Council (LGA) · Area profile
Derwent Valley
4,108 km²
A growing population has seen Derwent Valley add about 1,238 people since 2011. It is a predominantly Australian community where the typical resident is 42, making it noticeably older than the national average. The area is marked by a high proportion of detached houses and a strong First Nations presence. While the population is increasing, the community faces significant challenges with lower typical incomes and higher rates of long-term health conditions compared to most other areas.
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First Nations people make up 6.6% of the population, which is well above the national figure. While the typical age of 42 is about the same as the state average, the number of seniors aged 65 and over has risen to 18.9% since 2011.
The area is overwhelmingly Australian-born, with only 7.7% of residents born overseas. This is far below the national average of 27.7%, and the figure has barely changed over the last decade.
English is the primary language for 91.4% of the community. Only 2.3% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.
Nearly half of the population (48.9%) report having no religion, a figure far above the national average. This represents a significant shift, as the proportion rose by 25 points since 2011.
Education levels are much lower than in most areas, with only 33.6% of residents completing Year 12. Just 9.1% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is far below both the state and national figures.
Typical weekly household income is $1,244, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 9.4% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, though this has risen since 2011.
Health challenges are common here, with 35.7% of people living with a long-term health condition. Mental health issues are particularly prevalent, affecting 13.4% of residents, which is among the highest rates for similar areas.
Unpaid care is common, with 13.6% of people providing support to others. However, the proportion of residents who volunteer has fallen to 12.7%, which is much lower than in most other areas.
There are 724 First Nations people in the area, with a typical age of 25. Unemployment for this group is 14.0%, which is well above the national rate of 12.3%.
Homes tend to be larger, with 2.5 people per household. One-parent families make up 18.8% of the community, a figure that is well above the national average and has risen since 2011.
The landscape is dominated by separate houses, which make up 94.1% of all dwellings. Renting is less common here than elsewhere, with only 21.6% of households renting.
Most people rely on cars, as only 1.3% of residents commute by public transport. Working from home is rare, with only 5.9% of the workforce doing so, far below the national figure of 21%.
The community is relatively stable, with 31.6% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national average. Recent arrivals from overseas are also very low at 6.4%.
The unemployment rate is 7.4%, which is a little above the national figure of 5.1%. The most common industries for local workers are health care and social assistance, followed by construction.
The area ranks low for overall advantage, scoring a 2 out of 10 compared to all other areas. It is particularly disadvantaged in terms of education and job skills, where it ranks in the bottom 10% of similar areas.
The region is exceptionally wet, with average annual rainfall of 2,032mm, far above the Tasmanian average of 805mm. Temperatures are among the lowest for its level.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 4.0. Many residents lack easy access to services, with only 26.5% of homes within a 15-minute walk of health services.