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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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Bittern has an estimated 4,108 residents, down from 4,276 at the 2021 Census — a change of 168 people, or 3.9%. The population has thinned by an average 0.8% a year over five years, slower than 99% of areas nationally. That puts 238 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
According to AreaSearch's evaluation of wider ABS demographic figures alongside post-Census address validations, the suburb of Bittern records a resident count of approximately 4,108 as of Aug 2026. Comparing this to the 2021 Census tally of 4,276 people, the local community has contracted by 168 people (3.9%). This estimate stems from an ERP figure of 4,104 derived from the ABS release of June 2025, combined with 16 validated new addresses identified following the Census. The suburb exhibits a population density of 238 persons per square kilometer, indicating generous living space and room for upcoming residential expansion.
Inbound overseas migration served as the foremost growth driver in recent times, accounting for roughly 55.00000000000001% of total demographic additions. Projections for the suburb of Bittern rely on 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia models using 2022 as their benchmark year, supplemented where necessary by 2023 VIC State Government Regional/LGA releases via weighted growth aggregation from LGA down to SA2 zones. These aggregated age-bracket growth trajectories are applied to the 2032 to 2041 period. Looking ahead, the suburb of Bittern is slated for demographic expansion that exceeds the national median, gaining an estimated 570 persons by 2041 under SA2-level aggregation, which equates to an overall gain of 13.8% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
116 new dwellings have been approved in Bittern over the past five years, an average of 23 a year. That is 5.4 approvals per 1,000 residents. Of the 23 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 70% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 2, well below that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Analysis of ABS building approvals by AreaSearch shows that Bittern averages roughly 23 approved dwellings each year, totaling approximately 116 residential approvals over the 5 financial years from FY-21 through FY-25, alongside 2 approvals recorded during FY-25 to date. Against a backdrop of local population decline, residential construction has comfortably satisfied purchaser demand. Approved dwellings feature an average expected construction cost of $580,000—surpassing regional averages and pointing to premium builds. Meanwhile, commercial planning approvals have reached $6.0 million during this financial year, underscoring the predominantly residential focus of the locality.
Residential development in the pipeline is divided between 70.0% detached homes and 30.0% attached housing formats, introducing apartments and townhouses to cater to various budgets, from compact dwellings to family properties. This marks a clear departure from the established neighborhood fabric, in which houses comprise 94.0%, signaling fewer greenfield opportunities alongside shifting consumer needs for diverse, accessible price points. A figure of 2068 people per residential approval highlights an unhurried, low-intensity construction pipeline. Projections from the most recent AreaSearch quarterly update anticipate that Bittern will add 566 residents by 2041. Present construction trends indicate that future housing supply will comfortably accommodate this demand, supporting healthy market conditions for buyers and potentially enabling greater population expansion than currently anticipated.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Bittern
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 2 current infrastructure and development projects inside Bittern, worth an estimated $2 billion. A further 60 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $6.96 billion. 13 are already under construction and 16 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, ports, marinas, fisheries & aquaculture 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
Infrastructure upgrades and regional development initiatives play a pivotal role in shaping local outcomes. AreaSearch has pinpointed 2 key projects positioned to influence the district, with noteworthy works encompassing the Mornington Peninsula Residential Development Program, Western Port Marine Infrastructure, HMAS Cerberus Redevelopment, and Stony Point Line Service Improvements.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Port of Hastings Development Strategy
The 2055 Port Development Strategy outlines the 30-year vision for expanding operations at the Port of Hastings, including potential container port development, industrial expansion, and its key role as the Victorian Renewable Energy Terminal.
Mornington Peninsula Housing and Settlement Strategy
Strategic residential development program and Housing and Settlement Strategy guiding future housing and population growth across the Mornington Peninsula to 2036. The strategy aims to manage the delivery of approximately 24,000 new dwellings while protecting the region's character.
Baabak Hastings Early Parenting Centre
Completed early parenting centre with 10 residential family units, 4 day-stay places, kitchen and dining area, playrooms, multi-purpose rooms, outdoor play areas and landscaping at 185 High Street, Hastings. Officially named Baabak Hastings Early Parenting Centre, using a Boonwurrung word meaning caring or nourishing a child. Delivered by the Victorian Health Building Authority in partnership with the Queen Elizabeth Centre (QEC), with support from Peninsula Health, Brand Architects and builder SJ Higgins. The centre is now open and welcoming families on the Mornington Peninsula, part of a wider more than $168 million state early parenting centres expansion and upgrade program.
Hastings Town Centre Structure Plan
Council-adopted structure plan guiding land use, urban design and access in Hastings town centre. Focus areas include strengthening High Street as the civic and retail spine, improving pedestrian and cycling links, and enabling additional retail/commercial activity while supporting housing in non-residential precincts. Incorporated into the Mornington Peninsula Planning Scheme via Amendment C190morn.
Hastings Foreshore Masterplan Implementation
A council-adopted 2023 masterplan for the Hastings Foreshore extending from Hastings South to the northern end of Fred Smith Reserve. Staged delivery includes landscaping and path network upgrades in the Northern Foreshore area (now complete), seating and planting improvements, and car park maintenance. Concept designs are underway for a Flexible Events area capable of hosting markets, festivals, and concerts while preserving the existing foreshore character.
Port of Hastings Marine Infrastructure and Western Port Development
Ongoing planning and staged marine infrastructure upgrades across the Port of Hastings and Western Port. Current priorities include long-term port development, infrastructure supporting renewable energy supply chains, maintenance of commercial marine assets, protection of the internationally significant Ramsar wetlands, and continued improvements to boating and maritime infrastructure. The Port Development Strategy 2055 is guiding future investment while environmental assessment continues for major new marine infrastructure.
Peninsula Parklands
Over 50s land lease community providing low maintenance, pet friendly living with facilities such as a community centre, games room, library, BBQ areas, mens shed and community garden. Located close to shops, transport and medical services in Hastings on the Mornington Peninsula.
Henderson Grove
Boutique house-and-land estate delivering 70 residential lots, with 30 retained by Defence Housing Australia for Navy families stationed at HMAS Cerberus. Retail lots sold out; community features tree-lined streets and convenient access to Hastings town centre and transport.
2,025 residents of Bittern are employed, from a labour force of 2,110. Unemployment sits at 4.0%, with participation at 60.9%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.0% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 3,444, about 84% 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
Bittern maintains an even distribution between blue-collar and white-collar roles, with building and trade disciplines showing notable concentration, while local unemployment stands at 4.0% following a steady year of labor outcomes based on AreaSearch statistical aggregations. By March 2026, 2,025 residents were employed, and the local jobless rate settled 0.7% below the 4.8% recorded across Greater Melbourne. However, workforce participation was comparatively subdued at 60.9% versus 70.1% for Greater Melbourne. Census records indicated that 17.7% of workers operated from home, a metric potentially shaped by Covid-19 restrictions. The primary employment fields for the local workforce comprise construction, health care & social assistance, and manufacturing.
Construction is an especially prominent sector, engaging workers at 1.8 times the broader regional benchmark. Conversely, professional & technical occupations represent just 4.5% of jobs locally against 10.1% regionally. Comparing Census resident counts with working population figures indicates that local job generation remains modest. AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS statistical data indicates that during the 12 months leading to March 2026, employment grew by 0.3% while the local labor force contracted by 0.5%, yielding a 0.8 percentage point reduction in the unemployment rate. Over the identical timeframe, Greater Melbourne recorded a 2.1% increase in employment, a 2.3% expansion in the labor force, and a 0.2 percentage point uptick in unemployment. National outlooks published by Jobs and Skills Australia in Mar-26 provide additional context regarding forward demand. While nationwide employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, sector trajectories vary; applying these industry-weighted profiles to the local economy yields an expected employment growth of 6.0% over five years and 12.6% over ten years (note this is an illustrative weighting model excluding local demographic projections).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Bittern is $1,615 a week (about $84,000 a year), with median personal income at $725 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $47,388 a year against an average of $66,052. 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
ATO postcode data compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 shows Bittern with a median taxpayer income of $47,388 and an average of $66,052, placing it marginally under the nationwide benchmark and below Greater Melbourne's median of $57,688 and average of $75,164. Incorporating 9.62% Wage Price Index expansion since financial year 2023 elevates estimated values to approximately $51,947 (median) and $72,406 (average) by March 2026. Across personal, family, and household levels, Census earnings sit modestly within the 33rd to 42nd percentiles. A cohort of 1,359 individuals (33.1% of local earners) falls within the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket, closely matching the 32.8% regional proportion.
Residents retain 85.6% of income after servicing housing obligations, and the suburb occupies the 5th decile on the SEIFA income measure.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Bittern had 1,617 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 94% detached houses and 0% apartments. 44% are owned with a mortgage, 13% rented and 43% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $366 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,842 a month. Rent absorbs 22.7% of household income here and mortgage repayments 26.3%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
The local housing stock recorded at the latest Census consisted of 93.6% separate houses and 6.4% alternative dwelling types including apartments and semi-detached units, compared to Greater Melbourne's split of 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Outright home ownership reached 43.4%, substantially exceeding metropolitan levels, while 43.8% of properties were mortgaged and 12.8% were occupied by tenants. Median housing costs sat below capital city figures: monthly mortgages were $1,842 versus $2,000 for Melbourne metro, and weekly rents averaged $366 against $390. Across Australia, Bittern also records lower housing outlays than the national median mortgage of $1,863 and median rent of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Bittern counted 1,617 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.5 people each. 31% are couples with children, against 34% couples without children. 23% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.8 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute the predominant living arrangement, representing 75.9% of households. Within this group, couples without children make up 34.4%, couples with children comprise 31.3%, and single parent families represent 9.4%. Non-family living situations account for the remaining 24.1%, consisting primarily of single-person households at 22.8% alongside group households at 1.2%. At 2.5 people, the median household size is marginally smaller than Greater Melbourne's 2.6 average.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
17.6% of adults in Bittern hold a university qualification, including 11.7% with a bachelor degree and 2.8% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 30.4% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 78 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 973 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
Higher education completion presents a significant area for advancement in the suburb, with university qualification levels at 17.6% compared to the Greater Melbourne benchmark of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees form the largest segment at 11.7%, followed by graduate diplomas at 3.1% and postgraduate credentials at 2.8%. In contrast, vocational and technical qualifications are highly prevalent: 42.3% of individuals aged 15+ hold vocational credentials, divided between certificates (30.4%) and advanced diplomas (11.9%). Formal study engagement is substantial throughout the locality, with 25.1% of the population actively enrolled in an educational course. Primary schooling accounts for 8.9% of residents, 8.0% attend secondary school, and 2.6% are engaged in tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Bittern reaches 10 stops on 2 routes, timetabled for about 330 services a week. The typical home sits about 600 m from its nearest stop. Households keep an average of 1.8 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
Local transit infrastructure across the suburb of Bittern features 10 active bus stops served by 2 distinct routes that generate 329 passenger trips weekly. Transit access is comparatively low, with an average distance of 600 meters from households to the nearest stop. Private vehicles represent the primary mode of travel for outward journeys, used by 97% of commuters, with households owning an average of 1.8 vehicles. In addition, 17.7% of working residents operated from home according to 2021 Census figures collected during pandemic conditions. Across all operating routes, transit frequency averages 47 trips per day, which translates to roughly 32 weekly services per individual boarding location.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
62.9% of residents in Bittern report no long-term health condition. 6.3% need daily assistance with core activities, and 53.0% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 4.1 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Wellbeing indicators for the locality present a broadly favorable picture, with AreaSearch mortality and health data aligning closely with national averages. The incidence of common medical conditions remains low across the broader population, although elevated among senior cohorts, while private health insurance membership sits at approximately 53% (~2,175 people), slightly exceeding the typical SA2 area but below the 56.7% reported across Greater Melbourne. Arthritis and mental health concerns represent the most prevalent long-term diagnoses locally, affecting 10.7 and 9.3% of the community respectively, while 62.9% of residents report having no diagnosed medical conditions compared to 72.6% regionally.
Chronic ailments are somewhat elevated among the working-age population. Older residents aged 65 and over make up 27.3% of the suburb (1,121 people), well above Greater Melbourne's 15.1%, contributing to specific health demands among older demographics that nonetheless compare favorably on a national scale.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Bittern is largely Australian-born, at 83.5% of residents, with 3.0% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (35.1%) and Australian (30.9%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural homogeneity is pronounced in Bittern, where 83.5% of residents were born in Australia, 92.3% hold Australian citizenship, and 97.0% speak exclusively English in the home. Christianity represents the primary religious affiliation, accounting for 40.8% of the population. Among minority faiths, Judaism demonstrates a distinct local presence, representing 0.1% of residents compared to 1.0% across Greater Melbourne. Regarding ancestral backgrounds, English ancestry is the most common among residents at 35.1%, well above the 20.1% regional benchmark. Australian ancestry follows at 30.9% compared to 18.4% regionally, with Scottish heritage accounting for 8.3%.
Other distinct ancestral representations include Dutch at 2.6% (versus 1.2% regionally), Welsh at 0.6% (versus 0.4%), and Maltese at 0.5% (versus 1.1%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Bittern is 47, older than 82% of areas nationally. That is 1 year older than at the 2021 Census. 17.1% 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 demographic profile of the suburb of Bittern is noticeably oriented toward mature age brackets. As of August 2026 updates, individuals aged 65+ comprise 27.3% of the population, compared to 15.1% across Greater Melbourne, whereas the 25 - 44 age bracket accounts for only 18.8% against a regional benchmark of 32.1%. The median age reached an estimated 47 as of August 2026, rising from 46 at the 2021 Census and exceeding Greater Melbourne's 37 and Australia's 38 at that Census. The proportion of retirees and seniors expanded from 23.3% at the Census to an estimated 27.3%, with this cohort expected to drive future growth by adding 497 people (44%) to reach 1,618 by 2041.
In contrast, youth cohorts and young to middle-aged adults are projected to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Bittern
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) | Aug 2026 last month 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 Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · Jun 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 last 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, State agencies, Local governments Daily | May 2026 4 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 6 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 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago 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 — 16 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (4,276 at the 2021 Census → 4,108 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 Aug 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 (SAL20248). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.