Mortlake (NSW)

Population growth drivers in Mortlake are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Mortlake (NSW) is around 1,962, reflecting an increase of 8 people since the 2021 Census. This increase represents a 0.4% growth from the previous population count of 1,954. The latest estimate by AreaSearch, following examination of the ABS's ERP data release in June 2025 and validation of new addresses, is 1,960 residents. This results in a population density ratio of 8,175 persons per square kilometer, placing Mortlake in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Over the past decade, Mortlake has shown resilient growth patterns with a compound annual growth rate of 6.5%, outperforming its SA3 area. The primary driver for this population growth was overseas migration, contributing approximately 83.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch's projections for Mortlake are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and for areas not covered by this data, NSW State Government's SA2 level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021 are used. These projections indicate a decline in overall population by 78 persons by 2041. However, specific age cohorts such as the 75 to 84 age group are projected to increase by 48 people over this period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Mortlake among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Mortlake averaged approximately 8 new dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, totalling an estimated 44 homes. As of FY-26, 11 approvals have been recorded. Each year, around 8.7 new residents were associated with every home built during this period.

This indicates significant demand exceeding supply, typically leading to price growth and increased buyer competition. The average construction value of new dwellings was approximately $740,000, suggesting developers focus on the premium market with high-end developments. Compared to Greater Sydney, Mortlake has about three-quarters the rate of new dwelling approvals per person, while it ranks among the 83rd percentile nationally.

Recent construction comprises 54.0% detached houses and 46.0% attached dwellings, offering a mix of housing options across price brackets. This indicates an expanding range of medium-density alternatives. Despite increasing density pressures, new construction favours detached housing more than current patterns suggest (6.0% at Census), demonstrating robust demand for family homes. Mortlake has around 123 people per dwelling approval, indicating low-density characteristics. Given stable or declining population forecasts, Mortlake may experience less housing pressure, creating favourable conditions for buyers.

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

Four projects identified by AreaSearch are expected to impact the area: Public Transport Capacity along Parramatta Road and Victoria Road Corridors, Corsa Mortlake, Mixed-Use Development at 15-25 Hilly Street, and Mortlake Place Plan 2019-2025.

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.

Employment conditions in Mortlake demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Mortlake has a highly educated workforce with professional services well represented. The unemployment rate is 2.7%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 1,337 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.5% lower than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

Workforce participation in Mortlake is 79.7%, compared to Greater Sydney's 68.8%. Census data shows that 48.8% of residents work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Key industries for employment among residents are health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and construction. The area has a notable concentration in rental, hiring & real estate services, with employment levels at 2.2 times the regional average.

In contrast, accommodation & food services employ only 3.6% of local workers, lower than Greater Sydney's 5.8%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by the difference between the Census working population and resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, Mortlake's labour force decreased by 2.5% while employment declined by 2.8%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.3 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Sydney recorded employment growth of 2.2% during this period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Mortlake's employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections against the local employment mix.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023, Mortlake had a median income among taxpayers of $77,836. The average income stood at $115,178, placing it in the top percentile nationally. This compares to levels of $60,817 and $83,003 across Greater Sydney respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.32% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $85,869 (median) and $127,064 (average) as of March 2026. Census 2021 income data shows household, family and personal incomes all rank highly in Mortlake, between the 85th and 95th percentiles nationally. The data shows 35.9% of the population (704 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range. This is consistent with broader trends across the metropolitan region showing 30.9% in the same category. A substantial proportion of high earners, 37.0%, have incomes above $3,000/week, indicating strong economic capacity throughout the suburb. High housing costs consume 21.4% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income at the 77th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

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

Mortlake's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 5.6% houses and 94.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Mortlake stood at 16.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 24.9% and rented ones at 58.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,033, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Mortlake was $560, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Mortlake's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

Mortlake has a typical household mix, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 66.9% of all households, including 22.9% couples with children, 35.4% couples without children, and 7.8% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 33.1%, consisting of 28.7% lone person households and 3.6% group households. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

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

Educational attainment in Mortlake is notably higher than broader Australian benchmarks. As of 2021, 46.8% of residents aged 15 years and above have university qualifications, compared to the national average of 30.4% and the NSW average of 32.2%. This high level of educational attainment positions Mortlake favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 30.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (13.0%) and graduate diplomas (3.2%).

Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 30.1% of residents aged 15 years and above holding such qualifications – advanced diplomas account for 14.7% and certificates for 15.4%. A significant portion of the population is actively engaged in formal education, with 24.1% pursuing it. This includes 7.2% in primary education, 6.1% in tertiary education, and 3.7% in secondary education.

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

Mortlake has three operational public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by two distinct routes, offering a total of 1,209 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is deemed excellent, with residents' average distance to the nearest stop being 135 meters. Predominantly residential, Mortlake sees most commuters traveling outwards. Cars remain the primary mode of travel at 86%, while train usage stands at 6%. On average, there are 1.1 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, a significant 48.8% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages 172 trips daily, translating to approximately 403 weekly trips per individual stop.

Mortlake's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Mortlake's health outcomes show excellent results according to AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 72% of the total population (1,418 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most common medical conditions are asthma and mental health issues, affecting 6.9 and 5.3% of residents respectively. 79.1% of residents claim to be completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Working-age residents exhibit low chronic condition prevalence. Mortlake has 12.7% of residents aged 65 and over (249 people), lower than the 15.5% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

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

Mortlake's cultural diversity is notable, with 39.2% of its residents born overseas and 39.3% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the dominant religion in Mortlake, accounting for 54.1% of the population. However, Buddhism stands out as overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, making up 3.8% versus 4.1%.

The top three ancestral groups based on parental country of birth are English (16.2%), Other (14.6%), and Australian (13.6%). Notably, Korean, Spanish, and Italian ethnicities are overrepresented in Mortlake compared to regional averages: Korean at 2.5% versus 1.1%, Spanish at 0.9% versus 0.6%, and Italian at 10.2% versus 3.4%.

Mortlake's population is younger than the national pattern

Mortlake's median age is 35 years, which is slightly younger than Greater Sydney's 37 years and somewhat younger than the national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group constitutes 26.9% of Mortlake's population, higher than Greater Sydney's percentage but lower than the national figure of 14.6%. The 5-14 age group makes up 6.9% of Mortlake's population, which is less prevalent compared to Greater Sydney's percentage. Between 2021 and present, the 75-84 age group has grown from 2.6% to 4.8%, while the 15-24 cohort increased from 7.8% to 9.4%. Conversely, the 5-14 age group declined from 8.4% to 6.9%, and the 35-44 age group decreased from 18.9% to 17.8%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate that Mortlake's 75-84 age cohort will increase by 42 people (45%), from 94 to 137. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are projected to account for 94% of total population growth, reflecting Mortlake's aging demographic profile. In contrast, both the 15-24 and 55-64 age groups are expected to see reduced numbers.