Populations of Tasman Peninsula

139

by L. J. Wood Department of Geography. University of Ta smania

(with four tables and four text-figures)

Understanding of the characteristics and dynamics of the population permanently resident in Tasman municipality has to recognise that the area receives numerically large influxes of both recreational and tourist groups. Census data suggest that the economy of the peninsula is undergoing a major shift from one reliant on traditional primary industries to one focused on tourism. At the same time, the amenities of the natural landscape have prompted a substantial in-migration of non-conventional lifestylers. Key Words: Tasman Peninsula, popUlation, counterurbanisation, alternative communities, holiday homes, tourism. From SMITH, S.J. (Ed.), 1989: IS HISTORY ENO UGH? PA ST, PRESENT AND FUTURE USE OF THE RESOURCES OF TA SMAN PE/I"NSULA . Royal Society of Tasmania, Hobart: 139-148.

INTRODUCTION the postwar period, with a gradual rise in numbers to the mid 1960s, followed by a decade of decline and Censuses, the main mechanism for gathering then a further increase into the 1980s (table 1; unless information about the population of an area, focus otherwise stated, all population statistics reported in attention on long-term trends in the numbers and this paper �re from ABS sources). Without specific characteristics of permanently resident populations. surveys, the reasons for these changes can only be This focus is important in that, inter alia, it provides a proxy measure of changes in the social and economic structure of a region. For Tasman Peninsula, TABLE 1 however, to focus solely on the permanent population would be to ignore other groups of people that are of Resident Population, Tasman Municipality, major importance to the economy of the region. Not 1947-91 only does the peninsula provide permanent living space for just over 1000 people, but it also has holiday Resident Absolute % change homes that give recreational accommodation for popUlation change perhaps twice that number on a less regular basis. On at census a still shorter temporal scale, the peninsula is a major date destination for tourists in Tasmania and there is a laTge daily throughput of visitors. Any examination 1947 1039 of the population geography of the peninsula must 1954 1079 +40 3.9 make reference to all three groups, since the raison 1961 1108 +29 2.6 d' etre of the permanent population rests, to an 1966 1126 +18 1.6 increasing degree, on the provision of goods, services 1971 1035 -9 1 -8.0 and labour for the other two groups. 1976 970 -65 -6.2 1981 1080 +11 0 11.3 1986* 1240 +160 14.8 THE PERMANENT POPULATION 1991* 1390 +150 12.0

Numbers and Distribution * Forecasts reported by Department of Industrial Development, Residential population fo recasts for In common with many other rural areas in the state, Tasmania 1981 -1996, Part 2: The regions. January 1984. Tasman Peninsula has had a fluctuating population in Other figures are from ABS sources. 140 LJ. Wood

,.M t. Communication

Wedge Bay

One dot represents 10 people o 5 KM o

FiG. 1 - Population distribution, Ta sman municipality, 1981.

inferred, but they reflect fundamental changes in the sufficient to note that between 1966 and 1976, the economy of the region and some broader societal number of commercial orchards declined from 39 to trends. 13, the number of apple trees from 93 000 to 57 700 The decline in numbers over the decade from and apple production from 5156 tonnes to 2508 1966 coincided with a period of increasing financial tonnes. Production of pears, which had been important stress in many agricultural industries. On the on the peninsula, declined by a greater amount. Aided peninsula, orcharding, an industry that had formed by further incentives to withdraw from orcharding, an important and particularly labour-intensive sector the decline has continued through to the present. By of the agricultural economy was badly affected. 1984/85, the number of commercial orchards in Reasons for the downturn in orcharding, which Tasman municipality was no longer being published affected the state as a whole, are summarised else separately: there were only 37 000 apple trees and where (Wood 1982). For Tasman municipality it is production had dropped to 2443 tonnes. The absence Populations 141 of any substantial new ventures in fanning in Tasman population of 6.5% between 1971 and 1976, at a municipality and the labour-shedding nature of most time when the Tasman population as a whole was innovations in agriculture must have contributed to declining, and a further growth from 1976 to 1981. the decline in population in the decade to 1976. By any standards, however, it remains a small centre The increase in population, first evident for with only slightly over 200 people in 1981. Tasman municipality in the 1981 census, matches the Observation and local discussion suggest that trend that has become evident in most parts of the two changes may have begun to emerge in this pattern western world over recent years. Commonly termed since 1981. Firstly, there has been the development the "population turnaround", it involves rising of several small but, by local standards, significant numbers in small towns and agricultural localities concentrations of alternative lifestylers - the most reversing the previous, fairly consistent, trend of notable in the valley south of Koonya. Secondly, there population loss from such areas for a long period of has been considerable construction of permanent time. There is ongoing debate about the causes of the homes along the Eaglehawk Neckffararma road and turnaround (see for example, Hugo & Smailes 1985). along parts of White Beach. Some have attempted to link it to new communication and transportation technologies that have allowed very extensive urban commuting fields, and others to Demographic Characteristics structural changes in modernwest erneconomi es. Any satisfactory explanation almost certainly requires There is more to the study of populations than recourse to several causative factors but the most numbers and distribution and, in this section, some appealing in the context of Tasman Peninsula is that of the characteristics of the Tasman population the turnaround reflects a basic change in some including age, mobility, occupations and incomes are peoples' values and lifestyle preferences in favour of examined. It should be noted at the outset that it is rural or small town environments. There can be no commonly difficult to identify firm trends in such doubt that the physical characteristics of the peninsula, small populations. This is partly because numerically including a coastline that varies from spectacularcliffs small differences, that in themselves may reflect to sheltered beaches and extensive areas of bushland, random variations in, for example, birth rates or in addition to the widespread historical associations migration patterns, assumtj considerable apparent have made the area attractive to new settlers. As is significance when expressed in percentage terms. discussed later, these settlers have included some Figure, 2 shows the age/sex distribution for seeking an amenable environment for eventual Tasman municipality in 1976 and 1981 superimposed retirement and others who wish to pursue a non on that for the state in 1981. In 1976, the peninsula's conventional lifestyle. For both groups, the availability population showed a general under-representation of of portable social benefits in the form of pensions most cohorts below the age of 45 and an over and unemployment payments has been important. representation of older age groups. By 1981, these This, combined with relatively cheap land prices, in deviations, which are common to many rural areas, themselves a reflection of depression in the were still apparent, but growth in population over the agricultural sector, has made Tasman Peninsula an intercensal period had brought the percentage shares attractive proposition as a place for permanent of the younger cohorts closer to the state levels. At residence. the same time, however, the top heavy nature of the Figure 1 portrays the distribution of population pyramid was maintained. By 1981, some 13.9% of on the peninsula in 1981. It is readily apparent that the state population was aged over 59 compared with large areas have no permanent habitation. Indeed, 17.6% of the Tasman population. By July 1986, 130 most of the thickly forested country east ofthe Arthur Tasman residents were receiving an age pension, Highway and around Mounts Koonya and Clarke, compared to 98 at the time of the 1976 census (Hepper the exposed coastal fringe between Port Arthur Bay 1979). Almost half lived in or near Nubeena and and Wedge Bay, and the drier sandy areas in the almost half were older than 74 years (unpublished northwest of the peninsula have at best ever only data, Department of Social Security). supported a transient population. The majority of the In part, the relative absence of younger age population lives in the small centres of Taranna, Port groups reflects the paucity of local employment Arthur and Nubeena, with the rest mainly dispersed opportunities - a feature that has been enhanced by at low density along the north coast and along the the decline of the agricultural sector. Young people roads linking the north coast with Nubeena and the seeking a place in the workforce have had to move latter with Port Arthur. Of the centres, Nubeena has elsewhere. Such moves have probably been promoted become the most important, showing a growth in by the fact that most students requiring anything more 142 L.J. Wood

MALES FEMALES Age Cohorts

--Tasman 1976 >74 Tasm,," 198 1 70-74 ...... Tasmania HIS ! 65- 69

60-64

55-59

50--54

45-4 9

40-44

35-39

30-34

25-29

20-24

15-19

10-14

5-9

0-4

6 5 4 3 2 1 2 3 4 5 6 % of Total Popuiation

FlG. 2 -- Age-sex distribution of the Ta sman population in 1976 and /981, and of the Ta smanian population in 198/_

than a basic high school education, have had to leave previously_ Table 2 presents these data for Tasmania, home at age 16 or earlier. Accompanying such Tasman and the four collectors' districts that comprise absences come familiarity with, and possibly the municipality; in both years they suggest that the preference for, a different and basically urban lifestyle. Tasman population as a whole has been less mobile Whatever the reasons, the net effect in 1981 was an than the state population. In 1981, for example, 55% under--representation of younger groups and an over of the state population was in the same residence as representation of older groups. Both of these trends, five years earlier, The corresponding figure for should they have continued since 1981, may have Tasman was 59.1%. implications for social service infrastructures, from An interesting and perhaps indicative feature schools at one of the spectrum to systems for care of is apparent for collectors' district 3, which covers an the elderly at the other. area from Koonya and Taranna in the north to Port Enumerations of popUlations at specific points Arthur and Stormlea in the south. Table 2 figures in time and intercensus comparisons can, of course, show an unusually low percentage resident in the mask considerahle change; in the interim. There is, same dwelling in 1980 as in ! 981. Almost a quarter for example, 110 guarantee that the elderly population of the 276 residents in 198] had changed place of in 1981 comprised the same individuals who made residence over the previous year. Most had moved to up the elderly or near elderly in J 976. It is in this the peninsula from otber parts of Tasmania, whilst areaof population movements that some of the most the newcomers also included people from N_S.W., interesting trends, only barely visible in the 198] Victoria and the A.c.T. census figures, are occurring in Tasman municipality. More recent census data are not available to The 1976 and 1981 censuses required people indicate whether this in-migration has continued. to indicate where they were living one and five years LocaJ discussions, however, suggest that an in- Populations 143

TABLE 2

Comparison of Residential Mobility, for Tasmanian and Tasman Peninsula Residents, as Recorded in 1976 and 1981 Censuses

Same residence. Other residence Other LGA Eisewhere* in same LGA in Tasmania

1976 - Location of usual residence in (a) 1975 and (b) 1971 (%)

Tasmania (a) 83.1 5.5 6.4 5.0 (b) 55.0 12.3 16.6 16.1

Tasman LOA (a) 85.4 2.7 6.6 5.3 (b) 68.7 5.5 12.4 13.4

Collectors' (a) 89.1 0.7 7.6 2.6 District (b) 74.2 2.7 10.3 12.8

2 (a) 82.8 1.0 9.2 7.0 (b) 66.6 11.0 7.7 14.7

3 (a) 83.6 6.7 5.9 3.8 (b) 66.4 4.0 15.9 13.7

4 (a) 84.2 2.4 2.4 11.0 (b) 63.4 7.3 17.0 12.11

Tasmania (c) 82.8 5.8 6.4 5.0 (d) 55.0 12.8 16.6 15.6

Tasman LOA (c) 84.7 1.3 6.1 7.9 (d) 59.1 5.1 21.8 14.0

Collectors' (c) 87.7 1.5 5.4 5.4 District (d) 56.6 5.7 24.3 13.4

2 (c) 89.2 0.0 2.1 8.7 (d) 74.9 2.6 16.2 6.3

3 (c) 76.8 1.8 11.6 9.8 (d) 56.8 5.4 19.6 18.2

4 (c) 87.2 1.8 4.3 6.7 (d) 48.8 6.0 26.5 18.7

* "Elsewhere" includes "not stated" and "not applicable". movement of individuals with particular lifestyle most have a high concern for environmental issues. aspirations has continued fairly strongly. Many of The major concentration of alternative the newer residents are following what can be lifestylers is in the Cascades Valley south of Koonya. described as alternative or non-conventional lifestyles. Beginning with the purchase of a dairy farm by three The people involved have very varied origins, families in the mid-1970s, the community has grown aspirations and motivations but generally they appear rapidly and, by 1986, 260 ha of forested land has to share a desire for a simple, independent life, and been settled. Many own the land on which they live; 144 Ll. Woud

1976 198 1 c o CENSIJS CENSUS

A EO F G H J K L M Industry D vision

FIG . 3 - Employment by industry, Tasman municipality 1976 and 1981. The main industries included

in each division are as fo llows: A .. agriculture, fo restry,fis hing; C-manufacturing; D .. electricity,

gas, waler; E .. construction; F - wholesale, retail trade; G - transport and storage; Ii - communi

carions, 1 - finance; J .. public administration; K .. community services; L - entertainment, recreation,

hotels, restaurants; M - other. No employees in division B - mining were recorded at either census.

most have built or are building their own bomes; from industry data (fig. 3). From ]976 s'}me work or wish to work, whilst others are content to 1981, the population grew from 365 to to live on social security.By February 1986, the valley 500. The clear dominance of the traditional primary and its immediate surrounds contained 61 people industries of agriculture, forestry and fishing is readily (44 adults and 17 children) who considered them apparent, yet this sector lost ground over the selves as part of the new community. Most of the intercensal period. The two identifiable divisions that adults are between 22 and 50 years in with the recorded substantial increases in percentage share of average near 30. Of the children, 12 are school total employment were community services, including age, indeed mos!. are less than 2. years old. Elsewhere health and education and, most notably, activities on the peninsula, smaller concentrations of alternative related to tourism, particularly restaurants and hotels. lifestylers occurin the StormlealHighcroft area (about The latter undoubtedly reflects the growth in 10 adults and 5 children) and near Mt Communication the tourist trade which occurred in late 19705 (about 12 people). A further j 2 following (see below). Although tourism has long been a feature similar live at scattered across the of the peninSUla, the development, mainly along the peninsula, a total of about 100. Whilst the approach road to Port Arthur, of local commercial absolute number is small. it is significant in local enterprises that capitalise on the tourist dollar is tems, about 10% of the total 1981 relatively recent. Other statistics, referred to later, population for municipality. show that tourist-related employment has continued Signs of restructuring that has been occurring to grow into the 1980s. The industry statistics, then, in the Tasman economy in recent years are evident give a picture of a changing economy in which the Populations 145

traditionally important sources of employment based on the natural resources of the land and sea are losing TABLE 3 ground to tourism-related jobs. As a final comment on the characteristics of Household Incomes, Tasman Municipality and the permanently resident population, some reference Tasmania, 1981 to incomes is appropriate (table 3). By comparison with the state as a whole, household incomes in Household income Tasman Tasmania Tasman municipality (defined as the combined ($) p.a. % % incomes of all household members aged 15 years or over) show an over-representation of low incomes 0-4000 14.9 9.3 and an under-representation of the higher income 4001-8000 26.6 15.9 brackets. In 1981, for example, more than half of 8001-12000 10.2 13.6 Tasman households earned less than $12000 p.a., 12001-18000 16.2 19.8 compared with a corresponding figure for the state of 18001-26000 10.9 18.2 38.8%. Such features are common for rural areas in over 26000 6.0 14.6 general and reflect, inter alia, rural-urban wage Not stated 15.2 8.5 differentials and the more self-sufficient lifestyles 100.0 100.0 of many country households. With the substantial increase in the alternativelif estylers population since 1981, one would expect that the 1986 census will show a greater proportion of low-income households.

TABLE 4 THE RECREATIONAL POPULATION

Increase in the Number of Holiday Homes at For many reasons, including increased affluence and Individual Locations in Tasman Municipality, mobility, changing recreational preferences, the 1960 to 1977* imposition of stricter building codes in municipalities close to Hobart and the availability of attractive Location Number of holiday homes coastal sites at relatively low prices, Tasman Peninsula has become one of the major growth areas for shacks 1960 1970 (holiday homes) in Tasmania. During the period from 1960 to 1977, the number of shacks in the state almost Eaglehawk Neck** 23 100 doubled whilst those on the peninsula increased by Blow Hole Road 27 33 more than five times. Table 4 shows the rates of Taranna 4 32 growth for individual settlements. Although more Sloping Main 1 36 recent figures are not readily available, the number Coal Mines area 0 24 of shacks at White Beach, now the largest collection Stewarts Bay 0 18 of holiday homes on the peninsula, has more than Port Arthur 2 38 doubled since 1977. It seems reasonable to estimate Safety Cove 0 19 that there are currently well over 600 shacks in Nubeena 6 39 Tasman municipality, the majority of which are owned White Beach 13 73 by people from Hobart (Thome 1977). The durations of usage of holiday homes in Total Tasman 76 412 Tasmania have not been researched though, typically, they are used for long spells during school summer Total Tasmania 3800 7316 holidays and at weekends and holidays in spring and autumn. Evidence from the U.S.A. suggests an * Source: Thome (1977). occupancy of summer cottages of about 53 days p.a. ** Not all of these shacks are in Tasman with wide deviations around the mean (Coppock municipality. 1977). Using this figure for Tasman, and assuming 600 shacks with users in groups of four, gives an estimate of about 127 000 person-nights p.a. This is sufficient to swell the population of the peninsula by about 350 people for every day of the year or, more 146 LJ Wood realistically, to double the permanent population for vast majority (around x09f) according to sarne about four months of the estimates) on�y a pili""'! of a day on Such a Iyv,pw,au"" substantial The of the touri st effcct Oil the been discussed. More recent figures suggcsl that 150 people are ClllU'OV;;U shack construction and repair in tourism-Idated jobs by the National Parks and fates contribution to the local council. In addition, Wildlife Service (NPWS), accommodation estab- evidence from elsewhere in Australia shows that a lishments and larger developed attractions, substantial number of purchasers buy or construct during the main season from September to second homes wid] retirement as a primary reason early June (NPWS 19R5). Most jobs are held by local for (Robertson 1977)_ Some second-home residents and most, given the seasonality of visitors, sites on the peninsula, pmticularly in the Eaglehawk are casuaL !nter alia, maintenance or increase in this Neck, Taranna, Port Arthur and Nubeena areas, level of employment will depend on the future of the already show signs of permanent occupancy, Port Arthur restoration scheme and the success of Familimisation with the amenities of peninsula life moves to encourage tourists to stay longer on the through initially casual recreational usage of shacks peninsula. contribute growth of the pem1anent popUlation m future, SUMM.ARYAND IMPLICATIONS

THE TOURIST POPULATION In lenns of understanding the dynamics of the peninsula as a place where live and work, Estimates of the number of visiting the clearly it is necessary to more than just the peninsula are at best vague. data SOUTce pemlanently resident population. As has been shown, with any semblance of ��"""M"J for a substantial of each year, permanent tickets sold for entry to the rcsidents are by influxes of tourist and j\rthur 4/).,,). It shov/s a gteady rise in sales 10 a recreational Whilst such influxes are peak in when almost 120 000 people to in Tasmania, enter the centre. Since Ihen admissions have to probably means around 90 000 visitors these figures that their largest in into an estimate of tourist numbers is problem- Tasman particular features atical. One source (National Parks and Wildlife emerge from this discussion of popUlations on the Service 1985) suggests that only about two-thirds of peninsula. visitors to Port Arthur to enter the centre, hence Firstly, the industry of employment statistics ticket sales need to be by 50% to give an give a strong indication of an economy that is estimate of total visitors. On this basis, in the gradually undergoing a basic transformation from one year of 1979/80 almost 180 000 tourists Port reliant on traditional primary activities to one in which Altlmr and current levels m'e around 135 000 tourism-related jobs are of major significance, Whiist Intuitively one suspects that as estimates of tourism is commonly hailed as the salvation for many numbers of tourists the U�fl"t"''''" depressed economies, the place of Tasman Peninsula these figures are in Australia's histof'j must ,mrely give it an edge in the major draw card for interstate and overseas competition for the tourist dollar. I1 seems likely that visitors. many Tasmanians visil other parts of the the transformation towards a !ourism--based economy peninsula on a short-term basis. will continue. The effectiveness of this process, Nevertheless, if the current level of approx however, depends on a long-tern], carefully structured imately 135 000 tourists p.a. is taken ac, realistic. this and sensitive rnanagement the area's publicly and volume is sufficientto increase the population of the privately owned historical resources, peninsula by almost 370 per day throughout the year. the presence of relatively large and There is, however, a distinct seasonality in tourist apparently growing aiternativc communities traffic 4B) and it is more valid to assume visitors on the peninsula has some implications for the future. to the of SOO plus per day in the December to The lifestyle of these groups mean that period and lower numbers in the remainder of they have to gravitate to areas that were the year. It should be noted that the local economic previously only llsed as hush mns or for sporadic of these visitors is limited by the fact that the timher extraction. Typicaily these areas have low Populations 147

120 A 1 5 B '0 100 0 0 0 0 8 80 � 10

1960 '65 '70 '75 '80 1985 JJASONDJ FMAMJ JASONDJ FMAM 1984 I 1985 f-.-- 1986

FlG. 4 - (A) Numbers of tickets sold fo r admission to the Visitor Centre at Port Arthur, 1960-86; from 1979/80, figures refe r to financial years. The June 1986 figure was e�timated as the average of the previous two June figures. (B) Numbers of tickets sold for admission to the Visitor Centre at Port Arthur, by month, June 1984 to May 1986. Source: Unpublished data, National Parks and Wildlife Service.

levels of infrastructural provision (in the form of, for likely to generate a much more varied social mix example, hydro connection). As a consequence, land within the resident population than has hitherto been values have been low and, once a group has become apparent. established, this appears to have acted as a deterrent to potential conventional land purchasers. Despite some turnover, the current settlements show every REFERENCES sign of permanence and it is possible that similar settlements will occur in other parts of the peninsula COPPOCK J.T., 1977: Second homes in perspective. In - certainly there is no lack of unserviced, semi Coppock, IT. (Ed.): SECOND HOMES: CURSE OR natural bush and forested land. Whether or not new BLESSING? Pergamon: 1-17. settlements do develop, the natural growth of the HEPPER,J., 1979: TasmanPeninsula resources: a document of planning information, prepared in the Offices of the existing communities is likely to ensure that the non Commissioner for Town and Country Planning. conventional lifestylers will comprise an increasing HUGO, GJ. & SMAILES, P.J., 1985: Urban-rural migration proportion of the permanently resident population. in Australia: a process view of the turnaround. J. Rur. From local accounts, the new and long-established Stud. I: 11-30. populations currently appear to co-exist in harmony. NATIONAL PARKS AND WILDLIFE SERVICE, 1985: Whether this will continue as numbers grow to a PORT ARTHUR HISTORIC SITE. MANAGEMENT level at which the alternative groups, with their often PLAN 1985 . National Parks and Wildlife Service, unconventional views, can influence local politics, Hobart. and as children fromthe new settlements feed into ROBERTSON, R.W., 1977: Second home decisions: the Australian context. In Coppock, J.T. (Ed.): SECOND the education system, remains to be seen. HOMES: CURSE OR BLESSING? Pergamon: 119-138. Developments of the historical assets of the THORNE, K.M., 1977: Holiday homes in Tasmania. peninsula, then, are likely to continue to produce a Unpub!. Hons thesis, Univ. Tasm. restructuring of the economic base of the area whilst WOOD, LJ., 1982: Trends in the Tasmanian orcharding the high amenity value of the natural landscape is industry. Geography 67: 68-70.