2016.6 - Census of Population and Housing: Selected Characteristics for Urban Centres and Localities, Tasmania, 1996  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 29/01/1998   
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TASMANIA




PREFACE

This document contains data from the 1996 Census of Population and Housing, and describes the characteristics of people in Tasmania and their housing arrangements. It is just a sample of what is available in the publication series Census of Population and Housing: Selected Characteristics for Urban Centres and Localities (Cat. nos 2016.0-7), available for each State and Territory, and nationally.

The data presented in this document relate to where people were counted on census night, and therefore data for each geographical area include visitors to that area but exclude those people who were away on census night. The document uses both the Urban Centre/Locality (UC/L) and the Section of State (SOS) geographic classifications which classify areas according to size of the population. Whilst the UC/L classification covers only part of the State or Territory, the SOS classification covers the State or Territory in its entirety.

This document presents only a selection of data from the full range of census variables. For further information about other census or Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) data refer to the Directory of Census Statistics, 1996 or elsewhere on this site. Concepts and definitions used in this document, including UC/L and SOS, are explained in the Explanatory Notes and more detailed information is available in the Census Dictionary, 1996 (Cat. no. 2901.0)

The ABS draws extensively on information provided freely by individuals, businesses, governments and other organisations. Their continued cooperation is very much appreciated: without it, the wide range of statistics published by the ABS would not be available. Information received by the ABS is treated in strict confidence as required by the Census and Statistics Act 1905.

D. Rogers
Regional Director




SUMMARY OF FINDINGS
POPULATION AND HOUSEHOLD CHARACTERISTICS
POPULATION DISTRIBUTION
    The 1996 Census of Population and Housing counted 459,659 people in Tasmania on census night, representing a growth of 1.5% in Tasmania's population count since 1991 (452,837). In 1996, 72.7% of the people counted in Tasmania were in urban areas, comprising 126,118 people in the Major Urban area and 207,881 in the Other Urban area. This was similar to 1991, reflecting Tasmania's relatively stable population.

    There were 39 Urban Centres and 60 Localities in Tasmania in 1996. Apart from Hobart (which constituted the State's Major Urban area), there were two other major population centres - Launceston (67,701) and Devonport (22,299). These three areas accounted for almost half (47.0%) of the State's population.

SEX
    In 1996, there were more females counted in Tasmania (50.8%). The urban areas contained proportionally more females (51.7% in Major Urban and 51.5% in Other Urban). However, there were proportionally more males in the State's Rural Balance (51.5%) and the Bounded Locality (50.3%).

    Females outnumbered males in the majority (53) of UC/Ls, particularly in Oatlands (L) and Nubeena (L) (53.8% each), Deloraine (53.7%) and Woodbridge (L) (53.3%). Relatively high proportions of males were recorded in Tullah (L) (59.0%), Eaglehawk Neck (L) (56.0%) and the mining area of Rosebery (55.7%).

AGE
    The population in Tasmania is ageing. The median age had increased from 32 years in 1991 to 34 years in 1996, and the proportion of people aged 65 years or more had increased from 11.5% to 12.3%.

    The Major Urban area recorded the highest proportion of people aged 65 years or more (14.7%) while the Rural Balance recorded the lowest (7.9%). As well, the Major Urban area recorded a lower proportion of children (aged 0-14 years) than the State as a whole (19.3% compared to 22.7%).

    The highest proportions of people aged 65 years or more were recorded in Swansea (L) (25.1%), Nubeena (L) (24.6%), Low Head (L) (24.4%) and Franklin (L) (24.2%). The highest proportions of children were recorded in Bridgewater-Gagebrook (35.6%), Maydena (L) (34.1%), Seven Mile Beach (32.1%), Hadspen (30.8%), Lilydale (L) (30.3%) and Margate (30.2%).

BIRTHPLACE

Australian-born
    The majority (85.9%) of people counted in Tasmania were Australian-born. The Major Urban area (83.1%) recorded the lowest percentage, while the Bounded Locality (87.3%) recorded the highest.

    Ringarooma (L), Dunalley (L) and Bothwell (L) recorded the highest proportions of Australian-born people (96.1%, 94.1% and 93.3% respectively).

Overseas-born
    The proportion of people who stated that they had been born overseas showed little change between 1991 and 1996 (10.5% and 10.2% respectively). People born in the United Kingdom (UK), Ireland or New Zealand (NZ) constituted 5.8% of the State population in 1996 (6.1% in 1991). The Rural Balance recorded the highest proportion of people born in these countries (6.6%), followed by the Major Urban area and Bounded Locality (5.9% each). The highest proportions were noted in the UC/Ls of Lanena-Blackwall (L) (14.1%), Fern Tree (L) (14.0%) and Dilston (L) (12.7%).

    A smaller proportion (4.4%) of people reported that they had been born overseas in countries other than the UK, Ireland or NZ (also 4.4% in 1991). The Major Urban area recorded the highest proportion of people born in these countries with 6.7%. High proportions were recorded in the UC/Ls of Kettering (L) (7.3%), Kingston-Blackmans Bay (6.7%) and Howden (L) (6.5%).

INDIGENOUS ORIGIN
    The number of people who reported being of Indigenous origin, increased by 56.1% between 1991 and 1996, from 8,882 to 13,873. As a percentage of the population of Tasmania, this represented an increase from 2.0% to 3.0%.

    In 1996, the proportion of Indigenous people was highest in the Bounded Locality (4.1%) and lowest in the Major Urban area (2.3%). This was also the case in 1991 (2.8% and 1.4% respectively).

    The Localities of Cygnet, Geeveston and Dover in south-eastern Tasmania recorded the highest proportions of people who reported being of Indigenous origin (26.7%, 15.7% and 14.1% respectively). However, over half (54.5%) of UC/Ls recorded proportions equivalent to or less than the Tasmanian proportion of 3.0%.

LONE PERSON HOUSEHOLDS
    In 1996, there were 42,437 lone person households in Tasmania, an increase of 24.3% on the 1991 figure of 34,150. Most of this increase occurred in the Other Urban area, which rose by 30.0% from 15,238 to 19,815.

    The proportion of lone person households also increased, from 21.0% to 24.2%, with the highest proportions being in the Major Urban (28.6%) and Other Urban areas (24.8%) and the lowest being in the Rural Balance (16.8%). UC/Ls with the highest percentages of lone person households were the Localities of Primrose Sands (33.2%), Low Head (31.2%) and St Marys (30.2%).

FAMILIES WITH DEPENDENT CHILDREN
    Between 1991 and 1996, the number and proportion of family households with dependent children declined, from 62,863 (52.6%) in 1991 to 62,093 (50.6%).

    The percentages of family households with dependent children ranged from 48.1% in the Bounded Locality to 53.1% in the Rural Balance. UC/Ls which recorded the highest percentages were Bridgewater-Gagebrook (71.2%), Collinsvale (L) (66.3%), Zeehan (65.2%) and Fern Tree (L) (65.2%).

LABOUR FORCE CHARACTERISTICS (For persons aged 15 years and over)

EMPLOYED
    In 1996, there were 182,211 employed people in Tasmania compared with 178,187 in 1991, an increase of 2.3%. Over the same period, the State's labour force declined by 0.6%, from 205,913 to 204,676. As a proportion of the State's population, the percentage of employed people was 57.8%.
Full-time employment
    Of the employed population in Tasmania, 117,904 (64.7%) worked full-time (67.1% in 1991). The proportions of people employed full-time were fairly similar across the State ranging from 63.0% in the Bounded Locality to 64.9% in the Rural Balance.

    Over two-thirds (68.3) of full-time workers were males, a slight decrease since 1991 (69.6%). The percentage of full-time male employees varied from 64.4% in the Major Urban area to 72.0% in the Bounded Locality .

    UC/Ls which recorded the highest proportions of full-time employees were the mining areas of Rosebery (76.6%) and Tullah (L) (73.0%), as well as Forth (L) (71.7%) and Scottsdale (69.9%). These areas also tended to report high proportions of male full-time employees.

Part-time employment
    There had been a 21.5% increase in the number of employed people who worked part-time, from 49,566 (27.8%) in 1991 to 60,219 (33.0%). The proportions of people employed part-time ranged from 32.5% in the Rural Balance to 34.3% in the Bounded Locality. Over two-thirds (67.8%) of these workers were females, compared with 69.9% in 1991.

    UC/Ls which recorded the highest proportions of part-time employees were the seaside Localities of White Beach (52.2%), Eaglehawk Neck (48.8%), Nubeena (45.2%) and Bicheno (44.7%).

Occupation
    In 1996, 25.7% of employed people were Managers and administrators or Professionals, compared with 23.8% in 1991. In both census years, the Rural Balance recorded the highest percentages in this occupation grouping (32.3% and 32.1% respectively), although it should be noted that Managers and administrators included farm managers.

    UC/Ls which recorded the highest percentages were the south-eastern localities of Fern Tree (L) (54.3%), Opossum Bay (L) (40.4%) and Cremorne (L) (39.2%).

    In 1996, 9.5% of employed people were Labourers or related workers, compared with 9.9% in 1991. The Bounded Locality recorded the highest percentage in this occupation grouping in both census years (12.9% and 12.0% respectively).

Industry
    Over one-third (36.8%) of employed people were working in the industries of Manufacturing, Retail trade or Health and community services - the top three employing industries in the State. This represented a decline of 1.2 percentage points since 1991.

    In both census years, the Other Urban area recorded the highest proportion for the State (41.5% in 1996 and 40.6% in 1991). UC/Ls which recorded high levels were Beaconsfield (53.2%), George Town (52.7%), Lilydale (L) (52.6%) and New Norfolk (52.3%).

Private Sector
    The proportion of people employed in the State's private sector increased considerably between 1991 and 1996, from 69.2% to 75.0%. In both census years the Rural Balance recorded the highest level (78.4% in 1996 and 73.7% in 1991).

    In all UC/Ls the majority of employed people worked in private enterprise, the highest percentages being recorded in Railton (L) (88.9%), Bracknell (L) (88.5%) and Mole Creek (L) (88.0%).

UNEMPLOYED
    In 1996 there were 22,465 unemployed people in Tasmania, down from 27,726 in 1991. The unemployment rate for the State was 11.0% (13.5% in 1991), whilst the rate for people aged 15-24 years was 19.6% (23.3% in 1991).

    Both rates were highest in the Other Urban area (12.1% for people aged 15 years or over and 20.8% for those aged 15-24 years) and lowest in the Major Urban area (9.8% and 18.3% respectively).

    UC/Ls which recorded comparatively high unemployment rates and numbers of people were: Bridgewater-Gagebrook (32.9% and 765), George Town (19.5% and 348) and St Helens-Stieglitz (19.3% and 125).

    UC/Ls which recorded comparatively high unemployment rates and numbers for people aged 15-24 years were: Bridgewater-Gagebrook (45.5% and 307), George Town (35.0% and 124) and Dodges Ferry (29.5% and 43).

OCCUPIED PRIVATE DWELLINGS

TENURE TYPE
    In 1996, there were 175,197 occupied private dwellings in the State, an increase of 7.5% since 1991 (163,001).
Fully owned
    Over two-fifths (42.4%) of the occupied private dwellings in Tasmania were fully owned by their occupants, an increase from 41.8% in 1991. Tasmania's Rural Balance recorded the highest home ownership level in both 1996 (49.2%) and 1991 (50.1%).

    In 32 of the State's 99 UC/Ls, at least half of the occupied private dwellings were fully owned. Ross (L) (66.1%), Bracknell (L) (65.1%) and Queenstown (62.1%) recorded the highest rates of home ownership.

Being purchased
    Over a quarter (27.0% ) of the private dwellings were being purchased by their occupants, a slight decrease from 27.6% in 1991. However, the Rural Balance recorded an increase of 21.1%.

    The Rural Balance also recorded the highest proportion of dwellings being purchased in 1996 (29.7%), while the Major Urban area recorded the lowest (25.8%). This was the opposite of 1991, when the Major Urban area recorded the highest proportion (28.7%) and the Rural balance the lowest (26.8%).

    The highest percentages of homes being purchased were recorded in Old Beach (65.8%), Seven Mile Beach (52.8%), Hadspen (47.3%) and Collinsvale (L) (46.2%).

Rented
    In 1996, about a quarter (26.3%) of occupied private dwellings in Tasmania were being rented (25.3% in 1991), with the Major Urban area recording the highest proportion in both census years (30.6% and 28.8% respectively).

    The UC/Ls which recorded the highest percentages of rented dwellings were Bridgewater-Gagebrook (68.2%), Currie (L) (42.4%) and Waratah (L) (41.9%).

HOUSEHOLD INCOME
    The median household income in 1996 of $530 per week showed an increase of 10.4% on the 1991 figure of $480. In 1996 the State median was exceeded by both the Rural Balance ($569) and the Major Urban area ($563).

    In 1996, UC/Ls which recorded the highest median household incomes were Otago (L) ($937), the mining area of Rosebery ($867), Seven Mile Beach ($842), Fern Tree (L) ($841) and Dilston (L) ($812). The lowest median household incomes were recorded in Campbell Town (L) ($361), St Helens-Stieglitz ($360) and Ross (L) ($297).

HOUSING LOAN REPAYMENTS
    Between 1991 and 1996, the median housing loan repayment for Tasmania increased by 40.0%, from $418 to $585 per month. This increase was widespread, ranging from 30.3% in the Bounded Locality up to 46.6% in the Major Urban area.

    The highest median housing loan repayment was recorded for the Rural Balance ($610), closely followed by the Major Urban area ($607). The Rural Balance also recorded the highest median payment in 1991 ($460). Comparatively high median housing loan repayments were calculated for Cremorne (L) ($754), Low Head (L) ($743) and Old Beach ($715).

RENT PAYMENTS
    The median weekly rent payment for Tasmania of $90 in 1996 represented an increase of 21.6% on the 1991 figure of $74. The highest median rent was recorded for the Major Urban area ($104) and the lowest was recorded in the Rural Balance ($65). The Major Urban area also recorded the highest median payment in 1991 ($89).

    At the UC/L level, the highest median weekly rent payments were recorded for Seven Mile Beach ($150), Dilston (L) ($148), Fern Tree (L) ($145), Lauderdale and Margate ($135 each).

Dwellings Characteristics, Section of State
Occupied Private Dwellings
Other
All
Fully owned
Being purchased (including rent/buy)
Rented (includes rent free)
Other (includes
not stated)
Total occupied
private dwellings
Median housingl
loan repayment
Median rent
Median house-
hold income
Unoccupied private dwellings
Non- private dwellings
Total dwellings
    Section of State
no
no
no
no
no
$
monthly
$
weekly
$
weekly
no
no
no
    1996
    Tas Major Urban
19,789
13,005
15,413
2,146
50,353
607
104
563
4,335
183
54,871
    Tas Other Urban
32,319
21,236
23,075
3,198
79,828
563
90
498
8,147
330
88,305
    Tas Bounded Locality
5,179
2,806
2,036
520
10,541
542
80
485
3,514
75
14,130
    Tas Rural Balance
16,973
10,227
5,618
1,657
34,475
610
65
569
9,931
96
44,502
    Tas Migratory
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
9
    Total
74,260
47,274
46,142
7,521
175,197
585
90
530
25,927
684
201,817
    1991
    Tas Major Urban
18,216
13,837
13,877
2,237
48,167
414
89
512
3,194
176
51,537
    Tas Other Urban
28,734
19,743
20,468
3,335
72,280
403
72
459
6,364
288
78,932
    Tas Bounded Locality
5,363
2,976
2,061
665
11,065
416
64
463
2,533
70
13,668
    Tas Rural Balance
15,782
8,442
4,835
2,430
31,489
460
61
488
9,673
91
41,253
    Tas Migratory
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
40
    Total
68,095
44,998
41,241
8,667
163,001
418
74
480
21,764
625
185,430

Urban Centres and Localities, Ranked by Total Number of Persons
Rank
    Urban Centre/Locality
Persons
Rank
    Urban Centre/Locality
Persons
1
    Hobart
126,118
51
    Lewisham (L)
647
2
    Launceston
67,701
52
    Bagdad (L)
646
3
    Devonport
22,299
53
    Cressy (L)
637
4
    Burnie-Somerset
19,134
54
    St Marys (L)
588
5
    Kingston-Blackmans Bay
13,746
55
    Fern Tree (L)
584
6
    Ulverstone
9,792
56
    Gravelly Beach (L)
559
7
    Bridgewater-Gagebrook
7,451
57
    Stanley (L)
543
8
    New Norfolk
5,286
58
    Oatlands (L)
539
9
    George Town
4,522
59
    South Arm (L)
496
10
    Wynyard
4,509
60
    Swansea (L)
495
11
    Sorell-Midway Point
3,596
61
    Lanena-Blackwall (L)
488
12
    Smithton
3,313
62
    Dover (L)
481
13
    Penguin
3,030
63
    Otago (L)
470
14
    Longford
2,829
64
    Low Head (L)
463
15
    Latrobe
2765
65
    Orford (L)
461
16
    Queenstown
2631
66
    Franklin (L)
454
17
    Lauderdale
2485
67
    Scamander (L)
435
18
    Deloraine
2168
68
    Ridgley (L)
427
19
    Dodges Ferry
2077
69
    Exeter (L)
382
20
    Legana
1987
70
    Fingal (L)
379
21
    Scottsdale
1922
71
    Bracknell (L)
367
22
    Perth
1863
72
    Cremorne (L)
357
23
    Port Sorell
1818
73
    Bothwell (L)
356
24
    St Helens-Stieglitz
1776
74
    Lilydale (L)
343
25
    Hadspen
1730
75
    Forth (L)
342
26
    Huonville-Ranelagh
1718
76
    Heybridge (L)
341
27
    Old Beach
1708
77
    Maydena (L)
331
28
    Rosebery
1439
78
    Carrick (L)
331
29
    Pontville
1424
79
    Kempton (L)
327
30
    Westbury
1280
80
    Dilston (L)
323
31
    Bridport
1234
81
    Sulphur Creek (L)
319
32
    Beauty Point
1194
82
    Kettering (L)
314
33
    Turners Beach
1184
83
    Collinsvale (L)
297
34
    Zeehan
1116
84
    Dunalley (L)
286
35
    Seven Mile Beach
1057
85
    Sisters Beach (L)
277
36
    Margate
1034
86
    Ross (L)
275
37
    Evandale
1033
87
    Gawler (L)
271
38
    Sheffield
1016
88
    Tullah (L)
268
39
    Beaconsfield
1014
89
    Branxholm (L)
266
40
    Railton (L)
878
90
    Nubeena (L)
264
41
    Cygnet (L)
851
91
    Howden (L)
263
42
    Currie (L)
841
92
    White Beach (L)
261
43
    Campbell Town (L)
816
93
    Mole Creek (L)
256
44
    Snug (L)
804
94
    Opossum Bay (L)
251
45
    Geeveston (L)
778
95
    Woodbridge (L)
246
46
    Richmond (L)
768
96
    Ringarooma (L)
232
47
    Triabunna (L)
766
97
    Waratah (L)
230
48
    Strahan (L)
701
98
    Campania (L)
230
49
    Bicheno (L)
700
99
    Eaglehawk Neck (L)
209
50
    Primrose Sands (L)
698