Robe
A 59.7% vacancy rate alongside a 96% detached-house stock makes Robe statistically unusual among SA coastal towns. With a population of 1,252 spread across 140 square kilometres and a median age of 54, this is one of the oldest demographics in the state, running 14 years above the national figure. Population has grown 27.5% over the decade and the SA2 area is forecast to pass 6,400 residents by 2031, driven mainly by internal migration averaging 74 arrivals per year. Weekly rents at $250 are below most regional SA benchmarks, while household income sits at the 27.5th percentile nationally, pointing to a modest-income, owner-occupier community rather than a high-earning one.
Population
1,252
Median Age
54.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,244/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
75
No median house price series is available for Robe, but the housing profile gives useful context. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,232 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 22.9%, below the 30% stress threshold, so buyers who can secure a home here carry a manageable debt load relative to local incomes. Separate houses account for 96% of dwellings, far above the national average, meaning detached-home buyers face almost no apartment competition. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 50.4%, with four-plus-bedroom homes making up 38.8%, a higher proportion than most suburban markets. Outright owners represent 49.7% of households compared to 27.7% on a mortgage, signalling an established, low-debt ownership base rather than a rapidly turning market.
For Buyers
No median house price series is available for Robe, but the housing profile gives useful context. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,232 and the mortgage-to-income ratio is 22.9%, below the 30% stress threshold, so buyers who can secure a home here carry a manageable debt load relative to local incomes. Separate houses account for 96% of dwellings, far above the national average, meaning detached-home buyers face almost no apartment competition. Three-bedroom homes are the most common at 50.4%, with four-plus-bedroom homes making up 38.8%, a higher proportion than most suburban markets. Outright owners represent 49.7% of households compared to 27.7% on a mortgage, signalling an established, low-debt ownership base rather than a rapidly turning market.
For Investors
The 59.7% vacancy rate is the most significant number for investors and it demands explanation: Robe is a tourism town where a large portion of dwellings are holiday-let or seasonally occupied rather than permanently tenanted. Weekly rent of $250 for long-term tenancies is modest. Development activity stands at 65 applications in the past 12 months, a high number for a town of 1,252 residents, indicating active construction demand. Internal migration is the primary population driver at a net 74 arrivals per year, which steadily expands the tenant pool. Rent growth reached 38.9% over the measured period, a strong nominal gain compared to income growth of 13.8%, compressing affordability ratios. The investment case depends on tourism yield upside more than long-term rental fundamentals.
Development Activity
Total DAs
584
Last 12 Months
75
YoY ChangeiYear-over-year change in DA lodgements
+19.0%
Avg DA CostiAverage estimated cost per DA in the past year
N/A
Monthly DA Lodgements
DA Categories
Schools in Robe iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Robe Primary School
R-6 · 97 students
Demographics
At a median age of 54, Robe's population is 14 years older than the national median, placing it firmly in the top tier of aging communities nationally. The senior share rose 6.5 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 3.4 points, continuing a consistent aging trajectory. Overseas-born residents make up 10.5% of the population, which is 11.1 points below the national average, reflecting the town's Anglo-leaning heritage: English (583), Scottish (186), Irish (116) and German (106) ancestries dominate. University qualifications at 20.8% are 9.3 points below the national figure, consistent with a blue-collar and trades-oriented workforce. Average household size is 2.1, slightly below the national average, with 48.6% of families being couples without children, a pattern typical of post-child-rearing coastal communities.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
96.0%
Houses
2.7%
Townhouse
0.8%
Apartment
Tenure
Robe's housing market is defined by owner-occupiers and detached homes. Outright owners hold 49.7% of dwellings, nearly double the 27.7% carrying a mortgage, a structure more typical of mature regional communities than growth suburbs. Renters account for 22.6%, low by national standards. Separate houses make up 96% of the stock, with semi-detached at 2.7% and apartments at only 0.8%, leaving buyers with virtually one product type. Three-bedroom homes lead at 50.4%, followed by four-plus-bedroom at 38.8%. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.9% and rent-to-income ratio of 20.1% both sit below stress thresholds, indicating housing costs are proportionate to local incomes. No price series data is available to establish a median or trend, which limits direct comparison to state benchmarks.
Mortgage / mo
$1,232
Rent / wk
$250
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$740
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
59.7%
Unoccupied
785
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
20.1%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
22.9%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
48.6%
Couples, no children
889
Total families
Economy & Employment
Construction leads employment at 17.6% of workers, followed by Hospitality at 15.5%, Retail at 10.3%, Agriculture at 8.7% and Healthcare at 7.6%. This profile reflects a tourism-and-trades economy more than a professional one, consistent with Managers (136 workers) and Labourers (73) being the two largest occupation groups. The unemployment rate is low at 2.3%, well below the national average, though the participation rate of 48.9% is also low, because 421 residents are outside the labour force entirely, a direct consequence of the older age structure. Household income sits at the 27.5th percentile nationally, below average, yet the IRSD and IER scores land at decile 5, mid-range nationally, because low debt and high outright ownership moderate the disadvantage signal. Full-time employment accounts for 56.2% of employed workers.
Unemployment
0.9%
Labour Force
2,039
Unemployed
18
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
56.2%
Part-time
41.5%
Participation
48.9%
Employed
520
Occupations
Top Industries
University
20.8%
Postgraduate
3.4%
Born Overseas
10.5%
Dwellings
528
Transport to Work
Car dependence is high, with 86.8% of residents driving to work, typical for a coastal town without public transport infrastructure; no public transport usage data is recorded. Walking and cycling account for 8.2% of commutes, above average for regional towns, because the compact town centre makes active travel practical. Crime totals 21 reported incidents at a rate of 16.8 per 1,000 residents, a low absolute number though the rate comparison requires caution given the small permanent population base. The IRSAD decile of 4 places Robe slightly below the national midpoint on the combined advantage-disadvantage scale, while the IEO decile of 3 reflects the below-national education and professional occupation profile. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary in this dataset, so families rely on facilities in neighbouring towns. Volunteering at 37.5% is well above national norms, consistent with a settled, older community with strong civic participation.
Drive
86.8%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
8.2%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+1.81%/yr
(+105 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation grew 27.5% over the decade, strong by regional SA standards, and the SA2 area reached approximately 5,786 residents in 2025. The medium forecast projects continued expansion to 6,431 by 2031, an annual increase of roughly 105 persons or 1.81%. Internal migration drives nearly all of this, with net 74 arrivals per year compared to 18 from overseas, suggesting the appeal is lifestyle relocation rather than international settlement. The gentrification stage is scored as early signs, with signals including 31% population growth since 2011 and accelerating construction activity. Rent growth of 38.9% over the period significantly outpaced real income growth of 13.8%, compressing affordability even as nominal affordability ratios remained stable at around 39% across the decade.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Internal Migration
Net Overseas / yr
+18
Net Internal / yr
+74
Gentrification Signal
Early signs
Population +31% since 2011, Net internal migration +74/yr, Accelerating: 4% → 26%
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
21
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
16.8
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Robe compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Robe a good suburb to live in?
Robe suits retirees and lifestyle-seekers more than young families or professionals. At median age 54, the community is 14 years older than the national figure, with 49.7% of households owning their home outright and a low crime rate of 16.8 incidents per 1,000 residents. The trade-off is limited services, below-average household incomes at the 27.5th percentile nationally, and a car-dependent layout.
What is the median house price in Robe?
No median house price series is available for Robe in this dataset. Monthly mortgage repayments average $1,232, giving a mortgage-to-income ratio of 22.9%, which sits below the 30% stress threshold. Weekly rent for long-term tenancies averages $250, though many properties are used as holiday accommodation.
What schools are in Robe?
No schools are recorded within the Robe suburb boundary in this dataset. Families typically rely on schools in neighbouring towns. The local university qualification rate of 20.8% is 9.3 points below the national average, reflecting the town's trade and hospitality employment base rather than a highly credentialled workforce.
Is Robe safe?
Robe recorded 21 total crime incidents, giving a rate of 16.8 per 1,000 residents, a low absolute number for a town of 1,252 people. The IRSD decile of 5 places it at the national midpoint for relative disadvantage, and only 3.8% of residents (46 people) require daily assistance, both consistent with a stable, low-stress community.
Is Robe good for property investment?
The 59.7% vacancy rate reflects Robe's holiday-town character, where many homes sit empty between tourist seasons rather than being permanently tenanted at $250 per week. Rent growth reached 38.9% over the period, well above income growth of 13.8%. With 65 development applications in 12 months and net internal migration of 74 per year, demand exists, but returns depend heavily on tourism yield rather than standard rental fundamentals.
How is Robe's population changing?
Population grew 27.5% over the decade and sits at approximately 1,252 permanent residents, with the broader SA2 area at 5,786 in 2025. The medium forecast projects growth to 6,431 by 2031 at 1.81% annually. Internal migration is the primary driver at a net 74 arrivals per year, with 18 from overseas. The community is aging, with the senior share rising 6.5 points over the decade.
How much development is happening in Robe?
65 development applications were lodged in the past 12 months, a high rate for a town of 1,252 permanent residents. Recent applications include detached dwellings and outbuildings, consistent with steady residential expansion. This activity supports the gentrification score of 35 and the early-signs stage, alongside population growth of 31% since 2011.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
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