Robertson (NSW)

An assessment of population growth drivers in Robertson reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

The population of Robertson NSW, as estimated by AreaSearch using ABS data and validated addresses, was approximately 2,016 as of November 2025. This figure represents a decrease of one person from the 2021 Census count of 2,017 people. The resident population estimate of 2,008, derived from AreaSearch's analysis of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and validated new addresses since the Census date, indicates a population density of 22 persons per square kilometer. The primary driver of population growth in Robertson NSW was overseas migration, contributing approximately 51.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. However, all factors including interstate migration and natural growth were positive contributors to population increase.

AreaSearch is utilizing ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, for Robertson NSW. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch employs the NSW State Government's SA2 level projections, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. According to these projections, the suburb's population is expected to decrease by 165 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts are anticipated to grow, notably the 85 and over age group, which is projected to increase by 27 people during this period.

The level of residential development activity in Robertson is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Robertson experienced limited development activity over the past five years, averaging approximately three approvals per year. This totals 19 approvals during this period. Such low levels are characteristic of rural areas where housing needs are modest and construction activity is limited by local demand and infrastructure capacity.

It is important to note that with such a small number of approvals, individual projects can significantly impact annual growth and relativity statistics. Robertson shows less construction activity than the Rest of NSW, with development levels also below national averages. Recent development in Robertson has been entirely comprised of detached houses, reflecting its rural character where larger properties and space are typical. The estimated population per dwelling approval in 2014 was 2014 people.

With stable or declining population projections, Robertson is expected to have reduced housing demand pressures, potentially benefiting buyers.

Robertson has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. One major project is identified by AreaSearch as potentially affecting this region: Calderwood Valley Master-Planned Community, West Dapto Urban Release Area Water & Wastewater Servicing, Kiama to Bomaderry Rail Improvements, and Illawarra-Shoalhaven Regional Transport Plan 2041 are key projects. The following details those likely to be most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

The exceptional employment performance in Robertson places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Robertson's workforce is highly educated with notable representation in construction. Its unemployment rate was 0.7% in the past year, seeing a 2.9% employment growth.

As of June 2025, 1,009 residents were employed with an unemployment rate of 3.0%, below Rest of NSW's 3.7%. Workforce participation was 59.5%, comparable to Rest of NSW's 56.4%. Employment concentrations are in construction, health care & social assistance, and education & training. The area specializes in professional & technical jobs, with a share 1.8 times the regional level.

However, health care & social assistance employs only 11.9% locally, below Rest of NSW's 16.9%. Employment opportunities appear limited as Census working population vs resident population indicates. Over a 12-month period ending Sep-22, employment increased by 2.9% while labour force grew by 2.6%, reducing unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. Comparatively, Rest of NSW saw employment decline by 0.1%, labour force growth of 0.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.4 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Sep-22 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Robertson's employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 6.3% in five years and 13.1% in ten years, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Robertson's median income among taxpayers was $46,646 and average income stood at $71,568 according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. These figures compare to Rest of NSW's median income of $49,459 and average income of $62,998 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.61% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Robertson would be approximately $52,528 (median) and $80,593 (average) as of September 2025. Census data from 2021 shows household, family, and personal incomes in Robertson rank modestly, between the 49th and 50th percentiles. Income distribution data indicates that the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 32.3% of residents (651 people), similar to the surrounding region where 29.9% occupy this bracket. After housing expenses, 86.1% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 7th decile.

Robertson is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Robertson's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 99.3% houses and 0.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro NSW's 90.6% houses and 9.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Robertson was at 47.1%, similar to Non-Metro NSW, with the rest being mortgaged (38.5%) or rented (14.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, below Non-Metro NSW's average of $2,167. The median weekly rent was $443, compared to Non-Metro NSW's $430. Nationally, Robertson's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Robertson has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 75.5% of all households, including 29.6% couples with children, 35.1% couples without children, and 10.1% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 24.5%, with lone person households at 22.1% and group households comprising 2.0%. The median household size is 2.5 people, larger than the Rest of NSW average of 2.4.

The educational profile of Robertson exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 29.3% among residents aged 15+, which exceeds the Rest of NSW average of 21.3% and the SA4 region average of 22.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 19.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (7.2%) and graduate diplomas (3.1%). Vocational credentials are held by 42.8% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 13.8% and certificates at 29.0%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education: 10.3% in primary, 8.8% in secondary, and 3.3% in tertiary education. Robertson Public School serves the local area, enrolling 145 students as of a certain date. The school's ICSEA score is 1028, indicating typical Australian school conditions with balanced educational opportunities. It caters exclusively to primary education, with secondary options available nearby. There are 7.2 school places per 100 residents in the area, lower than the regional average of 13.3, suggesting some students may attend schools in adjacent areas.

Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Robertson has 70 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by 18 different routes that together offer 334 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is rated excellent, with residents on average being just 143 meters from the nearest stop.

On average, there are 47 trips per day across all routes, which equates to roughly 4 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Robertson are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Robertson's health indicators show below-average results, with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is very high at approximately 55% of the total population (around 1,113 people), compared to 66.3% in the rest of NSW.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 9.8% and 8.6% of residents respectively. About 66.1% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 64.8% in the rest of NSW. Approximately 24.8% of Robertson's population is aged 65 and over (around 499 people), which is lower than the 27.7% in the rest of NSW. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, outperforming those of the general population in various health metrics.

Robertson is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Robertson's population was found to be predominantly Australian-born, with 83.3% having been born in the country. Citizenship was also high at 90.2%, and English was spoken exclusively at home by 96.3%. Christianity was the primary religion, practiced by 58.1% of Robertson's population, slightly higher than the 57.0% regional average.

The top ancestral groups were English (31.2%), Australian (29.9%), and Irish (10.7%). Notably, Hungarian ancestry was overrepresented at 0.5%, compared to the regional average of 0.3%. Scottish ancestry also had a higher representation in Robertson at 9.0%, versus the regional figure of 9.6%. Macedonian ancestry showed a similar trend with 0.4% in Robertson, compared to 0.2% regionally.

Robertson hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Robertson's median age is 47 years, significantly higher than Rest of NSW's average of 43 and exceeding the national average of 38 by a substantial margin. The age profile shows that those aged 55-64 are particularly prominent, making up 15.9% of the population, while those aged 25-34 comprise only 7.9%. Since 2021, the 75 to 84 age group has increased from 5.9% to 8.0%, and the 15 to 24 cohort has risen from 9.7% to 11.7%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age group has decreased from 15.6% to 13.0%. By 2041, Robertson's age composition is expected to change notably. The 85+ group is projected to grow by 110%, reaching 55 people from the current 26. Those aged 65 and above will comprise 92% of the population growth, while declines are projected for those aged 35-44 and 0-4 years.