Council (LGA) · Area profile
Flinders
1,997 km²
A growing population of seniors has shifted the character of Flinders, where the typical resident is now 57 years old. This rural Tasmanian community has added about 146 people since 2011 and is now far older than the national average. It is a place where a significant number of people identify as First Nations and a high proportion of residents are retirees or volunteers. These trends combine to create a quiet, older community with a strong connection to the land.
Flinders is well supplied with schools for its relatively small share of children.
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The area is far older than the national figure, with 36.1% of people aged 65 and over, a figure that rose 14 points since 2011. Meanwhile, the proportion of children under 15 is well below the state and national averages.
Most residents were born in Australia, and the community has a low proportion of overseas-born people compared to the rest of the country. English and Australian are the most common ancestries reported.
English is the primary language here, with only 2.2% of people using another language at home, which is far below the national figure. There are effectively no residents who speak little or no English.
A majority of residents report no religion, at 55.1%, which is far above the national average. This figure has risen sharply by 28 points since 2011.
While the number of adults with a bachelor degree or higher is higher than in most similar areas, it remains well below the state and national figures. Year 12 completion has risen 5.3 points since 2011 to reach 39.9%.
Typical incomes are much lower than the national figure, with a typical household earning $1,057 a week. However, these figures have risen since 2011, and the share of households earning $3,000 or more weekly rose 8.8 points.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 35.6% of people. This is consistent with the older population, as those needing help with daily activities rose to 7.3% since 2011.
Volunteering is very common, with 37.7% of people helping out, far above the national figure. Unpaid care for others is also high, though the number of people caring for children is well below the national average.
The community has a strong First Nations presence, with a median age of 46 that is far older than the national figure of 24. Unemployment among First Nations people is much lower than in most similar areas.
Homes tend to be small, with only 2.0 people per home on average. This is partly because 39.2% of people live alone, which is far above the national figure.
Housing is overwhelmingly made up of separate houses, and 48.6% are owned outright, which is far above the national figure. Rents are also very low, with a typical weekly rent of $139.
The area is heavily reliant on cars, as there are no public transport stops or routes. However, 17.9% of the workforce works from home, which is well above the state average.
The community is relatively stable, with fewer people moving in the last five years compared to most of the country. There were no recent arrivals from overseas recorded in 2021.
Agriculture, forestry, and fishing are the primary industries, employing 23.2% of the workforce. The unemployment rate is 3.5%, which is a little below the national figure.
The area has a small number of businesses and a low score for access to money and resources. However, its score for education and job skills is higher than about 70% of similar areas.
The climate is warmer than the state average, with a typical maximum temperature of 17.9 degrees. Annual rainfall is a little below the Tasmanian average.
The area is car-dependent, as very few homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, health services, or schools. Most walkable amenities are parks.