South Hobart - Fern Tree
Statistical Area - sa2

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

South Hobart - Fern Tree's population was 6,807 as of November 2025, according to AreaSearch's analysis. This figure shows an increase of 80 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 6,727. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,809 in June 2024 and an additional 23 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 289 persons per square kilometer. Over the past decade, South Hobart - Fern Tree exhibited resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 1.0%, outperforming its SA3 area. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and to estimate post-2032 growth by age group, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted, released in 2022 with a base year of 2021. Based on projected demographic shifts, South Hobart - Fern Tree is expected to increase by 915 persons to 2041, representing a total increase of 13.5% over the 17 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 recorded approximately 17 residential properties granted approval per year over the past five financial years, totalling 87 homes. As of FY-26, three approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.8 people moved to the area annually for each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating a balanced supply and demand. 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, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers.

This year, $2.4 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting the area's primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Hobart, South Hobart - Fern Tree maintains similar construction rates per person, preserving market equilibrium consistent with surrounding areas. Recent development has been entirely comprised of detached dwellings, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers. Notably, developers are building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests, indicating strong demand for family homes despite density pressures.

The estimated count of 652 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet development environment. Population forecasts indicate South Hobart - Fern Tree will gain 917 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 5thth percentile nationally

The performance of an area is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure. AreaSearch has identified 21 projects that may impact the area. Notable projects include the South Arm Highway Upgrade at Acton Road and South Arm Road intersection, Roches Beach Living, Forest Road West Hobart Pedestrian Upgrades, and Royal Hobart Hospital Emergency Department Expansion. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

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The labour market in South Hobart - Fern Tree demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

South Hobart - Fern Tree has a highly educated workforce with professional services well-represented. Its unemployment rate is 3.0%.

As of June 2025, there are 3,896 residents employed, with an unemployment rate 1.1% lower than Greater Hobart's 4.1%. Workforce participation stands at 66.1%, slightly higher than Greater Hobart's 61.6%. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services, particularly the latter with an employment share 1.5 times the regional level. Construction has limited presence, with 4.6% employment compared to the regional 8.7%.

The area appears residential-dominated, offering limited local employment opportunities. Between June 2024 and June 2025, labour force decreased by 1.6%, while employment declined by the same percentage, with unemployment remaining stable. Greater Hobart recorded a 1.5% employment decline and 1.6% labour force decrease, with unemployment falling by 0.2%. 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 South Hobart - Fern Tree's employment mix suggests local growth could be approximately 7.1% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

South Hobart - Fern Tree had a median income among taxpayers of $52,804 and an average level of $80,131 in the financial year 2022, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of the latest postcode level ATO data. This is among the highest in Australia, compared to levels of $51,272 and $63,777 across Greater Hobart respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 13.83% since financial year 2022, current estimates would be approximately $60,107 (median) and $91,213 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes in South Hobart - Fern Tree cluster around the 61st percentile nationally. In terms of income distribution, the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket dominates with 32.4% of residents (2,205 people), mirroring regional levels where 32.2% occupy this bracket. After housing costs, residents retain 87.1% of income, reflecting strong purchasing power and 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 (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Hobart metro had 69.2% houses and 30.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in South Hobart - Fern Tree was 37.4%, with the rest being mortgaged (33.4%) or rented (29.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,625, below Hobart metro's average of $1,800. The median weekly rent was $380, compared to Hobart metro's $390. Nationally, South Hobart - Fern Tree's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,625 than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher at $380 than the national figure of $375.

South Hobart - Fern Tree features high concentrations of group households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 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 constitute 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 is larger than the Greater Hobart average of 2.3.

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 significantly higher proportion of residents aged 15 and above with university qualifications compared to Tasmania (25.5%) and Australia (30.4%). Specifically, 57.2% of the area's residents possess such qualifications. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 32.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 18.5% and graduate diplomas at 6.0%. Vocational pathways account for 19.7% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, 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. The three schools in South Hobart - Fern Tree have a combined enrollment reaching 462 students. The area demonstrates significant socio-educational advantages and academic achievement, with an ICSEA score of 1137. The educational mix includes two primary schools and one K-12 school. Local school capacity is limited, with only 6.8 places per 100 residents compared to the regional average of 22.8, which means many families travel to nearby areas for schooling.

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

South Hobart - Fern Tree has 90 active public transport stops. These are served by 41 different bus routes, which together facilitate 6548 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically living within 208 meters of the nearest stop.

On average, there are 935 transport trips daily across all routes, equating to around 72 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in South Hobart - Fern Tree is notably higher than the national average with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions

South Hobart - Fern Tree shows superior health outcomes for both youth and elderly populations, with low prevalence of common ailments.

Approximately 60% of its total population of 4,070 people have private health cover, a figure notably higher than the average. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 9.8% and 8.4% of residents respectively. Around 69.7% of residents report no medical ailments, slightly higher than Greater Hobart's 69.8%. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 17.5%, compared to Greater Hobart's 18.8%. Despite this, health outcomes among seniors are above average, mirroring the general population's profile.

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

South Hobart-Fern Tree had above average cultural diversity, with 24.4% of its population born overseas and 14.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the main religion in South Hobart-Fern Tree, comprising 25.5%. However, Buddhism showed notable overrepresentation at 2.3%, compared to 2.3% across Greater Hobart.

The top three ancestry groups were English (30.6%), Australian (24.6%), and Scottish (9.3%). Dutch, French, and Welsh ethnicities had notable divergences: Dutch was 2.1% vs regional 1.6%, French at 0.8% vs 0.5%, and Welsh at 0.8% vs 0.6%.

South Hobart - Fern Tree's population is slightly older than the national pattern

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 over-represented at 14.3% locally compared to the Greater Hobart average, while the 65-74 age group is under-represented at 8.9%. Post-2021 Census, the 15-24 age group grew from 12.2% to 14.3%, and the 25-34 cohort declined from 15.7% to 14.6%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant changes in South Hobart - Fern Tree's age profile. The 45-54 cohort is projected to grow by 45%, adding 406 residents to reach 1,316. Conversely, the 35-44 group is projected to decrease by 183 residents.