Council (LGA) · Area profile
Waratah-Wynyard
3,536 km²
Spanning over 3,500 square kilometres of the Tasmanian coast, Waratah-Wynyard is an older community with a notable First Nations presence. The population has grown slightly to 14,300 people, but the area remains distinct for its high proportion of seniors and a workforce with lower typical incomes than the national figure. It is a place where detached housing is the norm and many residents live without a mortgage, reflecting a stable but ageing rural character.
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The community is noticeably older than most areas, with a typical resident aged 48 and a quarter of the population aged 65 or over. This senior presence is balanced by a strong First Nations community, which makes up 8.8% of the population—well above the state and national figures.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up just 9.9% of the population, which is far below the national average. English and Australian are the most common ancestries, each accounting for about 45%.
English is the dominant language, with 92% of people using it only. This is reflected in the very low 2.3% of people who use another language at home, a figure far below the national average.
A majority of residents (51.8%) report having no religion, which is among the highest rates for similar areas. This figure has risen significantly by 22 points since 2011.
Education levels are lower than the state and national figures, with only 32.9% of people completing Year 12. While the number of adults with a bachelor degree or higher has risen to 12.7%, it remains far below the national average.
Typical weekly household income is $1,138, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. Only 10% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, though this has risen since 2011.
Health challenges are common here, with 36.6% of people living with a long-term condition and 8.5% needing help with daily activities. These figures are among the highest for similar areas.
Unpaid work is common, with 25.9% of people doing 15 or more hours of housework weekly, which is well above the national figure. There is also a higher than usual number of people who served in the Defence Force.
There are 1,263 First Nations people in the area. While their unemployment rate of 9.2% is lower than the national figure, Year 12 completion is well below the national average at 28.8%.
Living alone is more common here than in most areas, with 31.3% of people in one-person homes. One-parent families make up 15.9% of households, slightly above the national figure.
Detached houses are the standard, making up 92.4% of all homes. Ownership is high, with 41.7% of homes owned outright—far above the national figure of 31%.
Cars are essential, as 70.8% of people drive to work and only 0.7% use public transport. Working from home is rare at 7.2%, which is far below the national average.
The population is relatively stable, with only 5.6% of residents arriving recently from overseas. This is far below the state and national figures.
Fewer people are working or looking for work here compared to most areas, at 52%. Health care, social assistance, and retail are the most common industries for those employed.
The area ranks low for overall advantage, scoring 2 out of 10 compared to all areas. This is consistent with lower typical incomes and fewer high-level job skills.
The region is very wet, with average annual rainfall of 2,017mm, which is far above the Tasmanian average. Temperatures remain cool, with a typical minimum of 7.1 degrees.
The area is only somewhat walkable, with a score of 4.1. Many residents live far from services, as only 36.6% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of a school.