Shearwater
At 58, Shearwater's median age sits 18.0 years above the national marker, making age structure its defining feature more than coastal density or size. The suburb holds 2,051 residents across 3.43 sq km, with 91.4% separate houses and 53.1% owned outright. Compared with nearby Port Sorell and Hawley Beach, it reads as a small, settled residential pocket because 76.7% of residents stayed put and household size is only 2.1 people, 0.4 below national.
Local council: Latrobe (Tas.)
Population
2,051
Median Age
58.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$1,104/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Homebuyers are buying into a detached-house market rather than a unit market: 91.4% of dwellings are separate houses and 59.3% have 3 bedrooms, with another 19.9% at 4 bedrooms or more. Holding costs look mixed: the typical mortgage is $1,500 a month and mortgage payments absorb 31.4% of household income, above the usual stress line, while outright ownership of 53.1% lowers turnover and supports a quieter buyer pool.
For Buyers
Homebuyers are buying into a detached-house market rather than a unit market: 91.4% of dwellings are separate houses and 59.3% have 3 bedrooms, with another 19.9% at 4 bedrooms or more. Holding costs look mixed: the typical mortgage is $1,500 a month and mortgage payments absorb 31.4% of household income, above the usual stress line, while outright ownership of 53.1% lowers turnover and supports a quieter buyer pool.
For Investors
Investors face a thin but unusual rental setting. Renters make up 21.8% of households, lower than ownership, yet the vacancy rate is 14.5%, so leasing risk is higher than in tighter metropolitan markets. Median rent is $295 a week and rent absorbs 26.7% of household income, below the stress flag, which may help tenant affordability. With 0 recorded developments in 12 months, near-term new supply pressure looks limited.
Demographics
Shearwater is markedly older and less internationally mixed than the national average. Median age is 58, which is 18.0 years above national, while 14.4% were born overseas, 7.2 percentage points below national. University attainment is 21.6%, 8.5 points lower, and households average 2.1 people. English ancestry leads with 993 people, followed by Scottish 215 and Irish 193, reinforcing a locally settled profile.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
91.4%
Houses
8.2%
Townhouse
0.0%
Apartment
Tenure
Shearwater's housing stock is weighted to ownership and larger low-rise homes. Outright owners account for 53.1%, mortgage holders 24.4% and renters 21.8%, so ownership sits above the renter share and points to limited rental churn. Three-bedroom homes dominate at 59.3%, with 20.5% at 2 bedrooms. The $1,500 monthly mortgage and 31.4% mortgage-to-income ratio matter because local household income is in the 17.7th percentile nationally.
Mortgage / mo
$1,500
Rent / wkiABS Census 2021 median across all dwelling types. Current market rents are typically higher.
$295
Census 2021
HH Size
2.1
Personal Income / wk
$581
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
14.5%
Unoccupied
145
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
26.7%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
31.4% stressed
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
25.2%
Couples with children
61.0%
Couples, no children
12.3%
Single parent
579
Total families
Economy & Employment
Shearwater's economy leans toward services needed by an older local population. Healthcare is the largest industry at 21.4% or 103 workers, above education at 14.5% and construction at 10.8%. Professionals lead occupations with 131 people, followed by community and personal service workers at 117 and trades at 109. Participation is 44.5% and unemployment is 3.3%, so low joblessness sits beside a large non-working cohort of 908 people because the median age is 58.
Unemployment
3.3%
Labour Force
792
Unemployed
26
Source: ABS Census 2021
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
54.4%
Part-time
36.7%
Participation
44.5%
Employed
766
Full-time and part-time are shares of the employed. Source: ABS Census 2021
Occupations
Top Industries
University
21.6%
Postgraduate
4.5%
Born Overseas
14.4%
Dwellings
858
Transport to Work
Daily life in Shearwater is car-led. Driving accounts for 85.8% of commuting, far higher than walking or cycling at 1.8%, while working from home is 8.4%. That matters because there are 0 schools within the suburb boundary, so school access generally depends on nearby towns rather than a walkable local campus. The compact 3.43 sq km footprint keeps local trips short, but public transport is not a defining mode compared with private car use.
Drive
85.8%
Public Transport
N/A
Walk / Cycle
1.8%
Work from Home
8.4%
Growth Outlook
Population growth should be read through stability rather than a construction cycle. Shearwater has 2,051 residents at 598.6 people per sq km, while 76.7% of residents stayed at the same address and turnover was 23.3%. That mobility pattern is lower than a high-churn rental suburb and fits the 53.1% outright ownership base. With 0 developments recorded over 12 months, growth pressure is more likely to come through gradual household turnover than new supply.
Population trend: Latrobe (Tas.) council area
Shearwater sits in the Latrobe (Tas.) council area. These are the council area's residents, not Shearwater's.
Residents 2025
13,264
Growth, 5 yr average
+1.5%/yr
2020 to 2025
Growth, last year
+0.9%
2024 to 2025
ABS Estimated Resident Population by LGA, 30 June each year; council area, not this suburb
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Shearwater compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Shearwater a good suburb to live in?
Shearwater suits buyers who want a quiet coastal-scale suburb with older households. Median age is 58, 53.1% of homes are owned outright and 91.4% are separate houses, so it will appeal more to low-density, car-based living than high-activity urban convenience.
What is the median house price in Shearwater?
A current median house price is not available for Shearwater. Useful affordability signals are the $1,500 monthly mortgage, $295 weekly rent and 31.4% mortgage-to-income ratio. Compare recent sales with Port Sorell and Hawley Beach before setting a budget.
What schools are in Shearwater?
Shearwater has 0 schools within the suburb boundary. Families generally need to look to nearby Port Sorell, Latrobe or Devonport options, and transport planning matters because 85.8% of commuters drive compared with 1.8% who walk or cycle.
Is Shearwater safe?
Suburb-level crime figures are not available for Shearwater, so check current Tasmania Police and council updates. The local stability signals are stronger than a high-churn rental area: 76.7% of residents stayed at the same address and only 21.8% rent.
Is Shearwater good for property investment?
Shearwater can suit investors comfortable with a smaller rental market. Renters are 21.8% of households, rent is $295 a week and vacancy is high at 14.5%, so cash-flow resilience matters more than assuming quick leasing.
How is Shearwater's population changing?
Shearwater looks stable rather than fast-changing. The suburb has 2,051 residents, 76.7% stayed at the same address and 23.3% moved over the mobility period. With 0 recent developments, change is more likely through resale and household turnover.
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 education open registers (school locations), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications).
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