Sydney suburbs see seniors outnumber youth as housing crunch deepens

Analysis of census data shows that in 54 Sydney neighbourhoods seniors now outnumber residents under 20, a three‑fold increase since 2001. Inner‑city areas such as Potts Point‑Woolloomooloo lead with 1,889 more people over 65 than under 20, while affluent northern suburbs and parts of the Central Coast also show large senior majorities. Demographers attribute the shift to an aging population, a historic low fertility rate of 1.44 and soaring housing costs that keep young families out of many locations.

At the same time, the Australian government has prohibited self‑managed super funds (SMSFs) from borrowing to purchase residential property. The housing industry warns that the ban could cause builders to abandon up to 2,415 of 3,613 signed construction contracts, potentially wiping out $450 million in state revenue and delaying thousands of new homes. Industry officials stress that SMSF financing, while a small share of total borrowing, currently underpins a significant portion of planned housing supply.