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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
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Belgrave has an estimated 3,862 residents, down from 3,894 at the 2021 Census. The population has thinned by an average 0.9% a year over five years, slower than 95% of areas nationally. That puts 947 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
In the suburb of Belgrave, the population is estimated at approximately 3,862 as of May 2026. This figure comes from an evaluation of ABS population updates for the wider region and new address verifications by AreaSearch. Compared to the 2021 Census, which counted 3,894 residents, this represents a drop of 32 people (0.8%). The calculation is based on the resident count of 3,862, calculated by AreaSearch using the ABS June 2025 ERP release alongside 6 validated new addresses registered since the Census. This count yields a density of 946 persons per square kilometer, which aligns closely with typical averages recorded in AreaSearch assessments.
Natural growth was the primary driver of population gains, accounting for roughly 53.0% of the increases during the most recent periods. For future planning, AreaSearch applies the 2024 population projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia, using 2022 as the base point. For locations not covered by those projections, regional and LGA figures from the Victorian State Government's 2023 release are used, adjusted by weighting the growth from local government areas to the SA2 level. The growth rates by age derived from these weights are also applied to the years between 2032 and 2041. Based on this methodology, the suburb of Belgrave is projected to experience a demographic contraction, with the overall population shrinking by 107 persons by 2041. Despite this overall reduction, positive shifts are expected in particular age groups, especially the 75 to 84 cohort, which is forecast to increase by 110 people.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Analysis of building approval statistics shows that the local area sees an average of 3 new residences approved annually, with a total of 15 residential approvals over the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and 2 approvals recorded during the current FY-26 period. As the population has contracted recently, the construction of new dwellings has likely matched local demand, providing options for buyers. The average estimated value of these new builds is $962,000, indicating that developers are focusing on the higher-end market. Additionally, commercial development approvals have reached $44.8 million this financial year, pointing to a high level of local business investment.
Residential building activity is minimal compared to the wider metropolitan region, running 81.0% below the per capita average for Greater Melbourne. This low supply of new homes tends to support valuations and demand for existing houses. Approval rates also sit below national averages, highlighting the established state of the area and potential zoning limitations. Furthermore, recent approvals consist entirely of standalone houses, preserving the low-density character of the neighborhood. The ratio of 7737 people per single dwelling approval highlights the quiet nature of local construction. Given that the resident count is projected to remain steady or contract, pressure on housing availability should ease, which may present favorable conditions for prospective property buyers.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Belgrave
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 29 current infrastructure and development projects close to Belgrave, worth an estimated $925 million. 7 are already under construction and 6 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, sports & recreation and transport & logistics. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local infrastructure projects, major developments, and urban planning changes represent key influences on the performance of a suburb. In total, no projects have been identified by AreaSearch as having an influence on this area. Major regional initiatives include the Angliss Hospital Expansion, the Dandenong Ranges Environmental Protection Program, the South East Melbourne Recycled Water Supply Infrastructure Upgrades, and the Yarra Ranges Council Drainage Infrastructure Program.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Angliss Hospital Expansion
A $112 million major redevelopment featuring a new four-storey, all-electric tower. The expansion delivers a 32-bed inpatient unit, four state-of-the-art operating theatres, a new central sterile supply department, and expanded outpatient and allied health services. Major structural works were completed in July 2025, and the project is currently in the fit-out and final construction phase to increase surgical capacity for the Knox and Yarra Ranges communities.
Kings Park Masterplan
Knox City Council's long-term master plan to upgrade Kings Park, a key sporting and recreation precinct. Stage 1 delivers a fully fenced dog park featuring two distinct off-leash zones, sealed path circuits, picnic seating, drinking fountains, and site drainage improvements. Future stages for parkland enhancement remain subject to council planning and annual capital works budgeting.
Woolworths Ferntree Gully eCommerce Expansion
A comprehensive 14-week upgrade project to enhance the store's direct-to-boot operations and eCommerce capabilities. The initiative focused on expanding store facilities and improving click-and-collect services through major store extension, civil works, installation of new precast panels, structural steel frameworks, a new canopy, and significant refrigeration and cool room works. All construction was executed within a live trading environment to minimize disruption to daily store operations.
Ferntree Gully Village Creative Placemaking Plan
Community-driven arts and cultural development project transforming public spaces in Ferntree Gully Village through murals, sculptures, lightbox galleries, and parklet upgrades to enhance safety, community connection, and local pride.
Ferntree Gully Station Street Infrastructure Upgrade
Road renewal program for Station Street, Ferntree Gully from Wyuna Street to Alpine Street. The $790,000 project includes road pavement patching, full asphalt resurfacing, stormwater drainage upgrades, replacement of concrete kerbs, channels, and vehicle crossings, concrete infills where necessary, and other associated minor works to support local businesses.
Bluett Reserve Playground Upgrade
As part of the 2025-26 capital works program, Knox City Council is investing in the renewal of local playgrounds, including the one at Bluett Reserve in Ferntree Gully. The project aims to improve the recreational facilities for the local community.
Ferntree Gully Community Housing
A 79-unit medium density development consisting of 41 one-bedroom units, 38 two-bedroom units, and 6 three-bedroom units, located on the site of the old Ferntree Gully Primary School. Part of the Nation Building and Economic Stimulus Project, jointly funded by Federal and State Governments. Residents are involved in a community vegetable garden and linked with local community activities through partnerships with Mountain District Learning Centre.
Burwood Highway-McMahons Road Intersection Upgrade
Upgraded intersection at Burwood Highway, McMahons Road and Clyde Street in Ferntree Gully completed in 2024. Includes extra lanes in each direction on Burwood Highway, new traffic lights with dedicated pedestrian crossings, more street lights, dedicated right turn lanes, shared left turn and through lanes, and a dedicated left turn lane into Clyde Street with improved business access. Improves safety, reduces crashes, and enhances traffic flow.
2,178 residents of Belgrave are employed, from a labour force of 2,297. Unemployment sits at 5.2%, with participation at 73.5%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.7% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,882, about 75% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local workforce is characterized by high levels of education, strong representation in essential services, an unemployment rate of 5.2%, and employment growth estimated at 1.1% over the past year. As of March 2026, there are 2,178 working residents. The unemployment rate is 0.4% higher than the Greater Melbourne level of 4.8%, while the participation rate is relatively typical at 73.5% compared to the metropolitan average of 70.2%. Census data indicates that 36.1% of working residents performed their jobs from home, though this figure was likely influenced by pandemic containment measures.
The primary employment sectors for residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. The area has a high concentration of workers in education & training, with its employment share in this sector measuring 1.6 times the regional average. Conversely, transport, postal & warehousing accounts for only 3.1% of the local workforce, compared to 5.2% across Greater Melbourne. The imbalance between the local working population and those employed within the boundaries suggests that this residential neighborhood offers few local jobs. Review of SALM and ABS statistics aggregated from the broader area shows that employment grew by 1.1% over the 12-month period, while the labor force expanded by 1.4%, leading to a rise of 0.2 percentage points in the unemployment rate. Over the same timeframe, Greater Melbourne saw employment rise by 2.1% and the labor force grow by 2.3%, with its unemployment rate also increasing by 0.2 percentage points. National forecasts released by Jobs and Skills Australia in May-25 project employment trends over five and ten years, which have been aligned with the local workforce profile. While nationwide employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the expansion varies by sector. Applying these trends to the local industry mix suggests employment could rise by 6.7% over five years and 13.8% over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Belgrave is $2,202 a week (about $115,000 a year), with median personal income at $959 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $60,426 a year against an average of $78,144. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
Tax office data for the 2023 financial year indicates a median taxpayer income of $60,426 and an average income of $78,144. These figures are high on a national scale and exceed the Greater Melbourne median of $57,688 and average of $75,164. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates for March 2026 stand at roughly $66,239 for the median and $85,661 for the average. Census records from 2021 place personal, family, and household incomes in the 74th to 78th percentiles nationally. The largest income bracket consists of 34.9% of taxpayers earning between $1,500 and $2,999 weekly, representing 1,347 individuals, which is comparable to the metropolitan share of 32.8%.
High-income households earning over $3,000 weekly account for 31.3% of the total, supporting local discretionary spending. After housing expenses, households keep 86.9% of their income, and the SEIFA index ranks the area in the 7th decile for economic resources.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Belgrave had 1,414 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 99% detached houses and 0% apartments. 60% are owned with a mortgage, 8% rented and 32% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $401 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,863 a month. Rent absorbs 18.2% of household income here and mortgage repayments 19.5%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the time of the last Census, residential properties consisted of 99.2% standalone houses and 0.8% alternative dwellings, such as apartments or townhouses, compared to the Melbourne metropolitan split of 67.9% houses and 32.1% other housing types. Home ownership rates were equivalent to the metropolitan average at 32.1%, while mortgaged properties accounted for 60.3% and rented properties made up 7.5% of homes. The median monthly mortgage payment was $1,863, which is below the Melbourne metropolitan average of $2,000. The median weekly rent was $401, compared to $390 across the wider city.
Nationally, local mortgage costs match the Australian median of $1,863, while weekly rents exceed the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Belgrave counted 1,414 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.7 people each. 37% are couples with children, against 27% couples without children. 19% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.5 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up 78.6% of households, consisting of couples with children at 36.5%, couples without children at 27.0%, and single parent families at 13.8%. The remaining 21.4% are non-family households, with lone person households representing 18.8% and group living situations comprising 2.8%. The median household occupancy is 2.7 people, which is slightly higher than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
37.3% of adults in Belgrave hold a university qualification, including 22.6% with a bachelor degree and 9.3% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 90% of areas nationally. A further 20.9% hold a vocational qualification. 3 schools serve the area, with 1,573 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,084 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Local levels of educational attainment are high, with 37.3% of residents aged 15 and over holding a university degree, compared to 23.8% in the SA3 region and 30.4% across Australia. Bachelor degrees are held by 22.6% of residents, followed by postgraduate degrees at 9.3% and graduate diplomas at 5.4%. Vocational qualifications are also common, with 33.9% of residents aged 15 and over holding technical credentials, including 13.0% with advanced diplomas and 20.9% with certificates. A significant proportion of the population is engaged in study, with 28.7% of residents enrolled in formal education.
Primary school students represent 10.1% of the population, secondary students account for 7.6%, and tertiary students make up 4.9%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Belgrave reaches 36 stops on 28 routes, timetabled for about 4,600 services a week. The typical home sits about 240 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.6 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Analysis of the local transit network shows 36 active bus stops operating in the area. These stops are serviced by 28 routes, which provide a total of 4,575 weekly passenger journeys. Public transport coverage is good, with residents living an average of 239 meters from the nearest stop. The suburb is primarily residential, and most workers commute to other areas, with 88% driving and 7% using the train. Vehicle ownership stands at an average of 1.6 cars per household, which is above the metropolitan average. Census data from 2021 shows that 36.1% of residents worked from home, although this figure may reflect pandemic-era conditions.
Services run at an average of 653 trips per day across the network, which translates to approximately 127 weekly trips per transit stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
68.6% of residents in Belgrave report no long-term health condition. 4.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 57.7% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.7 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
General health metrics for the local population are positive. Analysis of mortality rates and chronic conditions shows results that are consistent with national averages, with low rates of common health issues across younger and older demographics. Private health insurance coverage is high, with approximately 58% of residents, or about 2,227 people, holding policies. The most frequently reported medical conditions are mental health concerns and asthma, which affect 11.2% and 8.4% of residents, respectively. A total of 68.6% of the population reported no chronic medical conditions, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne.
Residents of working age exhibit higher than average rates of chronic illness. The area has an older demographic profile, with 16.2% of residents aged 65 and over (625 people), compared to 15.0% for the metropolitan area. Health outcomes among this older group are particularly strong, ranking higher than national averages.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Belgrave is largely Australian-born, at 80.9% of residents, with 7.2% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (30.4%) and Australian (25.1%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity metrics are below the regional average, with 80.9% of residents born in Australia, 91.1% holding citizenship, and 92.8% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 26.6% of the population. Judaism shows a slight local overrepresentation at 0.2% of the population compared to 1.0% across Greater Melbourne. In terms of family background, the most common ancestries are English at 30.4% of the population, which is higher than the regional average of 20.1%, Australian at 25.1%, which is higher than the regional average of 18.4%, and Irish at 9.7%.
Other ancestries showing local concentration relative to the wider region include Dutch at 3.1% compared to 1.2% regionally, French at 0.9% compared to 0.5%, and Polish at 1.0% compared to 0.8%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Belgrave is 38. 22.2% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The median age of residents is 38 years, which is close to the Greater Melbourne average of 37 years and matches the national median of 38 years. The local area has a higher share of people aged 45 to 54 (14.7%) and a lower share of people aged 25 to 34 (10.3%) compared to the wider metropolitan area. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 75 to 84 grew from 3.2% to 5.2%, and the 15 to 24 cohort rose from 10.5% to 11.9%. The 25 to 34 age bracket decreased from 12.6% to 10.3%.
Projections for 2041 indicate that the 75 to 84 age group will grow by 44% (88 people), rising from 200 to 289. Residents aged 65 and over will account for 81% of the projected population growth, while declines are forecast for the 25 to 34 and 55 to 64 age groups.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Belgrave
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 months ago all 2 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 6 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (3,894 at the 2021 Census → 3,862 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL20188). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.