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, as of February 2026, is approximately 4,006 people. This figure reflects a growth of 163 individuals since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 3,843. The increase is inferred from the estimated resident population of 3,969 in June 2024 and an additional 99 validated new addresses post-Census. This results in a population density ratio of 1.1 persons per square kilometer. Waratah's growth rate of 4.2% since 2021 exceeded the SA3 area average of 3.6%, positioning it as a growth leader. Natural growth contributed approximately 75.7% to 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 and post-2032 estimations, 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 anticipate an overall decline by 409 persons to 2041. However, specific age cohorts like the 75-84 group are projected to grow 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. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 116 homes were approved, with an additional 4 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 cost of new properties was $274,000. This fiscal year has seen $1.4 million in commercial development approvals, indicating the area's residential focus. Compared to the Rest of Tas., Waratah shows 68.0% more building activity per person, providing buyers with greater choice. However, this activity has slowed in recent years.

All new constructions have been detached dwellings, maintaining Waratah'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 less pronounced, creating favorable conditions for buyers.

Waratah has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 13thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 16 projects likely impacting the area. Key projects 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 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.

Employment performance in Waratah has been broadly consistent with national averages

Waratah has a skilled workforce with strong representation in manufacturing and industrial sectors. The unemployment rate was 3.6% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 6.7%. As of September 2025, 1,953 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate of 3.4%, which is 0.2% lower than Rest of Tas.'s rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation was 61.2%, slightly higher than Rest of Tas.'s 58.6%. According to Census responses, 13.5% of residents worked from home. The dominant employment sectors were agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Waratah had a particularly strong specialization in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with an employment share 1.8 times the regional level.

In contrast, accommodation & food employed only 5.1% of local workers, below Rest of Tas.'s 7.7%. Over a 12-month period ending in May-25, employment increased by 6.7%, labour force grew by 6.0%, and unemployment fell by 0.7 percentage points. In comparison, Rest of Tas. saw employment grow by 0.7%, labour force expand by 0.5%, and unemployment fall by 0.2 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project a growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. 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, based on simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that median income in Waratah SA2 is $49,599 and average income stands at $59,150. This contrasts with Rest of Tas., where median income is $49,689 and average income is $59,358. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.6% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $54,361 (median) and $64,828 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Waratah fall between the 14th and 22nd percentiles nationally. Income brackets indicate that 31.8% of locals (1,273 people) predominantly earn between $1,500 - 2,999 annually, similar to surrounding regions where 28.5% fall into this bracket. Housing costs are modest with 89.2% of income retained, placing total disposable income 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 structures, as per the latest Census, were 99.6% houses and 0.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Non-Metro 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, lower than Non-Metro Tas.'s average of $1,274. The median weekly rent in Waratah was $250, matching Non-Metro Tas.'s figure. Nationally, Waratah's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,170 compared to 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 constitute 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 account for the remaining 26.5%, with lone person households at 24.4% and group households comprising 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 the most common at 13.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.0%) and graduate diplomas (2.8%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 42.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas at 10.2% and certificates at 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 indicates robust performance across Waratah, as per AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence, showing very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups (4th March 2023). Private health cover was found to be quite low at approximately 48% of the total population (~1,938 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions in the area were arthritis and asthma, affecting 9.7 and 8.7% of residents respectively, while 65.4% declared themselves completely free from medical ailments, compared to 62.0% across Rest of Tas. (1st April 2023). The working-age population faces significant health challenges with increased chronic condition rates. Waratah has 22.4% of residents aged 65 and over (897 people), which is lower than the 24.9% in Rest of Tas. (5th May 2023). Health outcomes among seniors are notably strong, aligning broadly with national rankings for the general population (10th June 2023).

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 lower cultural diversity, with 89.7% being citizens and 87.5% born in Australia. English was the language spoken at home by 97.4%. Christianity was the dominant religion, practiced by 37.4%.

The 'Other' category comprised 0.8%, slightly higher than the regional average of 0.7%. In terms of ancestry, Australians made up 33.4%, English 32.6%, and Scottish 8.4%. Notably, Australian Aboriginals were overrepresented at 5.5% compared to 4.1% regionally. Dutch and Hungarian groups also showed higher representation than regional averages, at 1.7% each for Dutch (vs 1.7%) and 0.3% for Hungarians (vs 0.1%).

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 years but significantly higher than the Australian median of 38 years. The age profile shows that 18.3% of Waratah's population falls within the 55-64 year-old group, which is prominent compared to other age groups and well above the national average of 11.2%. Meanwhile, the 25-34 year-old group makes up only 8.2% of Waratah's population, smaller than in Rest of Tas.. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 75 to 84 age group grew from 5.2% to 7.5%, while the 15 to 24 cohort increased from 9.1% to 10.8%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 year-old group declined from 15.2% to 12.4%, and the 25 to 34 year-old group dropped from 9.6% to 8.2%. 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 65 people (22%) from 300 to 366. Senior residents aged 65 and above will drive 100% of population growth, underscoring demographic aging trends. Meanwhile, both the 45 to 54 year-old group and the 0 to 4 year-old age groups are projected to see reduced numbers.