Herne Hill (Vic.)

Herne Hill has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

As of November 2025, Herne Hill's population is estimated at around 3,384 people. This reflects a decrease from the 2021 Census figure of 3,507 people, representing a drop of 123 individuals (3.5%). AreaSearch validated this estimate by examining the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and adding an additional 20 addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,256 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 52.0% to recent population gains in the suburb.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 adjusted using weighted aggregation for areas not covered by ABS data. Future population projections indicate a significant increase in the top quartile of national non-metropolitan areas, with Herne Hill expected to grow by 1,068 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall gain of 39.7% over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Herne Hill recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Herne Hill recorded approximately 13 residential properties approved each year from FY-20 to FY-25. In total, this amounts to an estimated 66 homes over these five financial years. As of FY-26, there has been 1 approval recorded so far. On average, about 3.4 new residents arrived annually per dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25.

The average construction value for new homes was $547,000 during this period. In FY-26, commercial approvals totaled $1.4 million, indicating limited commercial development activity. Compared to the Rest of Vic., Herne Hill had 65.0% less construction per person measured against regional averages. The area's new development primarily consists of detached houses (83.0%) and townhouses or apartments (17.0%), maintaining its suburban character.

As of now, there are approximately 404 people per dwelling approval in Herne Hill. By 2041, AreaSearch projects an addition of 1,344 residents to the area. If current development rates persist, housing supply might not keep pace with population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting stronger price growth.

Herne Hill has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified two projects that could affect this region. Notable projects include Northern and Western Geelong Growth Areas, Barwon Health North, Geelong Ring Road - Stage 4C (Heales Road to Anglesea Road), and Marshall Street Social Housing Renewal. The following list details those most likely to be relevant.

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

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.

The labour market in Herne Hill demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Herne Hill's workforce is well-educated with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate stood at 3.4% as of June 2025, below the Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.1%. A total of 2,148 residents were employed in June 2025, with an unemployment rate 0.4% lower than Rest of Vic.'s and workforce participation at 68.7%, higher than Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. Leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training, while agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented at 0.7% compared to Rest of Vic.'s 7.5%.

Employment opportunities in Herne Hill appear limited locally, as indicated by the ratio of Census working population to resident population. Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 2.1%, labour force by 2.5%, leading to a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. In contrast, Rest of Vic. saw employment decline by 0.9%, labour force decline by 0.4%, with unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 project overall employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Herne Hill's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

Herne Hill had a median taxpayer income of $54,129 and an average of $68,791 according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for the financial year 2022. This was higher than national averages, with Rest of Vic.'s median income being $48,741 and average income $60,693. As of September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $60,711 (median) and $77,156 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022. Herne Hill's personal income ranked at the 62nd percentile ($870 weekly), while household income was at the 30th percentile. The earnings profile showed that 29.3% of residents (991 people) fell into the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, similar to regional patterns where 30.3% occupied this range. Herne Hill faced severe housing affordability pressures, with only 83.1% of income remaining, ranking at the 28th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 5th decile.

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

Herne Hill's dwelling structure, as assessed in the latest Census, consisted of 71.4% houses and 28.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s 74.6% houses and 25.4% other dwellings. Home ownership in Herne Hill stood at 27.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 33.4% and rented dwellings at 39.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,733, higher than Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,712. Median weekly rent in Herne Hill was $270, lower than Non-Metro Vic.'s figure of $335. Nationally, Herne Hill's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially lower than the national figure of $375.

Herne Hill features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 55.8% of all households, including 22.7% couples with children, 22.5% couples without children, and 10.4% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 44.2%, with lone person households at 40.1% and group households making up 3.6%. The median household size is 2.1 people, smaller than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.4.

The educational profile of Herne Hill exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates at 29.3% among residents aged 15+, surpassing the Rest of Vic average of 21.7%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 20.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (6.0%) and graduate diplomas (3.3%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 36.9% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 11.2% and certificates at 25.7%. Educational participation is high, with 25.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 8.6% in primary, 5.1% in secondary, and 5.1% in tertiary education.

Herne Hill's 3 schools have a combined enrollment of 1,263 students, while the area exhibits above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1058). Educational provision is conventional, with one primary and two secondary institutions. The area serves as an education hub, offering 37.3 school places per 100 residents – significantly higher than the regional average of 16.7 – attracting students from nearby communities. Note: for schools marked 'n/a' in enrolments, refer to their parent campus.

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

Herne Hill has 17 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by two routes that together facilitate 571 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these services is considered good, with residents on average being located 201 meters from the nearest stop.

Across all routes, there are an average of 81 trips per day, equating to approximately 33 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Herne Hill faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 54%, covering around 1,828 people. Mental health issues impact 11.2% of residents, while asthma affects 9.5%. About 65.0% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 65.9% across Rest of Vic.. The area has 15.5% of residents aged 65 and over (524 people), which is lower than the 16.8% in Rest of Vic.. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

Herne Hill ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Herne Hill's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 86.7% of its population born in Australia, 91.1% being citizens, and 92.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Herne Hill, accounting for 48.2% of its population. However, there was an overrepresentation of Judaism, which comprises 0.1% of Herne Hill's population compared to 0.1% across Rest of Vic..

The top three ancestry groups in Herne Hill are English at 27.7%, Australian at 27.3%, and Irish at 12.0%. Notably, Scottish ancestry is overrepresented at 9.8% compared to the regional average of 8.3%, while Dutch ancestry remains at 2.0%. Macedonian ancestry, however, is slightly underrepresented at 0.5% compared to the regional average of 0.6%.

Herne Hill's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Herne Hill's median age is 35 years, which is significantly below the Rest of Vic. average of 43 and somewhat younger than the Australian median of 38. Compared to the Rest of Vic., the 25-34 cohort is notably over-represented at 20.3% locally, while the 65-74 year-olds are under-represented at 8.0%. This 25-34 concentration is well above the national average of 14.5%. Following the Census conducted on 28 August 2021, the 25 to 34 age group has grown from 18.7% to 20.3%, while the 35 to 44 cohort increased from 14.5% to 16.0%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 11.9% to 10.3%. Demographic modeling suggests Herne Hill's age profile will evolve significantly by 2041. The 25 to 34 cohort shows the strongest projected growth at 65%, adding 447 residents to reach 1,134. The 55 to 64 group displays more modest growth at 8%, adding only 26 residents.