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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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Foster has an estimated 2,088 residents, up from 2,044 at the 2021 Census — a change of 44 people, or 2.2%. Growth has averaged 0.8% a year over five years, slower than 79% of areas nationally. Density is about 18 people per 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 broader regional ABS demographic releases alongside address records validated following the Census, the population of the suburb of Foster stands at approximately 2,088 as of Aug 2026. This equates to a gain of 44 people (2.2%) compared with the 2021 Census count of 2,044 people. This estimate stems from an estimated resident count of 2,080 determined via the ABS ERP figures from June 2025, combined with 37 validated new addresses identified post-Census. With a density of 18.3 persons per square kilometer, the locality offers considerable space for each occupant.
The 2.2% expansion recorded since the census tracks within 2.2 percentage points of the Rest of Vic. benchmark (4.4%), reflecting solid growth dynamics. Net overseas migration served as the primary growth contributor, representing roughly 52.0% of total demographic additions over recent timeframes. Demographic projections deployed by AreaSearch incorporate 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia models established from a 2022 base year across SA2 boundaries. Where SA2 coverage is absent, figures draw upon 2023 Victorian State Government Regional/LGA datasets converted through weighted population growth aggregations from LGA down to SA2 divisions. Age-specific rates derived from these models are similarly applied across all regions for the years 2032 to 2041. Over this trajectory, long-term projections indicate that the suburb of Foster will experience a demographic reduction of 248 persons by 2041. In contrast, targeted expansion is expected in select older demographics, particularly the 85 and over age group, which is modelled to increase by 50 people. Additional details appear in the age breakdown.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
56 new dwellings have been approved in Foster over the past five years, an average of 11 a year. That is 3.1 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 12, broadly in line with 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
Examining ABS residential approval statistics aggregated across statistical boundaries, AreaSearch observes that Foster has generated an average of roughly 11 residential building approvals annually, amounting to 56 homes across the prior 5 financial years. During FY-25 to date, 12 approvals have been documented. Between FY-21 and FY-25, the area recorded an average addition of 2.8 new residents for each home completed, highlighting healthy demand fundamentals that bolster local property values. Construction costs average $597,000 per dwelling, illustrating that residential development is tilted toward higher-end, premium houses. Meanwhile, non-residential activity included $1.0 million in approved commercial works throughout the ongoing financial year, underscoring an emphasis on housing construction.
Foster exhibits construction levels that are 67.0% lower than the average per person in the Rest of Vic. This scarcity of new supply typically strengthens demand and increases values for existing homes, even though recent periods have seen a rise in development activity. Such activity remains below national levels, which indicates market maturity and hints at potential development constraints. All new construction in the area consists solely of detached houses, thereby preserving the locality's traditional low density character and emphasizing family homes that attract buyers looking for space. With an average of 198 people per approval, Foster maintains its status as a low density area. With demographic forecasts indicating stable to contracting population numbers, Foster could see reduced demand pressures on housing supply, fostering advantageous buying conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Foster
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 67 current infrastructure and development projects close to Foster, worth an estimated $10.6 billion. 26 are already under construction and 21 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, energy 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
Infrastructure upgrades, regional initiatives, and strategic works play a vital role in shaping local development. AreaSearch has identified no major projects directly situated within the immediate locality. Regionally significant projects of potential relevance include the Marinus Link, Maryvale Energy from Waste (EfW) Facility, Victorian Desalination Plant Expansion, and Star of the South Offshore Wind Farm.
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
Parr Street Leongatha Rezoning and Subdivision
Combined planning scheme amendment and permit application to rezone land from Farming Zone to General Residential Zone Schedule 1, remove Environmental Significance Overlay Schedule 2 and Erosion Management Overlay, amend Land Subject to Inundation Overlay, and subdivide into 171 residential lots in stages, including native vegetation removal and easement management.
Leongatha Battery Energy Storage System
BNRG Leeson is progressing a proposed 60 MW AC / 240 MWh four-hour battery energy storage system in Leongatha, Victoria. The project is planned across about 4.5 acres and includes approximately 42 battery containers and 14 inverters, using proximity to existing high-voltage transmission infrastructure to support grid stability and renewable energy integration. The developer states that a planning exemption has been approved, with construction targeted to commence in 2027 and completion targeted for 2027, subject to final approvals, design and procurement.
Great Southern Rail Trail Leongatha Precinct Development
The Great Southern Rail Trail Leongatha Precinct Development involves significant upgrades to the Leongatha railway site to improve economic vitality, attract visitors, and complement the rail trail extension. Upgrades include new public open space (7,855m2), additional car parking, a pedestrian footbridge connecting to the main street, new playground equipment, trees and landscaping, public amenities, bike parking, and an outdoor entertainment area. The project, funded by $6 million from federal, state, and local sources, has seen the installation of the pedestrian bridge in November 2024 and redevelopment into a major trailhead by 2025.
Mitchell's Rise Residential Development
Residential subdivision delivering 101 lots across 7 stages with lot sizes from approximately 540sqm to 1,333sqm. Works included a major VicRoads intersection, revegetated waterway, drainage reserve, street and reserve lighting, and retaining walls to address site topography.
Leongatha Business Precinct (Bair Street) Redevelopment
Streetscape redevelopment including footpath improvements, relocation of overhead powerlines underground, new energy-efficient lighting, drainage upgrades, raised pedestrian crossings, road and parking reconfiguration, and landscaping to enhance the town center's amenity and safety.
South Gippsland Highway Realignment at Coal Creek Korumburra
Realignment of a 4.1 km section of the South Gippsland Highway south east of Korumburra at the Coal Creek bends to remove sharp curves, add safety barriers, and introduce roundabouts on Silkstone Road for improved safety, efficiency, and reliability.
Wyndham Garden Inverloch
A 50-key serviced apartment hotel with two ground floor retail tenancies and a rooftop bar, positioned on the foreshore at the southern tip of Inverloch with 270-degree coastal and parkland views over Anderson Inlet and The Glade foreshore reserve. Developed by Forte Group in partnership with Wyndham Hotels and Resorts, with operations to be managed by 1834 Hotels under the Wyndham Garden brand. Architecture by Hachem Architecture and Cornetta Partners. The hotel is under construction and targeting a mid-2026 opening.
Michael's IGA Supermarket Korumburra
Delivery of a new full-line Michael's IGA supermarket for Korumburra, replacing the former library site with an expanded store, fresh food offer and on-site parking to strengthen local retail convenience and community services.
854 residents of Foster are employed, from a labour force of 889. Unemployment sits at 3.8%, with participation at 48.1%. 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 1,787, about 86% 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
Foster maintains a capable labour pool spread across multiple industries, recording a jobless rate of 3.8% alongside estimated annual jobs growth of 3.8% according to AreaSearch's statistical area syntheses. In March 2026854 residents were actively employed. The local unemployment level stands 0.1% higher than the Regional Vic. mark of 3.7%, whereas the labour participation rate of 48.1% sits noticeably beneath the 61.1% recorded for Regional Vic.. Census returns indicate that 17.3% of workers carried out their duties from home, an outcome potentially shaped by Covid-19 restrictions. Local employment is heavily oriented around health care & social assistance, agriculture, forestry & fishing, and retail trade.
Agricultural, forestry, and fishing enterprises are especially prominent, engaging workers at 1.9 times the broader regional rate. Conversely, public administration & safety accounts for 3.3% of the resident workforce, trailing the Regional Vic. proportion of 6.5%. Comparing resident worker counts with local Census job numbers points to relatively constrained employment capacity within the immediate boundary. Analysis of SALM and ABS data from AreaSearch, which combines information from larger statistical regions, reveals that from the year to March 2026, employment rose by 3.8% and the labour force grew by 2.7%, leading to a 1.1 percentage point drop in unemployment. In contrast, Regional Vic. experienced a 0.1% decline in employment, a 0.3% contraction in the labour force, and a 0.2 percentage point reduction in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts starting Mar-26 provide additional context regarding future demand within Foster. These projections span five and ten-year horizons and have been overlaid with local employment data to estimate growth trends. Although national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, expansion varies considerably across industry sectors. When these sector-specific forecasts are applied to Foster's employment composition, local employment is expected to rise by 6.0% over five years and 12.8% over ten years, with the caveat that this is a straightforward weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not incorporate localized population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Foster is $975 a week (about $51,000 a year), with median personal income at $566 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $36,904 a year against an average of $49,199. 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 taxation statistics for financial year 2023 at the postcode level indicate that the suburb of Foster recorded a median individual taxpayer income of $36,904 and an average of $49,199. These metrics sit below national figures and compare against a median of $50,954 and an average of $62,728 across Regional Vic.. Factoring in Wage Price Index movement of 9.62% since financial year 2023, modelled values reach roughly $40,454 (median) and $53,932 (average) by March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census places personal, household, and family earnings between the 2nd and 8th percentiles across the country.
The dominant weekly bracket is $400 - 799, capturing 31.0% of local residents (647 people), diverging from the regional tendency where $1,500 - 2,999 is most common (30.3%). With 41.6% of residents receiving under $800/week, lower earnings constrain household budgets. Although local residents retain 88.6% of income after housing expenses, overall disposable income tracks in the 6th percentile nationwide.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Foster had 889 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 88% detached houses and 7% apartments. 20% are owned with a mortgage, 21% rented and 59% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $240 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,348 a month. Rent absorbs 24.6% of household income here and mortgage repayments 31.9%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the most recent Census, Foster's residential stock was configured as 88.3% separate houses and 11.8% alternative dwelling types (encompassing semi-detached residences, units, and other structures), compared to 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings across Regional Vic.. Unencumbered home ownership reached 59.4%, notably surpassing the regional benchmark, while 19.7% of properties were paying off a mortgage and 20.8% were tenant-occupied. Typical monthly mortgage costs stood at $1,348 and median weekly rent was $240, both lower than the respective Regional Vic. levels of $1,430 and $285. In a nationwide context, local monthly mortgage obligations sit well below the Australian norm of $1,863, and weekly rents are markedly lower than the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Foster counted 889 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.0 people each. 15% are couples with children, fewer than in 94% of areas nationally, against 35% couples without children. 41% of households are people living alone, and families average 2.1 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute the majority of local living arrangements at 57.3%, consisting of couples without children (34.5%), couples with children (15.3%), and single-parent households (7.4%). The remaining 42.7% comprises non-family residences, dominated by single-person households at 40.6% alongside group living arrangements at 2.0%. The median household size of 2.0 persons sits below the Regional Vic. standard of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
21.8% of adults in Foster hold a university qualification, including 14.3% with a bachelor degree and 4.5% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 26.0% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 427 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,000 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
Tertiary attainment represents an area for educational development, as 21.8% of residents hold higher education degrees compared to 33.4% across VIC. Among degree holders, bachelor qualifications account for 14.3%, postgraduate awards represent 4.5%, and graduate diplomas make up 3.0%. Meanwhile, vocational and technical credentials are widely held, with 39.2% of individuals aged 15+ holding trade or technical certifications, split between certificates (26.0%) and advanced diplomas (13.2%). A total of 23.7% of local residents are enrolled in formal study programs. This group includes 8.6% attending primary school, 7.5% in secondary education, and 2.1% undertaking tertiary coursework.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Foster means driving: households keep an average of 1.3 vehicles, and scheduled services reach only a handful of stops. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Public transit infrastructure in the suburb of Foster includes 1 operating passenger stop linked to 1 transit line, providing 47 weekly services. Public transport access is relatively constrained, with local residents living an average of 625 meters from the nearest stop. Given the area's residential nature, outbound commuting is widespread, with private vehicles accounting for 86% of travel and 12% walking. Households maintain an average of 1.3 motor vehicles, trailing regional levels, while 17.3% of residents performed their work from home during the 2021 Census under potential pandemic influences. Public transport operations provide an average of 6 departures each day across the transit network, representing approximately 47 weekly departures per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
52.1% of residents in Foster report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 76% of areas nationally. 8.6% need daily assistance with core activities, and 46.4% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.3 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch evaluations of chronic condition incidence and mortality rates point to meaningful health challenges in Foster, with health conditions evident across younger and older demographics alike. Private health insurance participation is particularly low at roughly 46% of the population (~968 people), compared to 50.5% in Regional Vic. and 55.7% across Australia. Arthritis and asthma constitute the leading reported chronic ailments locally, affecting 15.6% and 8.7% of inhabitants, while 52.1% reported no chronic medical conditions compared with 63.4% regionally. Elevated rates of chronic illness are also visible across working-age residents. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 43.0% of the population (897 people), well above the 24.0% regional proportion, with general health indicators for older cohorts broadly aligning with national rankings.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Foster is largely Australian-born, at 85.1% of residents, with 5.1% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (33.5%) and Australian (30.5%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity measures for the suburb of Foster sit below broader averages, with Australian citizens making up 87.5% of the population, 85.1% born within Australia, and 94.9% speaking only English at home. Christianity forms the largest religious affiliation, followed by 43.4% of residents. The most pronounced proportional divergence appears in Judaism, which accounts for 0.3% of the community compared with 0.1% across Regional Vic.. Examining parental heritage, the most frequently declared ancestries in Foster are English (33.5%), Australian (30.5%), and Irish (10.4%). Several other cultural backgrounds also show higher representation relative to regional patterns, notably Scottish ancestry at 9.7% (compared to 8.8% regionally), Dutch background at 1.9% (versus 1.7%), and Russian heritage at 0.4% (versus 0.1%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Foster is 59, older than 98% of areas nationally. 15.1% 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 suburb of Foster features a distinct lifestyle and retirement orientation reflected throughout its age structure. Senior residents aged 65+ comprise 43.0% of the community as at August 2026, compared to 24.0% across Regional Vic., whereas individuals aged 25 - 44 represent 13.3% against a regional share of 23.1%. The estimated median age stands at 59 as at August 2026, mirroring the 2021 Census figure and tracking 16 years above the Regional Vic. median of 43 at that Census, whilst the national median was 38. Among mature cohorts, residents aged 45 - 64 reduced their share from 27.4% at the Census to an estimated 23.7%.
No broad demographic segment is forecast to expand substantially by 2041, with both the 65+ and 45 - 64 cohorts projected to reduce over this timeframe.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Foster
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 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 2 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 Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago 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 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| 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 Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 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 7 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) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 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 — 37 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,044 at the 2021 Census → 2,088 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 (SAL20940). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.