Girrawheen

Girrawheen 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 since the Census, the suburb of Girrawheen's population is estimated at around 10,270 as of May 2026. This reflects an increase of 1,373 people (15.4%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,897 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 10,268, estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2025) and an additional 58 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2,517 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Girrawheen's 15.4% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.3%), along with the SA4 region, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 56.00000000000001% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including natural growth and interstate migration were positive factors.

Projections established by the ABS and Geoscience Australia for every SA2 region, published in 2024 utilizing 2022 as the anchor point, have been adopted. Where these figures are unavailable, and to calculate expansion in the years after 2032, growth rates classified by age group from the latest Greater Capital Region projections (published in 2023, relying on 2022 data) are applied. Looking at upcoming demographic shifts, the suburb of Girrawheen is projected to experience population expansion slightly below the national midpoint, increasing by 451 persons by 2041 according to collective SA2 forecasts, representing a total rise of 4.4% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Girrawheen among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

An analysis of building approvals from the ABS indicates that the suburb of Girrawheen averaged approximately 51 new home approvals each year, accumulating to roughly 257 residential properties over the past 5 financial years. Thus far during FY-26, 55 approvals have been documented. Since an average of 4.9 new residents arrived annually for each constructed home during the past 5 financial years (spanning FY-21 to FY-25), demand remains far ahead of available supply, which commonly escalates pricing and heightens buyer rivalry, with new residential projects carrying an average building cost of $286,000. Additionally, commercial approvals reached $6.9 million during this financial year, pointing to a quiet commercial development sector.

In comparison to Greater Perth, the suburb of Girrawheen has roughly half the volume of new home approvals per capita, placing it in the 48th percentile of locations analyzed across the country, which translates to fewer options for purchasers and reinforces demand for established properties. Recent building permits consist of 76.0% detached houses and 24.0% medium to high-density options, preserving the classic suburban layout focused on spacious family residences. Averaging 339 people for each new approval, the suburb of Girrawheen displays characteristics of a market in transition.

Future forecasts indicate that the suburb of Girrawheen will add 449 residents by 2041, according to the most recent quarterly projections from AreaSearch. If current building rates persist, the supply of housing is expected to sufficiently satisfy demand, producing advantageous conditions for purchasers and potentially paving the way for expansion that outpaces current predictions.

Girrawheen has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 49thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, major planning decisions, and development strategies exert a strong influence on local outcomes. A total of 5 key projects have been identified that are anticipated to affect the local area. Prominent initiatives include the Girrawheen Hub Precinct Redevelopment, the TAFE Balga Campus Skills Hub, the redevelopment of the former Hainsworth Primary School site known as The Amble Estate, and the Perth Active Transport Network, with the listed items outlining those of greatest significance.

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The labour market performance in Girrawheen lags significantly behind most other regions nationally

The suburb of Girrawheen features a diverse labor force spanning office-based and industrial roles, with manufacturing and production industries holding a prominent presence. The unemployment rate stands at 14.6%, and estimated employment growth reached 2.1% over the past year, using consolidated data from surrounding statistical areas. In March 2026, 4,513 residents were employed, while the local unemployment rate exceeded the Greater Perth rate of 4.2% by 10.4%, pointing to potential for economic progress, and the workforce participation rate of 62.1% is notably behind the Greater Perth average of 70.2%. Census records show that a minor 3.8% of the working population operated from home, though the influence of COVID-19 restrictions should be kept in mind.

The primary employment fields for residents are retail trade, health care & social assistance, and construction. The area displays a distinct concentration in manufacturing, where employment proportions are 1.5 times the wider regional baseline. Conversely, professional & technical roles are underrepresented, accounting for only 4.5% of the local workforce compared to 8.2% in Greater Perth. Comparing the Census working population against the resident population suggests this largely residential locality offers a limited volume of jobs internally.

Reviewing SALM and ABS data aggregated from broader regions shows that during the 12-month timeframe, employment expanded by 2.1% while the active labor force grew by 3.9%, driving a rise in the unemployment rate of 1.5 percentage points. This compares to Greater Perth, where employment rose by 2.0%, the labor force expanded by 2.5%, and unemployment ticked up by 0.4 percentage points. National employment projections released in May-25 by Jobs and Skills Australia provide further context on prospective workforce needs. These five and ten-year forecasts have been aligned with the local industry profile to estimate future trends. Nationally, employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates differ across sectors. Applying these specific sectoral rates to the local mix suggests employment for the suburb of Girrawheen is set to grow by 6.0% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, representing a basic weighted calculation for demonstration purposes that excludes localized population shifts.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

According to the latest postcode-level ATO data released for the financial year 2023, taxpayers in the suburb of Girrawheen recorded a median income of $45,445 and an average of $51,858. These figures sit below the national baseline, and compare to a median of $60,748 and an average of $80,248 in Greater Perth. Applying the Wage Price Index increase of 10.93% since the financial year 2023 yields updated estimates of approximately $50,412 for the median and $57,526 for the average as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census positions household, family, and individual incomes in the suburb of Girrawheen between the 9th and 16th percentiles across the country. In terms of earnings distribution, the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket accounts for 30.8% of the population (3,163 individuals), which aligns with the broader region where 32.0% fall into this band. Affordability pressures are notable, leaving residents with only 81.4% of their income, which ranks in the 14th percentile.

Girrawheen is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

The composition of residential properties in the suburb of Girrawheen at the time of the latest Census consisted of 77.0% freestanding houses and 23.0% alternative housing types (including apartments, semi-detached options, and other structures), compared to 77.8% houses and 22.1% alternative types across the Perth metropolitan area. Home ownership rates in the suburb of Girrawheen lagged behind the metro average at 25.4%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (39.3%) or tenants renting (35.3%). The median monthly mortgage payment was $1,400, falling well below the Perth metro average of $1,907, while the median weekly rent stood at $293, compared to the wider metro figure of $350. Across Australia, mortgage payments in the suburb of Girrawheen are lower than the national average of $1,863, and weekly rents are below the countrywide average of $375.

Girrawheen features high concentrations of group households, with a fairly typical median household size

Families make up the majority of households at 65.2%, which is composed of couples with children at 26.5%, couples without children at 19.9%, and single parent households at 17.2%. The remaining 34.8% consists of non-family households, including single-person households at 29.7% and group households at 5.0%. The median household size of 2.6 residents matches the Greater Perth baseline.

Girrawheen faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

Educational profiles in the suburb of Girrawheen show that university graduation rates of 14.9% are below the national average of 30.4%, highlighting opportunities for targeted learning programs. Among those with degrees, bachelor qualifications are most common at 11.0%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 2.7% and graduate diplomas at 1.2%. Vocational and technical capabilities are highly represented, with 35.3% of residents aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of advanced diplomas at 8.9% and certificates at 26.4%.

Participation in study is quite strong, with 31.1% of residents currently undertaking formal education. This group includes 10.2% attending primary school, 8.3% enrolled in secondary education, and 4.5% engaged in tertiary studies.

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

Public transport services in the suburb of Girrawheen include 59 active passenger stops, consisting of a bus network. These stops are connected to 11 separate routes, which combine to support 2,506 passenger journeys each week. Local transit access is highly rated, with residents situated an average of 176 meters from their nearest transit stop. Given the residential nature of the area, most workers travel outside the suburb, with private cars remaining the primary commute mode at 85%, and trains utilized by 8%. Vehicle ownership stands at an average of 1.3 cars per home, which is below the wider metropolitan baseline. A minor 3.8% of residents worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by pandemic circumstances.

Transit schedules reflect an average of 358 daily services across all operational routes, which corresponds to approximately 42 passenger journeys per week for each individual stop.

Health performance in Girrawheen is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Based on assessments of death rates and the occurrence of long-term medical conditions, the suburb of Girrawheen faces notable health challenges, with chronic issues present across both younger and older generations. The proportion of residents with private health insurance is low, sitting at roughly 48% of the community (~4,908 people). This compares to 59.0% throughout Greater Perth and a national average of 55.7%.

The most frequent health issues reported locally were mental health challenges and asthma, which affect 9.1% and 7.8% of the population respectively, while 69.0% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 71.9% across Greater Perth. Residents of working age experience higher than average rates of long-term health concerns. The population includes 15.7% of residents who are aged 65 and over (1,612 people). Health profiles for older residents show some challenges, with national comparative standings mirroring those of the broader community.

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

The suburb of Girrawheen exhibits a high level of cultural diversity, with 40.0% of residents using a language other than English in their homes and 43.3% born in another country. Christianity is the primary religion, representing 46.7% of the local population. However, the most distinct religious variance is seen in Buddhism, which accounts for 6.8% of residents in the suburb of Girrawheen, compared to 2.7% across Greater Perth.

Regarding ancestral backgrounds based on parental birthplaces, the three most common heritages in the suburb of Girrawheen are English at 21.8% of the population, which is below the regional average of 28.0%, Other at 21.7%, which sits above the regional average of 11.2%, and Australian at 18.2%. Specific demographic differences are also visible for other groups, with Vietnamese ancestry overrepresented at 5.7% (compared to 0.8% across the region), Macedonian at 1.6% (compared to 0.4%), and Serbian at 0.6% (compared to 0.3%).

Girrawheen's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

With a median age of 36 years, the suburb of Girrawheen closely aligns with the Greater Perth average of 37 and is slightly below the Australian median of 38. Compared to the metro area, the suburb of Girrawheen contains a larger share of residents aged 15 - 24 (14.1%) but a smaller proportion of people aged 35 - 44 (14.5%). Since the 2021 Census, the 75 to 84 age group has risen from 4.5% to 5.6% of the population, whereas the 0 to 4 age group has fallen from 6.6% to 5.4%. Future projections suggest the local age structure will shift considerably by 2041, with the 75 to 84 age group expected to grow by 55%, adding 316 people to reach 892. Older residents aged 65 and over will account for 67% of total population growth, highlighting local aging patterns, while the 15 to 24 and 0 to 4 age groups are projected to contract in size.