,740 dwellings in 2001 to accommodation. NPDs include hotels, motels, 60,000 11,914 dwellings in 2011. guest houses, prisons, religious and charitable 40,000 institutions, boarding schools, defence Medium density dwellings 20,000 establishments, hospitals and other communal increased by 28.1 per cent, dwellings. from 20,225 to 25,901 0 dwellings in 2011 while Separate house Med-density High-density For the purposes of this fact sheet, Medium separate houses increased by 2001 2011 density dwellings include one and two storey 10.3 per cent (from 87,729 semi-detached, row or terrace houses, dwellings in 2001 to 96,770 dwellings in 2011). townhouses, flats, units and apartments. High density dwellings include flats, units and apartments in three or more storey blocks. All data on this factsheet is sourced from the 2011 Census of Population and Housing, available for analysis from the ABS website (see www.abs.gov.au) Who lives in medium and high density dwellings? 2011 Census fact sheets Issue #15 April 2013 The most common household type in private For both medium dwellings in 2011 was the couple family with (38.1 per cent of all dwellings) and high density dwellings (39.7 per children cent), lone person households dominated. For both dwelling types, the second most common Medium density dwellings by household type, ACT, 2011 Nearly 43,000 dwellings were occupied by families household type was couple 12,000 with children and a further 13,195 dwellings were families without children occupied by one parent families. Large numbers of 10,000 (23.3 per cent of and dwellings were also occupied by couples without 8,000 25.0 per cent respectively). children (34,358 dwellings) and lone persons (30,248 dwellings). Group households occupied a smaller but 6,000 In total, lone persons still sizeable number of dwellings (7,198). 4,000 occupied 14,611 medium and high density dwellings. 2,000 Dwelling stock by household type, ACT, 2011 50,000 0 Some 3,757 medium 45,000 Cpl fam Cpl fam One par Other fam Lone Group Other density (up 82.4 per cent 40,000 no kids with kids fam person 35,000 30,000 from 2001) and 713 High density dwellings by household type, ACT, 2011 25,000 20,000 high density dwellings 5,000 15,000 (up 208.7 per cent) 4,500 10,000 4,000 5,000 were occupied by 3,500 0 couple families with 3,000 Cpl fam Cpl fam One par Other fam Lone Group Other 2,500 no kids with kids fam person children. 2,000 1,500 The largest increase in the ten years to 2011 was The largest increase 1,000 500 for couples without children in both medium 0 and high density Cpl fam no Cpl fam One par Other fam Lone Group Other There was an increase of 20,195 dwellings in the ACT kids with kids fam person between 2001 and 2011. The largest increase in dwellings was for households occupying these dwellings was for couples couple without children households without children (up 7,616 dwellings), followed by lone Couple without children households occupied most of the increased person households (up 4,732 dwellings). Over 60 per dwelling stock. Lone persons in the extra high density dwellings and cent (61.1 per cent) of the increase in dwelling stock couple families was occupied by one (37.7 per cent) and two person Change in medium and high density dwellings by with kids in the household type, ACT, 2001-11 extra medium households (23.4 per cent) with families with children 2,500 taking up 22.7 per cent of the increase. density stock were 2,000 the second most Change in dwelling stock by household type, ACT, 2001 - 1,500 common 2011 1,000 household types. 8,000 7,000 500 This work is 6,000 copyright. Apart from 5,000 0 Med-density High-density any use as permitted 4,000 under the Copyright 3,000 Cpl fam no kids Cpl fam with kids One par fam Lone person Group Act 1968, no part 2,000 may be reproduced 1,000 by any process without written permission from the Territory Records Office, 0 Cpl fam no Cpl fam One par Other fam Lone Group Other Community and Infrastructure Services, Territory and Municipal Services, ACT kids with kids fam person Government. GPO Box 158, Canberra City ACT 2601.

Reference

1. Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2011. Census Dictionary Australia, Catalogue Number 2901.0

The most common household type in medium and high density dwellings in 2011 was lone persons Enquiries about this publication should be directed to: Chief Minister and Treasury Directorate ACT Government [email protected] http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/policystrategic/actstats © Australian Capital Territory, Canberra 2013