Franklin
Suburb profile, market snapshot and recent listings for Franklin, TAS 7113.
About Franklin
Welcome to Franklin
Franklin sits on the western bank of the Huon River in southern Tasmania, roughly 40 minutes from Hobart along the Huon Highway. It's a historic river town rather than a commuter suburb in the usual sense, built around a heritage main street, timber cottages and a working relationship with the water that has shaped it since the colonial era.
With a population of just 1,301 and a median age of 52, Franklin has the feel of a settled, slower-paced community. It tends to attract people drawn to a rural or river lifestyle — tree-changers, retirees, artisans and those keen on boating, orcharding or simply a quieter patch of Tasmania within reach of the capital.
Lifestyle & dining
Franklin's main street is the heart of daily life, lined with heritage timber buildings that house a handful of cafes, a pub and small local businesses. The town has become known well beyond its size for a couple of destination eateries and providores that draw day-trippers up and down the Huon Valley, and the atmosphere is unhurried — this is a place for long lunches and conversations with people you'll likely run into again at the general store.
Parks & recreation
The Huon River is Franklin's biggest recreational asset, and it shows: the town is a genuine hub for wooden boat building and sailing, with the Wooden Boat Centre and river foreshore reserves offering walking paths, picnic spots and places to launch a kayak or tinnie. The surrounding Huon Valley countryside, with its orchards and hills, also makes for good cycling and driving routes, while nearby Glaziers Bay and Port Huon add further river and coastal access.
Schools & families
Franklin Primary School serves local families and is very much a community fixture, small enough that most families know the teachers and each other. Given the older median age of the suburb, family numbers are modest, but those who do settle here typically value the tight-knit, rural-school experience over larger institutions, with high schooling generally requiring a trip further into the Huon Valley or Hobart.
Getting around
The Huon Highway is Franklin's main artery, linking it north to Huonville and on to Hobart (around 40 minutes' drive) and south through Port Huon towards Geeveston and the D'Entrecasteaux Channel region. There's no rail service in this part of Tasmania, so a car is essential for most residents, whether for the daily commute, school runs or stocking up on supplies. Castle Forbes Bay and Glaziers Bay are both a short drive away, reinforcing Franklin's role as a small service hub for this stretch of the valley.
Housing & architecture
Franklin's housing stock reflects its history, with weatherboard and timber cottages from the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries scattered through the town alongside newer rural-residential builds on larger blocks. Current listings show a mix tilted towards land at 57%, against 43% houses, pointing to genuine opportunity for buyers wanting to build or expand on acreage rather than simply buying into an established dwelling.
The property market
The dwelling mix in Franklin — majority land listings alongside a solid share of established houses — suits both owner-builders chasing a river or valley outlook and buyers after a character home with history. It's a market that rewards patience and a clear sense of what you want, whether that's a renovated worker's cottage in the town centre or a larger parcel of land on the outskirts with room to move. Buyers should expect the pace of transactions and price discovery here to reflect Franklin's small population and niche appeal rather than the dynamics of a metropolitan suburb.
Who lives here
Demographics
ABS Census 2021 figures for Franklin, TAS 7113.
Population
1,301
residents (2021)
Median age
52
years
Household income
$1,205
median, per week
Median rent
$315
per week
Median mortgage
$1,300
per month
Mortgage / income
25%
comfortable
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics, Census of Population and Housing 2021. Suburb-level (SAL) aggregates.
Education
Schools in Franklin
Government school catchment
Recent results
Recently sold in Franklin
$746k
11 Old Road
Sold ~July 2026
$240k
2 Heriots Rise
Sold ~July 2026
$270k
7A New Road
Sold ~July 2026
$275k
2 Deering Street
Sold ~June 2026
$350k
2 Lloyds Road
Sold ~June 2026
Sold prices as published on the original listing; some may reflect the last advertised price. Dates are approximate.
Explore the area
Properties & amenities in Franklin
Compare the area
Price map around Franklin
Every listing for sale near Franklin, coloured by price — so you can see how it stacks up against the streets and suburbs next door.
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Nearby suburbs
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Common questions
Franklin suburb FAQ
Is Franklin a good place to live?
Franklin is a historic riverside town in the Huon Valley, Tasmania. Franklin is an established residential suburb in TAS, with a population of around 1,301 and 1 school in the area.
What is the population of Franklin?
Franklin has a population of 1,301 (ABS 2021 Census), with a median age of 52.
What schools are in Franklin?
There is 1 school in or near Franklin, including Franklin Primary School.
What suburbs are near Franklin?
Suburbs near Franklin include Castle Forbes Bay, Glaziers Bay and Port Huon.
Fresh to market
New this week in Franklin
9 Acres of Peace, Views, and Potential
Modern Home within Historic Riverside Town
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