Griffith City is located in the Riverina Region of south-western New South Wales, about 450 kilometres north of Melbourne, and 570 kilometres west of Sydney. Griffith City is a predominantly rural area, with rural-residential and residential areas in several townships and villages. Most of the population lives in the main urban area of Griffith, and the smaller villages of Beelbangera, Bilbul, Hanwood, Lake Wyangan, Nericon, Tharbogang, Widgelli, Yenda and Yoogali. Rural land is used largely for agriculture, horticulture and viticulture, particularly rice, citrus fruit, canola, vegetable and grape growing, with some sheep and cattle grazing.
The original inhabitants of the Griffith area were the Wiradjuri Aboriginal people. European settlement dates from the 1820s, with land near the rivers used mainly for sheep grazing. Land became used for agriculture from the 1860s. Population was minimal until the early 1900s. Growth took place from 1912, due largely to the opening of the railway line and the establishment of the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area, which supplied water from the Murrumbidgee River for farming. The township of Griffith was established in 1916, with residential and industrial growth particularly during the 1920s. Expansion continued during the post-war years. Gradual growth took place during the 1980s and 1990s, with the population of the City increasing from about 20,000 in 1981 to nearly 24,000 in 2001. The population was then relatively stable between 2001 and 2006. The bulk of recent growth has been in Griffith (East) - Collina and Griffith (North). The primary housing market role that Griffith City has played during the post-war period was to attract families from the surrounding area as well as from overseas.
The function of Griffith City as a destination for families is expected to continue over the forecast period. As a result of this there is ongoing demand for residential expansion within the LGA from both existing residents and from people moving to the area. It is assumed that a number of these patterns will continue into the future, most notably flows into the City from overseas and from surrounding rural areas as well as loss of young people to larger centres, albeit in lower numbers.
With the variety of residential and rural locations, different areas within Griffith City have developed different roles within the housing market. Areas such as Griffith (East) - Collina and Lake Wyangan - Nericon are attractive to both young and mature families, while Griffith (Central - South) and Griffith (North) tend to attract young couples without children, with affordable home owning opportunities. The rural areas of the City tend to attract a mixture of family households. The variety of function and role of the small areas in Griffith City means that population outcomes differ significantly across the LGA.
There are also significant differences in the supply of residential property within the LGA which will also have a major influence in structuring different population and household futures within Griffith City over the next five to ten years. Significant new 'greenfield' opportunities around Griffith are available in Lake Wyangan - Nericon, running alongside the continued growth of new residential land in Griffith (East) - Collina. In areas like Griffith (Central - South), Hanwood - Tharbogang & District and Yoogali - Bilbul - Widgelli smaller scale residential estates are expected to provide lower levels of dwelling gain. Most other areas are expected to have some growth in dwellings, but based predominantly on residual residential land, infill of vacant lots and more intense use of land.