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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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Neerim South has an estimated 1,643 residents, up from 1,599 at the 2021 Census — a change of 44 people, or 2.8%. Growth has averaged 1.5% a year over five years, slower than 75% of areas nationally. Density is about 26 people per 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
Evaluating demographics from ABS updates for the region alongside fresh address data validated by AreaSearch since the Census shows the suburb of Neerim South has a population of about 1,643 as of May 2026. This represents a gain of 44 people (2.8%) from the 2021 Census, which counted 1,599 people. The estimate is derived from the resident population of 1,643 calculated by AreaSearch using the latest June 2025 ERP release by the ABS and 12 validated new addresses recorded since the Census. This population level means a density of 25 persons per square kilometer, which ensures a spacious living environment.
Over the past decade, the suburb of Neerim South has shown steady development with a 2.4% compound annual growth rate, exceeding the wider SA4 region. Population expansion was driven mostly by interstate migration, which accounted for roughly 59.0% of the population growth, although overseas migration and natural growth also registered positive outcomes. AreaSearch implements ABS and Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 district published in 2024 using 2022 as the baseline. For SA2 areas where this data is unavailable, projections are sourced from the 2023 VIC State Government Regional/LGA projections, adjusting them using a weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking at future demographic trends, a population increase just under the median of national regional areas is anticipated for the suburb of Neerim South, with the area projected to grow by 79 persons to 2041 based on these aggregated SA2-level figures, indicating a total growth of 4.8% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
23 new dwellings have been approved in Neerim South over the past five years, an average of 4 a year. That is 2.9 approvals per 1,000 residents. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 4, 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
Based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approvals allocated from statistical area data, Neerim South averages approximately 4 new homes approved annually, with a total of 23 homes approved over the past 5 financial years. For the current FY-26, 4 approvals have been documented. With an average of 5.1 new residents per year for every home built over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), demand is outstripping supply, which typically supports price growth and competition among buyers, while new builds carry an average value of $684,000, indicating developers are targeting the premium market with upscale projects.
Additionally, $123,000 in commercial development approvals have been recorded this financial year, showing a strong residential focus. Compared to the Rest of Vic., Neerim South registers significantly lower building activity (73.0% below the regional average per capita). This low rate of new supply generally supports demand and values for established houses. This level also falls below the national average, highlighting the established nature of the area and indicating potential planning constraints. Furthermore, new building activity has consisted entirely of detached dwellings, maintaining the low-density character of the area with a focus on detached homes that appeal to buyers seeking space. The ratio of 469 people in the area per dwelling approval highlights a quiet, low-activity development setting. Future projections indicate Neerim South will add 79 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Based on current development trends, new housing supply is expected to comfortably meet demand, presenting favorable conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Neerim South
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 47 current infrastructure and development projects close to Neerim South, worth an estimated $2.02 billion. 16 are already under construction and 11 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics 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
Changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning frameworks have a significant impact on local performance. In total, no projects have been identified by AreaSearch as likely to affect the area. Key regional projects include the Warragul and Drouin Precinct Structure Plans, Marinus Link, the Maryvale Energy from Waste (EfW) Facility, and the Gippsland Line Upgrade, with the following list detailing those of primary local relevance.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Drouin West Kindergarten
New kindergarten facility serving the Drouin West community, providing early learning education services.
147 Dollarburn Road Residential Development
26.25 hectare approved residential subdivision within the Warragul Precinct Structure Plan featuring 114 residential lots, neighbourhood parks, sporting reserves, and farmland. Connected via a proposed street through a future government primary school to Waterford Rise Estate and Warragul township. Located within the Urban Growth Boundary with proximity to the future West Gippsland Hospital.
Loom Warragul
TW Projects, backed by Monark Property Partners, is delivering Loom Warragul, a 200-lot house and land estate on a circa 16 ha site at 321 Copelands Road. Civil works are underway across Stages 1 and 2, with Winslow appointed as civil contractor, while Stages 3, 5A and 5B are now selling from $273,000. The estate is roughly 50 percent sold, with land marketed through Oliver Hume and a sales office open on site.
Emberwood Estate - Stage 11
Stage 11 forms part of the 330-lot Emberwood masterplanned estate in Warragul. The stage comprises titled residential lots that are benched, retained and fenced, with supporting parklands, playgrounds and pedestrian connections. Stage 11 is selling alongside Stage 12, with Stage 13 announced as the next release.
The Fairways Drouin
The Fairways Estate offers rural lifestyle in Gippsland's West with luxury country living and premium urban living options. Located adjacent to the Drouin Golf and Country Club, the estate features residential lots from 435m2 to 3,165m2 and half-acre country living allotments. Currently selling Stage 4 and 5 Urban Living plus Stage 4 Country Living with direct golf course access and exclusive club memberships.
Dollarburn Road Extension
Extension of Dollarburn Road to connect Warragul and Drouin through the purchase and designation of land for road reserve. This project will provide an alternate collector/arterial route for Warragul and Warragul North to access Princes Highway, alleviating congestion on Princes Way and improving freeway access for residential areas. The extension will connect to the proposed Buln Buln Road Interchange to provide significantly improved access to the Princes Freeway for a large residential catchment.
Drouin Fields Estate
Drouin Fields is a master-planned community spanning 60.91 hectares offering approximately 680 lots across multiple stages. The estate features over 24 acres of open green spaces and natural bushland corridors, bike paths, and parks designed by Fitzgerald Frisby landscape architects. Stage 3 is now selling with titled lots available from $279k, and lot sizes range from family blocks to large 1-acre lifestyle lots. Located within minutes of Drouin Town Centre and the V-Line train station, with easy access to the Princes Freeway.
Drouin Fields Master-planned Community
Master-planned community development providing residential housing options and supporting infrastructure for the growing Drouin region.
798 residents of Neerim South are employed, from a labour force of 820. Unemployment sits at 2.7%, with participation at 59.6%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 5.9% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,300, about 79% 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
Neerim South possesses a skilled workforce, with the construction sector showing especially strong representation, an unemployment rate of only 2.7%, and an estimated 3.6% growth in employment over the past year based on AreaSearch statistical area aggregations. As of March 2026798 residents are employed, which places the unemployment rate 1.0% below the Regional Vic. rate of 3.7%, while workforce participation aligns closely with the Regional Vic. average of 61.1%. Census records show a moderate 20.3% of residents worked from home, though the influence of Covid-19 lockdowns should be kept in mind.
The main employment industries for local residents are construction, health care & social assistance, and agriculture, forestry & fishing. The area exhibits a high concentration in agriculture, forestry & fishing, with employment levels 1.4 times the regional average. Conversely, health care & social assistance has a smaller presence, accounting for 12.2% of employment compared to 16.8% regionally. The area offers limited local employment opportunities, as shown by the comparison of Census working population to resident population. According to AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data aggregated from broader statistical regions, over the 12 months to March 2026, employment grew by 3.6% while the labour force expanded by 3.1%, leading to a 0.5 percentage point drop in the unemployment rate. This stands in contrast to Regional Vic., where employment declined by 0.1%, the labour force contracted by 0.3%, and the unemployment rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer additional perspective on future local demand. These five and ten-year projections have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates vary widely by industry. Applying these industry projections to the local employment mix suggests Neerim South's employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.5% over ten years (note that this is a simple weighted extrapolation for illustration and does not incorporate local population projections).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Neerim South is $1,359 a week (about $71,000 a year), with median personal income at $678 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $45,101 a year against an average of $58,881. 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
The latest postcode-level ATO data from AreaSearch for financial year 2023 indicates that incomes in Neerim South are below the national average, with a median of $45,101 and an average of $58,881. This is lower than the Regional Vic. median income of $50,954 and average of $62,728. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, current estimates correspond to roughly $49,440 (median) and $64,545 (average) as of March 2026. Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in Neerim South all rank in the 24th percentile nationally.
Income distribution shows 27.6% of the population (453 individuals) falling into the $800 - 1,499 bracket, contrasting with the wider region where the $1,500 - 2,999 range is dominant at 30.3%. Although housing costs are low with 87.2% of income retained, overall disposable income sits at the 29th percentile nationally, and the SEIFA income decile for the area is the 5th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Neerim South had 565 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 96% detached houses and 2% apartments. 40% are owned with a mortgage, 12% rented and 48% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $260 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,549 a month. Rent absorbs 19.1% of household income here and mortgage repayments 26.3%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
The dwelling mix in Neerim South at the time of the latest Census consisted of 96.1% houses and 3.9% other dwellings (such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and alternative housing types), compared to Regional Vic.'s breakdown of 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. The rate of outright home ownership in Neerim South was significantly higher than in Regional Vic. at 48.2%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (39.7%) or renting (12.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment of $1,549 was higher than the Regional Vic. average of $1,430, while the median weekly rent was $260 compared to the Regional Vic.
average of $285. On a national level, Neerim South's mortgage repayments are much lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are considerably below the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Neerim South counted 565 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.5 people each. 31% are couples with children, against 36% couples without children. 24% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.9 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family households represent the vast majority of households at 75.4%, which is made up of 30.6% couples with children, 35.7% couples without children, and 8.1% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 24.6%, consisting of lone person households at 23.6% and group households at 1.9% of the total. The median household size of 2.5 people is slightly larger than the Regional Vic. average of 2.4.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
18.9% of adults in Neerim South hold a university qualification, including 12.7% with a bachelor degree and 2.9% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 31.5% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 336 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 959 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
The area experiences educational challenges, with tertiary qualification rates (18.9%) falling significantly below the VIC average of 33.4%. This represents both a hurdle and an opening for targeted educational programs. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 12.7%, followed by graduate diplomas (3.3%) and postgraduate qualifications (2.9%). Vocational and technical training is highly prevalent, with 45.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, which include advanced diplomas (14.0%) and certificates (31.5%). Participation in education is high, with 29.0% of local residents enrolled in study. This includes 10.7% in primary school, 9.1% in secondary school, and 2.3% enrolled in tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Neerim South means driving: households keep an average of 1.9 vehicles, and no scheduled public transport appears in the current timetable feeds. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
60.4% of residents in Neerim South report no long-term health condition. 5.8% need daily assistance with core activities, and 50.2% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.6 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Neerim South faces notable health concerns based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic disease prevalence, with common health conditions present across both younger and older cohorts, and private health insurance coverage levels resting at a relatively low rate of approximately 50% of the population (~824 people). The national average is 55.7%. The most common medical conditions recorded are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 12.0% and 9.1% of residents, respectively, while 60.4% reported having no chronic medical conditions compared to 63.4% across Regional Vic. The working-age population faces health challenges with elevated chronic illness rates.
Residents aged 65 and over make up 29.0% of the population (476 people), which is higher than the 23.9% recorded in Regional Vic. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings aligning closely with the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Neerim South is largely Australian-born, at 88.7% of residents, with 2.5% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (32.7%) and Australian (31.5%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Neerim South displays lower levels of cultural diversity, with citizens making up 88.4% of the population, 88.7% of residents born in Australia, and 97.5% speaking only English at home. Christianity is the primary religion, representing 45.5% of the population. The most visible relative overrepresentation is in Buddhism, which accounts for 1.1% of the population compared to 1.0% across Regional Vic. Looking at ancestral backgrounds (parents' country of birth), the three most common ancestries in Neerim South are English at 32.7%, Australian at 31.5%, and Irish at 10.1%. There are also notable differences in other groups: Dutch ancestry is overrepresented at 3.5% of the population (compared to 1.7% regionally), Scottish is at 9.1% (compared to 8.8%), and Welsh is at 0.7% (compared to 0.4%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Neerim South is 47, older than 85% of areas nationally. 21.9% 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
At 47 years, the median age in Neerim South is significantly higher than the Regional Vic. average of 43 and well above the national average of 38 years. The demographic profile shows that the 65 - 74 age bracket is highly represented (15.3%), whereas the 45 - 54 bracket is smaller (9.3%) than in Regional Vic. This concentration of 65 - 74 year-olds is well above the national level of 9.4%. Since 2021, the 75 to 84 cohort has increased from 8.2% to 9.9% of the population, and the 15 to 24 group has risen from 9.8% to 11.2%.
Conversely, the 55 to 64 group decreased from 15.0% to 13.4%, and the 45 to 54 group fell from 10.8% to 9.3%. By 2041, Neerim South is projected to see notable changes in its age structure. The 25 to 34 age group is expected to lead the demographic shift, growing by 29% (51 people) to reach 227 from 175. Meanwhile, the 15 to 24 and 65 to 74 groups are projected to experience declines in population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Neerim South
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 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) | May 2026 3 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 May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| 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 Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 3 months ago all 2 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 May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 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) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 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 — 12 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (1,599 at the 2021 Census → 1,643 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 May 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 (SAL21911). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.