Statistical Area 2 (SA2) · Area profile
Smithton
91 km²
Set across 91 square kilometres in the Circular Head region, Smithton is a rural hub with a population of 3,934. It is a community where 20.7% of residents identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander, a figure far above the national average. The town has a noticeably older feel than the rest of Australia, with a high number of seniors and a strong presence of detached houses. It is a place of modest incomes and lower educational attainment, yet it maintains a high rate of local volunteering.
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The typical resident is 42, and seniors make up 22.6% of the population, which is well above the national figure. This older profile is paired with a significant First Nations community, which rose to 20.7% by 2021.
Most residents were born in Australia, and only 9.3% were born overseas, which is far below the national average. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the primary language for 87.3% of the community. Only 4.6% of people use another language at home, a figure well below the national average.
Religious views are shifting, as the number of people with no religion rose 19 points since 2011 to reach 42.7%. Christianity remains the most common affiliation at 43.6%.
Educational qualifications are among the lowest for similar areas, with only 9.1% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Year 12 completion is also far below the national figure at 27.0%.
Incomes are much lower than most areas, with a typical household earning $1,189 a week. Only 8.4% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is far below the national average.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 31.6% of people living with a long-term health condition. Around 6.5% of residents need help with daily activities.
Volunteering is a strong feature of the town, with 19.2% of people pitching in, which is well above the national average. However, the proportion of people caring for children unpaid has fallen since 2011.
The town has a large First Nations population of 816 people. While unemployment for this group is lower than the national figure at 7.3%, Year 12 completion is far below at 24.7%.
Homes tend to be smaller, with 2.3 people per household. A high 30.8% of residents live alone, which is well above the national average.
Detached houses are very common, making up 92.2% of all homes. Rent is much lower than the national figure, with a typical weekly rent of $222.
The town is heavily reliant on cars, as only 0.2% of people use public transport to get to work. Public transport access is very limited, with only one route and one stop serving the area.
Movement into the area is notable, as 24.3% of recent arrivals came from overseas, a figure well above the national average.
The local economy is driven by manufacturing (20.2%) and agriculture, forestry and fishing (14.2%). About 55.8% of adults are working or looking for work, which is well below the national figure.
Overall advantage is among the lowest for similar areas, and the population has shrunk by 3.8% since 2021, falling well below the state growth rate.
The area is wetter than most of Tasmania, with an average annual rainfall of 1,006mm. Temperatures are generally mild, though minimums are much lower than in many other areas.
The town centre is quite accessible, with 68.5% of homes within a 15-minute walk of health services. However, very few people live within a short walk of public transport.