TAS · Brighton Council

Old Beach, 7017

Est. population · Jun 2025

4,630

Growth (1 yr)

+1.2%

Growth (5 yr)

+7.4%

Median age

40

Median income

$1,865/wk

Employment rate

66%

Languages at home

5.4%non-English

Most common: Greek, Polish, Mandarin

2021 Census · usual residence

Desirability score

47.8/100
Average

Top 25% of Tasmania's suburbs

Verified 65% confidence

How this score is calculated
  • National parks
  • High desirability
  • Excellent transport
  • Heritage area
What Old Beach is known for: National parks, High desirability, Excellent transport, Heritage area

Suburb profile

Old Beach sits up in the Brighton Council hills, a mid-sized suburb where elevation and tree cover define the mood. Families and commuters make up much of the community, with family life visible on every street. Everyday cafés are limited locally, with the wider metro area covering the bigger food and entertainment trips.

Local shops and amenities are limited, so everyday shopping usually means a short trip to a neighbouring suburb. There is enough green space nearby for walks, picnics and after-school play. Getting around is straightforward, with buses tying neighbouring communities together.

Homes cost more here than in most comparable suburbs. An emerging neighbourhood feel is building here, with new households gradually reshaping local life.

The overall desirability read is around average, pulled by softer safety compared with similar metro suburbs, though community and employment remain brighter spots. Limited access to some essential local services also trimmed the result.

At a glance

Old Beach snapshot

A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk

Median house price

No data available

Median rent

$595/wk

Population (ERP)

4,630

+1.2% annual growth

Dwelling vacancy

3.8%

Census unoccupied dwellings

Livability profile

Desirability pillars vs the peer median (50th percentile)

How it compares

Relative standing using percentiles, ranks, and national deciles

Desirability

#9

among Metro Hobart · Emerging

Safety

7th

percentile in state (higher = safer)

Pop. growth

86th

percentile in TAS

Advantage (IRSAD)

6/10

national SEIFA decile

Population growth

Recent ERP change over 1 and 5 years

Housing mix

Dwelling types from the 2021 Census

Risks & flags

Quick scan — open a section below for full context

Living here

Desirability

Ranks & confidence
Desirability score
47.8/100 — Average
State standing
Top 25% of Tasmania's suburbs
National rank
2467th in Australia
State rank
82nd in TAS
Peer rank
#9 among Metro Hobart · Emerging suburbs
Cohort rank
#41 among Metro Hobart suburbs
Data confidence
65%

Data sources & freshness

  • Suburb Guide desirability indexSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated

Housing

All types (latest monthly release)
$595
Rental bonds lodged (latest monthly release)
8

Median weekly rent from Tasmanian rental data where available.

Contributes to desirability score · Housing (15%) · Future Growth (7%)

Median price, rental yield and vacancy Recent price momentum

Data sources & freshness

Population

Estimated resident population

4,630(June 2025)

+1.2% annual · +7.4% over 5 years · 86th percentile in TAS

Growth figures & methodology
Annual growth
+1.2%
5-year growth
+7.4%
Change in 1 year
+56
Change in 5 years
+318
Growth rank in TAS
86th percentile

ABS Estimated Resident Population allocated to this suburb from SA2-level data. Not an official ABS suburb count.

Methodology

Figures are allocated from ABS Estimated Resident Population at Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2), using 2021 Census share within overlapping SA2 regions. Where Census data is unavailable, area overlap is used instead.

The dashed chart line is a simple growth-trend estimate to June 2030 (~5,200), extrapolated at +2.4% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.

2021 Census figures

2021 Census

Population
4,394
Median age
40
Median household income / week
$1,865
Dwelling vacancy
3.8%
Unoccupied private dwellings
64 of 1,689
Median monthly mortgage
$1,517
Employment rate
66%
Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
1,465 / 19 / 135

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

  • Estimated Resident PopulationAustralian Bureau of Statistics · 2025 · Updated · SA2 ERP allocated to suburb boundaries

Community & culture

No 2021 Census cultural diversity data for this suburb yet.

Data sources & freshness

  • 2021 Census — General Community ProfileAustralian Bureau of Statistics · Updated

    The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.

Crime & safety

Reported offences decreased compared with the previous period.

Offence counts & rates
Total offences (2024–25)
3,231
Against the person
598
Against property
2,498
Rate per 1,000 residents
697.8
Person-crime prevalence
About 1 in 7 residents
State safety percentile
6.6th (lower crime is better)
Decrease (daily rate)
-2.5%

Most common offence types

  • Offences Against Property2498
  • Offences Against The Person598
  • Total Offences3231

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Crime rate and year-on-year trend

Data sources & freshness

Family & Lifestyle

Public transport

23 public transport stops in this suburb

  • Fouche Ave cnr Jetty Rd
  • No.28 Jetty Rd
  • No.71 Jetty Rd
  • Opp.No.1356 East Derwent Hwy
  • Opposite No.99 Jetty Rd

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Public transport stop coverage

Data sources & freshness

Amenities

4 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km

3 swimming pools

Local character & venue list

Local character

  • A car helps for daily errands
  • Decent local green space4 parks in suburb
  • Well connected by public transport23 public transport stops
Walkability proxy
30/100
Cafés per 1,000 residents
0
Food & drink per 1,000 residents
0
Parks per 1,000 residents
0.91
Sport & outdoors(3)
  • Swimming pool (3)
Other(1)
  • Public toilets

Names and addresses from OpenStreetMap. Unnamed venues show as their type (e.g. Cafe). Transport stops are summarised by type rather than listed individually.

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Food, shopping, recreation and sport (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

  • Local amenity insightsSuburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
  • OpenStreetMap amenitiesOpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated

Parks & reserves

4 parks and public open space in this suburb

  • Childs Drive ParkPark
  • Lennox ParkPark
  • Park or reserveNature reserve

Data sources & freshness

Green cover

Parks & woodland (OSM)
11
Parks (OSM)
4

OpenStreetMap parks and natural woodland features mapped within the suburb boundary.

Contributes to desirability score · Environment (10%)

Parks and green cover (OpenStreetMap)

Data sources & freshness

Health access

Nearest hospital
Alcohol and Drug Services (10.7 km)
Nearest hospital type
Hospital
Nearest hospital emergency
Emergency department

Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)

Hospitals and GP clinics

Data sources & freshness

NDIS participation

NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
148
Participants per 1,000 residents
32.0

Active NDIS participants allocated from NDIA Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2, ASGS 2016) counts to this suburb boundary. Not an official suburb-level NDIS figure · as at 31 March 2026.

For NDIS spend and service-demand exploration by SA2 or postcode, see the Care Sector Demand Map.

Data sources & freshness

Weather

Typical conditions by season for suburbs in the same ~44 km climate area. Rainfall totals are summed from monthly WorldClim layers; rainy-day counts are approximate.

Summer (Dec–Feb)

Usual max / min
19° / 9°
Rainfall
221 mm · ~28 rainy days

Autumn (Mar–May)

Usual max / min
16° / 7°
Rainfall
221 mm · ~28 rainy days

Winter (Jun–Aug)

Usual max / min
10° / 3°
Rainfall
289 mm · ~36 rainy days

Spring (Sep–Nov)

Usual max / min
15° / 6°
Rainfall
285 mm · ~36 rainy days

Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)

Temperature and humidity comfort

Data sources & freshness

  • Seasonal climate normalsWorldClim 2.1 · Updated

Future & Planning

Heritage

4 heritage places

  • Gagebrook (now called Gage House)239 OLD BEACH RD, OLD BEACH, 7017Permanently Registered
  • House359 BASKERVILLE RD, OLD BEACH, 7017Permanently Registered
  • The Pig and Whistle50 Briggs RD, GAGEBROOK, 7030Permanently Registered
  • Uniting Church and Cemetery (formerly)37 BRIGGS RD, OLD BEACH, 7017Permanently Registered

Data sources & freshness

  • State heritage registerState heritage authority · current · Updated

Hazards

Bushfire planning zone
Overlay applies

Bushfire overlay checked at suburb centroid via state planning hazard mapping.

Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)

Bushfire hazard overlays

Data sources & freshness

  • Hazard planning overlaysState government hazard layers · current · Updated

Politics & representation

Federal electorate
Lyons
Member of Parliament
Rebecca WHITE (Australian Labor Party)
Results from
2025 federal election
Electorate enrolment (2025)
88,977
Turnout (2025)
92.8%
Swing since 2022 (2025)
+10.7 pp toward Labor

Two-party preferred (2025)

Coalition 38.4%Labor 61.6%

Estimated suburb voting profile

Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 8.6 km away).

Coalition 29.5%Labor 70.5%

8.9 percentage points more Labor-leaning than the electorate

Estimated swing since 2022: +9.4 pp toward Labor

Nearest polling places

  • GagebrookLabor 72.9% · Coalition 27.1% TPP (2025)1.7 km away
  • Old BeachLabor 68.1% · Coalition 31.9% TPP (2025)2.8 km away
  • BridgewaterLabor 72.9% · Coalition 27.1% TPP (2025)4.5 km away
  • GrantonLabor 61.1% · Coalition 38.9% TPP (2025)5.6 km away
  • Bridgewater NorthLabor 66.9% · Coalition 33.1% TPP (2025)5.8 km away

Federal electorate from AEC federal division boundaries (2025 redistribution). Division-level results are official AEC figures from the latest general election, with by-election updates where applicable. The estimated suburb profile blends up to eight nearest ordinary polling booths in the same electorate using inverse-distance weighting from the suburb centroid — an approximation, not official AEC data. Nearest polling places are shown for reference.

Data sources & freshness

Socio-economic

IRSAD decile (2021)
6/10
IRSD decile (2021)
7/10

ABS Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA), 2021 release — the latest available, derived from the 2021 Census. Deciles rank suburbs nationally from 1 (lowest) to 10 (highest).

What do IRSAD and IRSD measure?

IRSAD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage. Combines indicators of advantage (e.g. high income, skilled occupations) and disadvantage. Higher decile = more advantaged relative to other Australian areas.

IRSD — Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage. Focuses on disadvantage only (e.g. low income, unemployment, limited education). Higher decile = less disadvantage nationally.

A new SEIFA edition typically follows each census; the ABS has not announced a release date beyond 2021.

Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)

Socio-economic advantage (IRSAD decile)

Data sources & freshness

This suburb ranks highly for

Compare with

Similar suburbs to weigh up side by side — scores, safety, schools, and lifestyle.

More in Brighton Council

Other suburbs in the same local government area.

Comparable suburbs

Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Tasmania.