Dubbo is a city located in New South Wales, Australia. It is the largest city by population in the Orana Region, boasting a population of 38,943 per the 2016 Census. The city is probably best known for being a major transportation hub that is connected to other Australian cities including Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane.
Though the area has been inhabited for tens of thousands of years, it’s a relatively new city that was only designated a city in the 1960s. The last recorded population was taken during the 2016 Census when the population was recorded as 38,943.
The city has a population that is younger than the national average, according to data recorded during the Census. The median age of 36 is two years younger than the national average. There are also over 20% of residents in the 0 to 14 year demographic, a number that is again higher than the national average.
Over 84% of the residents in Dubbo are native Australians, which also surpasses the national average. Over three-quarters of residents have parents who are indigenous Australians.
In terms of religion, the most widely practiced is Catholicism, which is practiced by over 30% of the population. Anglican and Uniting Church are two other popular religions. The city’s residents that do not have a faith was reported as just under 18% of the population, which is well below the national average.
Dubbo’s history is thought to have begun about 40,000 years ago when indigenous Australians inhabited the area. However, the city of Dubbo as it is now known has a much shorter history. The area was first discovered by Europeans in the year 1818. The area was discovered by John Oxley. The European, Robert Dulhunty, was the first to become a permanent settler by settling in as a squatter. After squatting laws went into effect, Dulhunty obtained a license. About 40 aborigines lived in the area. The area soon began getting more populated, and one of the oldest settlements in Australia, Dundullimal Homestead, is located in Dubbo and still stands today.
As the city proliferated, a courthouse and police station were built and opened. The settlement was designated as a village in 1849, with land sales occurring the following year. The population was slow to grow until the Gold Rush of the 1800s, which saw an increase in residents. The city’s population by the late 1800s had reached 850, and so it was designated as a municipality. The city continued to grow, seeing the introduction of a railway, a bank, and a general store. In 1966, Dubbo was designated as a city.
Today, the economy relies heavily on agriculture. The Fletcher International Exports is an immense asset to the economy and exports lamb to all over the world. Health services is an industry that employs many of the residents of Dubbo. The city is also a center for retail shopping. Tourism is an essential industry for today’s economy in Dubbo as well.
Dubbo has a population of almost 39,000, which reflects some growth since the area was only settled in the 1800s and made a city in the 1960s. While the city isn’t expected to see the population explode as it did during the Gold Rush of the 1800s, its educational opportunities, attractions, and job opportunities for its residents will bring in slow but steady growth throughout the years to come.
| City | 2025 Pop. ↓ | Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Melbourne | 5,391,890 | 1.44% |
| Sydney | 5,248,790 | 1.23% |
| Brisbane | 2,568,170 | 1.25% |
| Perth | 2,169,190 | 1.2% |
| Adelaide | 1,392,940 | 0.99% |
| Gold Coast | 752,570 | 1.34% |
| Canberra | 482,986 | 1.14% |
| Newcastle | 469,794 | 1% |
| Sunshine Coast | 376,114 | 1.43% |
| Central Coast | 347,430 | 0.94% |
| Wollongong | 318,535 | 1% |
