Burnie - Wivenhoe

Burnie - Wivenhoe is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Burnie - Wivenhoe's population was around 3,677 as of Feb 2026. This reflected a decrease of 102 people (2.7%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,779 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 3,669 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 20 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of 321 persons per square kilometer. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 60.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, and to estimate growth by age group in the years post-2032, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections were adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Moving forward with demographic trends, projections indicated a decline in overall population, with the area's population expected to shrink by 24 persons by 2041 according to this methodology. However, growth across specific age cohorts was anticipated, led by the 65 to 74 age group, which was projected to expand by 70 people.

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

Burnie-Wivenhoe has shown minimal construction activity, with an average of one new dwelling approved annually over the past five years (totaling nine). This low level of development reflects the rural nature of the area, where housing needs typically drive development rather than broad market demand. It is important to note that with such low approval numbers, yearly growth figures and relativities can vary significantly based on individual projects.

Compared to the Rest of Tas., Burnie-Wivenhoe has much lower development activity, with patterns well below national averages. Recent development in the area has been entirely comprised of detached houses, reflecting its rural character where larger properties are typical. This preference for detached housing (85.0% at Census) indicates ongoing robust demand for family homes. The estimated population count per dwelling approval is 2770 people, reflecting the quiet and low activity development environment in Burnie-Wivenhoe.

Population projections show stability or decline, which should lead to reduced housing demand pressures, benefiting potential buyers.

Burnie - Wivenhoe has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 39thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified nine projects likely impacting the area. Key projects include Burnie City Centre Urban Plan, Burnie Cultural Precinct Redevelopment, Parklands High School Redevelopment, and Port of Burnie - Burnie Gateway Project. The following list 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.

Employment drivers in Burnie - Wivenhoe are experiencing difficulties, placing it among the bottom 20% of areas assessed across Australia

Wivenhoe's workforce is skilled with notable representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 8.9% as of September 2025, which is 1.3 percentage points higher than the Rest of Tasmania's rate of 3.8%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 7.0%.

There were 1,634 residents employed in September 2025 with workforce participation similar to the Rest of Tasmania's 58.6%. Census data shows that 5.7% of residents work from home. Key industries for employment are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food services. Retail trade is particularly strong with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing shows lower representation at 3.5%, compared to the regional average of 8.4%. There are 1.7 workers for every resident, indicating that Wivenhoe functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Employment increased by 7.0% over a 12-month period ending in September 2025, with labour force increasing by 5.3%, resulting in unemployment falling by 1.4 percentage points compared to the Rest of Tasmania's growth rates of 0.7% and 0.5%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia suggest that Burnie - Wivenhoe's employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

The Burnie-Wivenhoe SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $51,767 and an average of $60,604 in the latest postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. This is lower than the national average, with Rest of Tas.'s median income being $49,689 and average income being $59,358. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.6% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $56,737 (median) and $66,422 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Burnie-Wivenhoe fall between the 6th and 15th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 28.7% of individuals earn between $400 and $799, contrasting with the surrounding region where the leading bracket is $1,500 to $2,999 at 28.5%. After housing costs, 85.4% of income remains, ranking at the 9th percentile nationally.

Burnie - Wivenhoe is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Burnie-Wivenhoe at the latest Census, 84.6% of dwellings were houses with 15.4% being other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This compares to Non-Metro Tas.'s figures of 89.9% houses and 10.1% other dwellings. The home ownership rate in Burnie-Wivenhoe was 31.5%, with mortgaged properties at 28.9% and rented dwellings at 39.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $961, lower than Non-Metro Tas.'s average of $1,274. The median weekly rent in Burnie-Wivenhoe was recorded as $240, compared to Non-Metro Tas.'s figure of $250. Nationally, Burnie-Wivenhoe's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, with rents substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 60.2% of all households, including 18.7% couples with children, 24.9% couples without children, and 15.0% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 39.8%, with lone person households at 36.4% and group households making up 3.7%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Tas. average of 2.3.

Burnie - Wivenhoe faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 17.6%, significantly lower than Australia's average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common, with 11.9% of residents holding one. Postgraduate qualifications and graduate diplomas follow at 3.9% and 1.8% respectively. Vocational credentials are prevalent among residents aged 15+, with 39.2% holding them, including advanced diplomas (8.7%) and certificates (30.5%).

Educational participation is high, with 27.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.6% in primary education, 7.3% in secondary education, and 3.1% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Burnie-Wivenhoe has 35 active public transport stops, all providing bus services. These stops are served by 86 routes, offering a total of 4939 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically located 218 meters from the nearest stop. Most commuters travel outward due to its residential nature. Cars remain the dominant mode at 87%, while walking accounts for 9%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.1 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, only 5.7% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 705 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 141 weekly trips per stop.

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

Wivenhoe faces significant health challenges as assessed by AreaSearch. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high, with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover is relatively low at approximately 49% of the total population (~1,809 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions in the area are mental health issues (11.3%) and arthritis (10.4%), while 59.9% 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 with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 20.0% of residents aged 65 and over (735 people), which is lower than the 24.9% in Rest of Tas.. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

Burnie - Wivenhoe ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Burnie-Wivenhoe was found to have below average cultural diversity, with 88.5% of its population being Australian citizens and 86.7% born in Australia. English is spoken exclusively at home by 93.4% of the population. Christianity is the predominant religion, making up 36.5% of Burnie-Wivenhoe's population.

The most significant overrepresentation was seen in the 'Other' category, comprising 1.1% compared to 0.7% across the rest of Tasmania. In terms of ancestry, Australian (32.4%), English (32.3%), and Irish (7.7%) were the top three represented groups. Notably, Australian Aboriginal (5.5%) was overrepresented compared to the regional average of 4.1%. Dutch (1.4% vs 1.7%) and Sri Lankan (0.2% vs 0.1%) also showed notable divergences in representation.

Burnie - Wivenhoe's population is slightly older than the national pattern

Burnie-Wivenhoe's median age is 40 years, which is significantly below the Rest of Tasmania average of 45 but somewhat older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 25-34 are particularly prominent, making up 14.6% of the population, while those aged 75-84 comprise a smaller proportion at 5.4%. Between 2021 and the present, the 5-14 age group has grown from 11.5% to 12.8%, and the 35-44 cohort has increased from 11.3% to 12.4%. Conversely, the 45-54 age group has declined from 12.4% to 10.5%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Burnie-Wivenhoe. The 65-74 cohort is projected to grow by 10%, adding 45 residents to reach a total of 485. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive all population growth, emphasizing demographic aging trends. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 25-34 and 15-24 age cohorts.