Kirribilli

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

The suburb of Kirribilli's population is estimated at around 3,847 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 218 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,629 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 3,808 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2024) and address validation since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 8,946 persons per square kilometer, making land in the area highly sought after. Kirribilli's growth rate of 6.0% since the 2021 census exceeded that of its SA3 area (5.6%) and SA4 region. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 88.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year are used. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends indicate a median national area increase, with the suburb expected to expand by 189 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 5.8% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Kirribilli, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Kirribilli averaged approximately four new dwelling approvals per year.

Between financial years 2021 to 2025, about twenty homes were approved, with three more in the current financial year 2026. Despite population decline during this period, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, creating a balanced market with good buyer choice compared to Greater Sydney. However, Kirribilli records roughly half the building activity per person and ranks among the 43rd percentile nationally, indicating relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing homes. Recent construction activity has intensified, consisting entirely of attached dwellings, offering affordable entry pathways for downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. With around 384 people per dwelling approval, Kirribilli exhibits a developed market.

By 2041, AreaSearch estimates Kirribilli will grow by approximately 222 residents. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified seven projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones are Waruda Kirribilli, Glenferrie Lodge Hotel Renovation And Extension, Carabella, and Kirribilli Harbour. The following details those most relevant.

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

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AreaSearch analysis reveals Kirribilli recording weaker employment conditions than most comparable areas nationwide

Kirribilli's workforce is highly educated with a notable presence in the technology sector. The unemployment rate as of September 2025 was 5.8%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. In this month, 2,354 residents were employed while the unemployment rate was 1.6% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in Kirribilli is similar to Greater Sydney's 70.0%. A high proportion, 68.8%, of residents worked from home based on Census responses, although Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Employment among residents is concentrated in professional & technical, finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance sectors. Kirribilli has a particular employment specialization in the professional & technical sector with an employment share 2.0 times the regional level.

Retail trade has limited presence with 5.5% employment compared to the regional average of 9.3%. While local employment opportunities exist, many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data comparing working population to local population. Over the 12 months to September 2025, labour force levels increased by 0.3%, while employment declined by 0.9% in Kirribilli, leading to a rise of 1.1 percentage points in unemployment rate. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.1% and labour force growth of 2.4%, with a slight increase of 0.2 percentage points in unemployment rate. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insights into potential future demand within Kirribilli. These projections suggest that nationally, employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Kirribilli's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.7% over five years and 15.1% over ten years, though these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localised population projections.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

The suburb of Kirribilli had a median taxpayer income of $81,846 and an average income of $143,062 in the financial year 2023, according to latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. These figures are significantly higher than Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,063 for the same period. By September 2025, estimates suggest Kirribilli's median income will be approximately $89,098 and average income $155,737, based on an 8.86% growth in wages since financial year 2023. Census data shows that individual earnings in Kirribilli are at the 98th percentile nationally, with a weekly income of $1,598. Income analysis reveals that the predominant earning cohort in Kirribilli is 29.0% (1,115 people) who earn over $4,000 per week, differing from regional levels where those earning between $1,500 and $2,999 are most prevalent at 30.9%. A substantial proportion of residents, 39.2%, earn more than $3,000 weekly, indicating strong purchasing power in the area. High housing costs consume 18.4% of income, but due to high earnings, disposable income is still at the 77th percentile nationally. The suburb's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

Kirribilli features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Kirribilli, as per the latest Census, dwelling structures consisted of 5.6% houses and 94.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Kirribilli stood at 23.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 11.3% and rented ones at 64.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,033, exceeding Sydney metro's average of $2,427. The median weekly rent in Kirribilli was $520, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Kirribilli's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Kirribilli features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 44.6% of all households, including 8.8% that are couples with children, 30.8% that are couples without children, and 4.0% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 55.4%, with lone person households at 50.3% and group households comprising 5.1%. The median household size is 1.7 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Kirribilli demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

Kirribilli's educational attainment notably exceeds national and state averages. Among residents aged 15 years and above, 65.9% have university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and New South Wales' 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent (40.2%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (21.0%) and graduate diplomas (4.7%). Vocational pathways comprise 17.1%, with advanced diplomas at 9.6% and certificates at 7.5%.

Notably, 23.1% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 10.4% in tertiary, 4.2% in primary, and 3.2% in secondary education.

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

Kirribilli has 15 active public transport stops offering a mix of ferry and bus services. These are served by 19 routes, providing 3,103 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is excellent, with residents typically located 96 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Cars remain the dominant mode at 51%, followed by train at 24% and walking at 11%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.4 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 68.8% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 443 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 206 weekly trips per individual stop.

Kirribilli's residents are extremely healthy with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Analysis of health metrics shows strong performance throughout Kirribilli. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence were very low across all age groups. Private health cover was found to be exceptionally high at approximately 83% of the total population (3,200 people), compared to 59.9% across Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions in the area were mental health issues and arthritis, impacting 7.1 and 7.0% of residents respectively. Seventy percent of residents declared themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% across Greater Sydney. The under-65 population demonstrates better than average health outcomes. The area has 27.3% of residents aged 65 and over (1,050 people), which is higher than the 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are particularly strong, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

Kirribilli was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Kirribilli's cultural diversity was notable, with 20.8% speaking a language other than English at home and 41.3% born overseas. Christianity dominated religiously, at 47.2%. Judaism, however, was equally represented compared to Greater Sydney, at 0.8%.

Ancestry-wise, English (26.4%) and Irish (11.5%) were substantially overrepresented in Kirribilli compared to regional averages of 19.0% and 6.1%, respectively. Australian ancestry was also notable, at 15.7%. French (1.1%), Russian (0.8%), and Polish (1.1%) ethnicities showed significant divergences from regional averages.

Kirribilli hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

Kirribilli's median age is 44, surpassing Greater Sydney's figure of 37 and substantially exceeding the national norm of 38. The 25-34 age group constitutes 21.8%, higher than Greater Sydney's percentage but lower than the national average of 14.4%. The 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 3.2%. Post the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 age group grew from 6.3% to 8.1%, while the 85+ cohort increased from 3.3% to 4.5%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort declined from 23.6% to 21.8%, and the 35 to 44 group dropped from 14.5% to 13.0%. By 2041, demographic modeling indicates significant changes in Kirribilli's age profile. The 85+ group is projected to grow by 93%, reaching 334 from 173. Those aged 65 and above will comprise 83% of the projected growth. Meanwhile, the 15 to 24 and 5 to 14 cohorts are expected to decrease in population.