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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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Melton South has an estimated 14,419 residents, up from 11,362 at the 2021 Census — a change of 3,057 people, or 26.9%. Growth has averaged 5.0% a year over five years, faster than 94% of areas nationally. 596 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Interstate and internal migration accounts for 75.0% of that increase. That puts 2,805 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
According to AreaSearch evaluations combining broader regional ABS population updates and new address validations post-Census, the suburb of Melton South recorded an estimated population of approximately 14,419 by Aug 2026. This represents an expansion of 3,057 residents (26.9%) compared to the 11,362 individuals enumerated in the 2021 Census. Such figures build upon AreaSearch's earlier resident population benchmark of 14,234 following the ABS June 2025 ERP release, alongside 596 post-Census validated new addresses. The resulting spatial concentration stands at 2,805 persons per square kilometer, placing the community within the upper quartile across nationwide locations analyzed by AreaSearch.
Melton South outperformed both state (9.5%) and national benchmarks with its 26.9% post-2021 Census expansion, establishing it as a primary regional growth center. Inflows from interstate migration served as the principal demographic engine, accounting for roughly 75.0% of recent population additions, while overseas arrivals and natural increase likewise delivered positive contributions. Projections generated by ABS/Geoscience Australia (issued in 2024 utilizing 2022 baseline figures) serve as the foundation for SA2 geographic modeling by AreaSearch. Wherever coverage is absent, AreaSearch integrates 2023 VIC State Government Regional/LGA projections, adjusting them through weighted population growth aggregation from LGA down to SA2 boundaries. Age-bracket growth rates derived via this aggregation method are further applied across all territories spanning 2032 to 2041. Anticipated demographic trajectories position the suburb of Melton South in the top 10 percent of statistical areas nationwide for expansion, with forecasts pointing to an influx of 9,500 persons by 2041 under aggregated SA2 projections—amounting to an overall rise of 64.6% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
700 new dwellings have been approved in Melton South over the past five years, an average of 140 a year. That places the area in the 97th percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 10 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Of the 85 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 95% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 115, 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
Dwelling approval data from the ABS, mapped to statistical areas by AreaSearch, shows that Melton South has maintained an annual pace of around 140 approved residential dwellings, accumulating roughly 700 new homes across the last 5 financial years. A total of 115 approvals have been documented to date across FY-25. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 7.2 people moved into the area for every home constructed over those 5 financial years, signaling a distinct deficit in housing supply relative to demographic intake that tends to heighten buyer competition and upward pricing pressure.
Emerging residential projects record an average expected construction cost of $367,000, which sits below regional benchmarks and highlights a more accessible price point for purchasers. Concurrently, commercial building approvals registered this financial year reached $625,000, underscoring that construction activity remains heavily centered on residential development. In per-capita terms, building approval volumes in Melton South track significantly lower than Greater Melbourne benchmarks (falling 71.0% below the regional average per person). Although construction has gained momentum lately, such constrained additions to the housing stock generally bolster demand and values across established homes. Unfreestanding and multi-density options account for 5.0% of new building approvals, while 95.0% comprise detached houses, reinforcing an established suburban environment oriented toward families seeking greater land area. A ratio of around 104 people per dwelling approval characterizes Melton South as an expanding growth locality. Forecasts indicate that Melton South will welcome an additional 9,315 residents through to 2041 relative to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Should the prevailing tempo of residential building persist, construction output could struggle to match expanding local numbers, potentially intensifying market competition and providing upward momentum for asset values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Melton South
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 4 current infrastructure and development projects inside Melton South, worth an estimated $8.34 billion. A further 69 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $32 billion. 37 are already under construction and 29 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 growth and performance are heavily shaped by planning frameworks, major civic projects, and regional infrastructure delivery. AreaSearch has pinpointed 9 projects poised to influence the locality. Notable undertakings include Maplewood Estate, Toolern Precinct Structure Plan (Melton South / Weir Views Growth Area), Seventh Bend Estate, and Harkness Cemetery Memorial Park, with key initiatives outlined below.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Maplewood Estate
Maplewood Estate is a master-planned residential community in Melton South, Victoria, featuring 706 land allotments with wetlands, parks, and open spaces. Developed by Golden Group, it offers urban convenience and family living, located minutes from public transport, schools, colleges, and amenities, approximately 35km from Melbourne CBD.
Toolern Precinct Structure Plan (Cobblebank / Melton South Growth Area)
A major greenfield growth corridor in Melbourne west covering approximately 2,290 hectares across four precincts. The plan supports up to 25,030 dwellings and a projected population of 55,000 to 68,000 residents in the suburbs of Cobblebank, Strathtulloh, Thornhill Park and Weir Views. Key infrastructure anchors include the Cobblebank Metropolitan Activity Centre, the new Melton Hospital (construction underway, completion 2029), and the Cobblebank Community Services Hub, a 60 million dollar six-storey facility under construction by Kane Constructions.Amendment C232melt, adopted by Council in June 2025 and submitted to the Minister for Planning, updates the Development Contributions Plan and PSP to address funding shortfalls for roads, bridges, paths, drainage and community infrastructure driven by higher-than-expected development density.
Orchard Green Estate
Masterplanned house and land estate spanning approximately 41.22 hectares in Melton South, offering vacant residential allotments ranging from around 212sqm to 544sqm across multiple staged releases. Stage 16A is currently selling with lots from 213sqm to 449sqm. Earlier stages have been titled and constructed, with the estate located near Melton Train Station, Opalia Shopping Centre and several schools including Al Iman College and Staughton College. Marketed by Jason Real Estate.
Melton Line Upgrade and Level Crossing Removals
A major Victorian Government rail program that combines the removal of four level crossings in Melton and Truganina (Coburns Road, Exford Road, Ferris Road and Hopkins Road) with a wider upgrade of the Melton Line. New rail bridges will carry trains over Coburns and Exford roads, while new road bridges will be built over the rail line at Ferris Road and Hopkins Road, with shared walking and cycling paths. A new elevated Melton Station with four platforms will be built to suit longer 9-car VLocity trains and accommodate Ballarat services, with an accessible pedestrian link, lifts, a relocated bus interchange, pick-up and drop-off zones, an air-conditioned waiting room and staffed ticket office.A new train stabling yard is also being built at Cobblebank near Abey Road, around 700 metres east of the new Melton Station, to house the new fleet and be future-proofed for electrification. Once complete, the upgrade is expected to lift peak passenger capacity on the line by about 50 per cent and remove boom gates from the section, easing congestion for around 73,000 vehicles a day. All four level crossings are due to be gone and the new Melton Station open in 2026, two years ahead of the original schedule, with longer 9-car VLocity trains running on the line from 2027.
Woodgrove Shopping Centre Expansion and Renewal (Melton)
Multi stage expansion and renewal of Woodgrove Shopping Centre in Melton West, including the major $150m regional mall expansion completed in 2013 and the upgraded outdoor dining precinct and childrens play area that opened in December 2022. The centre now offers more than 150 specialty stores, cinemas and a family focused dining hub, and continues to be planned as a key major activity centre with further value add opportunities and a future Woodgrove Area Plan being progressed by Melton City Council.
Opalia Estate, Weir Views
Opalia is a masterplanned residential estate on 57 hectares in Weir Views, within the Melton growth corridor. Commenced in 2018, the estate delivers approximately 581 homes ranging from 300 to 600 square metres. Community amenity includes the Opalia Plaza shopping centre anchored by Woolworths and Aldi alongside Chemist Warehouse, McDonald's, KFC, cafes and medical facilities, plus sports ovals, connecting pathways and open green spaces. Stages 1 through 9 have all titled, with remaining land stages and homes continuing to sell and settle through 2026.
Robinsons Rise Estate Cobblebank
Robinsons Rise Estate is a residential house and land development in Cobblebank, Melbourne's west, developed by Miravor Property Group. The estate offers over 300 lots across multiple stages featuring 7-star energy-rated homes with sustainable design, recycled water infrastructure, and community open spaces. Stage 2 is currently the latest release. The estate is located 250m from Cobblebank Train Station and within walking distance of Cobblebank Village, the under-construction Melton Hospital, and Cobblebank Stadium.
Melton Line Upgrade & Cobblebank Stabling Yard
A $650 million upgrade to the Melton Line to enable 9-car VLocity trains, increasing peak capacity by 50%. The project includes extending platforms at Cobblebank, Rockbank, Caroline Springs, and Deer Park stations, and constructing a new 6-train stabling yard at Cobblebank. It is integrated with the removal of four level crossings (Exford, Ferris, Coburns, and Hopkins roads) and a new four-platform Melton Station. Recent 2026 updates confirm construction is underway on the stabling yard and platform extensions at Rockbank and Cobblebank are slated for late 2026.A further $152.7 million was committed in May 2026 to begin planning for future electrification.
4,989 residents of Melton South are employed, from a labour force of 5,869. Unemployment sits at 15.0%, with participation at 55.8%. 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, so in an area growing as fast as this one it understates the likely rise in local jobs. The working-day population is estimated at 12,446, 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
Workforce analysis by AreaSearch across statistical boundaries reveals a skilled local labor pool spanning multiple industries, paired with an unemployment rate of 15.0%. As of March 2026, employed residents numbered 4,989, while joblessness exceeded Greater Melbourne's 4.8% by 10.2 percentage points, highlighting opportunities for labor market gains. Furthermore, labor force participation in the locality stood at 55.8%, trailing Greater Melbourne's 70.1% substantially. Census records indicate that 14.7% of employed locals were based at home, though these figures were subject to Covid-19 lockdown conditions. The primary employment sectors engaging local residents comprise health care & social assistance, transport, postal & warehousing, and retail trade.
Transport, postal & warehousing exhibits a pronounced local concentration, capturing a workforce share 2.3 times the regional average. Conversely, professional & technical roles account for only 3.8% of local workers compared to 10.1% across the wider region. Comparisons between the Census working population and resident counts point to a predominantly residential locality offering limited workplace opportunities within its own boundaries. Analysis of SALM and ABS data by AreaSearch, which combines figures from larger statistical regions, indicates that the labour force fell by 0.8% during the year to March 2026, employment dropped by 2.7%, and the unemployment rate increased by 1.7 percentage points. Meanwhile, Greater Melbourne saw employment rise by 2.1% and the labour force grow by 2.3%, leading to a 0.2 percentage point increase in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Mar-26 provide useful context for anticipating future job demand in Melton South. These outlooks span five and ten-year horizons and have been compared with the local employment structure to project growth trajectories. The national forecasts anticipate employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though these figures vary considerably across different industries. When these sector-specific forecasts are applied to Melton South's current employment composition, local employment is expected to grow by 6.0% over five years and 12.6% over ten years, although this simple weighting method is only illustrative and does not incorporate localized population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Melton South is $1,209 a week (about $63,000 a year), with median personal income at $568 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $39,005 a year against an average of $44,028. 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 postcode records compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 place personal earnings in the suburb of Melton South below the national benchmark, showing a median of $39,005 and an average of $44,028. By comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded a median of $57,688 and an average of $75,164. Incorporating Wage Price Index gains of 9.62% recorded since financial year 2023 yields updated estimates of roughly $42,757 for median earnings and $48,263 for average earnings as of March 2026. Data from the 2021 Census places local household, family, and personal income tiers between the 8th and 14th percentiles across Australia.
In terms of earnings brackets, the largest segment includes 31.1% of the population (4,484 people) within the $1,500 - 2,999 range, tracking closely with the broader region where 32.8% fall into the same tier. Financial constraints related to housing remain substantial, with only 81.7% of income remaining uncommitted, placing the locality in the 13th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Melton South had 3,821 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 86% detached houses and 0% apartments. 37% are owned with a mortgage, 37% rented and 26% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $300 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,300 a month. Rent absorbs 24.8% of household income here and mortgage repayments 24.8%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the latest Census, the local housing landscape in Melton South is dominated by separate houses at 86.0%, with apartments, semi-detached residences, and other dwellings comprising 14.0%, contrasting with Melbourne metro where houses represent 67.9% and alternative dwellings 32.1%. Outright ownership reached 26.1%, trailing wider Melbourne metro levels, while mortgaged properties accounted for 37.4% and rental dwellings represented 36.5%. Typical housing payments were comparatively modest: median monthly mortgages stood at $1,300 versus $2,000 in Melbourne metro, while median weekly rent was $300 against $390 metro-wide. On a broader scale, local mortgage commitments sit substantially below the Australian average of $1,863, and rents remain well under the nationwide mark of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Melton South counted 3,821 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 4,849 today, averaging 2.6 people each. 30% are couples with children, against 19% couples without children. 28% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.8 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute the vast majority of local domestic arrangements at 68.8%, split between couples with children at 29.9%, couples without children at 18.8%, and single parent households at 18.3%. Non-family setups make up the remaining 31.2%, primarily consisting of single-person households at 27.6% alongside group living arrangements at 3.6%. The typical household size stands at 2.6 people, aligning precisely with the Greater Melbourne benchmark.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
17.2% of adults in Melton South hold a university qualification, including 10.6% with a bachelor degree and 4.9% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 25.0% hold a vocational qualification. 6 schools serve the area, with 4,824 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 983 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
Attainment figures highlight educational hurdles in the area, as university qualification rates of 17.2% sit well beneath the 37.0% benchmark recorded across Greater Melbourne. This landscape underscores substantial scope for targeted learning initiatives. Among higher degrees, bachelor qualifications lead at 10.6%, followed by postgraduate credentials at 4.9% and graduate diplomas at 1.7%. Meanwhile, technical and vocational training shows strong uptake, with 35.1% of the population aged 15+ possessing vocational certifications, divided between certificates at 25.0% and advanced diplomas at 10.1%. Participation in formal learning is substantial across the community, with 33.6% of residents actively enrolled in studies.
This encompasses 13.4% attending primary school, 8.3% engaged in secondary education, and 3.1% undertaking tertiary coursework.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Melton South reaches 40 stops on 17 routes, timetabled for about 5,500 services a week. The typical home sits about 240 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.2 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
Commuter networks in Melton South feature 40 active transport stops spanning rail and bus services, accommodating 17 separate routes that deliver a combined 5,494 weekly passenger trips. Access to public transit is favorable, with residents situated an average of 238 meters from their closest boarding point. Given the residential makeup of the area, outbound travel dominates commuter flows, with private vehicles accounting for 85% of journeys and rail capturing 9%. Household vehicle availability averages 1.2 per dwelling. In addition, 14.7% of workers operated from home according to the 2021 Census, a figure potentially influenced by COVID-19 settings.
Across all transit routes, service volume averages 784 trips per day, translating to roughly 137 weekly trips for each individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
64.8% of residents in Melton South report no long-term health condition, a less healthy profile than 89% of areas nationally. 9.1% need daily assistance with core activities, and 44.4% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.4 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Evaluations of chronic conditions and mortality statistics by AreaSearch highlight notable health considerations in Melton South, with multiple conditions displaying elevated impacts across younger and older demographics alike. Private health insurance participation is notably constrained, with roughly 44% of residents (~6,397 people) holding coverage, compared to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne and 55.7% nationwide. Mental health conditions and asthma represent the most widespread diagnoses locally, reported by 11.1 and 9.4% of the population, respectively, while 64.8% of residents indicated experiencing no chronic medical conditions compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Chronic health burdens are particularly evident among the working-age cohort.
Residents aged 65 and over constitute 12.7% of the locality (1,831 people), below the 15.1% share recorded for Greater Melbourne, with senior wellness rankings generally matching broader national community benchmarks.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
35.2% of Melton South residents were born overseas and 34.6% speak a language other than English at home, more culturally diverse than 79% of areas nationally. The largest reported ancestries are Australian (22.3%) and English (20.8%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity is pronounced in Melton South, where 35.2% of residents were born outside Australia and 34.6% communicate in a language other than English in their homes. Christianity represents the leading religious affiliation, encompassing 44.0% of the community. The most distinct statistical variation occurs in the Other category, which accounts for 5.7% of the population locally against 2.3% across Greater Melbourne. Looking at ancestral background based on parental birthplaces, Australian leads at 22.3%, followed by English at 20.8% and Other at 20.4%, the latter tracking well above the regional share of 14.6%.
Specific cultural communities also exhibit distinct representation: Maltese ancestry stands at 2.3% (compared to 1.1% regionally), Samoan background represents 1.7% (against 0.3% regionally), and Indian ancestry accounts for 4.9% (versus 4.2% across the wider region).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Melton South is 34, younger than 76% of areas nationally. That is 1 year younger than at the 2021 Census. 24.3% 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
Demographics in Melton South skew younger than the broader metropolitan area. As at August 2026, children and young adults (0 - 24) comprise 37.7% of the local population compared to 30.5% in Greater Melbourne, while mature adults and early retirees (45 - 64) represent 19.7% against a regional baseline of 22.3%. The estimated median age stood at 34 as at August 2026, dropping from 35 at the 2021 Census and remaining 3 years below the Greater Melbourne median of 37 recorded in that Census. The most noticeable post-Census shift has occurred in the 0 - 24 age bracket, rising from 34.5% to an estimated 37.7%.
In contrast, the 25 to 34 cohort declined from 15.1% to an estimated 12.9%, while the 35 to 44 cohort grew from 14.6% to 17.2%, reflecting an aging resident base with fewer incoming young households. Projections through 2041 indicate that children and young adults will capture the greatest absolute increase, adding 3,148 residents (58%) to reach 8,584, while middle aged and young retiree groups will experience the fastest relative expansion, surging 97% to reach 5,608 residents.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Melton South
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, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 2 months ago all 4 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 Aug 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 — 596 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (11,362 at the 2021 Census → 14,419 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 (SAL21643). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.