# City of Busselton

The City of Busselton is a local government area in the South West region of Western Australia, approximately 230 km (140 mi) south of Perth, the state capital. The city covers an area of 1,455 km$^2$ (562 sq mi) and had a population of 40,640 as at the 2021 Census. It contains two large towns, Busselton and Dunsborough, and a number of smaller towns. The city office is located on Southern Drive, Busselton.

## History

The City of Busselton was established as the Busselton Road District on 11 May 1951 with the amalgamation of the Municipality of Busselton, governing the area of Busselton bounded by West Street and Ford Road, and the Sussex Road District, governing the remaining area. Both bodies had been established in 1871.
The road district was declared a shire and became the Shire of Busselton with effect from 1 July 1961 following the passage of the Local Government Act 1960, which reformed all remaining road districts into shires.
In 2007 it abolished its system of wards for electing councillors. On 21 January 2012 the Shire of Busselton gained city status and became the City of Busselton.
The City of Busselton and neighbouring Capel are among the state's fastest growing areas.

## Indigenous people

The City of Busselton is located on the traditional land of the Wardandi (also spelled Wadandi) people of the Noongar nation.

## Towns, suburbs and localities

The towns, suburbs and localities of the City of Busselton with population and size figures based on the most recent Australian census:
| Locality | Population | Area |
| Abba River | 83 (SAL 2021) | 28.4 km$^2$ (11.0 sq mi) |
| Abbey | 1,321 (SAL 2021) | 2.6 km$^2$ (1.0 sq mi) |
| Acton Park | 92 (SAL 2021) | 23.7 km$^2$ (9.2 sq mi) |
| Ambergate | 564 (SAL 2021) | 38.4 km$^2$ (14.8 sq mi) |
| Anniebrook | 53 (SAL 2021) | 13.1 km$^2$ (5.1 sq mi) |
| Boallia | 39 (SAL 2021) | 37.5 km$^2$ (14.5 sq mi) |
| Bovell | 475 (SAL 2021) | 13.3 km$^2$ (5.1 sq mi) |
| Broadwater | 4,269 (SAL 2021) | 6.2 km$^2$ (2.4 sq mi) |
| Busselton | 1,838 (SAL 2021) | 4.5 km$^2$ (1.7 sq mi) |
| Carbunup River | 112 (SAL 2021) | 28 km$^2$ (11 sq mi) |
| Chapman Hill | 109 (SAL 2021) | 54.3 km$^2$ (21.0 sq mi) |
| Dunsborough | 6,413 (SAL 2021) | 16.3 km$^2$ (6.3 sq mi) |
| Eagle Bay | 120 (SAL 2021) | 1.9 km$^2$ (0.73 sq mi) |
| Geographe | 3,622 (SAL 2021) | 6 km$^2$ (2.3 sq mi) |
| Hithergreen | 61 (SAL 2016) | 24.2 km$^2$ (9.3 sq mi) |
| Jarrahwood | 9 (SAL 2021) | 1 km$^2$ (0.39 sq mi) |
| Jindong | 68 (SAL 2021) | 22.4 km$^2$ (8.6 sq mi) |
| Kalgup | 91 (SAL 2021) | 17 km$^2$ (6.6 sq mi) |
| Kaloorup | 90 (SAL 2021) | 45.1 km$^2$ (17.4 sq mi) |
| Kealy | 1,119 (SAL 2021) | 6.5 km$^2$ (2.5 sq mi) |
| Ludlow * | 132 (SAL 2021) | 49.2 km$^2$ (19.0 sq mi) |
| Marybrook | 229 (SAL 2021) | 15.4 km$^2$ (5.9 sq mi) |
| Metricup | 263 (SAL 2021) | 57.2 km$^2$ (22.1 sq mi) |
| Naturaliste | 107 (SAL 2021) | 56 km$^2$ (22 sq mi) |
| North Jindong | 75 (SAL 2021) | 19.1 km$^2$ (7.4 sq mi) |
| Quedjinup | 420 (SAL 2021) | 8 km$^2$ (3.1 sq mi) |
| Quindalup | 1,488 (SAL 2021) | 39.9 km$^2$ (15.4 sq mi) |
| Reinscourt | 280 (SAL 2021) | 8.6 km$^2$ (3.3 sq mi) |
| Ruabon | 82 (SAL 2021) | 31.6 km$^2$ (12.2 sq mi) |
| Sabina River | 79 (SAL 2021) | 18.5 km$^2$ (7.1 sq mi) |
| Siesta Park | 60 (SAL 2021) | 0.9 km$^2$ (0.35 sq mi) |
| Tutunup | 75 (SAL 2021) | 41.5 km$^2$ (16.0 sq mi) |
| Vasse | 2,853 (SAL 2021) | 36.1 km$^2$ (13.9 sq mi) |
| Walsall | 82 (SAL 2021) | 23.2 km$^2$ (9.0 sq mi) |
| West Busselton | 8,869 (SAL 2021) | 8.2 km$^2$ (3.2 sq mi) |
| Wilyabrup | 193 (SAL 2021) | 81.7 km$^2$ (31.5 sq mi) |
| Wonnerup | 196 (SAL 2021) | 17.6 km$^2$ (6.8 sq mi) |
| Yallingup | 1,195 (SAL 2021) | 75.3 km$^2$ (29.1 sq mi) |
| Yallingup Siding | 324 (SAL 2021) | 20.2 km$^2$ (7.8 sq mi) |
| Yalyalup | 2,950 (SAL 2021) | 32.2 km$^2$ (12.4 sq mi) |
| Yelverton | 72 (SAL 2021) | 34.1 km$^2$ (13.2 sq mi) |
| Yoganup | 15 (SAL 2021) | 383.8 km$^2$ (148.2 sq mi) |
| Yoongarillup | 79 (SAL 2021) | 26.4 km$^2$ (10.2 sq mi) |
* (* indicates locality is only partially located within this city)

## Population

The historical populations of the Busselton Municipal District and the Sussex Road District were as follows before their amalgamation:
| Year | Population | Busselton | Sussex |
| 1911 | 1,786 | 693 | 1,093 |
| 1921 | 1,846 | 610 | 1,236 |
| 1933 | 4,053 | 916 | 3,137 |
| 1947 | 4,024 | 1008 | 3,016 |
The figures for the censuses since the council amalgamation are as follows:
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1954 | 5,265 | — |
| 1961 | 6,120 | +2.17% |
| 1966 | 6,803 | +2.14% |
| 1971 | 7,426 | +1.77% |
| 1976 | 7,897 | +1.24% |
| 1981 | 9,369 | +3.48% |
| 1986 | 11,933 | +4.96% |
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
| 1991 | 14,592 | +4.11% |
| 1996 | 18,158 | +4.47% |
| 2001 | 23,099 | +4.93% |
| 2006 | 26,638 | +2.89% |
| 2011 | 30,330 | +2.63% |
| 2016 | 36,686 | +3.88% |
| 2021 | 40,640 | +2.07% |

## Heritage-listed places

As of 2023, 225 places are heritage-listed in the City of Busselton, of which 33 are on the State Register of Heritage Places, among them the Cape Naturaliste Lighthouse, Busselton Jetty and Wonnerup House.