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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
Sales Activity
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Population
Balmain East is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends
The population of the Balmain East statistical area (Lv2) is estimated to be around 1,946 as of November 2025. This reflects an increase of 46 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,900. The current resident population estimate of 1,925 by AreaSearch is based on analysis of latest ERP data release by ABS in June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 5,723 persons per square kilometer, placing the area within the top 10% nationally assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 72.0% of overall population gains recently.
For future projections, AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for covered SA2 areas and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 for uncovered areas. Growth rates by age group are applied to all areas from 2032 to 2041. By 2041, the Balmain East (SA2) is expected to increase by 167 persons, reflecting an overall increase of approximately 9.0% over the 17-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
The level of residential development activity in Balmain East is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch
Balmain East has seen minimal dwelling approvals in recent years. Specifically, AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates an estimated total of 3 homes approved over the past five financial years, ending June 2021. As of July 2026, no dwelling approvals have been recorded for Balmain East during the current financial year. This trend aligns with population decline in the area, maintaining adequate housing supply relative to demand and resulting in a balanced property market with diverse buyer options. Meanwhile, commercial development has remained active, with $1.5 million in approvals recorded so far in FY-26.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Infrastructure
Balmain East has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally
Changes to local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified three major projects likely impacting the region. Notable initiatives include Western Harbour Tunnel, Barangaroo Precinct, Central Barangaroo, and White Bay Power Station Redevelopment. The following details projects expected to have the most relevance:.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Barangaroo Precinct
A $9 billion world-class urban renewal project transforming 22 hectares of waterfront land. Following the official completion of Barangaroo South in October 2025, the final stage, Central Barangaroo, is now under construction. This 5.2-hectare sub-precinct, developed by Aqualand in partnership with Infrastructure NSW, will deliver 75,000sqm of residential space, a luxury hotel, and over 50 retail outlets. The precinct features the completed Barangaroo Reserve and the Sydney Metro Barangaroo Station, which opened in August 2024. Over 50% of the total precinct is dedicated to public open space, including the upcoming 1.85-hectare Harbour Park.
CBD and South East Light Rail
A 12 km light rail network featuring the L2 Randwick and L3 Kingsford lines, connecting Circular Quay to the south-eastern suburbs. The system includes 19 stops and 60 Alstom Citadis vehicles, utilizing wire-free APS technology through George Street to preserve the CBD's aesthetic. It serves as a high-capacity link to major hubs including UNSW, Prince of Wales Hospital, and the Moore Park sporting precinct. Following a complex construction period and legal settlements, full operations for both lines were established by early 2020.
Central Barangaroo
The final stage of the Barangaroo waterfront renewal, Central Barangaroo is being transformed into a 5.2-hectare mixed-use precinct by Aqualand. The project includes approximately 150 luxury apartments, a 200-room international hotel, 75,000 sqm of residential and commercial space, and over 50 retail and hospitality outlets. A key feature is the 1.85-hectare Harbour Park and a 270-metre pedestrian boulevard connecting Nawi Cove to Hickson Park. The development is fully integrated with the Sydney Metro Barangaroo Station. Following approval of Modification 9 in early 2025, main construction works are progressing with first stage completions targeted for 2030.
Bays West Precinct Master Plan
A NSW Government-led urban renewal project transforming 77 hectares of harbourside land into a mixed-use precinct. The transformation includes the restoration of the White Bay Power Station as a cultural hub, the construction of The Bays Metro Station (Sydney Metro West), and the delivery of 250 new homes and 5,400 jobs in Stage 1. Public exhibition for the broader Transport Oriented Development (TOD) rezoning is expected in 2025-2026, while the Power Station has already reopened as an arts and community landmark hosting major events like the Biennale of Sydney.
Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy
State-wide NSW planning reforms to enable diverse low and mid-rise housing, including dual occupancies, terraces, townhouses, and apartment buildings up to 6 storeys. The policy applies to residential zones within 800m of 171 nominated transport hubs and town centres. Stage 1 (dual occupancies) commenced 1 July 2024, and Stage 2 (mid-rise apartments and terraces) commenced 28 February 2025. In June 2025, further amendments adjusted aircraft noise thresholds and clarified storey definitions to expand the policy's reach. The initiative is expected to facilitate approximately 112,000 additional homes by 2030.
Sydney Metro
Australia's largest public transport project, comprising four main lines. As of February 2026, the City & Southwest M1 line is operational to Sydenham, with the Sydenham-to-Bankstown conversion reaching 80% completion and intensive dynamic train testing underway for a late 2026 opening. Sydney Metro West has achieved major tunneling milestones at Westmead, with fit-out contracts worth $11.5 billion signed to target a 2032 opening. The Western Sydney Airport line remains under heavy construction with stations and viaducts progressing for an opening aligned with the airport in late 2026.
The Bays Metro Station & Precinct
A transformative urban renewal project centered around the future Sydney Metro West station. It includes the adaptive reuse of the White Bay Power Station into a cultural hub, 4.16 hectares of public space, and a mixed-use precinct delivering approximately 5,400 jobs and an estimated 250 to 5,000 homes across various stages. The project aims to create a sustainable innovation corridor with critical rail connections to the Sydney CBD and Western Suburbs.
Western Harbour Tunnel
The Western Harbour Tunnel is a major 6.5 km twin three-lane motorway tunnel forming a third crossing of Sydney Harbour. It connects the WestConnex M4-M5 Link at Rozelle to the Warringah Freeway in Cammeray. Stage 1 (southern section) tunnelling was completed in February 2025. Stage 2, managed by Acciona, involves the use of two massive Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs) named Patyegarang and Barangaroo to excavate under the harbour, avoiding the need for dredging. TBM assembly is occurring in 2025 with harbour launch scheduled for 2026. The project will feature Australia's first tag-free tolling system.
Employment
Employment performance in Balmain East exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators
Balmain East has a highly educated workforce with notable representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate was 2.7% as of an unspecified date.
Over the past year, employment stability remained relatively consistent based on AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation. As of September 2025, 1,181 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate 1.5% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Workforce participation was standard at 62.6%, compared to Greater Sydney's 60.0%. Leading employment industries among residents included professional & technical, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance.
The area had a particularly notable concentration in professional & technical services, with employment levels at 1.9 times the regional average. Conversely, manufacturing employed only 2.2% of local workers, below Greater Sydney's 5.7%. Many residents appeared to commute elsewhere for work based on Census working population data. Between September 2024 and September 2025, labour force levels increased by 0.2%, while employment decreased by 0.1%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.3 percentage points in Balmain East. This contrasted with Greater Sydney, where employment rose by 2.1% and unemployment rose by 0.2 percentage points over the same period. As of 25-November-25, NSW's employment had contracted by 0.03%, losing 2,260 jobs, with a state unemployment rate of 3.9%. Nationally, the unemployment rate was 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Balmain East's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 7.7% over five years and 15.1% over ten years, though this was a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and did not account for localised population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis
AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Balmain East's median income among taxpayers is $85,006 and the average is $158,389. Nationally, these figures are exceptionally high compared to Greater Sydney's median of $60,817 and average of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $92,538 (median) and $172,422 (average). According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Balmain East rank highly nationally, between the 97th and 98th percentiles. Income distribution shows that 41.2% of residents earn over $4,000 per week, which is higher than regional trends where 30.9% fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 range. This affluence supports premium retail and service offerings in the suburb. High housing costs consume 16.5% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 96th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Balmain East displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with strong rates of outright home ownership
Balmain East's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 15.8% houses and 84.2% other types such as semi-detached units, apartments, and others. Home ownership in Balmain East stood at 34.6%, with mortgaged dwellings at 24.5% and rented ones at 40.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $4,333, and the median weekly rent was $617. Nationally, these figures are higher than the Australian averages of $1,863 for mortgage repayments and $375 for rents.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Balmain East features high concentrations of lone person households, with a median household size of 2.2 people
Family households constitute 64.0% of all households, including 24.5% couples with children, 32.3% couples without children, and 6.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 36.0%, with lone person households at 33.0% and group households comprising 3.6%. The median household size is 2.2 people.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Balmain East shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators
In Balmain East, the educational attainment is notably higher than national and state averages. Among residents aged 15 and above, 62.7% have university qualifications, compared to 30.4% in Australia and 32.2% in New South Wales (NSW). Bachelor degrees are the most common at 37.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 21.4% and graduate diplomas at 4.1%. Vocational pathways account for 17.1% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 8.2% and certificates at 8.9%.
Educational participation is high, with 26.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.2% in primary education, 8.2% in secondary education, and 6.3% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Balmain East has 15 operational public transport stops. These include both ferry and bus services, with a total of 6 unique routes running through the area. The combined weekly passenger trips across these routes amount to 3,875.
Residents enjoy excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 136 meters to the nearest stop. Daily service frequency across all routes is 553 trips, translating to about 258 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Balmain East's residents are extremely healthy with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions
Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Balmain East with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 89% of the total population (1,735 people), compared to the national average of 55.7%.
The most common medical conditions in the area are asthma and mental health issues, impacting 8.1 and 7.3% of residents respectively, while 73.4% declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 0% across Greater Sydney. As of 2021, 21.3% of residents are aged 65 and over (414 people). Health outcomes among seniors in the area perform even better than the general population in health metrics.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Balmain East was found to be slightly above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics
Balmain East had a cultural diversity above average, with 11.2% speaking a language other than English at home and 29.5% born overseas. Christianity was the main religion, comprising 42.2%. Judaism was overrepresented at 0.6%, compared to none across Greater Sydney.
In ancestry, the top groups were English (30.3%), Australian (19.0%), and Irish (12.6%). Welsh (0.9%) was notably overrepresented, as were French (1.0%) and Russian (0.5%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Balmain East hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide
The median age in Balmain East is 46 years, which is notably higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and also above the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to the Greater Sydney average, the 55-64 age cohort is over-represented at 15.0% locally, while the 25-34 age cohort is under-represented at 10.9%. According to the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age group has increased from 9.2% to 11.1%, and the 75 to 84 age cohort has grown from 6.2% to 7.7%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 age cohort has declined from 17.0% to 15.9%. Population forecasts for Balmain East indicate substantial demographic changes by 2041. The 85+ age cohort is projected to surge dramatically, expanding by 59 people (138%) from 42 to 102. The aging population dynamic is clear, with those aged 65 and above comprising 78% of the projected growth. Conversely, the 15 to 24 and 0 to 4 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.