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 6,727 as of March 2021. By May 2026, it had increased to around 6,756, a rise of 29 people (0.4%). This increase is inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,752 in June 2025 and an additional 30 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density was 287 persons per square kilometer as of May 2026. Over the past decade, ending in March 2021, South Hobart - Fern Tree showed a compound annual growth rate of 0.9%, outpacing its SA3 area. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth during this period.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in December 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and to estimate post-2032 growth by age group, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections were used, released in August 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Future population projections indicate a median increase for national areas, with South Hobart - Fern Tree expected to expand by 797 persons to 2041 based on latest annual ERP numbers, reflecting an overall increase of 11.7% over 16 years.

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 granted around 17 residential properties approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, a total of 87 homes were approved, with an additional 5 approved so far in FY26. On average, 1.8 people moved to the area per dwelling built over these five years, indicating a balanced supply and demand. However, this has moderated recently to -0.7 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, suggesting an improved balance.

The average construction value of new properties is $212,000, below the regional average, offering more affordable housing options for buyers. This year alone, $2.4 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating limited focus on commercial development compared to residential. In terms of development levels per person, South Hobart - Fern Tree is similar to Greater Hobart but lower than national averages, suggesting market maturity and possible development constraints. All recent building activity consists of detached dwellings, maintaining the area's traditional low density character and appealing to those seeking family homes despite density pressures.

The current mix suggests 75% traditional houses at Census, but developers are building more, indicating strong demand for family homes. With an estimated 652 people per dwelling approval, the area has a quiet development environment. Population forecasts indicate South Hobart - Fern Tree will gain 793 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

South Hobart - Fern Tree has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 3rdth percentile nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 21 projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include the South Arm Highway Upgrade at the intersection of Acton Road and South Arm Road, Roches Beach Living, Fragrance Group Conservatorium Development, and Southern Outlet Transit Lane. The following list details those projects likely to be 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 labour market in South Hobart - Fern Tree shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

South Hobart - Fern Tree has a highly educated workforce with professional services being strongly represented. Its unemployment rate is 2.6%. Over the past year, there has been relative employment stability.

As of December 2025, there are 3,918 residents in work, with an unemployment rate of 1.5% below Greater Hobart's rate of 4.0%. Workforce participation is high at 69.2%, compared to Greater Hobart's 63.7%. According to Census responses, a moderate 14.3% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment among residents is concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services.

The area has particular employment specialization in education & training, with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level. Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 4.6% versus the regional average of 8.7%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population. Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data for the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 0.4% while labour force decreased by 0.1%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Hobart experienced employment growth of 0.1% and a similar labour force decline of 0.1%, with a 0.2 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer further insight into potential future demand within South Hobart - Fern Tree. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, estimate national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to South Hobart - Fern Tree's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.6% over ten years.

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

The latest postcode-level ATO data for the financial year ending June 2023 shows that South Hobart - Fern Tree SA2 has a high national median assessed income of $57,136 and an average income of $77,204. In comparison, Greater Hobart's median income is $54,577 with an average of $65,190. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.95% since June 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $63,392 (median) and $85,658 (average). According to Census 2021 data, income in South Hobart - Fern Tree clusters around the 60th percentile nationally. The income bracket of $1,500 - 2,999 captures 32.4% of the community, which is similar to the metropolitan region where this cohort represents 32.2%. After housing costs, residents retain 87.1% of their income, indicating 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

The dwelling structure in South Hobart - Fern Tree, as per the latest Census, consisted of 75.3% houses and 24.6% other dwellings. This contrasts with Hobart metro's figures of 85.3% houses and 14.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in South Hobart - Fern Tree stood at 37.4%, with the remaining dwellings either mortgaged (33.4%) or rented (29.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,625, higher than Hobart metro's average of $1,517. The median weekly rent figure for South Hobart - Fern Tree was $380, compared to Hobart metro's $350. Nationally, South Hobart - Fern Tree's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,625 versus 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 comprise the remaining 35.8%, with lone person households at 28.7% and group households making up 7.1%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which matches 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 higher educational attainment than Tasmania and Australia overall. Among residents aged 15+, 57.2% have university qualifications compared to 25.5% in TAS and 30.4% in Australia. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 32.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (18.5%) and graduate diplomas (6.0%). Vocational pathways account for 19.7% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 8.1% and certificates at 11.6%.

Educational participation is high, with 34.0% 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 stops are used by 123 individual routes, collectively providing 9,278 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 209 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to the area's residential nature. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 65%, while 14% walk and 9% cycle. Vehicle ownership averages 1.2 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, some 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 shows positive health outcomes based on AreaSearch's analysis. Mortality rates and health conditions align with national benchmarks.

Common health conditions are seen across both young and old age cohorts. Private health cover is high at 57% of the total population (~3,850 people), compared to 51.7% in Greater Hobart. Mental health issues impact 9.8% of residents, while arthritis affects 8.4%. 69.7% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 65.5% across Greater Hobart. The under-65 population has better than average health outcomes. The area has 17.8% of residents aged 65 and over (1,204 people), lower than the 20.0% 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 showed higher cultural diversity, with 24.4% born overseas and 14.3% speaking non-English languages at home. Christianity was the dominant religion at 25.5%. Buddhism's presence at 2.3% exceeded Greater Hobart's 1.4%.

The top ancestral groups were English (30.6%), Australian (24.6%), and Scottish (9.3%). Notable differences included overrepresentation of Dutch (2.1%) compared to regional 1.5%, Welsh (0.8%) versus 0.5%, and French (0.8%) against 0.3%.

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 14.7% compared to Greater Hobart's average, while the 65-74 group is under-represented at 9.1%. Post-2021 Census, the 15-24 age group increased from 12.2% to 14.7%, the 5-14 group decreased from 12.0% to 10.3%, and the 25-34 group dropped from 15.7% to 14.7%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in South Hobart - Fern Tree's age profile. The 45-54 cohort is projected to grow by 41%, adding 373 residents to reach 1,274. Conversely, the 35-44 group is projected to decrease by 207 residents.