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 is around 3685 as of Nov 2025. This reflects a decrease of 94 people (2.5%) since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 3779 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 3679 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 20 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 321 persons per square kilometer, providing significant space per person and potential room for further development. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 60% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area 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 released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year are adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Moving forward with demographic trends, projections indicate a decline in overall population over this period, with the area's population expected to shrink by 24 persons by 2041 according to this methodology. However, growth across specific age cohorts is anticipated, led by the 65 to 74 age group which is 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 seen minimal construction activity with one new dwelling approved annually on average over the past five years, totalling nine. These low development levels reflect the rural nature of the area, where housing needs typically drive development rather than broad market demand. Note that yearly growth figures and relativities can vary considerably due to such low approval numbers.

Compared to the Rest of Tas., Burnie-Wivenhoe has much lower development activity, with its development pattern also below national averages. Recent construction has comprised entirely detached houses, reflecting the area's rural character where larger properties are typical. This favours new detached housing more than current patterns suggest (85.0% at Census), indicating robust demand for family homes. The estimated population per dwelling approval is 2770 people, reflecting its quiet development environment.

Population projections show stability or decline, suggesting reduced housing demand pressures in Burnie-Wivenhoe, benefiting potential buyers.

Burnie - Wivenhoe has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 36thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified nine projects likely impacting the area. Notable projects include Burnie City Centre Urban Plan, Burnie Cultural Precinct Redevelopment, Parklands High School Redevelopment, and Port of Burnie - Burnie Gateway Project. Below is a list detailing 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 has a skilled workforce with strong representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate was 8.9% as of September 2025, which is 5.1% higher than the Rest of Tas.'s rate of 3.8%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 7.0%. There are 1,634 residents in work and workforce participation is similar to Rest of Tas.'s 55.7%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. Retail trade shows strong specialization with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has lower representation at 3.5% compared to the regional average of 8.4%. There are 1.7 workers for every resident, indicating it functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over a 12-month period, employment increased by 7.0%, labour force grew by 5.3%, and unemployment fell by 1.4 percentage points. State-level data to 25-Nov shows Tasmania's employment contracted by 0.35% with an unemployment rate of 4.1%. National forecasts suggest total employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.2% over ten years for Burnie - Wivenhoe, based on industry-specific projections applied to its current employment mix.

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

The median taxpayer income in Burnie-Wivenhoe SA2 was $49,068 and the average was $59,642 according to AreaSearch's aggregation of postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022. This is lower than national averages; Rest of Tas.'s median income was $47,358 with an average of $57,384. By September 2025, adjusted for Wage Price Index growth of 13.83%, estimated incomes would be approximately $55,854 (median) and $67,890 (average). According to the 2021 Census, Burnie-Wivenhoe's household, family, and personal incomes fall between the 6th and 15th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 28.7% of individuals earn between $400-$799, contrasting with surrounding regions where the $1,500-$2,999 bracket leads at 28.5%. After housing expenses, 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, as per the latest Census, 84.6% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 15.4% consisting of semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. In comparison, Non-Metro Tas. had 90.3% houses and 9.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in Burnie - Wivenhoe stood at 31.5%, with mortgaged properties making up 28.9% and rented dwellings accounting for 39.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $961, significantly lower than Non-Metro Tas.'s average of $1,200. Weekly rent in Burnie - Wivenhoe was recorded at $240, the same as Non-Metro Tas. Nationally, Burnie - Wivenhoe's median monthly mortgage repayment was well below the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents were substantially lower than 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 account for the remaining 39.8%, with lone person households making up 36.4% and group households comprising 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 at 11.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.9%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 39.2% of residents aged 15+ 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, including primary (10.6%), secondary (7.3%), and tertiary (3.1%) levels.

Educational participation is notably 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 36 active public transport stops. These are served by a mix of buses along 56 routes, offering 5720 weekly passenger trips in total. The average distance to the nearest stop for residents is 216 meters.

Service frequency is 817 trips per day across all routes, which amounts to approximately 158 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Burnie - Wivenhoe is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data indicates significant health challenges in Burnie-Wivenhoe, with common conditions prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Approximately 50% (~1,824 people) have private health cover, lower than the national average of 55.3%.

Mental health issues affect 11.3% of residents, while arthritis impacts 10.4%. About 60% declare themselves free from medical ailments, similar to Rest of Tas (60.3%). The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 19.6% (721 people), compared to Rest of Tas at 24.7%. Health outcomes among seniors show some challenges but perform better than the general population in health metrics.

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, as per the census conducted on 28th June 2016, had a cultural diversity index below average. The population was predominantly Australian citizens, with 88.5% holding citizenship and 86.7% being born in Australia. English was spoken at home by 93.4% of residents.

Christianity was the dominant religion, practiced by 36.5% of the population. Notably, the 'Other' religious category comprised 1.1%, compared to 0.4% across the rest of Tasmania. In terms of ancestry, Australians made up 32.4%, English 32.3%, and Irish 7.7%. Some ethnic groups showed variations in representation: Australian Aboriginal at 5.5% (regional average was 5.9%), Dutch at 1.4% (compared to 1.7%), and Sri Lankan at 0.2% (versus 0.1%).

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

Burnie-Wivenhoe's median age is 40 years, 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 those aged 25-34 are particularly prominent at 14.8%, while the 75-84 group is comparatively smaller at 5.5% than in the Rest of Tasmania. Between 2021 and now, the 5 to 14 age group has grown from 11.5% to 12.5% of the population, while the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 12.4% to 10.8%. By 2041, forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes for Burnie-Wivenhoe. The 65 to 74 age group is projected to grow by 13%, adding 57 residents to reach 485. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive all population growth, underscoring trends towards an aging population. Conversely, population declines are projected for the 15 to 24 and 5 to 14 age cohorts.