South Hobart - Fern Tree

Population growth drivers in South Hobart - Fern Tree are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

South Hobart - Fern Tree's population was 6,828 as of February 2026, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This figure reflects an increase of 101 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,727. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,809 in June 2024 and an additional 24 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 290 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, ending in February 2026, South Hobart - Fern Tree has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.0%, outpacing the SA3 area. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopts ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and to estimate growth by age group post-2032, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted with adjustments made using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Looking ahead, South Hobart - Fern Tree is expected to increase its population by 915 persons to 2041, reflecting a 13.1% total increase over the 17-year period based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

Residential development activity is lower than average in South Hobart - Fern Tree according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

South Hobart - Fern Tree has approved approximately 17 residential properties annually. Between financial years FY21 and FY25, 87 homes were approved, with an additional 3 approved so far in FY26. Over the past five financial years, an average of 1.8 people moved to the area per dwelling built. However, this has moderated to -0.7 people per dwelling over the past two financial years.

New properties are constructed at an average expected cost of $212,000, below the regional average. This year, $2.4 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded. Compared to Greater Hobart, South Hobart - Fern Tree has similar development levels per person, maintaining market equilibrium with surrounding areas. Recent building activity consists solely of detached dwellings, preserving the area's traditional low density character.

Currently, there are an estimated 652 people in the area per dwelling approval. By 2041, South Hobart - Fern Tree is forecasted to gain 896 residents. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep pace with population growth.

South Hobart - Fern Tree has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 7thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 21 projects that could affect this region. Notable ones include South Arm Highway Upgrade (Acton Road and South Arm Road intersection), Roches Beach Living, Fragrance Group Conservatorium Development, Southern Outlet Transit Lane. 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.

The employment environment in South Hobart - Fern Tree shows above-average strength when compared nationally

South Hobart - Fern Tree has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate is 2.7%. As of September 2025, 3900 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 1.3% below Greater Hobart's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation stands at 68.8%, compared to Greater Hobart's 63.8%. According to Census responses, 14.3% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services, with a particularly strong specialization in education & training (1.5 times the regional level). Construction employs only 4.6% of local workers, below Greater Hobart's 8.7%.

The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and September 2025, the labour force decreased by 1.0%, while employment declined by 0.6%, resulting in a 0.4 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that South Hobart - Fern Tree's employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

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

The South Hobart - Fern Tree SA2 has a high national income level according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers is $57,136 and the average income stands at $77,204, compared to Greater Hobart's figures of $54,577 and $65,190 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.6% since financial year 2023, estimated median and average incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $62,621 and $84,616 respectively. From the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in South Hobart - Fern Tree cluster around the 60th percentile nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 dominates with 32.4% of residents (2,212 people), similar to the surrounding region where 32.2% occupy this bracket. After housing costs, residents retain 87.1% of their income, reflecting strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

South Hobart - Fern Tree is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

South Hobart - Fern Tree had 75.3% houses and 24.6% other dwellings in its dwelling structure as of the latest Census, compared to Hobart metro's 85.3% houses and 14.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in South Hobart - Fern Tree was at 37.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.4% and rented ones at 29.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,625, higher than Hobart metro's $1,517. Median weekly rent was $380, compared to Hobart metro's $350. Nationally, South Hobart - Fern Tree's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,625 vs Australia's average of $1,863, while rents were higher at $380 compared to the national figure of $375.

South Hobart - Fern Tree features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 64.2% of all households, including 25.2% couples with children, 28.4% couples without children, and 9.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 35.8%, with lone person households at 28.7% and group households comprising 7.1%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Greater Hobart average.

Educational achievement in South Hobart - Fern Tree places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

South Hobart - Fern Tree has a notably high educational attainment among residents aged 15 and above, with 57.2% holding university qualifications. This is significantly higher than the Tasmania state average of 25.5% and the Australian national average of 30.4%. The area's university graduates include 32.7% with bachelor degrees, 18.5% with postgraduate qualifications, and 6.0% with graduate diplomas. Vocational pathways account for 19.7% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas making up 8.1% and certificates 11.6%.

Educational participation is notably high in the area, with 34.0% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 11.1% in tertiary education, 9.9% in primary education, and 7.5% pursuing secondary education.

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

South Hobart - Fern Tree has 89 active public transport stops serving a mix of bus routes. These routes collectively provide 9,278 weekly passenger trips. The area is considered to have good transport accessibility, with residents typically located 209 meters from the nearest stop. As a primarily residential area, most commuters travel outward. Cars are the dominant mode of transport at 65%, while walking and cycling account for 14% and 9% respectively. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 14.3% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,325 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 104 weekly trips per individual stop.

South Hobart - Fern Tree's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

South Hobart - Fern Tree residents have relatively positive health outcomes, according to AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and health conditions. The area's results align broadly with national benchmarks.

Common health conditions are seen across both young and old age cohorts at a fairly standard level. Private health cover is very high in the area, with approximately 57% of the total population (~3,891 people) having it, compared to 51.7% across Greater Hobart. Mental health issues impact 9.8% of residents, while arthritis affects 8.4%. A total of 69.7% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 65.5% in Greater Hobart. The under-65 population has better than average health outcomes. The area has 17.7% of residents aged 65 and over (1,209 people), which is lower than the 19.9% in Greater Hobart. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, with national rankings even higher than the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in South Hobart - Fern Tree was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

South Hobart-Fern Tree had a higher than average cultural diversity, with 24.4% of its residents born overseas and 14.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the dominant religion in South Hobart-Fern Tree, comprising 25.5% of the population. However, Buddhism stood out as being more prevalent here compared to Greater Hobart, with 2.3% of South Hobart-Fern Tree's population identifying as Buddhist, compared to 1.4% regionally.

The top three ancestry groups in South Hobart-Fern Tree were English at 30.6%, Australian at 24.6%, and Scottish at 9.3%. Notably, Dutch (2.1%), Welsh (0.8%), and French (0.8%) ethnicities were overrepresented compared to regional averages of 1.5%, 0.5%, and 0.3% respectively.

South Hobart - Fern Tree's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

South Hobart - Fern Tree's median age is 39 years, aligning with Greater Hobart's average of 39 and closely matching Australia's median of 38. The 15-24 cohort is notably higher at 14.8% locally compared to the Greater Hobart average, while the 65-74 cohort is lower at 8.8%. According to the 2021 Census, the 15-24 age group has increased from 12.2% to 14.8%, the 5-14 cohort has decreased from 12.0% to 10.4%, and the 25-34 group has dropped from 15.7% to 14.2%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests South Hobart - Fern Tree's age profile will significantly change. The 45-54 cohort is projected to grow by 43%, adding 396 residents to reach 1,316. Conversely, the 35-44 group is expected to decrease by 200 residents.