Newington (Vic.)

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

As of November 2025, Newington's population is estimated at around 1,793 people. This reflects a decrease from the 2021 Census figure of 1,844 people. The latest estimate by AreaSearch, based on ABS ERP data released in June 2024 and validated new addresses since the Census date, indicates this decline. This population density is approximately 750 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration primarily drove recent population growth in Newington.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for SA2 areas, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, it utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Population growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, Newington is projected to experience above median population growth, with an expected increase of 317 persons by 2041, reflecting a total increase of 17.6% over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in Newington is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers indicates that Newington has been granted around 7 residential property approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling approximately 39 homes. As of FY26, one approval has been recorded so far. Despite population decline in the area, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a balanced market with good buyer choice. The average expected construction cost value for new properties is $666,000, suggesting developers are focusing on the premium market with high-end developments.

This financial year has seen $32.8 million in commercial development approvals recorded, indicating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to the Rest of Vic., Newington shows substantially reduced construction levels, with 66.0% below the regional average per person.

This scarcity of new dwellings typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Newington is projected to add 316 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply could lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Newington has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

The performance of a region can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified three projects that are expected to impact this area. Notable projects include Ballarat Base Hospital Redevelopment, Ballarat Line Upgrade, VNI West - Victorian Section, and St John of God Ballarat Hospital Expansion. The following list provides details on those projects likely to be most 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.

AreaSearch assessment positions Newington ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

Newington has a highly educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 2.8%, lower than the national average, and it experienced an estimated employment growth of 7.0% over the past year (AreaSearch aggregation).

As of June 2025, Newington's unemployment rate stands at 1.0% below Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%. Workforce participation is fairly standard at 60.6%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. The dominant employment sectors among residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction, with a particularly strong specialization in health care & social assistance (1.4 times the regional level). Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented at 1.8%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 7.5%.

As per Census data, Newington has 1.2 workers for every resident, functioning as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. During the year to June 2025, employment levels increased by 7.0% and labour force increased by 6.6%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.4 percentage points, contrasting with Rest of Vic.'s employment contraction of 0.9%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22 suggest potential future demand within Newington. These projections estimate that local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.9% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and not accounting for localized population projections.

The area's income profile falls below national averages based on AreaSearch analysis

Newington had a median taxpayer income of $48,334 and an average income of $61,840 in financial year 2022, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This was below the national average for that year. The Rest of Vic., meanwhile, had a median income of $48,741 and an average income of $60,693 during the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, estimated incomes for Newington would be approximately $54,211 (median) and $69,360 (average) by September 2025. The 2021 Census data showed household, family, and personal incomes in Newington ranked modestly, between the 47th and 49th percentiles. In Newington, 29.5% of individuals earned between $1,500 and $2,999, reflecting regional patterns where 30.3% fell within this income range. After housing costs, residents retained 88.0% of their income, indicating strong purchasing power. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 7th decile.

Newington is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in Newington, as per the latest Census, consisted of 84.5% houses and 15.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s 84.6% houses and 15.4% other dwellings. The home ownership rate in Newington was higher at 39.1%, with the rest being mortgaged (32.1%) or rented (28.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Newington was $1,517, above Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,499. The median weekly rent figure was $315, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $300. Nationally, Newington's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Newington features high concentrations of lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 65.7% of all households, including 27.2% couples with children, 26.2% couples without children, and 11.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 34.3%, with lone person households at 30.8% and group households comprising 3.7%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the average in the Rest of Vic.

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

In Newington, educational attainment is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15 and above, 39.8% hold university qualifications, compared to 21.7% in the rest of Victoria and 24.6% in the SA4 region. This educational advantage is reflected in the types of qualifications held: Bachelor degrees lead at 24.3%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.2%) and graduate diplomas (6.3%). Vocational pathways account for 22.8% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 8.3% and certificates at 14.5%. Educational participation is high, with 35.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 16.7% in secondary education, 9.2% in primary education, and 5.9% pursuing tertiary education. Newington's three schools have a combined enrollment of 3,427 students. The area has above-average socio-educational conditions, with an ICSEA score of 1075. The educational mix includes one primary school, one secondary school, and one K-12 school. Newington functions as an education hub, with 191.1 school places per 100 residents, significantly above the regional average of 17.9. This attracts students from surrounding communities.

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

Public transport analysis shows nine active transport stops operating within Newington. These stops serve a mix of bus routes. There are three individual routes in total, providing 433 weekly passenger trips collectively.

Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 259 meters from the nearest transport stop. Service frequency averages 61 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 48 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Newington are marginally below the national average with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Newington's health indicators show below-average results with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age groups.

Private health cover is present in approximately 51% of the total population (~919 people), which is slightly lower than the average for SA2 areas. The most frequent medical conditions are mental health issues affecting 9.2% of residents, followed by asthma at 8.4%. A total of 67.7% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 62.3% in Rest of Vic. The area has 18.4% of residents aged 65 and over (329 people), with health outcomes among seniors above average and better than the general population in health metrics.

Newington is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Newington, as per data, had a lower than average cultural diversity with 89.5% of its population born in Australia, 93.2% being citizens, and 93.2% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Newington, comprising 49.4% of the population. Hinduism showed an overrepresentation in Newington with 1.6%, compared to 1.2% across Rest of Vic..

The top three ancestry groups were English (28.6%), Australian (27.1%), and Irish (14.1%). Notable divergences included Dutch at 2.1% (vs regional 2.1%), Russian at 0.4% (vs 0.2%), and Scottish at 8.8% (vs 9.2%).

Newington's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Newington is 39 years, which is significantly lower than Rest of Vic.'s average of 43 but essentially aligned with Australia's median age of 38 years. Compared to Rest of Vic., Newington has a higher proportion of residents aged 15-24 (18.4%) but fewer residents aged 55-64 (10.2%). This proportion of 15-24 year-olds is well above the national average of 12.5%. According to the 2021 Census, the population aged 25 to 34 has grown from 8.8% to 9.7%, while the 5 to 14 age group has declined from 14.7% to 13.7%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Newington's age structure. The 25 to 34 age group is projected to grow by 72 people, reaching 299 from 173. Conversely, the 55 to 64 age group is projected to decline by 10 people.