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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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ABS ERP | -- people | --
2021 Census | -- people
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West Ulverstone has an estimated 4,686 residents, up from 4,515 at the 2021 Census — a change of 171 people, or 3.8%. 116 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. That puts 260 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
Demographic assessments by AreaSearch estimate the population of West Ulverstone at approximately 4,686 as of Aug 2026. This represents an addition of 171 people (3.8%) compared to the 4,515 residents recorded in the 2021 Census. This upward trend is derived from the ABS estimated resident population figure of 4,615 in June 2025 alongside 116 validated new addresses identified following the Census date. With a density of 259 persons per square kilometer, the locality offers generous living space alongside opportunities for prospective expansion. Outpacing the broader SA3 area (3.4%), West Ulverstone's 3.8% increase since the 2021 census positions it as a regional standout in demographic growth, with domestic arrivals via interstate migration accounting for around 82.8% of net population additions over recent timeframes.
Projections for the SA2 territory draw upon ABS/Geoscience Australia modeling published in 2024 using 2022 as a base year. Where SA2 coverage is absent, as well as for projecting post-2032 age demographic patterns, Regional/LGA datasets released by the Tasmania State Government in 2022 (with 2021 as a base year) are incorporated via a weighted population aggregation method converting LGA metrics to SA2 scales. Long-range demographic forecasts suggest a downturn overall, anticipating a net reduction of 255 persons by 2041 under these models. In contrast, certain age brackets will experience expansion, most prominently the 75 to 84 age cohort, which is forecast to gain 167 people.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
120 new dwellings have been approved in West Ulverstone over the past five years, an average of 24 a year. That is 5.2 approvals per 1,000 residents. Of the 24 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 100% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Residential planning approvals in West Ulverstone have averaged approximately 24 new homes per year, totaling 120 homes approved across the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26). Over this period (between FY-22 and FY-26), an average of just 0.5 new residents per year per dwelling constructed has resulted in residential building activity keeping pace with or exceeding demand, thereby boosting housing choice and accommodating potential future population expansion beyond baseline forecasts. New residential builds carry an average construction cost of $419,000. On the commercial front, building approvals stand at $250,000 this financial year, reflecting subdued commercial development activity.
Per capita residential construction in West Ulverstone outpaces the Rest of Tas. benchmark by 39.0% over the 5 year period, offering ample choice to buyers while underpinning existing asset values, notwithstanding a recent moderation in building approvals. Detached houses constitute the entire volume of newly approved construction, maintaining the low-density urban form of the suburb and drawing purchasers in search of standalone housing with generous allotment space. A ratio of roughly 265 people per dwelling approval further underlines the low-density profile of the area. With demographic forecasts indicating stable or shrinking population numbers, West Ulverstone is likely to see reduced housing pressure, fostering advantageous market conditions for purchasers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around West Ulverstone
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 3 current infrastructure and development projects inside West Ulverstone, worth an estimated $36 million. A further 48 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $6.52 billion. 12 are already under construction and 12 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, education & training and transport & logistics. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Strategic civil infrastructure and major capital works play a defining role in shaping local urban outcomes. AreaSearch has pinpointed 5 key projects with the potential to influence the district, including the Jernej Way Residential Subdivision, the Ulverstone Sewage Treatment Plant Upgrade, Oak Rise Housing, and the South Road Service Station Development.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
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
South Road Service Station Development
A DA approved 24-hour highway service centre including a convenience shop, two drive-through restaurants, amenities, 53 car parks, 5 truck parks, and 2 bus/caravan parks, located adjacent to the Bass Highway. Construction has not yet commenced as of 2025.
Ulverstone Sewage Treatment Plant Upgrade
A major upgrade to the Ulverstone Sewage Treatment Plant, servicing Ulverstone, Gawler, West Ulverstone, and Penguin. The project, which commenced in March 2023 and was successfully completed in 2024, included installation of a new clarifier, two biosolids dewatering units, upgraded flow metering, new pumps, and critical electrical system improvements. These upgrades enhance the plant's performance, safety, and capacity for future growth, ensuring more efficient operations while delivering improved environmental outcomes for the local region. The improvements make the plant safer and easier for TasWater operators to manage, while also providing additional capacity to support population and industrial growth in the communities served.
Oak Rise Housing
A social housing development featuring 48 homes with communal green spaces overlooking the Bass Strait, designed to provide safe and affordable housing.
Jernej Way Residential Subdivision
A 3.39-hectare site approved for a 31-lot residential subdivision in the General Residential Zone. The site is shovel-ready with water, sewer, and road infrastructure connected, located near Ulverstone town center. The property was acquired by a national developer in June 2025.
Installation of a Wet Electrostatic Scrubber Precipitator
Installation of a modern Wet Electrostatic Precipitator (WESP) system to treat exhaust from fryers at the Simplot Ulverstone potato processing plant. The upgrade is designed to reduce particulate emissions by approximately 80% and substantially mitigate odour impacts across the surrounding community.
Ulverstone Rise (Trevor Street Subdivision)
Masterplanned residential subdivision on elevated land between Bass Highway, Main Street and Trevor Street in Ulverstone. Originally approved for 71 lots at 126A Trevor St; now being delivered as Ulverstone Rise over multiple stages (circa 189 lots). Stage 1 is titled with lots marketed. Elevated blocks with views to Bass Strait and the Dial Ranges.
Ulverstone Rise
A 189-lot residential subdivision developed over 10 stages, with titled blocks now available for purchase. Lots range in size and offer coastal views, with house and land packages starting from $572,000 in partnership with Tasmania's leading builders.
Ulverstone Sewage Treatment Plant Upgrade
Upgrade to the sewage treatment plant including a new clarifier, biosolids dewatering units, pumps, flow metering, and electrical improvements to enhance capacity, safety, and environmental outcomes, supporting future population and industrial growth in Ulverstone, Gawler, and Penguin.
1,890 residents of West Ulverstone are employed, from a labour force of 1,989. Unemployment sits at 5.0%, with participation at 51.6%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.0% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 4,017, about 86% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
West Ulverstone maintains an evenly distributed labour market encompassing both blue and white-collar occupations, with strong representation in community and essential services, an unemployment rate of 5.0%, and a 3.4% annual rise in estimated employment. As of March 2026, employed residents total 1,890, while the local jobless rate sits 1.0% higher than the 3.9% recorded across Regional Tas., and labour force participation is notably lower at 51.6% against 58.7% regionally. In Census returns, only 6.9% of workers reported working from home, a metric that may have been shaped by Covid-19 lockdown measures.
The local workforce is heavily concentrated across retail trade, construction, and health care & social assistance. The construction industry represents a distinct local specialisation, employing residents at 1.3 times the wider regional concentration. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing accounts for only 4.3% of local jobs compared to 8.4% across the broader region. An evaluation of local jobs relative to the working resident population indicates a constrained volume of employment opportunities within the immediate area. According to AreaSearch evaluations of ABS and SALM figures, the twelve months to March 2026 saw local employment expand by 3.4% alongside a 3.3% rise in the labour pool, trimming the unemployment rate by 0.1 percentage points. Over the same timeframe, Regional Tas. experienced employment growth of 1.8% and labour force gains of 1.7%, yielding a slight decline in joblessness. Projections published by Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 provide perspective on upcoming workforce demand within West Ulverstone across five- and ten-year horizons. Nationally, overall jobs are projected to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though sector-by-sector trajectory varies substantially. Weighting these projections against West Ulverstone's industry profile suggests local job counts could increase by 6.0% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, though this weighted calculation is illustrative and does not incorporate local population forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in West Ulverstone is $1,059 a week (about $55,000 a year), with median personal income at $541 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $45,993 a year against an average of $54,515. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
ATO taxation statistics for financial year 2023 at the postcode level indicate that personal earnings across the West Ulverstone SA2 trail national benchmarks, recording a median taxable income of $45,993 and an average of $54,515. These figures sit below the Regional Tas. benchmarks of $49,689 (median) and $59,358 (average). Adjusting for a 10.95% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023 generates updated March 2026 estimates of $51,029 for the median and $60,484 for the average. In the 2021 Census, personal, family, and household earnings all tracked between the 5th and 6th percentiles across Australia.
The $400 - 799 weekly income bracket is the most prevalent, encompassing 31.9% of residents (1,494 people), whereas metropolitan distributions peak in the $1,500 - 2,999 range at 28.5%. Residual income after servicing housing commitments sits at 85.7%, placing the area in the 8th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
West Ulverstone had 1,770 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 90% detached houses and 0% apartments. 32% are owned with a mortgage, 26% rented and 42% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $240 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,213 a month. Rent absorbs 22.7% of household income here and mortgage repayments 26.4%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Residential stock in West Ulverstone at the most recent Census was divided into 89.9% separate houses and 10.1% alternative dwellings (comprising apartments, semi-detached residences, and other housing types), mirroring the distribution across Regional Tas. of 89.9% houses and 10.1% other dwellings. Outright home ownership stood at 42.2%, exactly matching Regional Tas., with remaining properties held under a mortgage (31.5%) or occupied by tenants (26.4%). Typical monthly mortgage obligations were $1,213, while weekly rental payments averaged a median of $240, both sitting below the Regional Tas. levels of $1,274 and $250.
When assessed on a national scale, local housing expenses remain significantly more affordable than the Australian median mortgage repayment of $1,863 and weekly rent of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
West Ulverstone counted 1,770 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.3 people each. 22% are couples with children, fewer than in 81% of areas nationally, against 33% couples without children. 29% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.0 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute 68.5% of households in the area, divided between couples without children (32.7%), couples with children (22.0%), and single parent families (13.4%). The remaining 31.5% of residences are non-family arrangements, primarily consisting of lone person households at 29.3% alongside group households at 2.0%. The median household size of 2.3 people is identical to the Regional Tas. benchmark.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
13.4% of adults in West Ulverstone hold a university qualification, including 9.2% with a bachelor degree and 2.6% with postgraduate qualifications, lower than 96% of areas nationally. A further 29.8% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 115 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 840 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Educational attainment across the community highlights significant scope for growth, with tertiary degree attainment at 13.4%, well below the broader Australian rate of 30.4%. Among university credentials, Bachelor degrees are held by 9.2% of the population, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 2.6% and graduate diplomas at 1.6%. In contrast, vocational and technical pathways are heavily represented, with 37.7% of residents aged 15+ possessing trade qualifications, comprised of certificates (29.8%) and advanced diplomas (7.9%). Active participation in study is strong throughout the area, with 25.6% of residents currently undertaking formal education.
Enrolments include 10.8% in primary education, 8.1% attending secondary school, and 1.8% pursuing higher tertiary study.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in West Ulverstone reaches 13 stops on 56 routes, timetabled for about 3,100 services a week. The typical home sits about 340 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.4 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transport connectivity across West Ulverstone is supported by 13 active transport stops served by local buses. A total of 56 individual routes service these stops, generating 3,106 weekly passenger trips. Access to the network is convenient, with residents residing an average distance of 339 meters from their closest transit stop. As an outwardly commuting residential community, private vehicles dominate travel patterns, accounting for 95% of trips. Average motor vehicle ownership is 1.4 per dwelling, while 6.9% of workers recorded working from home in the 2021 Census, a figure potentially affected by COVID-19 circumstances.
Transit service schedules deliver an average of 443 trips per day across all available routes, translating to roughly 238 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
57.8% of residents in West Ulverstone report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 90% of areas nationally. 10.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 46.8% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 8.7 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Community health indicators highlight notable difficulties in West Ulverstone based on mortality metrics and chronic illness patterns evaluated by AreaSearch, with elevated health conditions evident among both younger and older cohorts. Meanwhile, private health insurance coverage is low, held by approximately 47% of residents (~2,193 people), trailing the Regional Tas. rate of 49.1% and the Australian national standard of 55.7%. The two most prevalent diagnosed conditions across the suburb are arthritis, affecting 12.6% of residents, and mental health issues, impacting 9.6%. Overall, 57.8% of the local population reported no chronic ailments, which compares to 62.0% in Regional Tas..
Chronic health issues are also elevated among working-age individuals. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 27.3% of the community (1,279 people), surpassing the 25.1% share recorded regionally, with health vulnerabilities in this older cohort ranking above general population levels nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
West Ulverstone is largely Australian-born, at 90.4% of residents, with 2.6% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (34.1%) and English (34.0%). 6.4% of residents identify as Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander. Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity measures across West Ulverstone are lower than typical benchmarks, with Australian citizens making up 90.8% of the population, 90.4% born within Australia, and 97.4% communicating exclusively in English at home. The most widely reported faith is Christianity, accounting for 44.6% of residents, which is comparable to the 43.0% recorded across Regional Tas.. Looking at ancestral background through parental birth country, the three largest ancestral cohorts are Australian at 34.1%, English at 34.0%, and Scottish at 7.4%. Specific demographic distinctions are also evident across other lineages: Dutch ancestry accounts for 2.5% of the local population (compared to 1.7% regionally), Australian Aboriginal heritage represents 6.4% (against 4.1% regionally), and Welsh ancestry comprises 0.5% (versus 0.4% regionally).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of West Ulverstone is 48, older than 86% of areas nationally. 21.0% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
West Ulverstone mirrors the age distribution of Regional Tas. in nearly every age group, with the greatest gap between the two areas measuring 3.6 percentage points. This alignment places the local median age at an estimated 48, matching the 2021 Census result and sitting 3 years higher than the Regional Tas. median of 45 from that same Census. The national median age at the 2021 Census stood at 38. Between the Census and the present, the share of residents aged 0 to 24 has risen from 26.2% to an estimated 28.1%.
Looking ahead to 2041, the 65+ age group is projected to account for the majority of population growth, gaining 138 new residents, which represents an 11% increase, bringing the total to 1,417. In contrast, both the young to middle aged adult segment and the children and young adults cohort are forecast to decline.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for West Ulverstone
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Sep 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Sep 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Sep 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Oct 2025 11 months ago all 3 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Oct 2025. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 6 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 116 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (4,515 at the 2021 Census → 4,686 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (604011083). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.