Shorewell Park

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

As of May 2026, the population of the suburb of Shorewell Park is estimated at around 2,350. This figure reflects an increase of 200 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,150. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's resident population estimate of 2,345 as of June 2025, based on examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS, along with an additional 166 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 631 persons per square kilometer. The suburb's 9.3% growth since the 2021 census exceeded that of its SA3 area (3.2%) and SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader. Interstate migration contributed approximately 59.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, and Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Looking ahead, demographic trends indicate a decline in overall population by 62 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts are expected to grow, notably the 75 to 84 age group, projected to expand by 25 people.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Shorewell Park when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Shorewell Park shows an average of around 18 dwelling approvals annually over the past 5 financial years. This totals approximately 90 homes. In FY-26, so far, 15 approvals have been recorded. Over these 5 years, each dwelling has resulted in an average of 2.3 new residents per year.

The average construction cost value for new homes is $469,000, indicating a focus on the premium market with high-end developments. This financial year has seen $42.2 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating significant local commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of Tas., Shorewell Park records 107.0% more building activity per person, offering buyers greater choice. However, building activity has slowed in recent years.

All new construction has been standalone homes, maintaining the area's traditional low density character and appealing to those seeking space for families. The location has approximately 179 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market. Population is expected to remain stable or decline, potentially reducing pressure on housing and creating opportunities for buyers.

Shorewell Park has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 37thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project expected to impact the area: Homes Tasmania - Park Grove Subdivision. Key projects include University of Tasmania - Cradle Coast Campus Redevelopment (West Park), Burnie Cultural Precinct Redevelopment, and Marinus Link. The following details those most relevant.

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

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The labour market performance in Shorewell Park lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

Shorewell Park has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, well-represented essential services sectors, and an unemployment rate of 12.7%. Over the past year, ending December 2025, there was an estimated employment growth of 6.2%. As of December 2025801 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 8.9%, higher than Regional Tas.'s rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation in Shorewell Park lags at 48.0% compared to Regional Tas.'s 58.7%. According to Census responses, only 3.6% of residents work from home. Leading employment industries are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. Retail trade is particularly strong with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 3.1%, below Regional Tas.'s 8.4%.

Over the year to December 2025, employment increased by 6.2% and labour force grew by 6.4%, resulting in a slight rise in unemployment (0.1 percentage points). In contrast, Regional Tas. saw employment rise by 1.8%, labour force grow by 1.5%, and unemployment fall by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Shorewell Park's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.0% over five years and 13.0% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released for financial year 2023 shows Shorewell Park had a median taxpayer income of $35,399 and an average income of $43,036. This is below the national averages of $49,689 and $59,358 in Regional Tas. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.95% since financial year 2023, estimated median and average incomes as of March 2026 are approximately $39,275 and $47,748 respectively. The 2021 Census figures indicate all income types in Shorewell Park fall between the 0th and 3rd percentiles nationally. Incomes of $400-$799 capture 35.5% (834 individuals), differing from broader area patterns where $1,500-$2,999 dominates at 28.5%. The prevalence of lower-income residents (47.9% under $800/week) suggests constrained household budgets. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 78.4% of income remaining, ranking at the 2nd percentile.

Shorewell Park is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Shorewell Park's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 86.7% houses and 13.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional Tas.'s 86.7% houses and 13.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Shorewell Park was at 18.8%, with mortgaged dwellings at 22.3% and rented ones at 58.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,074, below Regional Tas.'s average of $1,274, and the national average of $1,863. Median weekly rent in Shorewell Park was $220, lower than Regional Tas.'s $250 and the national figure of $375.

Shorewell Park features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households account for 60.9% of all households, including 18.4% couples with children, 20.0% couples without children, and 21.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 39.1%, with lone person households at 35.3% and group households comprising 2.9%. The median household size is 2.3 people, which aligns with the Regional Tasmanian average.

Shorewell Park faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 8.5%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 6.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.4%) and graduate diplomas (1.1%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 36.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (6.0%) and certificates (30.6%).

Educational participation is high, with 27.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 11.5% in primary, 8.1% in secondary, and 2.7% in tertiary education.

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

Shorewell Park has 17 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 67 different routes that together facilitate 6,094 weekly passenger trips. The park's transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents on average located 188 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Cars remain the primary mode of transportation, used by 95% of residents. On average, there is one vehicle per dwelling, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 3.6% of residents work from home, a figure that may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 870 trips per day, equating to approximately 358 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Shorewell Park is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Shorewell Park faces significant health challenges as evidenced by AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, affecting various age cohorts. Private health cover is low at approximately 44% of the total population (1,039 people), compared to 49.1% in Regional Tas.

and the national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues (14.8%) and asthma (12.1%), with 49.3% reporting no medical ailments, compared to 62.0% in Regional Tas. Working-age residents face notable health challenges due to elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 22.2% of residents aged 65 and over (521 people), lower than the 24.9% in Regional Tas. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

The latest Census data sees Shorewell Park placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Shorewell Park's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 90.0% of its population being Australian citizens and 92.8% born in Australia. English is spoken exclusively at home by 96.9% of residents. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 38.1% of people in Shorewell Park.

The category 'Other' appears slightly overrepresented, with 0.6% compared to Regional Tas's 0.7%. In terms of ancestry, Australian (37.8%) and English (31.9%) are the top two groups, both higher than regional averages (Australian: 32.6%, English: 25.4%). Australian Aboriginal is also notably represented at 8.7%. Some other ethnic groups show significant differences in representation: Sri Lankan (0.2% vs regional 0.1%), Hungarian (0.2% vs regional 0.1%), and Spanish (0.3% vs regional 0.1%) are all overrepresented compared to the Regional Tas average.

Shorewell Park's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Shorewell Park's median age is 40 years, which is significantly below the Regional Tasmanian average of 45 but somewhat older than Australia's average of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 15-24 are particularly prominent, making up 14.3% of the population, while those aged 55-64 are comparatively smaller at 10.0%. Between 2021 and present, the 65 to 74 age group has grown from 9.8% to 10.8% of the population. Conversely, the 85+ cohort has declined from 5.3% to 3.9%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Shorewell Park. The 85+ cohort is projected to grow by 24%, adding 22 residents and reaching a total of 114. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive all population growth, underscoring trends towards demographic aging. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15-24 and 55-64 age cohorts.