Chart Color Schemes
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
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
Find a Recent Sale
Sales Detail
Elsternwick has an estimated 11,719 residents, up from 10,887 at the 2021 Census — a change of 832 people, or 7.6%. Growth has averaged 0.5% a year over five years. 182 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Overseas migration accounts for 77.0% of that increase. That puts 4,507 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 Elsternwick, population estimates reach approximately 11,719 as of Aug 2026, synthesized through AreaSearch assessments of ABS updates and post-Census address validations. This represents an addition of 832 people (7.6%) compared to the 2021 Census tally of 10,887 people. This total draws from an Estimated Resident Population figure of 11,717 from the ABS (June 2025) release along with 182 validated new addresses recorded afterward. The suburb of Elsternwick registers a high density of 4,507 persons per square kilometer, ranking within the top 10% of AreaSearch benchmark locations and highlighting the scarcity of local land.
The 7.6% expansion rate trails the broader SA4 region (8.2%) by only 0.6 percentage points, indicating resilient demographic traction. Inbound overseas migration formed the core driver, generating around 77.0% of recent population additions. Projections for the suburb of Elsternwick utilize 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 modeling with a 2022 baseline, supplemented where necessary by 2023 VIC State Government LGA models converted via weighted aggregation, with age cohort trajectories projected across 2032 to 2041. Looking forward, the suburb of Elsternwick is slated for above-median growth relative to national statistical zones, adding 1,816 persons by 2041 under aggregated SA2 projections, representing an overall expansion of 15.5% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
206 new dwellings have been approved in Elsternwick over the past five years, an average of 41 a year. That places the area in the 67th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 3 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 73 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 10% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 204, running ahead of 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
Residential building approvals across Elsternwick averaged roughly 41 dwellings annually, totaling 206 approved homes across the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) alongside 204 dwellings logged during FY-25 to date. Over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), the intake averaged only 0.8 people per year for every constructed residence, allowing building supply to match or outstrip local demand, broadening buyer options and accommodating future resident inflows. Expected construction costs averaged $857,000 per dwelling, underscoring building activity concentrated in the higher-end market tier. Concurrently, commercial building approvals reached $26.9 million during this financial year, reflecting ongoing commercial development.
Per capita building activity in Elsternwick outpaced the Greater Melbourne benchmark by 16.0% over the 5 year period, maintaining healthy market choice while safeguarding asset values. Recent approvals comprised 10.0% detached houses alongside 90.0% attached dwellings, steering urban planning toward medium-to-high density formats that cater to first-home buyers, downsizers, and property investors seeking attainable entry price points. This profile diverges from the existing housing stock proportion of 38.0% houses, reflecting constrained site availability and evolving buyer lifestyle preferences. With a ratio of approximately 108 people per dwelling approval, development patterns align with an expanding urban area. Demographic forecasts point to Elsternwick expanding by 1,814 residents by 2041 relative to the newest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Should construction rates remain at current levels, housing creation could trail incoming population growth, tightening market inventory and placing upward pressure on property values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Elsternwick
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 11 current infrastructure and development projects inside Elsternwick, worth an estimated $513 million. A further 95 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $4.11 billion. 29 are already under construction and 33 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities and communities, precincts & urban renewal. 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 capital works, major developments, and planning schemes play a vital role in regional progression, with 16 impactful projects identified in the vicinity. Major undertakings include the Metro Tunnel Network Upgrades - Sandringham, Werribee and Williamstown Cross-City Service, 25 Sandham Street Townhouses, 10-16 Selwyn Street Mixed-Use Development, and 552 Glen Huntly Road Mixed-Use Development.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
25 Sandham Street Townhouses
Boutique townhouse development by Coff Property on an 1800 square metre site in the sought-after suburb of Elsternwick. The luxury residential project is in early planning stages and will feature contemporary townhouse design in a highly desirable location close to Elsternwick Village, train station, tram lines, shops, dining, and amenities. The project represents Coff Property's commitment to medium-density residential development in Melbourne's inner south.
10-16 Selwyn Street Mixed-Use Development
Mixed-use development featuring a supermarket and residential apartments, revised to 6 storeys with additional setbacks and height reductions after VCAT approval. Includes ground floor commercial spaces.
552 Glen Huntly Road Mixed-Use Development
A 4-storey mixed-use residential development comprising 16 apartments (15 x 2-bedroom, 1 x 3-bedroom) and 2 ground-floor retail shops. The building features a rooftop terrace, lift and stair access, custom perforated brick wall, face brick, aluminium casement windows, stackers and bi-fold doors, concrete profile panels and vertical metal slat balustrades. Basement car parking for 19 vehicles is included in the plans with associated landscaping works.
Elsternwick Gardens (Former ABC Studios)
Redevelopment of the former ABC Studios site into the Elsternwick Gardens mixed-use neighbourhood by Milieu and Besen. The approved project comprises six residential buildings with up to 180 apartments following a 2025 amendment, food and drink premises, extensive landscaped gardens, public open space, retention and relocation of the historic broadcast tower, and direct integration with the neighbouring Rippon Lea Estate.
Seymour & Blanche Townhouses
Collection of 19 luxury townhouses in Elsternwick designed by Megowan Architectural. The project is being delivered by Freeman Group with Sinjen as builder. Construction is well underway with completion targeted for December 2025.
Elwood Main Drain Duplication Project
This critical 660m flood mitigation project involves duplicating the existing Elwood Main Drain using dual 4.2m x 2.1m pre-cast concrete culverts. The initiative aims to significantly reduce flood risk for over 500 properties within the Elster Creek catchment. Key components include a new drain inlet at Elsternwick Park, a diversion structure in Elster Creek, and a new beach outlet that involves doubling the width of the Elwood Pier. As of April 2026, utility service relocations and site investigations have commenced, with main construction activity scheduled to begin in mid-2026.
Elsternwick Cultural Precinct
Council-led upgrade of Selwyn Street into a pedestrian-focused cultural precinct connecting the Jewish Holocaust Museum, the future Jewish Arts Quarter and nearby venues. Works include slow-speed street treatments, wider footpaths, lighting, planting, public art and a central civic space for events. Council has deferred detailed design to 2028/29 and construction to 2029/30, subject to annual budget decisions, to avoid clashes with major builds at 7 and 10-16 Selwyn Street.
Olive Green
Boutique 5-level development of 44 two and three bedroom apartments with ground floor retail, secure basement parking and a communal rooftop terrace. Led by Freeman Group with Balmain & Co as builder. Construction is underway with completion targeted for late 2026.
6,976 residents of Elsternwick are employed, from a labour force of 7,233. Unemployment sits at 3.6%, with participation at 72.6%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 7.3% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 10,483, about 89% 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
Elsternwick features a highly qualified labor pool marked by strong representation across professional industries and an unemployment rate of merely 3.6%. By March 2026, working residents numbered 6,976, holding the local jobless rate 1.2% under the 4.8% figure recorded across Greater Melbourne, while labor force participation remained steady at 72.6% against 70.1% regionally. Furthermore, 50.6% of local workers reported working from home in Census returns, though pandemic-related lockdown measures should be kept in mind. Local workers are concentrated within professional & technical services, health care & social assistance, alongside education & training.
Specialization in professional & technical fields is notable, capturing an employment concentration 1.7 times the wider regional benchmark. Conversely, manufacturing claims a smaller share at 3.7% compared with the 7.2% regional standard. In comparison to local resident tallies, Census workplace figures indicate a considerable portion of residents travel outside the suburb for their jobs. Over the recent 12-month period, the local labor pool contracted by 0.3% and total employment fell by 0.5%, lifting the jobless rate by 0.2 percentage points. By comparison, Greater Melbourne registered job growth of 2.1% and a 2.3% rise in labor supply, alongside a 0.2 percentage point uptick. According to Jobs and Skills Australia projections from Mar-26, national employment is anticipated to increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with trajectories varying across sectors. Applied to Elsternwick's industry breakdown, employment is projected to expand by 7.3% over five years and 14.6% over ten years, representing a simple illustrative weighting model independent of localized demographic shifts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Elsternwick is $2,209 a week (about $115,000 a year), with median personal income at $1,206 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $67,618 a year against an average of $108,067. The average runs 60% above the median, a wider spread than most areas and a sign of a concentrated group of high earners. 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
Financial year 2023 ATO tax statistics place Elsternwick within the highest national earnings bracket. Taxpayers recorded a median income of $67,618 and an average of $108,067, outpacing the Greater Melbourne medians and averages of $57,688 and $75,164. Accounting for a 9.62% rise in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, updated estimates reach roughly $74,123 (median) and $118,463 (average) as of March 2026. Across 2021 Census metrics, personal, family, and household earnings placed between the 78th and 91st percentiles nationally. The largest cohort comprises 29.2% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (3,421 residents), matching wider area figures where 32.8% fall in this bracket.
In addition, 36.9% generate weekly earnings above $3,000. Housing obligations absorb 15.2% of income, with disposable earnings ranking in the 79th percentile and SEIFA index standing in the 9th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Elsternwick had 4,534 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 38% detached houses and 41% apartments. 29% are owned with a mortgage, 40% rented and 32% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $441 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,400 a month, a total housing cost higher than 77% of areas nationally. Rent absorbs 20.0% of household income here and mortgage repayments 25.1%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the latest Census, residential accommodation in Elsternwick was divided into 38.3% houses and 61.7% other dwellings, including apartments and townhouses, contrasting with Greater Melbourne where houses represented 67.9% and alternative dwellings 32.1%. Outright ownership stood at 31.5%, mirroring metropolitan levels, while 29.1% of properties were being purchased with a mortgage and 39.5% were tenanted. Monthly mortgage obligations averaged a median of $2,400, well above the $2,000 metropolitan benchmark, while median weekly rent stood at $441 compared to $390 across the wider metropolis. On a national level, local monthly home loan payments substantially exceeded the Australian norm of $1,863, and weekly rents remained well above the national median of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Elsternwick counted 4,534 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 4,880 today, averaging 2.3 people each. 27% are couples with children, against 26% couples without children. 34% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.2 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute the predominant living arrangement at 61.4% of households, consisting of 27.1% couples with children, 26.0% couples without children, and 7.3% single parent families. Non-family living situations make up 38.6%, including 33.5% single-person homes and 5.1% group accommodation. The typical household size sits at 2.3 people, tracking slightly below the Greater Melbourne median of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
55.0% of adults in Elsternwick hold a university qualification, including 35.3% with a bachelor degree and 13.9% with postgraduate qualifications, higher than 86% of areas nationally. A further 9.8% hold a vocational qualification. 7 schools serve the area, with 1,430 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,100 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
Educational attainment in Elsternwick is exceptionally strong, with 55.0% of individuals aged 15+ possessing higher education degrees, surpassing the benchmarks of 33.4% in VIC and 30.4% nationwide. Bachelor degrees represent the primary qualification at 35.3%, alongside postgraduate qualifications at 13.9% and graduate diplomas at 5.8%. Meanwhile, technical and vocational training accounts for 19.9% of adult qualifications, split between advanced diplomas (10.1%) and certificates (9.8%). A substantial 28.8% of the local population participates in formal study. Within this learning cohort, 8.5% attend primary schools, 8.0% are in secondary education, and 6.9% are enrolled in tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Elsternwick reaches 61 stops on 9 routes, timetabled for about 5,300 services a week. The typical home sits about 150 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 0.9 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
Elsternwick contains 61 operational public transport stops across bus and lightrail networks. These stops are served by 9 separate routes that deliver 5,280 passenger services each week, placing residents an average of 153 meters from the nearest stop. Private vehicles remain the primary commuting method for outward travel at 72%, followed by 13% utilizing train travel and 6% walking, with private vehicle ownership at 0.9 per dwelling. In addition, 50.6% of the workforce worked from home during the 2021 Census period. Transit schedules across all servicing routes average 754 daily trips, delivering roughly 86 weekly services at each individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
74.0% of residents in Elsternwick report no long-term health condition, a healthier profile than 84% of areas nationally. 4.2% need daily assistance with core activities, and 69.3% 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 assessments indicate positive outcomes across Elsternwick, characterized by minimal chronic ailment rates and favorable mortality metrics across demographics. Private health insurance participation is high at approximately 69% of the population (8,124 people), exceeding both the Greater Melbourne level of 56.7% and the nationwide figure of 55.7%. Asthma and mental health conditions are the most frequently recorded issues, affecting 6.9% and 7.7% of the populace respectively, while 74.0% reported no medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age cohorts exhibit solid health profiles, and residents aged 65 and over constitute 18.4% (2,156 people), exceeding the 15.1% metropolitan proportion while demonstrating strong senior wellness metrics.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
30.5% of Elsternwick residents were born overseas and 20.5% speak a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (21.9%) and Australian (19.9%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in Elsternwick is pronounced, with 30.5% of residents born abroad and 20.5% using a non-English language at home. Christianity forms the largest faith group at 32.0%. A notable cultural characteristic is the Jewish community, comprising 19.1% of residents, significantly above the 1.0% metropolitan standard. Regarding ancestral background based on parental birthplace, the primary ancestries are English at 21.9%, Australian at 19.9%, and Other origins at 14.1%. Distinct demographic concentrations are also present among Polish residents at 3.7% (compared to 0.8% regionally), Russian at 1.6% (versus 0.4%), and Hungarian at 1.1% (versus 0.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Elsternwick is 38. 29.5% 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
Age distributions in Elsternwick align closely with the Greater Melbourne baseline across cohorts, with maximum variations limited to 3.3 percentage points. As at August 2026, the estimated median age is 38, matching the 2021 Census baseline and sitting 1 year older than the 37 recorded across Greater Melbourne at that time. The demographic shift since the Census is most evident in the 65+ age group, which expanded from 16.3% to an estimated 18.4%. Looking ahead to 2041, senior cohorts are projected to drive growth, adding 997 residents (46%) to reach 3,153.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Elsternwick
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 | Oct 2025 11 months ago all 11 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 Oct 2025. | ||
| 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 — 182 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (10,887 at the 2021 Census → 11,719 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 (SAL20864). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.