| Id | Name | Type | Places | Approval | Distance (Km) | Day Rate | Availability |
|---|
* Click centres on the map for more detail and custom analysis options.
Key Metrics
South Melbourne / Greater Melbourne
LDC Providers
7
1,697
Total LDC Places
563
159,192
Total Population
14,387
5,521,435
Persons Per Place
25.6
-
Avg Centre Age
12.9 yrs
10 yrs
Population 0-4
569
322,457
0-4 Per LDC Place
1.01
1.9
Workforce Impact
Exceptional
Standard
School Attendance
910
-
School Per LDC Place
1.62
5.1
Avg LDC Fee ($/day)
$183
$164
Other Places (PSK/OOSH)
137
-
SOURCE: ACECQA, StartingBlocks, ABS data analysed by AreaSearch
Last updated:
Approvals Pipeline
Childcare development approvals near South Melbourne
Development applications around South Melbourne
Development approvals is a new addition to AreaSearch.
We’re actively expanding council coverage and refining the dataset — details and statuses for some councils may be partial. Check back regularly for the latest pipeline.
CC Approvals
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In the local catchment
Proposed Places
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Where disclosed
Under Assessment
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Awaiting determination
Determined
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Approved or decided
Approvals pipeline
Status, location, timing and project scale
Loading childcare approvals…
| Lodged | Address | Description | Places | Distance | Status |
|---|
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
South Melbourne Child Care FAQ
What is the Child Care supply composition of South Melbourne?
As of our last update on May 24, 2026, there are 15 child care centres in South Melbourne. Of these, 7 centres provide Long Day Care offering 563 places, there is one Out of Hours School Care centre that has 70 places, Preschool/Kindergarten is serviced by a facility with 67 places, and 6 centres provide other child care services. The area is also serviced by 5 schools, collectively accommodating 910 enrolments.
What population do these centres in South Melbourne service?
AreaSearch's latest population estimate for South Melbourne as at May 2026 stands at a total of 14,387 people, of this 569 are estimated to be children under five years of age.
Why do your population numbers differ from Census figures for South Melbourne?
Some areas have changed considerably since the 2021 Census was undertaken. At the 2021 Census South Melbourne was assessed as having 11,548 people with 482 of these (4.2%) being children under 5yo. South Melbourne has seen 1757 new addresses added since this time, which, combined with broader ABS population estimates for resident population, leads us to estimate that South Melbourne has experienced population growth of approximately 2,839 people from the 2021 Census.
How does the ratio of children per LDC place in South Melbourne compare to those in Greater Melbourne?
In South Melbourne, our latest analysis shows there are 1 resident children under 5yo per LDC place. This figure is significantly lower than the 1.9 children per place across Greater Melbourne.
How do childcare fees in South Melbourne relate to those in Greater Melbourne?
Childcare fees in South Melbourne average $183, which is slightly higher than the regional average of $164 in Greater Melbourne.
How does the ratio of school population per LDC place compare in South Melbourne and Greater Melbourne?
In South Melbourne, there are 1.6 students per LDC place. This figure is significantly lower than the 5.1 students per LDC place in Greater Melbourne.
What is the average age of Long Daycare Centres in South Melbourne?
The average LDC in South Melbourne was approved 12.9 years ago, while across Greater Melbourne the typical centre approval is 10 years old.
Is the local workforce a significant driver of additional child care demand for South Melbourne?
Yes, workforce activity is exceptional in this area and is a major driver of child care demand.
Who would typically use analysis such as this?
Childcare operators, developers, investors and financiers would typically conduct a thorough child care supply and demand analysis (SDA) on South Melbourne before allocating the significant amount of capital required. Boundary-based analysis such as this is often used as an initial guide however, and analysis would be undertaken on the specific site adopting a radial, travel time, or custom catchment to take into account nearby competition and demand drivers that would influence a centre's performance.
Find & Assess a Centre
Search by name, postcode, or address to explore supply & demand for any child care or school catchment in Australia.
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Nearby suburbs & deeper analysis
What will drive demand from here?
Centre supply and current places are an output, not a leading indicator. For the demand-side drivers of this area — population growth, 0–4 cohort trends, dwelling supply, workforce participation and competing development pipeline — open the relevant deep-dive page.