Randwick in Sydney’s eastern suburbs has more Irish-born residents than any other suburb in Australia: 1,248 people at the 2021 Census, or 4.3% of everyone living there. By share, nearby Eastgardens is the most Irish suburb in the country, with 5.4% of residents born in Ireland, about 1 in 19. And the most Irish state per head is Western Australia, where 0.68% of people were born in Ireland, about double the share in NSW.
Every number below comes from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) 2021 Census, still the latest suburb-level data. So, is your suburb on it?
Short version
- Most Irish-born residents: Randwick, NSW, with 1,248 (4.3% of the suburb).
- Highest share: Eastgardens, NSW, at 5.4%, about 1 in 19 residents. Coogee is next at 4.5%.
- Most Irish state: WA by share (0.68%, about double NSW). NSW has the most Irish-born people overall: 27,001.
- Top suburb in each big city (by number): Randwick in Sydney, St Kilda in Melbourne, Scarborough in Perth, The Gap in Brisbane.
- Australia-wide: 80,927 people born in Ireland, and 2,410,833 who named Irish ancestry.
- New data: the ABS says 2026 Census results for most topics come out in June 2027.
The 15 most Irish suburbs in Australia, by number
The straight headcount of people born in Ireland, with their share of the suburb’s residents in brackets.
| Suburb (state) | Irish-born (share of residents) |
|---|---|
| 1. Randwick (NSW) | 1,248 (4.3%) |
| 2. Coogee (NSW) | 663 (4.5%) |
| 3. Maroubra (NSW) | 582 (1.9%) |
| 4. St Kilda (VIC) | 484 (2.5%) |
| 5. Mascot (NSW) | 478 (2.2%) |
| 6. Zetland (NSW) | 420 (3.3%) |
| 7. Waterloo (NSW) | 384 (2.3%) |
| 8. Rosebery (NSW) | 348 (2.6%) |
| 9. Bondi Junction (NSW) | 334 (3.2%) |
| 10. South Yarra (VIC) | 321 (1.3%) |
| 11. Melbourne city centre (VIC) | 299 (0.5%) |
| 12. Botany (NSW) | 293 (2.3%) |
| 13. Scarborough (WA) | 293 (1.7%) |
| 14. Nollamara (WA) | 243 (1.9%) |
| 15. Baldivis (WA) | 227 (0.6%) |
Nine of the 15 are in Sydney, three in Melbourne and three in Perth. Randwick has almost twice as many Irish-born residents as Coogee in second place. Not one Queensland suburb makes the cut: the top one there, The Gap in Brisbane, had 113.
And Bondi? Bondi Junction (334) is in, but Bondi Beach (195) and Bondi (192) just miss out. Sorry, Bondi.
The 15 most Irish suburbs in Australia, by share
Big suburbs get big numbers, so here’s the fairer test: what share of each suburb’s residents were born in Ireland. Only suburbs with 1,000 or more residents are ranked.
| Suburb (state) | Share born in Ireland (Irish-born residents) |
|---|---|
| 1. Eastgardens (NSW) | 5.4% (220) |
| 2. Coogee (NSW) | 4.5% (663) |
| 3. Randwick (NSW) | 4.3% (1,248) |
| 4. Zetland (NSW) | 3.3% (420) |
| 5. Bondi Junction (NSW) | 3.2% (334) |
| 6. Hillsdale (NSW) | 3.0% (167) |
| 7. Rosebery (NSW) | 2.6% (348) |
| 8. St Kilda (VIC) | 2.5% (484) |
| 9. Connolly (WA) | 2.5% (91) |
| 10. Leederville (WA) | 2.4% (88) |
| 11. Little Bay (NSW) | 2.3% (113) |
| 12. Waterloo (NSW) | 2.3% (384) |
| 13. Botany (NSW) | 2.3% (293) |
| 14. Waverley (NSW) | 2.3% (95) |
| 15. Mascot (NSW) | 2.2% (478) |
In Eastgardens about 1 in 19 residents was born in Ireland, in Coogee about 1 in 22 and in Randwick about 1 in 23. Across NSW as a whole it’s about 1 in 300. Twelve of the top 15 are in Sydney, plus St Kilda in Melbourne and Connolly and Leederville in Perth.
Where the Irish live, city by city
These lists cover every suburb in each state, not just the capital city.
Sydney and NSW: the eastern suburbs
NSW has more Irish-born people than any other state (27,001), and its top 10 suburbs by number are all in Sydney’s eastern suburbs and inner south, from Randwick and Coogee to Botany and Eastgardens. By share it’s the same part of town, with Hillsdale (3.0%) and Little Bay (2.3%) joining the top 10. So the most Irish suburb in Sydney is Randwick by headcount and Eastgardens by share, with Coogee second on both. Our Irish in Sydney guide has the pubs, GAA clubs and events.
Perth and WA: the northern suburbs
WA is the surprise package. It has more Irish-born residents than Victoria (18,147 against 17,456) with well under half the population.
| Suburb (WA) | Irish-born (share of residents) |
|---|---|
| 1. Scarborough | 293 (1.7%) |
| 2. Nollamara | 243 (1.9%) |
| 3. Baldivis | 227 (0.6%) |
| 4. Duncraig | 220 (1.4%) |
| 5. Yokine | 210 (1.7%) |
By share, Perth’s northern suburbs around Joondalup take over: Connolly (2.5%), Beldon (2.2%), Kinross and Craigie (both 2.1%), then Edgewater, Woodvale, Greenwood and Carramar (all 1.8%). Inner-city Leederville (2.4%) is the odd one out. Baldivis makes the headcount list because it’s a big suburb (37,697 people), not because it’s especially Irish. Heading west? Read our moving to Perth from Ireland guide.
Melbourne and Victoria: St Kilda and around
| Suburb (VIC) | Irish-born (share of residents) |
|---|---|
| 1. St Kilda | 484 (2.5%) |
| 2. South Yarra | 321 (1.3%) |
| 3. Melbourne city centre | 299 (0.5%) |
| 4. Richmond | 213 (0.7%) |
| 5. Mornington | 182 (0.7%) |
St Kilda is Melbourne’s most Irish suburb on both counts, and the share list reads like a map of the suburbs around it: Balaclava and Ripponlea (both 1.6%), Elsternwick (1.4%), South Yarra (1.3%), Windsor, St Kilda West, Prahran and Elwood (all 1.2%) and St Kilda East (1.1%). Point Cook (168) and Sunbury (156) make Victoria’s top 10 by number mainly because they’re big suburbs. More in our Irish in Melbourne guide.
Brisbane and Queensland: more spread out
| Suburb (QLD) | Irish-born (share of residents) |
|---|---|
| 1. The Gap | 113 (0.7%) |
| 2. Morningside | 110 (0.9%) |
| 3. Buderim | 92 (0.3%) |
| 4. Surfers Paradise | 89 (0.3%) |
| 5. Cleveland | 88 (0.6%) |
No Queensland suburb has more than 113 Irish-born residents, and the state list runs from Buderim on the Sunshine Coast to Surfers Paradise and Helensvale on the Gold Coast. By share, Brisbane’s east side leads: Murarrie (1.4%), Tingalpa (1.0%), then Morningside, Norman Park and Balmoral (all 0.9%). Airlie Beach and Shoal Point sneak into the share top 10 too, on about a dozen Irish-born residents each. See our Irish in Brisbane and the Gold Coast guide.
Small numbers warning. The ABS makes small random adjustments to every number in its Census tables to protect people’s privacy. That makes no real difference to Randwick’s 1,248, but where a suburb has fewer than about 20 Irish-born residents, the exact order isn’t reliable.
Adelaide, Canberra, Darwin and Hobart
Adelaide and SA (3,295 Irish-born): the biggest numbers are in Adelaide’s southern suburbs, with Morphett Vale (62), Hallett Cove (46) and Flagstaff Hill (41), level with the city centre (41). By share, the beachside suburbs of Semaphore South, Seacliff and South Brighton lead at around 1% each, but that’s only 12 to 27 people apiece.
Canberra and the ACT (901 Irish-born): Kambah has the most (27), then Monash and Watson (23 each) and Curtin (22). By share, Fraser is top at 0.7%, on 14 people.
Darwin and the NT (755 Irish-born): per head, the NT (0.32%) is almost level with NSW (0.33%). Darwin City (79, 1.1%), Stuart Park (45, 1.1%), Durack (36) and Parap (29, 1.0%) lead the way.
Hobart and Tasmania (745 Irish-born): the lowest share of any state, 0.13%. Sandy Bay (27), West Hobart (23) and South Hobart (22) have the most.
Which state is the most Irish?
NSW has the most people born in Ireland, but WA has the highest share by a distance: about 1 in 147 people, against about 1 in 300 in NSW.
| State (highest share first) | Irish-born (share); Irish ancestry share |
|---|---|
| Western Australia | 18,147 (0.68%); ancestry 8.8% |
| New South Wales | 27,001 (0.33%); ancestry 9.1% |
| Northern Territory | 755 (0.32%); ancestry 7.3% |
| Victoria | 17,456 (0.27%); ancestry 9.4% |
| Queensland | 12,611 (0.24%); ancestry 11.0% |
| ACT | 901 (0.20%); ancestry 11.6% |
| South Australia | 3,295 (0.18%); ancestry 7.6% |
| Tasmania | 745 (0.13%); ancestry 10.2% |
| Australia | 80,927 Irish-born; 2,410,833 with Irish ancestry |
On ancestry, the order flips: the ACT (11.6%), Queensland (11.0%) and Tasmania (10.2%) have the highest shares of people with Irish roots, while WA is sixth of eight. Tasmania has the lowest share born in Ireland but the third highest share with Irish ancestry.
Irish ancestry: where the old Irish Australia lives
Being born in Ireland is only half the story. At the 2021 Census, 2,410,833 people in Australia named Irish ancestry, about 30 times the 80,927 who were born in Ireland. Only English and Australian ancestry were named more often. In every state, the ACT and the NT, between about 7% and 12% of people named Irish ancestry.
These are the suburbs (1,000 or more residents) with the highest share:
| Suburb (state) | Share with Irish ancestry |
|---|---|
| 1. Port Fairy (VIC) | 22.8% |
| 2. Koroit (VIC) | 22.4% |
| 3. Ashgrove (QLD) | 21.1% |
| 4. Trentham (VIC) | 20.8% |
| 5. Tennyson (QLD) | 20.8% |
| 6. Newington, Ballarat (VIC) | 20.7% |
| 7. Wilston (QLD) | 20.5% |
| 8. Soldiers Hill, Ballarat (VIC) | 20.3% |
| 9. Quarry Hill, Bendigo (VIC) | 20.2% |
| 10. Ballarat Central (VIC) | 20.0% |
| 11. Lake Wendouree, Ballarat (VIC) | 19.8% |
| 12. Bardon (QLD) | 19.7% |
| 13. Golden Point, Ballarat (VIC) | 19.6% |
| 14. Coogee (NSW) | 19.5% |
| 15. Paddington (QLD) | 19.4% |
Port Fairy and Koroit in south-west Victoria top this list, with more than 1 in 5 people naming Irish ancestry, even though hardly anyone there was born in Ireland. Five of the top 15 are in Ballarat, and five are in Brisbane: Ashgrove, Tennyson, Wilston, Bardon and Paddington.
Coogee is the only suburb in the top 15 on both lists: 4.5% born in Ireland and 19.5% with Irish ancestry. The old Irish Australia and the new arrivals, in the one suburb.
When’s the new data? The 2026 Census was on Tuesday 11 August 2026, and the ABS says data for most topics will be released in June 2027. Bear in mind the 2021 Census was taken on 10 August 2021, while COVID border restrictions were still in place, so the new list could look quite different.
How we worked this out
We used the ABS 2021 Census General Community Profile DataPacks for every state and territory at suburb level (the ABS calls these Suburbs and Localities), counting people where they usually live. Irish-born comes from the country of birth table (G09), Irish ancestry from G08 and total residents from G01, and state totals are the ABS’s own state figures. “Born in Ireland” means the Republic: the ABS classifies people born in Northern Ireland under the United Kingdom, so they aren’t in these counts. You can look up any suburb yourself on ABS QuickStats.
Moving over? How to use this list
Living near other Irish people makes the first few months easier: someone always knows a job going, a room coming up or a pub showing the match. But you don’t need to live in Randwick to find them.
- Sydney: the eastern suburbs and inner south. See our Irish in Sydney guide.
- Melbourne: St Kilda and around. See the Irish in Melbourne guide.
- Perth: the northern suburbs, Scarborough and Nollamara. See the moving to Perth guide.
- Brisbane and the Gold Coast: more spread out, so clubs and groups matter more. See the Brisbane and Gold Coast guide.
- Not sure which city? Try our where should I live in Australia quiz.
Wherever you land, a GAA club is the quickest way into the local Irish crowd, whether you play or not. And check the rent and commute against our cost of living guide before you fall for a suburb because of its Irish count.
Is your suburb on the list? Tell us in the groups, and if you reckon your suburb deserves a spot, tell us that too.
Looking for a room near the Irish crowd? Post in your city’s Irish Around group with your budget, the area you’re after and when you land, and ask the people who already live there.
FAQ
Where do most Irish people live in Australia?
NSW has the most people born in Ireland (27,001), then WA (18,147) and Victoria (17,456). The biggest suburb numbers are in Sydney’s eastern suburbs: Randwick, Coogee and Maroubra.
What’s the most Irish suburb in Sydney?
Randwick by number, with 1,248 Irish-born residents. Eastgardens by share, at 5.4%. Coogee is second on both.
Where do Irish people live in Perth, Melbourne and Brisbane?
In Perth, Scarborough has the most (293), and the northern suburbs around Joondalup have the highest shares. In Melbourne it’s St Kilda (484, 2.5%). In Brisbane, The Gap (113) and Morningside (110) have the most, and Murarrie (1.4%) the highest share.
How many Irish people live in Australia?
The 2021 Census counted 80,927 people born in Ireland, and 2,410,833 people who named Irish ancestry.
Which state has the most Irish?
NSW by number (27,001). WA by share: 0.68% of people there were born in Ireland, about double the share in NSW (0.33%).
Is Coogee really that Irish?
Yes. 663 Coogee residents were born in Ireland, 4.5% or about 1 in 22, second only to Eastgardens on our share list. Add in Irish ancestry and it’s 19.5%, about 1 in 5.
Does this count people from Northern Ireland?
Not in the Irish-born numbers. The ABS classifies people born in Northern Ireland under the United Kingdom. Anyone who named Irish ancestry is in the ancestry figures, wherever they were born.
When will the 2026 Census data come out?
The ABS says data for most topics from the 2026 Census will be released in June 2027.
