Council (LGA) · Area profile
Central Highlands
7,982 km²
Spread across nearly 8,000 square kilometres of rugged landscape, Central Highlands (Tas.) is a sparsely populated and aging rural region. The typical resident is 50, which is far older than the national figure. It is a community of modest means where a high proportion of people own their homes outright. This remote setting is reflected in a population that relies almost entirely on private cars to get around.
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The area is far older than most of the country, with one in four residents aged 65 or over. This shift has accelerated since 2011, while the proportion of children under 15 has fallen to 14.9%.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the area has far fewer overseas-born people than the national average. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language for 88% of the population. Very few people use another language at home, and there are no residents who speak little or no English.
About 46.9% of people identify as Christian. Those reporting no religion now make up 40.4% of the community, a figure that has risen sharply by 21 points since 2011.
Educational qualifications are much lower than the state and national figures, with only 10.5% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Just 31.1% of residents have completed Year 12.
Typical weekly household incomes are among the lowest in the country at $1,013. This is well below the national figure of $1,746, and only 7.2% of households earn $3,000 or more per week.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 34.9% of residents. Similarly, 7.5% of people need help with daily activities.
A high number of residents have served in the Defence Force, at 5.3%. However, the rate of volunteering has fallen to 15.3% since 2011.
First Nations people make up 6.1% of the population. This group faces significant disadvantage, with a Year 12 completion rate of 20.2%, which is far below the national average.
Single-person households are very common, making up 38.2% of all homes. This is far above the national figure and helps explain why the typical home has only 2.1 people.
Housing is overwhelmingly dominated by separate houses, which make up 95.3% of dwellings. Home ownership is high, with 48.4% of homes owned outright, and typical weekly rents are much lower than average at $200.
The region is almost entirely car-dependent, with no public transport stops or routes. Only 2% of homes do not have a motor vehicle.
About 34.7% of residents moved into the area in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas make up 6.3% of the population, which is far below the national average.
Agriculture, forestry and fishing is the major employer, accounting for 30.3% of jobs. However, fewer adults are working or looking for work here compared to most other areas.
The region ranks very low for overall advantage and access to resources. It has a small business presence with only 276 operating companies.
The climate is cool and damp, with an average maximum temperature of 12.6 degrees and annual rainfall of 794mm.
The area is strictly car-dependent with a walkability score of 0.7. Almost no one lives within a 15-minute walk of a school, health service, or grocery store.