Bell Post Hill

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

Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validations, the suburb of Bell Post Hill's population was estimated at around 5,013 as of Feb 2026. This reflected a decrease of 70 people from the 2021 Census figure of 5,083. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of resident population at 4,906 in June 2024, along with 21 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a population density ratio of 839 persons per square kilometer, comparable to averages seen across other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth in recent periods for Bell Post Hill.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area. For areas not covered, they utilise VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas until 2041. Future trends indicate a significant population increase in the top quartile of national regional areas, with Bell Post Hill expected to grow by 1,074 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 19.3% over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Bell Post Hill is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Bell Post Hill has seen minimal residential development activity with only 3 dwelling approvals annually over the past five years, totalling 19. This low level of development reflects the rural nature of the area where housing needs drive development rather than market demand. With such low numbers, yearly growth figures can vary significantly based on individual projects.

Bell Post Hill has substantially lower development levels compared to Rest of Vic and national averages. Recent construction consists of 25% standalone homes and 75% medium to high-density housing, marking a significant shift from the current 92% houses. This trend suggests diminishing developable land availability and responds to evolving lifestyle preferences and affordability needs. The area has an estimated 848 people per dwelling approval, indicating its quiet development environment. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Bell Post Hill is expected to grow by 967 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to keep up with population growth, potentially increasing buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Looking ahead, Bell Post Hill is expected to grow by 967 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.

Bell Post Hill has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified seven projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones are Northern Geelong Industrial Precinct, Bell Park / Bell Post Hill Enhanced Early Years and Community Hub, Viva Energy Geelong Refinery Upgrades, and Geelong Ring Road - Stage 4C (Heales Road to Anglesea Road). The following details those 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.

AreaSearch assessment indicates Bell Post Hill faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Bell Post Hill has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 5.7%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 2,512 residents are employed, while the unemployment rate is 2.0% higher than Regional Vic.'s rate of 3.7%.

Workforce participation is similar to Regional Vic.'s 61.5%. Census responses indicate that a moderate 16.2% of residents work from home, with Covid-19 lockdown impacts considered. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, construction, and retail trade. The area has strong specialization in construction, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing employs just 1.1% of local workers, below Regional Vic.'s 7.5%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census working population to local population counts. Over a 12-month period ending December 2025, labour force decreased by 0.6%, employment decreased by 0.9%, causing unemployment to rise by 0.3 percentage points in Bell Post Hill. This contrasts with Regional Vic., where employment contracted by 0.6%, the labour force fell by 0.7%, and unemployment fell by 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Bell Post Hill's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Bell Post Hill has lower median and average incomes compared to national figures. The suburb's median income is $51,308 while the average stands at $62,831. In contrast, Regional Vic.'s median income is $50,954 with an average of $62,728. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for Bell Post Hill are approximately $55,541 (median) and $68,015 (average) by September 2025. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Bell Post Hill all fall between the 23rd to 25th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals that the majority of residents, 30.5% or 1,528 people, earn within the $1,500 - $2,999 bracket, mirroring regional levels where 30.3% occupy this bracket. After housing costs, 85.3% of income remains, ranking at the 27th percentile nationally.

Bell Post Hill is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Bell Post Hill's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 92.0% houses and 8.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional Vic.'s 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Bell Post Hill stood at 44.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 30.7% and rented ones at 25.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,600, higher than Regional Vic.'s average of $1,430. Median weekly rent in Bell Post Hill was $350, compared to Regional Vic.'s $285. Nationally, Bell Post Hill's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,600 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were also lower at $350 compared to the national figure of $375.

Bell Post Hill has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 69.5% of all households, consisting of 25.5% couples with children, 28.5% couples without children, and 14.5% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 30.5%, with lone person households at 27.7% and group households making up 2.6% of the total. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Regional Vic. average.

The educational profile of Bell Post Hill exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 17.7%, significantly lower than Victoria's average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.1%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 37.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas account for 10.8% and certificates for 26.7%. Educational participation is high at 25.7%, including 8.3% in primary education, 6.7% in secondary education, and 3.7% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 25.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.3% in primary education, 6.7% in secondary education, and 3.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Bell Post Hill has 20 active public transport stops. These are served by two routes, offering a total of 505 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated good, with residents typically living 260 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily, predominantly using cars (92%). On average, there are 1.4 vehicles per dwelling. According to the 2021 Census, 16.2% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 72 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 25 weekly trips per stop.

Bell Post Hill's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Bell Post Hill's health data shows positive outcomes, aligning with national benchmarks for mortality rates and health conditions.

Common health issues affect both young and old alike, with mental health problems impacting 8.6% of residents and arthritis affecting 8.4%. Approximately 52% (~2,591 people) have private health cover, lower than the Regional Vic average. Most residents (65.7%) report no medical ailments, slightly higher than the Regional Vic average of 63.4%. Working-age residents show a higher prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 21.6% (1,082 people) aged 65 and over, lower than Regional Vic's 23.9%. Senior health outcomes rank high nationally, even better than the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Bell Post Hill was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Bell Post Hill, surveyed in June 2016, exhibited higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 29.0% of residents born overseas and 27.5% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 59.2%, compared to 47.3% regionally. In terms of ancestry, Australians made up 23.2%, lower than the regional average of 29.6%.

Similarly, those of English descent comprised 19.4%, below the regional 30.7%. However, those identifying as 'Other' were substantially higher at 10.2%, compared to the regional 4.7%. Notable ethnic group disparities included Croatian (6.2% vs 0.4%), Macedonian (4.3% vs 0.2%), and Polish (2.0% vs 0.5%).

Bell Post Hill's median age exceeds the national pattern

At 41 years, Bell Post Hill's median age is lower than Regional Vic.'s average of 43 but higher than the national average of 38. The percentage of residents aged 25-34 is strong at 17.9%, compared to Regional Vic., while those aged 5-14 are less prevalent at 8.4%. Post-2021 Census data shows younger residents have lowered the median age by 1.3 years, from 42.3 to 41. The percentage of residents aged 25-34 has grown from 14.6% to 17.9%, while those aged 35-44 increased from 11.4% to 13.3%. Conversely, the percentage of residents aged 65-74 has declined from 12.5% to 10.7%, and those aged 5-14 have dropped from 9.8% to 8.4%. Population forecasts for Bell Post Hill in 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes, with the strongest growth projected for the 25-34 age group (45%), adding 402 residents to reach 1,300. Meanwhile, the 75-84 group is expected to contract by 29 residents.