Ballarat Central

An assessment of population growth drivers in Ballarat Central reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Based on analysis of Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) population updates for the broader area, the estimated population of Ballarat Central as of November 2025 is around 5,260. This reflects a decrease of 118 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 5,378. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 5,261 following examination of the latest Estimated Residential Population (ERP) data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 32 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio for Ballarat Central is 1,391 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The primary driver of population growth was overseas migration during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each Statistical Area Level 2 (SA2) area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises the Victorian State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusting using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Looking ahead, significant population increase is forecast for the top quartile of locations outside capital cities. Ballarat Central is expected to grow by 1,206 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 22.4% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Ballarat Central according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Ballarat Central has received approximately 22 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling around 114 homes. In FY-26, 20 approvals have been recorded so far. The average construction value for new properties is $666,000. This year, $32.8 million in commercial approvals have been registered.

Compared to the Rest of Vic., Ballarat Central shows significantly reduced construction activity (65.0% below regional average per person). Recent construction comprises 35.0% detached dwellings and 65.0% attached dwellings. The location has approximately 158 people per dwelling approval, indicating a low density market. Population forecasts suggest Ballarat Central will gain 1,181 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth.

Population forecasts indicate Ballarat Central will gain 1,181 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Ballarat Central has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 15 projects that are expected to impact the area. Among these key projects are Ballarat Base Hospital Redevelopment, Federation University SMB Campus Redevelopment, Ballarat Co-Operative Education and Skills City Centre, and Albert Street Social Housing Development. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

Denotes AI-based impression for illustrative purposes only, not to be taken as definitive under any circumstances. Please follow links and conduct other investigations from the project's source for actual imagery. Developers and project owners wishing us to use original imagery please Contact Us and we will do so.

Employment conditions in Ballarat Central remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

Ballarat Central has a highly educated workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate is 3.7% and there was an estimated 7.4% employment growth in the past year based on AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data.

As of June 2025, 2902 residents are employed while the unemployment rate aligns with Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation is 61.9%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. Leading employment industries include health care & social assistance, education & training, and accommodation & food. Health care & social assistance has particularly notable concentration, with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented, with only 0.9% of Ballarat Central's workforce compared to Rest of Vic.'s 7.5%. There are 2.2 workers for every resident, indicating the area functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. In the 12-month period ending June 2025, employment increased by 7.4% alongside labour force increasing by 6.8%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Vic. experienced employment decline of 0.9% and labour force decline of 0.4%, with a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 offer further insight into potential future demand within Ballarat Central. These projections suggest national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates differing significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Ballarat Central's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.2% over five years and 15.0% over ten years.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's data for financial year 2022 shows Ballarat Central's median income was $49,479 and average income was $63,305. This is compared to Rest of Vic.'s median income of $48,741 and average income of $60,693. Based on a 12.16% increase from financial year 2022 to September 2025 (as per Wage Price Index growth), estimated current incomes are approximately $55,496 median and $71,003 average for Ballarat Central. Census 2021 data ranks personal income at the 53rd percentile ($821 weekly) and household income at the 32nd percentile in the area. Income distribution reveals that 29.4% of locals (1,546 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 category, similar to the broader area's 30.3%. After housing costs, 84.9% of income remains for other expenses. Ballarat Central's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Ballarat Central is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Ballarat Central, as per the latest Census evaluation, 74.4% of dwellings were houses while 25.6% consisted of other types such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This contrasts with Non-Metro Vic., which had a higher proportion of houses at 85.6% and lower percentage of other dwellings at 14.5%. Home ownership in Ballarat Central was similar to Non-Metro Vic., standing at 33.1%, with mortgaged properties at 26.1% and rented dwellings at 40.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $1,600, surpassing Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,499. Weekly rent figures were recorded at $300, matching Non-Metro Vic.'s figure. Nationally, Ballarat Central's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Ballarat Central features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households comprise 53.6% of all households, including 19.7% couples with children, 23.2% couples without children, and 9.4% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 46.4%, with lone person households at 40.1% and group households making up 6.6% of the total. The median household size is 2.1 people, smaller than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.4.

Ballarat Central shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

In Ballarat Central, educational attainment is notably high among residents aged 15 and above. A total of 41.3% hold university qualifications, compared to 21.7% in the rest of Victoria and 24.6% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 24.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.0%) and graduate diplomas (5.9%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 28.8% of residents holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas (11.3%) and certificates (17.5%). Educational participation is high, with 29.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 9.1% in tertiary education, 7.7% in primary education, and 7.0% pursuing secondary education. Ballarat Central has four schools with a combined enrollment of 498 students as of the latest data. The area demonstrates above-average socio-educational conditions, with an ICSEA score of 1076. The educational mix includes two primary schools, one secondary school, and one K-12 school. School places per 100 residents stand at 9.5, below the regional average of 17.9, indicating some students may attend schools in adjacent areas. Note that for schools showing 'n/a' in enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility

Ballarat Central has 54 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 23 different routes that together facilitate 3,339 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of the transport system is rated as excellent, with residents on average located just 165 meters from their nearest stop.

On a daily basis, there are an average of 477 trips across all routes, equating to around 61 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Ballarat Central is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Ballarat Central faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent among both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover is held by approximately 52% of the total population (~2,728 people), slightly lower than the average SA2 area. Mental health issues affect 12.2% of residents, while asthma impacts 8.7%. Conversely, 62.8% report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 62.3% across Rest of Vic. The area has 17.9% of residents aged 65 and over (941 people). Health outcomes among seniors are above average, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

Ballarat Central ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Ballarat Central had a cultural diversity index below the average, with 88.2% of its population being citizens, 86.2% born in Australia, and 91.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 42.2% of Ballarat Central's population. The most significant overrepresentation was seen in the 'Other' category, comprising 1.4% compared to 1.0% across Rest of Vic..

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (29.4%), Australian (24.8%), and Irish (14.2%). Some other ethnic groups showed notable divergences: Scottish at 10.3% (vs regional 9.2%), Dutch at 1.7% (vs 2.1%), and Sri Lankan at 0.3% (vs 0.1%).

Ballarat Central hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Ballarat Central is 40 years, which is slightly below Rest of Vic.'s average of 43 but above Australia's median of 38. The 25-34 age group makes up 15.6% of the population in Ballarat Central, higher than Rest of Vic.'s average, while the 5-14 age group is under-represented at 9.2%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 13.0% to 13.9%, while the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 13.2% to 11.9%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant changes in Ballarat Central's demographics. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 581 people (71%), from 820 to 1,402, while the 55-64 cohort is expected to decline by 28 people.