Population demographics of southern right whales (SRWs), Eubalaena australis, were assessed using 26 years of count and photo-identification data. Data were collected annually between 1991 and 2016 at Head of Bight in the Great Australian Bight Commonwealth Marine Reserve. SRWs were distributed within a 15x2km area and 10m water depth. SRWs occupied the site between May and October with maximum abundance between late-July and early-August. Up to 28% of calving females were present in mid-June and up to 61% remained in late September. The mean residence period was 65 days (range 1-99) for calving females and 15 days (range 1-51) for unaccompanied adults. Over the study years, 18-81 female and calf pairs were sighted per day, with a maximum of 172 animals counted on 16/08/2016. The estimated mean rate of increase in total SRWs was 5.5% (SD=2.5, 95%CI=0.03) per annum (1991-2016). The corresponding mean rate of increase for females accompanied by a calf was 4.9% (SD=1.9, 95%CI=0.03). The photo-identification database includes 1,186 non-calf individuals that included 459 reproductive females (providing 471 inter-annual calving intervals). The estimated mean calving interval was 3.3 years (SD=0.8, 95%CI=0.01) with high philopatry resulting in cohort structured breeding cycles and variation in annual abundance. The mean age at first parturition was 9.3 years (SD=2.1 95%CI=0.03, N=22). The mean date of calving was 16 July (range 19 June - 27 Aug). These population demographics and life history parameters provide key information for recovery assessments, species conservation planning and global comparative studies with other right whale populations.