Urban Centre · Area profile
Bicheno
3 km²
Far older than most of Australia, Bicheno is a retirement-leaning community where the typical resident is 53. The area is becoming increasingly diverse, with a recent surge in overseas arrivals and people speaking languages other than English. It is a place of modest incomes and small households, characterized by a high proportion of retirees who own their homes outright. These residents often contribute to the area through high rates of volunteering.
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The community is notably older than the national figure, with 28.1% of people aged 65 and over. This trend is mirrored by a small population of children, who make up just 10.7% of residents—a figure well below the Tasmanian average.
Bicheno has a high proportion of people born overseas at 19.8%, which is well above the state average. This has risen sharply since 2011, with Nepal and England being the most common birthplaces outside Australia.
Language diversity is growing quickly, with 10.4% of people using a language other than English at home. This is much higher than in most similar areas and represents a significant increase from 2011.
Over half of the population (51.3%) report having no religion, which is far above the national figure. This feeling has become much more common over the last decade, rising by 29 percentage points since 2011.
Residents are well-qualified, with 20.7% holding a bachelor degree or higher. This reflects a broader trend in the area where the proportion of people who completed Year 12 has risen by 27 percentage points since 2011.
Typical incomes are well below the national figure, with the usual household earning $1,057 a week. Only 7% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, which is far below the Australian average of 22.6%.
Long-term health conditions are more common here than in most areas, affecting 35% of residents. However, the rate of mental health conditions is 7.2%, which is well below the Tasmanian average.
Local residents are very active in their community, with 23.2% volunteering—a rate well above the national figure. There is also a higher-than-average number of former Defence Force members at 4.6%.
Homes here are small, with a typical size of 2.0 people, which is well below the national average. Nearly half of all households (48.9%) consist of couples without children.
Home ownership is very strong, with 49.6% of homes owned outright, far exceeding the national figure. Most people live in separate houses, though these homes tend to be smaller than usual, with only 64.6% having three or more bedrooms.
Most people rely on cars, though 13.6% walk to work. Very few homes are without a vehicle (2.9%), and the number of households with no car has fallen since 2011.
The population is quite mobile, with 42.5% moving in the last five years. This is driven partly by a high number of recent overseas arrivals, who make up 25.9% of the community.
Many residents are retired or work part-time, as full-time employment is far below the national average at 45.5%. A quarter of the workforce is employed in accommodation and food services.
Bicheno is somewhat walkable, with 89.1% of homes within a 15-minute walk of groceries. Access to health services is also excellent, far exceeding the state average.