It is located about 18 kilometres (11 mi) south-west of the town of Wynyard.

The 2016 census determined a population of 212 for the state suburb of Calder.

[1] The locality was named for James Erskine Calder, the Surveyor General of Tasmania between 1859 and 1870.

[2] The Inglis River forms most of the western boundary.

[3] The C235 route (Calder Road) enters from the north-east and runs south to the centre before exiting to the east as Kellatier Road.