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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 4,111 residents, down from 4,276 at the 2021 Census — a change of 165 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 239 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 ABS population updates for the wider region and new address verifications by AreaSearch since the Census, the suburb of Bittern has an estimated population of approximately 4,111 in May 2026. This represents a decline of 165 people (3.9%) from the 2021 Census, which counted 4,276 residents. This shift is calculated from a resident population of 4,105, estimated by AreaSearch using the latest ABS ERP release (June 2025) plus 16 validated new addresses post-Census. The current population translates to a density of 238 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density and capacity for potential growth.
Overseas migration was the primary driver of growth, accounting for roughly 55.00000000000001% of recent population increases. AreaSearch incorporates ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 region, published in 2024 with a 2022 baseline. For uncovered SA2 areas, projections from the VIC State Government released in 2023 are used, adjusting with a weighted aggregation of growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates across age cohorts from these aggregates are projected for 2032 to 2041. Based on these aggregated SA2 projections, the suburb of Bittern is expected to experience population growth above the national median, increasing by 592 persons to 2041, which represents a total gain of 14.2% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
69 new dwellings have been approved in Bittern over the past five years, an average of 13 a year. That is 3.3 approvals per 1,000 residents. 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 compiled by AreaSearch indicates that Bittern averages about 13 new homes approved annually, with a total of approximately 69 homes over the last 5 financial years. During FY-26, 2 approvals have been recorded so far. As the population has contracted recently, the supply of housing has met demand, maintaining a balanced market with ample choices for buyers, while new residences carry an average development value of $729,000, indicating a focus by developers on upscale projects. Furthermore, $6.0 million in commercial approvals were registered this financial year, pointing to the residential nature of the locality.
New residential construction is composed of 81.0% detached houses and 19.0% medium and high-density dwellings, which preserves the traditional low-density landscape focused on spacious family homes. With roughly 145 people per approval, Bittern is characterized as a low-density community. Future projections indicate that Bittern will add 586 residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly estimates from AreaSearch. If current building rates persist, housing supply might lag behind population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and accelerating price appreciation.
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
Local infrastructure projects, major developments, and planning programs significantly shape local performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 2 projects expected to influence this locality. Primary initiatives include the Mornington Peninsula Residential Development Program, Western Port Marine Infrastructure, HMAS Cerberus Redevelopment, and Stony Point Line Service Improvements, with details provided below for the most relevant projects.
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.
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.
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.
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.
2,032 residents of Bittern are employed, from a labour force of 2,117. Unemployment sits at 4.0%, with participation at 61.1%. 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 possesses a balanced workforce of blue and white-collar employees, with the construction sector showing strong representation, an unemployment rate of 4.0%, and stable employment numbers over the past year based on compiled statistical area data. In March 2026, 2,032 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was 0.8% below the Greater Melbourne average of 4.8%, while workforce participation was lower at 61.1% compared to Greater Melbourne's 70.2%. Census figures show a moderate 17.7% of residents worked from home, though this may have been influenced by COVID-19 lockdowns. Resident employment is heavily concentrated in construction, health care & social assistance, and manufacturing.
The local workforce has a notable specialization in construction, with its employment share standing at 1.8 times the regional average. Conversely, professional & technical roles are underrepresented, accounting for only 4.5% of Bittern's workers compared to 10.1% in Greater Melbourne. The local area appears to provide fewer jobs than there are working residents, as shown by comparing the Census working population against the resident workforce. AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data aggregated from the broader area shows that for the 12 months ending March 2026, employment grew by 0.4% while the labour force contracted by 0.4%, leading to a decrease in unemployment of 0.8 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment expand by 2.1% and the labour force grow by 2.3%, resulting in a 0.2 percentage point increase. Future demand trends in Bittern can be illuminated by Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25. These five and ten-year projections are mapped to the local industry mix to model growth. Nationally, employment is predicted to rise by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates vary by sector. Applying these trends to the local industry profile suggests Bittern's employment would rise by 6.0% over five years and 12.6% over ten years, assuming a simple weighting extrapolation that does not account for local population changes.
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
Tax statistics from the ATO aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 place the income levels in the suburb of Bittern slightly below the national average. The median income of local taxpayers is $47,388, with an average income of $66,052, compared to Greater Melbourne averages of $57,688 and $75,164. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, current estimates for March 2026 are approximately $51,947 for the median and $72,406 for the average. Based on the 2021 Census, household, family, and individual incomes are modest, falling between the 33rd and 42nd percentiles.
Data indicates that 33.1% of the population (1,360 individuals) earn in the $1,500 - 2,999 range, which is very similar to the regional proportion of 32.8%. Residents retain 85.6% of their income for non-housing expenses, and the SEIFA index ranks the area in the 5th decile for income.
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
Census data reveals that houses make up 93.6% of the dwelling stock in Bittern, while other structures like semi-detached homes, apartments, and alternative dwellings comprise 6.4%. This contrasts with the Melbourne metro area, where houses represent 67.9% and other dwellings make up 32.1%. Home ownership in Bittern is high at 43.4%, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (43.8%) or rented (12.8%). The median monthly mortgage payment was $1,842, and the median weekly rent was $366, both below the Melbourne metro averages of $2,000 and $390. Nationally, Bittern's mortgage costs are below the Australian average of $1,863, and rent is below the national average 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
Families comprise the majority of households at 75.9%, consisting of couples with children at 31.3%, couples without children at 34.4%, and single-parent households at 9.4%. The remaining 24.1% are non-family households, with single-person households making up 22.8% and group households at 1.2%. The median household size is 2.5 people, slightly below the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.
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
Low university completion rates highlight an educational disparity, with 17.6% of residents holding a degree compared to 37.0% across Greater Melbourne. This situation points to a need for targeted educational strategies. Bachelor degrees represent 11.7% of qualifications, followed by graduate diplomas at 3.1% and postgraduate degrees at 2.8%. Vocational skills are highly prevalent, with 42.3% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas (11.9%) and certificates (30.4%). A high proportion of residents are engaged in studies, with 25.1% currently enrolled in formal education. This group consists of 8.9% in primary school, 8.0% in secondary school, and 2.6% in higher education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Bittern reaches 10 stops on 2 routes, timetabled for about 360 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
Analysis shows 10 active public transport stops operating in Bittern, consisting of bus services. These stops serve 2 distinct routes, providing a total of 362 passenger trips weekly. Transport access is classified as limited, with residents living an average of 601 meters from the nearest stop. Because the area is primarily residential, most workers commute out of the suburb, and cars remain the dominant transport mode at 97%. Dwellings average 1.8 vehicles, which is higher than the regional average. About 17.7% of residents work from home, based on 2021 Census data, which may reflect pandemic-related conditions.
Service frequency averages 51 runs per day across the network, which translates to approximately 36 weekly runs per stop.
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
Health outcomes for residents are generally positive, with mortality rates and health conditions matching national benchmarks. Common health conditions are low in the general population, although they exceed national averages among older, vulnerable cohorts. Private health insurance is slightly higher than the average SA2 region at roughly 53% of the population (~2,176 people), compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne. Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent medical issues, affecting 10.7% and 9.3% of residents, respectively. A total of 62.9% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne.
Chronic illness is higher than average among working-age residents. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 27.4% of the population (1,126 people), exceeding Greater Melbourne's share of 15.0%. Senior health outcomes present some local difficulties, although they rank lower nationally than the broader population.
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 diversity in Bittern is lower than average, with 83.5% of residents born in Australia, 92.3% holding citizenship, and 97.0% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the primary religion, representing 40.8% of the community. The most distinct religious overrepresentation is Judaism, which accounts for 0.1% of the population, compared to 1.0% in Greater Melbourne. Regarding parental birthplaces, the most common ancestries are English at 35.1% of the population (exceeding the regional average of 20.1%), Australian at 30.9% (exceeding the regional average of 18.4%), and Scottish at 8.3%. Other ethnic groups show distinct differences from regional averages: Dutch represents 2.6% of Bittern (compared to 1.2% regionally), Welsh is at 0.6% (compared to 0.4%), and Maltese is at 0.5% (compared to 1.1%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Bittern is 46, older than 82% of areas nationally. 17.8% 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 46 years in Bittern is higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and the national median of 38. The 65 - 74 age group is overrepresented at 14.5% compared to Greater Melbourne, while the 25 - 34 cohort is underrepresented at 7.7%. This 65 - 74 concentration exceeds the national level of 9.4%. Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 cohort expanded from 7.8% to 10.5% of the population, whereas the 25 to 34 group fell from 9.9% to 7.7%. Demographic projections for 2041 show significant shifts, with the 75 to 84 age group expected to increase by 225 people (52%) from 431 to 657.
The aging trend is pronounced, with seniors aged 65+ making up 72% of the projected growth, while the 25 to 34 and 35 to 44 groups 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) | 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, State agencies, 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 — 16 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (4,276 at the 2021 Census → 4,111 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 (SAL20248). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.