Blackburn South

Blackburn South is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, Blackburn South's statistical area (Lv2) had an estimated population of around 11,298 as of November 2025. This reflected an increase of 359 people, or approximately 3.3%, since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 10,939 people in the area. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimate of the resident population at 10,994 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2024), along with an additional 35 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population resulted in a density ratio of approximately 3,164 persons per square kilometer, placing Blackburn South in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which was essentially the sole driver of population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking at population projections moving forward, lower quartile growth of national areas is anticipated, with Blackburn South expected to grow by approximately 419 persons to the year 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of around 1.0% in total over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Blackburn South according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Blackburn South averaged approximately 44 new dwelling approvals annually based on AreaSearch analysis. Between FY-21 and FY-25, around 224 homes were approved, with an additional 15 approved in FY-26 so far. Despite population decline, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, indicating a balanced market with good buyer choice.

The average construction value of new properties was approximately $703,000, suggesting developers target the premium market segment. In FY-26, $2.2 million in commercial approvals were registered, predominantly residential-focused. Blackburn South had significantly less development activity compared to Greater Melbourne (53.0% below regional average per person). This scarcity typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties.

New building activity consisted of 73.0% detached dwellings and 27.0% attached dwellings, maintaining the area's suburban identity with a concentration of family homes. Blackburn South reflected a low density area, with around 293 people per approval. Population forecasts indicate an increase of 113 residents by 2041. Current development patterns suggest new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Blackburn South has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 14 projects that may impact the area. Notable projects include Mirrabooka Reserve Pavilion Redevelopment, Wurundjeri Walk Master Plan, Raleigh Street Road Reconstruction Renewal Program, and Blackburn South Exclusive Townhouse Collection. The following list details those most relevant.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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The employment landscape in Blackburn South shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Blackburn South has an educated workforce with professional services well-represented. Its unemployment rate was 5.1% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 2.6%.

As of September 2025, 5,653 residents are employed, and the unemployment rate is 0.4% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Workforce participation is lower at 60.3%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key employment industries include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training, with the latter being particularly notable at 1.3 times the regional average. Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 7.9% versus the regional average of 9.7%.

Local employment opportunities appear limited, as indicated by the Census working population count compared to resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment increased by 2.6%, while labour force grew by 2.4%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.0% and a rise in unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. State-level data from 25-Nov-25 shows VIC employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Blackburn South's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

Blackburn South suburb has one of Australia's highest incomes based on latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year ended June 2023. The median income among Blackburn South taxpayers is $54,679 and average income stands at $79,321, compared to Greater Melbourne's figures of $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. By September 2025, adjusted for Wage Price Index growth of 8.25%, median income is estimated at approximately $59,190 and average income at $85,865. According to Census data, household income ranks at the 56th percentile ($1,861 weekly), while personal income sits at the 39th percentile. Income distribution shows 28.8% of Blackburn South's population (3,253 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 range, similar to surrounding regions where 32.8% occupy this bracket. High housing costs consume 15.5% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 58th percentile. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Blackburn South is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Blackburn South's dwellings, as per the latest Census, consisted of 75.7% houses and 24.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Melbourne metro's 60.2% houses and 39.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Blackburn South was at 39.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.9% and rented ones at 24.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,251, below Melbourne metro's $2,300, and the median weekly rent was $410, compared to Melbourne metro's $412. Nationally, Blackburn South's mortgage repayments were higher than the average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Blackburn South has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 70.7% of all households, including 37.7% couples with children, 22.0% couples without children, and 9.8% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 29.3%, with lone person households at 26.1% and group households comprising 3.3%. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.5.

Blackburn South shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Blackburn South has a notably higher level of educational attainment compared to broader national and state averages. Specifically, 42.6% of its residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, surpassing the Australian average of 30.4% and the Victorian average of 33.4%. This high proportion of university graduates positions Blackburn South favourably for opportunities that require a strong knowledge base. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 26.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 11.5% and graduate diplomas at 4.6%.

Vocational pathways make up 23.7% of qualifications among residents aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas accounting for 11.1% and certificates for 12.6%. Educational participation is notably high in the area, with 30.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.7% enrolled in primary education, 8.2% in secondary education, and 6.7% pursuing tertiary education.

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

The analysis of public transport in Blackburn South indicates that there are currently 47 active transport stops operating within the area. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with a total of 11 individual routes providing service. Collectively, these routes facilitate 1,916 weekly passenger trips.

The accessibility of transport is rated as good, with residents typically located approximately 225 meters from their nearest transport stop. The average frequency of service across all routes is 273 trips per day, which equates to roughly 40 weekly trips per individual stop.

Blackburn South's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Blackburn South's health metrics are close to national benchmarks. The level of common health conditions among its general population is somewhat typical but higher than the national average among older cohorts.

Approximately 58% (~6,567 people) of Blackburn South's total population has private health cover, which is higher than Greater Melbourne's 55.8%. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 7.4 and 7.3% of residents respectively. 70.1% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Greater Melbourne's 73.9%. Blackburn South has 21.2% (2,395 people) of its residents aged 65 and over, higher than Greater Melbourne's 17.7%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges requiring more attention than the broader population.

Blackburn South is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Blackburn South has a high level of cultural diversity, with 38.0% of its population born overseas and 37.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Blackburn South, accounting for 44.0% of the population. However, Buddhism is significantly overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 5.4% versus 6.0%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (19.3%), Australian (18.1%), and Chinese (17.9%). Some ethnic groups have notable representation differences: Sri Lankan at 0.9% versus 0.8%, Greek at 3.9% versus 3.0%, and Vietnamese at 1.3% versus 1.3%.

Blackburn South's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Blackburn South is 42 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and also older than Australia's median age of 38 years. The 75-84 age group constitutes 7.5% of the population in Blackburn South, compared to a lower percentage in Greater Melbourne, while the 25-34 age group makes up 9.9%. Post-2021 Census data reveals that the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 13.2% to 14.3%, whereas the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 14.4% to 13.0%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic shifts in Blackburn South. The 75 to 84 age group is projected to grow by 21% (181 people), reaching 1,029 from 847. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 64% of total population growth, reflecting Blackburn South's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 0 to 4 and 15 to 24 age cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.