Shearwater

Shearwater lies within the top quartile of areas nationally for population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of February 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Shearwater is around 2,159. This figure reflects an increase of 108 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,051. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 2,129 in June 2024, based on examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS and validation of an additional 58 new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 629 persons per square kilometer. The suburb's growth rate of 5.3% since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region's growth rate of 5.1%. Interstate migration contributed approximately 79.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and post-2032 growth estimates, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Looking ahead, the suburb is projected to experience above median population growth for locations outside capital cities, with an expected increase of 295 persons by 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 16.5% over the 17-year period.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Shearwater when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates Shearwater has received approximately 21 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 108 homes from FY-21 to FY-25. As of FY-26, 5 approvals have been recorded. On average, each dwelling has resulted in 2.1 new residents annually between FY-21 and FY-25, suggesting strong demand which supports property values. Developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties, as evidenced by an average construction value of $506,000 per dwelling.

Commercial development activity is minimal, with $1.4 million in approvals registered this financial year. Compared to Rest of Tas., Shearwater has 75.0% more construction activity per person, offering buyers greater choice. However, development activity has slowed in recent periods, and all recent developments have been detached houses, preserving the area's low density nature. With around 164 people per dwelling approval, Shearwater exhibits characteristics of a low-density area.

By 2041, AreaSearch estimates Shearwater will grow by 356 residents. Current construction levels should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers and potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Shearwater has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 46thth percentile nationally

Five projects have been identified by AreaSearch as likely impacting the area: Hawley Foreshore Shared Pathway Project, Entrance to Port Sorell Roundabout Improvements, Cradle Coast NRM - Rice Grass Control Program, and Port Sorell Area Drainage.

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

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Employment conditions in Shearwater demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

Shearwater has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, prominent essential services sectors, an unemployment rate of 2.3%, and estimated employment growth of 5.9% in the past year (AreaSearch data). As of September 2025883 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.5% lower than Rest of Tas.'s 3.8%. Workforce participation is at 49.3%, significantly below Rest of Tas.'s 58.6%.

Home-based work accounts for a low 8.1% of jobs (Census data). Dominant employment sectors are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training, with the latter being particularly specialized at 1.2 times the regional level. Agriculture, forestry & fishing has lower representation at 5.8%, compared to the regional average of 8.4%. Local employment opportunities appear limited, indicated by the working population count versus resident population.

In the past year (AreaSearch data), employment increased by 5.9% while labour force grew by 5.7%, reducing unemployment by 0.1 percentage points. This contrasts with Rest of Tas., where employment rose by 0.7%, labour force grew by 0.5%, and unemployment fell by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts (May-25) project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates across sectors. Applying these projections to Shearwater's employment mix suggests local job growth of 6.2% in five years and 13.2% in ten years (simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes).

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

The median taxpayer income in Shearwater was $43,275 and the average was $53,365 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2023. This is below the national average of $49,689 (median) and $59,358 (average). Based on a Wage Price Index growth of 9.6% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $47,429 (median) and $58,488 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, household incomes in Shearwater fall between the 7th and 9th percentiles nationally. The majority of residents, 31.6% or 682 people, have a personal income ranging from $400 to $799 per week, which differs from regional patterns where those earning $1,500 to $2,999 dominate at 28.5%. After housing costs, 86.5% of income remains in Shearwater, ranking at the 11th percentile nationally.

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

In Shearwater, as per the latest Census evaluation, 91.4% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 8.7% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This is compared to Non-Metro Tas., where 89.9% were houses and 10.1% were other dwellings. The home ownership rate in Shearwater was 53.6%, with mortgaged properties at 24.7% and rented dwellings at 21.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Shearwater was $1,500, higher than Non-Metro Tas.'s average of $1,274. The median weekly rent in Shearwater was $295, compared to Non-Metro Tas.'s $250. Nationally, Shearwater's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,863 and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Shearwater features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 66.3% of all households, including 17.0% couples with children, 40.2% couples without children, and 7.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 33.7%, with lone person households at 31.2% and group households comprising 2.4% of the total. The median household size is 2.1 people, smaller than the Rest of Tas. average of 2.3.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 16.0%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 11.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.9%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Vocational credentials are also common, with 40.3% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas account for 11.9% and certificates for 28.4%.

In terms of school and university attendance, 19.6% of the community is involved, including 7.4% in primary education, 6.2% in secondary education, and 1.5% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Shearwater is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Shearwater faces significant health challenges, according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~1,043 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 13.7 and 9.0% of residents respectively. Conversely, 56.2% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 62.0% across Rest of Tas.. The working-age population faces notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 42.6% of residents aged 65 and over (919 people), higher than the 24.9% in Rest of Tas.. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Shearwater, found to be below average in cultural diversity, had 85.6% of its population born in Australia, with 92.2% being citizens and 97.3% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion, comprising 51.8%, compared to 43.0% across Rest of Tas.. The top three ancestry groups were English (37.3%), Australian (33.5%), and Scottish (8.1%).

Notably, Welsh (0.7%) and Lebanese (0.2%) were underrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.4% and 0.0%, respectively. Conversely, Australian Aboriginal was overrepresented at 3.2%.

Shearwater ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

Shearwater's median age is 58 years, which exceeds Rest of Tas.'s median age of 45 and is well above Australia's median age of 38. The age profile shows that those aged 65-74 are particularly prominent, making up 21.1% of the population, while those aged 25-34 make up only 6.7%. This concentration of those aged 65-74 is higher than the national average of 9.5%. Since 2021, the percentage of the population aged 75 to 84 has grown from 13.5% to 15.7%, while the percentage of those aged 35 to 44 has increased from 7.7% to 9.1%. Conversely, the percentage of those aged 45 to 54 has declined from 10.2% to 7.8%, and the percentage of those aged 5 to 14 has dropped from 9.1% to 7.8%. By 2041, demographic projections show significant shifts in Shearwater's age structure. The number of people aged 85 and above is projected to grow exceptionally, increasing by 173 individuals (139%) from 125 to 299. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 82% of population growth, highlighting demographic aging trends. In contrast, population declines are projected for those aged 0 to 4 and 25 to 34.