Waratah

Waratah is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Waratah's population was around 3,992 as of May 2026. This reflected an increase of 149 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,843 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 3,980 from the ABS in June 2025 and an additional 100 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population resulted in a density ratio of 1.1 persons per square kilometer. Waratah's growth of 3.9% since the 2021 census exceeded both its SA3 area (2.6%) and SA4 region, making it a growth leader. Natural growth contributed approximately 76.8% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted 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 post-2032 growth by age group, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections were used, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year, adjusted using a method of weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Projections indicated an overall population decline over this period, with Waratah's population expected to shrink by 405 persons by 2041. However, growth across specific age cohorts was anticipated, led by the 75 to 84 age group, projected to expand by 93 people.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Waratah recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Waratah has received approximately 23 dwelling approvals annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 116 homes were approved, with an additional 6 approved in FY-26 so far. On average, each dwelling constructed over these five years accommodated about 1.7 new residents per year. However, this figure decreased to 1.1 people per dwelling over the past two financial years.

The average construction value of new properties was $274,000. This fiscal year has seen $1.4 million in commercial development approvals. Compared to Rest of Tas., Waratah records 67.0% more building activity per person, offering buyers greater choice. However, building activity has slowed in recent years.

All new construction in Waratah consists of detached dwellings, maintaining the area's low density character and appealing to those seeking space. With around 240 people per approval, Waratah reflects a low-density area. Given stable or declining population forecasts, housing pressure may be lessened, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Waratah has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 12thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 16 projects that could impact this region. Notable ones include Boat Harbour Beach Master Plan, Wynyard Affordable Housing Development, Bass Highway Cooee to Wynyard Upgrades, and Cooee to Wynyard Coastal Pathway. The following list details those most likely 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.

Waratah has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Waratah has a skilled workforce with prominent manufacturing and industrial sectors. Its unemployment rate was 3.8% in December 2025, matching Regional Tas.'s rate. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 6.2%.

As of December 2025, 1,949 residents were employed, with workforce participation at 60.8%, slightly higher than Regional Tas.'s 58.7%. A low 13.5% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Dominant employment sectors include agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Waratah specializes in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 1.8 times the regional level.

Conversely, accommodation & food services employed only 5.1% of local workers, below Regional Tas.'s 7.7%. Limited local employment opportunities are suggested by the working population to resident population ratio. Over a 12-month period, employment increased by 6.2%, labour force grew by 5.6%, and unemployment fell by 0.5 percentage points. In comparison, Regional Tas. saw employment grow by 1.8%, labour force expand by 1.5%, and unemployment fall by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project overall growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between sectors. Applying these projections to Waratah's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 5.6% over five years and 12.3% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income figures position the area below 75% of locations analysed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ending June 30, 2023 shows median income in Waratah SA2 at $49,599 and average income at $59,150. This contrasts with Regional Tasmania's figures of median income at $49,689 and average income at $59,358. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.95% from July 2023 to March 2026, current estimates for Waratah would be approximately $55,030 (median) and $65,627 (average). According to the 2021 Census, incomes in Waratah fall between the 14th and 22nd percentiles nationally. The predominant income bracket is $1,500 - 2,999, with 31.8% of locals earning within this range. Housing costs are modest, with 89.2% of income retained, but total disposable income ranks at the 29th percentile nationally.

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

Waratah's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 99.6% houses and 0.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional Tas.'s 89.9% houses and 10.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Waratah stood at 45.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 40.2% and rented ones at 13.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,170, below Regional Tas.'s average of $1,274, and the median weekly rent was $250, matching Regional Tas.'s figure. Nationally, Waratah's mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Waratah has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 73.5% of all households, including 28.4% couples with children, 35.6% couples without children, and 9.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute 26.5%, comprising 24.4% lone person households and 2.3% group households. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is larger than the Regional Tasmanian average of 2.3.

Educational outcomes in Waratah fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

The area's university qualification rate is 18.8%, significantly lower than the Australian average of 30.4%. This indicates a need for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are most common at 13.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 42.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (10.2%) and certificates (32.5%).

Educational participation is high, with 27.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.2% in primary education, 8.2% in secondary education, and 2.5% pursuing tertiary education.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Waratah's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Waratah. AreaSearch's assessment found very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups.

The rate of private health cover was found to be very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~1,932 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%. The most common medical conditions in the area were arthritis and asthma, impacting 9.7 and 8.7% of residents respectively. 65.4% of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 62.0% across Regional Tas.. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. As of the assessment, 23.1% of residents were aged 65 and over (922 people), which is lower than the 24.9% in Regional Tas.. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

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

Waratah's population showed low cultural diversity, with 89.7% being citizens and 87.5% born in Australia. Most residents spoke English only at home (97.4%). Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 37.4%.

The 'Other' category was slightly overrepresented compared to Regional Tas., at 0.8%. In terms of ancestry, Australian (33.4%), English (32.6%), and Scottish (8.4%) were the top groups. Some ethnic groups had notable differences: Australian Aboriginal was higher at 5.5% in Waratah than regionally (4.1%), Dutch was equally represented at 1.7%, and Hungarian was slightly higher at 0.3%.

Waratah hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Waratah's median age is 46 years, comparable to Regional Tas.'s 45 years and significantly higher than the Australian median of 38 years. The age profile shows a prominent group aged 55-64 at 18.7%, while those aged 25-34 are smaller at 7.7% compared to Regional Tas.. This concentration of 55-64 year-olds is well above the national average of 11.2%. Post-2021 Census data indicates that the 75 to 84 age group grew from 5.2% to 7.7%, while the 55 to 64 cohort increased from 16.7% to 18.7%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort declined from 15.2% to 12.2%, and the 25 to 34 group dropped from 9.6% to 7.7%. Demographic modeling suggests that Waratah's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 75 to 84 age cohort is projected to grow steadily, expanding by 68 people (22%) from 305 to 374. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 100% of population growth, underscoring demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, both the 45 to 54 and 0 to 4 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.