Median house price
—
No data available
TAS · Latrobe Council
Shearwater, 7307
Est. population · Jun 2025
2,133
Growth (1 yr)
+1.0%
Growth (5 yr)
+7.0%
Median age
58
Median income
$1,104/wk
Employment rate
43.1%
Languages at home
2.7%non-English
Most common: German, Afrikaans, Russian
2021 Census · usual residence
Desirability score
- Green suburb
- Excellent transport
- Education hub
- Café precinct
- High desirability
Suburb profile
Away from the major hubs, Shearwater is a smaller community in Latrobe Council with its own quieter rhythm. Retirees and empty-nesters are well represented here. Local shops, markets and community spots keep everyday life grounded in the town itself.
Local parks and tree cover add a welcome outdoor dimension to suburban life. Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus, with buses linking the suburb to surrounding areas. Homes are relatively cheap compared with the wider market, which keeps entry costs lower.
Crime trends have improved of late compared with the previous period. This is a mature, settled pocket where the existing streetscape still defines the local character.
Versus similar regional towns, the suburb reads around average on desirability, chiefly because community and employment trail behind.
At a glance
Shearwater snapshot
A quick read of housing, growth, livability, and risk
Median rent
$435/wk
Population (ERP)
2,133
+1.0% annual growth
Dwelling vacancy
14.5%
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
#15
among Country & regional · Mature
Safety
11th
percentile in state (higher = safer)
Pop. growth
82nd
percentile in TAS
Advantage (IRSAD)
3/10
national SEIFA decile
School ICSEA
44th
percentile among schools with ICSEA
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
- 43.5/100 — Average
- State standing
- Top 36% of Tasmania's suburbs
- National rank
- 3179th in Australia
- State rank
- 116th in TAS
- Peer rank
- #15 among Country & regional · Mature suburbs
- Cohort rank
- #62 among Country & regional suburbs
- Data confidence
- 85%
Data sources & freshness
- Suburb Guide desirability index — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
Housing
- All types (latest monthly release)
- $435
- Rental bonds lodged (latest monthly release)
- 12
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
- Tasmanian rental bond lodgements — Department of Justice (Tasmania) · latest monthly release · Updated · Monthly XLSX release
Population
Estimated resident population
2,133(June 2025)
+1.0% annual · +7.0% over 5 years · 82th percentile in TAS
Growth figures & methodology
- Annual growth
- +1.0%
- 5-year growth
- +7.0%
- Change in 1 year
- +22
- Change in 5 years
- +139
- Growth rank in TAS
- 82th 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 (~2,350), extrapolated at +2.0% average annual growth since 2011. It is illustrative only — not an official ABS forecast.
2021 Census figures
2021 Census
- Population
- 2,051
- Median age
- 58
- Median household income / week
- $1,104
- Dwelling vacancy
- 14.5%
- Unoccupied private dwellings
- 145 of 1,000
- Median monthly mortgage
- $1,500
- Employment rate
- 43.1%
- Dwelling mix (houses / semi / flats)
- 784 / 70 / 0 (+ 4 other)
Contributes to desirability score · Community (5%)
Employment, household income and age diversity (2021 Census)
Data sources & freshness
- 2021 Census — General Community Profile — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
The 2026 Census runs in August 2026; suburb-level updates are expected from mid-2027.
- Estimated Resident Population — Australian 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 Profile — Australian 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)
- 2,452
- Against the person
- 670
- Against property
- 1,673
- Rate per 1,000 residents
- 1,149.6
- Person-crime prevalence
- About 1 in 3 residents
- State safety percentile
- 11.2th (lower crime is better)
- Decrease (daily rate)
- -13.6%
Most common offence types
- Offences Against Property1673
- Offences Against The Person670
- Total Offences2452
Contributes to desirability score · Safety (18%)
Crime rate and year-on-year trend
Data sources & freshness
- Tasmania Police division crime statistics — Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management · 2023-24 → 2024-25; 2024-25 · Updated · Annual June Corporate Performance Reports; division-level totals
Family & Lifestyle
Schools & preschools
- Schools within 2 km
- 1
- Median school ICSEA
- 994
- Median ICSEA percentile
- 44th
School list
- Port Sorell Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · ICSEA 994 · 44th percentile · LBOTE 1% · 279 students · Top SEA quarter 15% · 1.7 km awayView on My School →
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
School and preschool counts, median school ICSEA
Data sources & freshness
- ACARA school locations — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
- School ICSEA scores — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority · 2025 · Updated · Annual release
Childcare
1 childcare service from OpenStreetMap
- Shearwater Children's CentreClub Drivechildcare
Contributes to desirability score · Education (15%)
Childcare centre count
Data sources & freshness
- Childcare services — OpenStreetMap · current · Updated
Public transport
5 public transport stops in this suburb
- No.23 Shearwater Boulevard (Outside Country Club)
- No.75 Shearwater Boulevard
- Opp. No.99 Alexander St
- Port Sorell, Alexander St before Arthur St
- Poyston Dr Outside Woolworths
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Public transport stop coverage
Data sources & freshness
- GTFS public transport stops — State transport authority open-data feeds · current · Updated
Amenities
55 nearby amenities within ~1.5 km
1 cafes · 1 pubs · 1 bars · 2 supermarkets · 1 pharmacies · 1 bakeries · 1 petrol stations · 1 post offices
Local character & venue list
Local character
- Reasonably walkable — many errands reachable on foot or by bus
- Walkability proxy
- 56/100
- Cafés per 1,000 residents
- 0.49
- Food & drink per 1,000 residents
- 1.95
- Parks per 1,000 residents
- 0.49
Food & drink(4)
- Hennessy's cafe bakeryBakery
- Shearwater Country ClubBar
Club Drive, Shearwater
- Muse ShearwaterCafe
7 Club Drive, Shearwater
- Shearwater Country ClubPub
Shopping(3)
- IGASupermarket
30 Shearwater Boulevard
- WoolworthsSupermarket
11 Poyston Drive, Shearwater
Community(1)
- Shearwater Children's CentreChildcare
89 Club Drive, Shearwater
Health & services(2)
- Port Sorell Medical CentreMedical clinic
81 Club Drive, Shearwater
- AmcalPharmacy
11 Poyston Drive, Shearwater
Sport & outdoors(5)
- Shearwater Country ClubGolf course
- Gym
32a Shearwater Boulevard
- Local Government CouncilPark
- Country Club Tennis CourtSports field
- Port Sorell Skate ParkSports field
Other(25)
- Big Bargain Bottle ShopAlcohol
Club Drive, Shearwater
- BWSAlcohol
Alexander St & Poyston Drive, Shearwater
- Port Sorell District Community Bank® BranchBank
Unit 3 2-4 Club Drive, Shearwater
- The Salvos StoreCharity
11 Port Sorell Medical Centre, Shearwater
- Mitre 10Doityourself
- Fitness Station
- Shearwater Hair StudioHairdresser
38 Shearwater Boulevard
- Laundry
- Mall
11 Poyston Drive, Shearwater
- Shearwater CottagesMotel
7-9 Shearwater Boulevard
- Rubicon GroveNursing Home
89 Club Drive, Shearwater
- Davis Eye CareOptician
- Becks HardwareParking
- Parking (16)
- Port Sorell Medical CentreParking
- UnitedPetrol station
100 Alexander Street, Shearwater
- Picnic Table (2)
- Tasmania PolicePolice
- Port Sorell LPOPost office
Unit 6 11 Poyston Drive, Shearwater
- Public toilets
- Port Sorell Transfer and Recycle CentreRecycling
Hawk Hill Road, Shearwater
- Shower
- Smoking Area
- Port Sorell Transfer & Recycle CentreWaste Transfer Station
- Yes
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 insights — Suburb Guide (derived) · current · Updated
- OpenStreetMap amenities — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Green cover
- Parks & woodland (OSM)
- 10
- Parks (OSM)
- 1
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
- OpenStreetMap green cover — OpenStreetMap contributors · current · Updated
Health access
- Hospitals & GP clinics in suburb
- 2
- Nearest hospital
- Mersey Community Hospital (12.2 km)
- Nearest hospital type
- Hospital
- Nearest hospital emergency
- Emergency department
- Emergency department in suburb
- Not in suburb
- AmcalPoyston DrivePharmacy
- Port Sorell Medical CentreClub DriveDoctor
Contributes to desirability score · Accessibility (15%)
Hospitals and GP clinics
Data sources & freshness
- Hospitals & clinics — OpenStreetMap + state health datasets · current · Updated
NDIS participation
- NDIS participants (31 March 2026)
- 35
- Participants per 1,000 residents
- 16.4
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
- NDIS participants by SA2 — National Disability Insurance Agency · 2026-Q1 · Updated · Quarterly SA2 counts allocated to suburb boundaries
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
- 21° / 12°
- Rainfall
- 171 mm · ~21 rainy days
Autumn (Mar–May)
- Usual max / min
- 18° / 10°
- Rainfall
- 238 mm · ~30 rainy days
Winter (Jun–Aug)
- Usual max / min
- 13° / 5°
- Rainfall
- 360 mm · ~45 rainy days
Spring (Sep–Nov)
- Usual max / min
- 16° / 8°
- Rainfall
- 262 mm · ~33 rainy days
Contributes to desirability score · Lifestyle (15%)
Temperature and humidity comfort
Data sources & freshness
- Seasonal climate normals — WorldClim 2.1 · Updated
Future & Planning
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 overlays — State government hazard layers · current · Updated
Politics & representation
- Federal electorate
- Braddon
- Member of Parliament
- Anne URQUHART (Australian Labor Party)
- Results from
- 2025 federal election
- Electorate enrolment (2025)
- 84,244
- Turnout (2025)
- 93.0%
- Swing since 2022 (2025)
- +15.2 pp toward Labor
Two-party preferred (2025)
Coalition 42.8%Labor 57.2%
Estimated suburb voting profile
Estimated from 8 nearby ordinary polling places (up to 14.8 km away).
Coalition 46.6%Labor 53.4%
3.8 percentage points more Coalition-leaning than the electorate
Estimated swing since 2022: +14.8 pp toward Labor
Nearest polling places
- Port Sorell WestLabor 56.0% · Coalition 44.0% TPP (2025)1.5 km away
- Port SorellLabor 50.4% · Coalition 49.6% TPP (2025)2.2 km away
- Wesley ValeLabor 39.6% · Coalition 60.4% TPP (2025)7.2 km away
- MoriartyLabor 46.5% · Coalition 53.5% TPP (2025)8.0 km away
- LatrobeLabor 56.8% · Coalition 43.2% TPP (2025)13.3 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
- Federal election results — Australian Electoral Commission · Updated · 2025 election with by-election overlays
Socio-economic
- IRSAD decile (2021)
- 3/10
- IRSD decile (2021)
- 4/10
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
- SEIFA 2021 (IRSAD / IRSD) — Australian Bureau of Statistics · Updated
This suburb ranks highly for
More in Latrobe Council
Other suburbs in the same local government area.
Comparable suburbs
Similar population and socio-economic profile in other parts of Tasmania.