Robertson (NSW)

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

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Robertson (NSW) is around 1,982, reflecting a decrease of 35 people since the 2021 Census. The resident population was estimated at 1,980 by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 8 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 22 persons per square kilometer. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 51.0% of overall population gains during recent periods. AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021.

Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. According to these projections, the suburb's population is expected to contract by 139 persons by 2041, while specific age cohorts like the 85 and over group are anticipated to grow by 43 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 had 3 new dwelling approvals annually from 2017 to 2021. This totals 17 dwellings over five years. Such low development levels are typical of rural areas with modest housing needs and limited construction activity due to local demand and infrastructure capacity.

Yearly growth figures can vary significantly based on individual projects, especially with such low approval numbers. Robertson has much lower development activity compared to Rest of NSW and nationally. Recent development comprised entirely detached dwellings, focusing on family homes suited for rural lifestyle seekers. The estimated population per dwelling approval was 662 people in the area.

With stable or declining population expected, Robertson may see reduced housing pressure, potentially benefiting buyers.

Robertson has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project expected to influence the region: Calderwood Valley Master-Planned Community. Other notable projects include West Dapto Urban Release Area Water & Wastewater Servicing, Kiama to Bomaderry Rail Improvements, and Illawarra-Shoalhaven Regional Transport Plan 2041. The following details those 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.

AreaSearch analysis of employment trends sees Robertson performing better than 90% of local markets assessed across Australia

Robertson has an educated workforce with the construction sector prominently represented. Its unemployment rate was 1.0% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 2.5%. As of December 2025, 1,015 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 3.0%, below Regional NSW's 3.9%.

Workforce participation was similar to Regional NSW's 60.5%. Census responses showed 29.3% worked from home, potentially impacted by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment is concentrated in construction, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Professional & technical employment shares are high at 1.8 times the regional level.

Health care & social assistance employs 11.9%, below Regional NSW's 16.9%. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities. In the year to December 2025, employment increased by 2.5% while labour force rose by 2.9%, leading to a unemployment rise of 0.4 percentage points. By comparison, Regional NSW saw employment decline by 1.2%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Robertson's industry mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

Robertson suburb's income level is above national average according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. Median income among taxpayers in Robertson is $46,646, with an average of $71,568. This compares to Regional NSW figures of $52,390 and $65,215 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $51,460 (median) and $78,954 (average) as of March 2026. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes all rank modestly in Robertson, between the 49th and 50th percentiles. Distribution data shows the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket dominates with 32.3% of residents (640 people), mirroring surrounding region where 29.9% occupy this bracket. After housing costs, 86.1% of income remains for other expenses and 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, was 99.3% houses and 0.7% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Regional NSW's 82.6% houses and 17.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Robertson stood at 47.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 38.5% and rented ones at 14.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, higher than Regional NSW's average of $1,733. The median weekly rent in Robertson was $443, compared to Regional NSW's $330. Nationally, Robertson's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially higher than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households comprise 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 account for 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 Regional 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%, exceeding the Rest of NSW average of 21.3%. This rate is also higher than that of the SA4 region at 22.4%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 19.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 7.2% and graduate diplomas at 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. This includes 10.3% in primary education, 8.8% in secondary education, and 3.3% pursuing tertiary education.

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 of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 18 different routes that collectively facilitate 217 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 142 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward using their cars, which remains the dominant mode of transportation at 91%. Six percent of residents walk to their destinations. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.8, higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high proportion of residents, specifically 29.3%, work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 31 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 3 weekly trips per individual stop.

Robertson's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis shows robust health metrics across Robertson. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups.

Private health cover was high at approximately 55% of the total population (around 1,094 people), compared to 51.9% in Regional NSW. Common medical conditions included arthritis (9.8%) and mental health issues (8.6%). 66.1% reported no medical ailments, compared to 63.3% in Regional NSW. Working-age population health outcomes were generally typical. The area had 26.1% of residents aged 65 and over (517 people), higher than the 23.4% in Regional NSW. Senior health outcomes ranked nationally inline with the general population.

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 showed low cultural diversity, with 83.3% born in Australia, 90.2% being citizens, and 96.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, at 58.1%, compared to 55.9% regionally. The top three ancestry groups were English (31.2%), Australian (29.9%), and Irish (10.7%).

Notably, Hungarian (0.5%) and Scottish (9.0%) groups were relatively overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.2% and 8.0%, respectively.

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

Robertson's median age at present stands at 47 years, which is significantly higher than Regional NSW's average of 43 years and notably exceeds the national average of 38 years. The current age profile shows that those aged between 55-64 years are particularly prominent, making up 15.8% of the population, while the 25-34 age group is comparatively smaller at 7.3%, compared to Regional NSW's figures. Since 2021, the proportion of individuals aged between 75-84 has grown from 5.9% to 8.6%, and those aged 15-24 have increased from 9.7% to 12.1%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group has declined from 15.6% to 12.9%, and the 25-34 age group has dropped from 8.8% to 7.3%. By the year 2041, Robertson is projected to experience notable shifts in its age composition. The demographic shift will be led by the 85+ age group, which is expected to grow by 95%, increasing from 43 people to reach 85. This aging population trend is evident with those aged 65 and above comprising 97% of projected growth. Conversely, population declines are projected for those aged between 35-44 years and the 0-4 age cohort.