Waratah
Statistical Area - sa2

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, as of August 2025, is approximately 3,984, reflecting a growth of 141 people since the 2021 Census. This increase represents a 3.7% rise from the previous count of 3,843 inhabitants. The change is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 3,969 in June 2024 and an additional 93 validated new addresses since the Census date. Waratah's population density is around 1.1 persons per square kilometer. The area's growth rate of 3.7% exceeded that of its SA3 region at 3.3%, positioning it as a growth leader. Natural growth contributed approximately 75.7% to overall population gains in 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 post-2032 growth estimations by age group, Tasmania State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2022 using a 2021 base year are adopted, adjusted via weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Future population dynamics suggest a decline in total population. By 2041, Waratah's population is projected to decrease by 409 persons. However, certain age cohorts are expected to grow, notably the 75-84 age group, which is anticipated to increase by 97 individuals.

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. The Australian Bureau of Statistics provides this data on a financial year basis, showing 116 homes approved over the past five years, from FY-21 to FY-25, with none recorded yet in FY-26. On average, about 1.7 people have moved to the area per dwelling built over these years, indicating stable market conditions due to balanced supply and demand. However, this has decreased to 1.1 people per dwelling over the past two financial years, suggesting more balanced supply conditions recently. New homes are being constructed at an average cost of $343,000, aligning with regional trends.

This year, there have been $1.4 million in commercial approvals, indicating minimal commercial development activity. Compared to the Rest of Tas., Waratah records 68.0% more new home approvals per person, offering buyers greater choice. However, building activity has slowed in recent years. All recent building activity consists of detached houses, preserving the area's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers.

With around 240 people per approval, Waratah reflects a low-density area. Given stable or declining population forecasts, Waratah may experience less housing pressure, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

Waratah has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 11thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 18 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include the 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 relevant.

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

Waratah shows employment indicators that trail behind approximately 70% of regions assessed across Australia

Waratah has a skilled workforce with manufacturing and industrial sectors well-represented. The unemployment rate was 4.0% in June 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 2.1% over the past year.

As of this date, 1,895 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate aligned with Rest of Tas.'s 3.9%. Workforce participation was also on par with Rest of Tas., at 55.7%. Key industries of employment among residents were agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Waratah had a particular employment specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share of 1.8 times the regional level.

Conversely, accommodation & food employed just 5.1% of local workers, lower than Rest of Tas.'s 7.7%. The area appeared to offer limited local employment opportunities, as suggested by the count of Census working population versus resident population. In the year to June 2025, employment levels increased by 2.1%, and labour force grew by 2.2%, leading to a rise in unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage points. This contrasted with Rest of Tas., where employment fell by 0.5% and labour force contracted by 0.6%, while unemployment fell marginally. State-level data to Sep-25 showed TAS employment grew by 0.77% year-on-year, adding 1,170 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.3%. This compared favourably to the national unemployment rate of 4.5%, with the state's employment growth outpacing the national average of 0.26%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 projected national employment expansion by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Waratah's employment mix suggested local growth of approximately 5.6% over five years and 12.3% over ten years.

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

Waratah's median taxpayer income in financial year 2022 was $47,312 and the average was $57,232 according to AreaSearch's aggregation of postcode level ATO data. This is lower than the national average. Rest of Tas., however, had a median income of $47,358 and an average income of $57,384 in the same year. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 11.94% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for Waratah as of March 2025 would be approximately $52,961 (median) and $64,066 (average). Census data shows that household, family, and personal incomes in Waratah fall between the 14th and 22nd percentiles nationally. In terms of income distribution, 31.8% of individuals in Waratah earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, which is similar to the regional average of 28.5%. Despite modest housing costs allowing for 89.2% retention of income, total disposable income ranks at only the 30th percentile nationally.

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

Waratah's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 99.6% houses and 0.4% other dwellings. In comparison, Non-Metro Tas. had 95.9% houses and 4.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Waratah was at 45.9%, with mortgaged dwellings at 40.2% and rented ones at 13.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,170, higher than Non-Metro Tas.'s average of $1,053. The median weekly rent in Waratah was $250, compared to Non-Metro Tas.'s $200. Nationally, Waratah's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,170 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were lower at $250 against 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 the remaining 26.5%, with lone person households at 24.4% and group households making up 2.3%. The median household size is 2.5 people, larger than the Rest of Tas. 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 presents both a challenge and an opportunity 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 prominent, with 42.7% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas account for 10.2% and certificates for 32.5%.

Educational participation is high at 27.9%, including 12.2% in primary education, 8.2% in secondary education, and 2.5% pursuing tertiary education. The area has two schools serving 387 students: Yolla District School and Boat Harbour Primary School. Waratah demonstrates varied educational conditions with one primary school and one K-12 school.

No public transport data available for this catchment area.

Health performance in Waratah is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Waratah faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 48% of the total population (~1,924 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

The most common medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, impacting 9.7 and 8.7% of residents respectively. However, 65.4% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, similar to the 65.0% reported across Rest of Tas. As of a certain date (exact date not specified), 22.1% of residents are aged 65 and over (880 people). Despite this, health outcomes among seniors in Waratah are particularly strong, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

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, 87.5% born in Australia, and 97.4% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, practiced by 37.4%. The 'Other' category was slightly overrepresented compared to regional averages (0.8% vs 0.7%).

In terms of ancestry, Australian (33.4%), English (32.6%), and Scottish (8.4%) were the top groups. Notably, Australian Aboriginal (5.5%), Dutch (1.7%), and Hungarian (0.3%) groups were more represented in Waratah than regionally.

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

Waratah's median age is 46 years, comparable to Rest of Tas.'s 45 and significantly higher than Australia's median of 38. The age profile shows a prominent group of 55-64 year-olds at 17.9%, while the 25-34 cohort is smaller at 8.3% compared to Rest of Tas.. This concentration in the 55-64 age group is well above the national average of 11.2%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 75 to 84 age group grew from 5.2% to 6.9%, and the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 9.1% to 10.4%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort declined from 15.2% to 13.3%, and the 25 to 34 group dropped from 9.6% to 8.3%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Waratah's age profile will change significantly. The 75 to 84 age cohort is projected to grow by 90 people (33%), from 275 to 366. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive all population growth, indicating aging trends. Meanwhile, both the 15 to 24 and 0 to 4 age groups are expected to decrease in numbers.