Old Beach - Otago
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Old Beach - Otago's population is around 5,363 as of November 2025. This reflects an increase of 374 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,989 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 5,241 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 282 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 169 persons per square kilometer. Old Beach - Otago's 7.5% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the SA4 region (4.3%), along with the metropolitan area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by natural growth contributing approximately 44.7% 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 areas not covered, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Future population trends project an above median growth for national areas, with Old Beach - Otago expected to grow by 1,085 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, reflecting an increase of 17.9% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Old Beach - Otago among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Old Beach - Otago has seen approximately 63 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 317 homes were approved, with an additional 13 approved so far in FY26. On average, about 1.2 new residents have arrived per year for each new home over these five years, suggesting a balanced supply and demand, stable market conditions, and moderate dwelling values averaging $328,000.

Commercial development activity has been minimal this financial year, with $75,000 in approvals registered to date. Compared to Greater Hobart, Old Beach - Otago shows elevated construction levels, at 38.0% above the regional average per person over the past five years, indicating good buyer choice and supporting property values. This activity reflects strong developer confidence in the area. All recent development has comprised detached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low-density character with a focus on family homes.

With around 66 people per approval, Old Beach - Otago is considered a developing area. Population forecasts project an increase of 962 residents by 2041. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing favorable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Old Beach - Otago has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 8thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified ten projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones are Chocolate Experience at Cadbury Tasmania, Windermere Bay Precinct, Cadbury Experience, and Glenorchy Sports Centre. The following details projects deemed most relevant.

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

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The labour market in Old Beach - Otago shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Old Beach - Otago has a skilled workforce with an unemployment rate of 2.1% as of June 2025. This is lower than Greater Hobart's rate of 4.1%.

Workforce participation in Old Beach - Otago is high at 67.4%, compared to Greater Hobart's 61.6%. Key employment sectors include health care & social assistance, public administration & safety, and construction. The area has a strong focus on construction, with an employment share 1.2 times the regional level. Conversely, accommodation & food services have lower representation at 4.8%, compared to the regional average of 8.0%.

Analysis of SALM and ABS data for the 12-month period ending June 2025 showed a 1.6% decrease in labour force and a 1.7% decline in employment, with unemployment remaining broadly stable. In contrast, Greater Hobart experienced an employment decline of 1.5% and a labour force decline of 1.6%, along with a 0.2 percentage point drop in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Old Beach - Otago's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.4% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch released postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022. Old Beach - Otago had a median income of $56,327 and an average of $62,595 among taxpayers. This was slightly below the national average. Greater Hobart's median income was $51,272 with an average of $63,777. Using Wage Price Index growth of 13.83% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for September 2025 are approximately $64,117 (median) and $71,252 (average). Census data shows household, family, and personal incomes in Old Beach - Otago cluster around the 61st percentile nationally. The earnings band of $1,500 to $2,999 captures 38.9% of the community (2,086 individuals), similar to regional levels at 32.2%. After housing costs, residents retain 88.1% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

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

Old Beach - Otago's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 91.6% houses and 8.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Hobart metro's 91.6% houses and 8.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Old Beach - Otago stood at 37.7%, with mortgaged properties at 51.0% and rented ones at 11.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,517, higher than Hobart metro's average of $1,400. Median weekly rent in Old Beach - Otago was $400, compared to Hobart metro's $280. Nationally, Old Beach - Otago's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,517 versus the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher at $400 compared to the national figure of $375.

Old Beach - Otago features high concentrations of family households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households comprise 79.9% of all households, including 34.5% couples with children, 35.2% couples without children, and 9.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 20.1%, with lone person households at 17.9% and group households making up 2.4%. The median household size is 2.6 people, which aligns with the Greater Hobart average.

Educational outcomes in Old Beach - Otago fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 19.0%, significantly lower than the SA4 region average of 32.8%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 12.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.1%). Vocational credentials are held by 40.1% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 10.7% and certificates at 29.4%. Educational participation is high, with 26.0% currently enrolled in formal education: primary (10.5%), secondary (6.4%), and tertiary (3.4%).

Schools appear located outside the immediate catchment boundaries, requiring families to access schools in neighboring areas.

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

The analysis of public transport in Old Beach - Otago indicates that there are currently 32 active transport stops operating within the area. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with a total of 95 individual routes providing service to the region. The collective weekly passenger trips facilitated by these routes amount to 8,167.

Transport accessibility is rated as moderate, with residents on average located approximately 404 meters from their nearest transport stop. On an average day, there are about 1,166 trips across all routes, which translates to roughly 255 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Old Beach - Otago faces significant health challenges. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 51% of the total population (~2,740 people), slightly lagging behind the average SA2 area's 48.1%. The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 11.1% and 9.4% of residents respectively. 64.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.0% across Greater Hobart. The area has 21.9% of residents aged 65 and over (1,175 people), higher than Greater Hobart's 15.7%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly in line with the general population's health profile.

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

Old Beach-Otago has a cultural diversity below average, with 88.5% of its population born in Australia, 93.5% being citizens, and 93.9% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the main religion in Old Beach-Otago, comprising 50.9% of people, compared to 42.9% across Greater Hobart. The top three ancestry groups are English (34.7%), Australian (32.3%), and Irish (7.6%).

Notably, Polish (0.9%) is overrepresented in Old Beach-Otago compared to the regional average (0.7%), as are Australian Aboriginal (2.9% vs 7.4%) and Russian (0.3% vs 0.1%).

Old Beach - Otago's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Old Beach - Otago is 41 years, which is higher than Greater Hobart's average of 39 years and exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 75-84 are particularly prominent, making up 8.4% of the population, while those aged 25-34 make up a smaller proportion at 12.2%. Between 2021 and present, the percentage of the population aged 75-84 has grown from 5.7% to 8.4%, while the 55-64 age group has declined from 13.5% to 11.5%, and the 5-14 age group has dropped from 12.5% to 11.1%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Old Beach - Otago's age structure. The 75-84 age cohort is projected to rise substantially by 312 people (69%), from 451 to 764. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 55% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Conversely, the 25-34 and 55-64 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.