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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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Sales Activity
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Population
An assessment of population growth drivers in St Helens - Scamander reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends
St Helens - Scamander's population, as of May 2026, is around 7,259, reflecting an increase of 503 people since the 2021 Census. The 2021 Census reported a population of 6,756. This growth is inferred from ABS estimates; the resident population was 7,229 as of June 2025 and there were 256 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density is approximately 2.2 persons per square kilometer. St Helens - Scamander's 7.4% growth rate exceeded both the state (4.0%) and SA4 region averages, marking it as a growth leader. Interstate migration contributed around 76.6% of overall population gains recently.
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, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections are adopted with adjustments made using weighted aggregation methods. Projections indicate an overall population decline of 484 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts are expected to grow; notably, the 75 to 84 age group is projected to increase by 268 people.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions St Helens - Scamander among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide
St Helens - Scamander has seen approximately 50 dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling 252 homes from FY-18 to FY-22. As of FY-26, 34 approvals have been recorded. On average, each dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25 has resulted in an increase of 2.6 new residents per year. The expected construction cost value for new homes averages $249,000.
This financial year has seen $4.1 million in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's predominantly residential nature. Compared to the Rest of Tas., St Helens - Scamander maintains similar development levels per capita, contributing to market stability aligned with regional trends. All recent developments have consisted of detached houses, preserving the area's traditional low-density character and catering to families seeking space.
With around 160 people moving in for each approval, St Helens - Scamander indicates a growing population. Given stable or declining population forecasts, housing pressure may remain relatively low, presenting favourable conditions for buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around St Helens - Scamander
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Infrastructure
St Helens - Scamander has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 27thth percentile nationally
No infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch identified zero projects impacting this region. Notable initiatives include Bass Offshore Wind Energy Project (BOWE), Tasmanian Irrigation Schemes: Tranche 3, Cethana Pumped Hydro Energy Storage Project, and Marinus Link Stage 1.
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INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Marinus Link Stage 1
Marinus Link Stage 1 is a 750 MW high-voltage direct current (HVDC) electricity interconnector between Heybridge, Tasmania and Waratah Bay, Victoria. The project includes 255 km of undersea cable across Bass Strait and 90 km of underground cable in Gippsland. Following a Final Investment Decision in August 2025 and the Australian Energy Regulator's final approval of construction costs in February 2026, the project has moved into the construction phase with preparatory works currently underway. It is a critical piece of national energy infrastructure, jointly owned by the Australian, Victorian, and Tasmanian governments, with commissioning expected in 2030.
Marinus Link
Marinus Link is a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) electricity and fibre-optic interconnector linking Heybridge in north-west Tasmania with Hazelwood in Victoria's Latrobe Valley. The total project is planned at 1,500 MW capacity, delivered in two 750 MW stages. Stage 1 comprises 255 km of subsea cable across Bass Strait, a shore crossing at Waratah Bay, a communications station at Sandy Point, 90 km of underground land cable through south Gippsland, and converter stations at each end. Final Investment Decision was reached on 1 August 2025 with federal environmental approval granted on 3 August 2025. In December 2025, Marinus Link Pty Ltd awarded the final major Stage 1 contract, valued at approximately 994 million dollars, to TasVic Greenlink (a joint venture of DT Infrastructure and Samsung C and T Corporation) to build the converter stations and undertake the 90 km of land cable civils across Gippsland. Hitachi Energy is supplying the HVDC voltage source converter stations and Prysmian is supplying the cables. In February 2026, the Australian Energy Regulator approved approximately 3.47 billion dollars in Stage 1 capital expenditure, clearing the path for full construction. Preparatory works on the Waratah Bay and Heybridge shore crossings are commencing in early 2026, with commercial operation targeted for 2030. A separate business case for Stage 2 (a further 750 MW) will be considered by governments during 2026.
Enabling Infrastructure for Hydrogen Production
A national program to coordinate and deploy the enabling infrastructure required to support large-scale renewable hydrogen production across Australia. Building on the 2024 National Hydrogen Strategy and the National Hydrogen Infrastructure Assessment (NHIA), the program aligns electricity transmission, water supply, transport corridors, port and storage infrastructure with Renewable Energy Zones and prospective hydrogen hubs (Bell Bay, Darwin, Eyre Peninsula, Gladstone, Latrobe Valley, Hunter Valley, Pilbara). Two key federal mechanisms underpin delivery. The Hydrogen Headstart program provides up to 4 billion AUD in long-term revenue support via production credits, with Round 2 (2 billion AUD administered by ARENA) opening for Expressions of Interest in October 2025 with EOIs closing 8 December 2025. The Hydrogen Production Tax Incentive (HPTI), legislated through the Future Made in Australia (Production Tax Credits and Other Measures) Act 2025 which received Royal Assent on 14 February 2025, provides an uncapped refundable tax offset of 2 AUD per kilogram of eligible renewable hydrogen for up to 10 years between 1 July 2027 and 30 June 2040 for projects reaching final investment decision by 2030. The HPTI is jointly administered by the ATO and Clean Energy Regulator and requires certification under the Guarantee of Origin scheme. Round 1 of Hydrogen Headstart shortlisted six projects representing more than 3.5 GW of electrolyser capacity, with 814 million AUD ultimately awarded.
Enabling Digital Health Services for Regional and Remote Australia
A national digital infrastructure program under the Digital Health Blueprint 2023-2033 designed to provide equitable healthcare access for regional and remote Australians. The initiative is currently rolling out the 'Share by Default' legislative framework, which mandates the uploading of pathology and diagnostic imaging reports to My Health Record starting July 2026. Current 2026 milestones include the launch of the Digital Health Implementer Hub to accelerate software conformance and the implementation of the National Allied Health Digital Uplift Plan to integrate allied health practitioners into the national digital ecosystem.
Bass Offshore Wind Energy Project (BOWE)
The Bass Offshore Wind Energy (BOWE) project is a proposed large-scale offshore wind farm in Commonwealth waters of the Bass Strait, around 30 km off the north-east coast of Tasmania. Plans call for between 70 and 100 fixed-bottom turbines with a total capacity of up to 1.5 GW, enough to power around 325,000 homes and offset roughly 2 million tonnes of CO2 a year. Energy would be delivered to the Tasmanian mainland via a subsea transmission cable, with the preferred grid connection point at the George Town substation, supporting the proposed Bell Bay Hydrogen Hub and the state's 200 percent renewable energy target. The Federal Government declared the Northern Tasmania offshore wind zone in December 2024 and opened feasibility licence applications, which closed on 10 April 2025. A preliminary decision was subsequently made not to award any feasibility licences in the Bass Strait zone, leaving BOWE without a licence to progress to formal feasibility studies. Equinor, which had held a majority stake from late 2022, withdrew from the project in early 2025 as part of a broader pull-back from Australian and global offshore wind. Nexsphere has assumed full ownership and stated it intends to continue with BOWE while seeking new international partners. Founded by Glen Kierse and Leanne McDougall in 2017, Nexsphere is the proponent, with the project led from Tasmania.
Bulk Water Supply Security
Nationwide program led by the National Water Grid Authority to improve bulk water security and reliability for non-potable and productive uses. Activities include strategic planning, science and business cases, and funding of state and territory projects such as storages, pipelines, dam upgrades, recycled water and efficiency upgrades to build drought resilience and support regional communities, industry and the environment.
National EV Charging Network (Highway Fast Charging)
Partnership between the Australian Government and NRMA to deliver a backbone EV fast charging network on national highways. Program funds and co-funds 117 DC fast charging sites at roughly 150 km intervals to connect all capital cities and regional routes, reducing range anxiety and supporting EV uptake.
Network Optimisation Program - Roads
A national program concept focused on improving congestion and reliability on urban road networks by using low-cost operational measures and technology (e.g., signal timing, intersection treatments, incident management) to optimise existing capacity across major city corridors.
Employment
Employment conditions in St Helens - Scamander face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally
St Helens - Scamander has a balanced workforce with white and blue collar jobs across various sectors. Its unemployment rate is 6.5%. As of December 2025, 2,677 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 9.1% (3.8% above Regional Tas.'s rate).
Workforce participation stands at 44.8%, significantly lower than Regional Tas.'s 58.7%. According to Census data, only 13.3% of residents work from home. The dominant employment sectors are health care & social assistance, accommodation & food, and retail trade. The area specializes in accommodation & food with an employment share of 1.5 times the regional level but has lower representation in health care & social assistance (14.2% vs regional average of 16.5%).
Local employment opportunities appear limited as indicated by the working population vs resident population count. Between December 2024 and December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.0%, with employment down by 1.5%, resulting in a 0.4 percentage point drop in unemployment rate. Conversely, Regional Tas. saw employment rise by 1.8% and the labour force grow by 1.5%, with unemployment falling by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 project a 6.6% increase over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to St Helens - Scamander's employment mix suggests local employment should grow by 5.9% over five years and 12.6% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis
AreaSearch's data for financial year 2023 shows median income in St Helens - Scamander SA2 is $37,708, lower than the national average of $49,689. Regional Tas.'s figures are higher, with median income at $49,689 and average at $59,358. As of March 2026, estimated incomes would be approximately $41,837 (median) and $54,109 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. Census data indicates St Helens - Scamander's incomes fall between the 0th and 2nd percentiles nationally for households, families, and individuals. Income analysis reveals that 36.5% of residents earn $400-$799 weekly, differing from regional patterns where $1,500-$2,999 dominates. The prevalence of lower-income residents (48.3% under $800/week) suggests constrained household budgets in the suburb. Housing costs are modest, with 87.2% of income retained, but total disposable income ranks at just the 3rd percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
St Helens - Scamander is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership
The latest Census evaluated dwelling structures in St Helens - Scamander with 91.9% houses and 8.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Regional Tas.'s 89.9% houses and 10.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in St Helens - Scamander was 56.5%, with the rest mortgaged at 23.2% or rented at 20.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,083, below Regional Tas.'s average of $1,274. Median weekly rent in St Helens - Scamander was $240, compared to Regional Tas.'s $250. Nationally, mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,863 and rents substantially below the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
St Helens - Scamander features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size
Family households compose 62.1% of all households, including 16.7% couples with children, 36.2% couples without children, and 8.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for 37.9%, with lone person households at 36.0% and group households making up 2.0%. The median household size is 2.0 people, smaller than the Regional Tasmanian average of 2.3.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
St Helens - Scamander faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally
The area's university qualification rate is 16.7%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 11.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.0%) and graduate diplomas (1.8%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 40.3% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 9.7% and certificates at 30.6%. A total of 21.2% of the population is actively engaged in formal education, including 10.0% in primary, 5.5% in secondary, and 1.8% in tertiary education.
A substantial 21.2% of the population actively pursues formal education. This includes 10.0% in primary education, 5.5% in secondary education, and 1.8% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
No public transport data available for this catchment area.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health performance in St Helens - Scamander is well below average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts
St Helens - Scamander faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are substantial across both younger and older age cohorts. Private health cover stands at approximately 46% of the total population (~3,346 people), lower than Regional Tasmania's 49.1% and the national average of 55.7%.
The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis (14.2%) and mental health issues (9.8%), while 57.3% report no medical ailments, compared to 62.0% across Regional Tasmania. Working-age residents face notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 35.0% (2,542 people), compared to Regional Tasmania's 24.9%. National rankings for this age group are even higher than the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
St Helens - Scamander is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics
St Helens-Scamander, as of the latest data, had a population that was predominantly culturally homogeneous. Specifically, 89.4% were citizens, with 85.7% born in Australia, and 96.7% speaking English at home. Christianity was the primary religion, practiced by 43.0% of the population.
The 'Other' religious category comprised 0.7%, which was similar to the regional average of 0.7%. In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (36.6%), Australian (30.0%), and Scottish (8.7%). Some notable differences in ethnic group representation included Welsh at 0.6% (regional average: 0.4%), Australian Aboriginal at 3.0% (regional average: 4.1%), and French at 0.5% (regional average: 0.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
St Helens - Scamander ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide
The median age in St Helens - Scamander is 56, which is significantly higher than the Regional Tasmanian figure of 45 and also substantially exceeds Australia's median age of 38. The 65-74 age group shows strong representation at 20.7% compared to Regional Tasmania, whereas the 25-34 cohort is less prevalent at 6.3%. This concentration in the 65-74 age group is well above the national figure of 9.4%. Between 2021 and the present day, the 75 to 84 age group has grown from 9.5% to 11.5% of the population, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 9.5% to 10.7%. Conversely, the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 20.1% to 17.8%, and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 12.2% to 11.1%. Demographic modeling suggests that St Helens - Scamander's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041, with the 75 to 84 group projected to grow by 28%, reaching 1,072 people from the current figure of 835. This demographic shift is led by residents aged 65 and older representing 79% of anticipated growth. Conversely, both the 0 to 4 and 15 to 24 age groups are projected to see reduced numbers.