Shelley (WA)

Shelley has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area, and new addresses validated by AreaSearch since the Census, Shelley's population is estimated at around 5665 as of November 2025. This reflects an increase of 870 people (18.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4795 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 5296 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024 and an additional 15 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 2659 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Shelley's growth of 18.1% since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.7%), along with the state, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which was essentially the sole driver of population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data and to estimate growth post-2032, AreaSearch utilises growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections (released in 2023 based on 2022 data). Looking ahead, an above median population growth is projected for the Shelley (WA) statistical area (Lv2), with the area expected to grow by 762 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of 5.1% in total over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential approval activity sees Shelley among the top 30% of areas assessed nationwide

Based on AreaSearch analysis, Shelley has averaged around 26 dwelling approvals per year. Between FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 134 homes were approved, with another 16 approved in FY-26 so far. This results in about 3.1 new residents per year arriving per dwelling constructed over the past five financial years.

Demand significantly exceeds supply, likely leading to price growth and increased buyer competition. New dwellings are developed at an average cost of $610,000, indicating a focus on premium market properties. This financial year has seen $1.6 million in commercial development approvals, suggesting a predominantly residential focus.

Shelley's development levels per person are similar to Greater Perth, maintaining market balance with the broader area. New development consists of 94.0% detached houses and 6.0% attached dwellings, preserving Shelley's traditional suburban character focused on family homes. Developers are constructing more detached housing than previously indicated (78.0% at Census), reflecting strong demand for family homes despite densification trends. With around 180 people per approval, Shelley reflects a developing area. By 2041, Shelley is projected to grow by approximately 287 residents. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Shelley has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 45thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified two projects likely influencing this region. Key projects are Willetton Youth Centre Renovation, Southlands Boulevarde Shopping Centre Redevelopment, Wilson Riverfront Masterplan (Canning River Precinct Redevelopment), and Willetton Sports Precinct Transformation. The following details those 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.

The exceptional employment performance in Shelley places it among Australia's strongest labour markets

Shelley has an educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 1.4%, with estimated employment growth of 2.2% over the past year, according to AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation.

As of September 2025, Shelley has 2,793 residents employed, an unemployment rate of 2.5% lower than Greater Perth's 4.0%, and a workforce participation rate of 62.9%. Dominant employment sectors include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. Education & training is particularly strong, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level. However, construction is under-represented at 6.6% compared to Greater Perth's 9.3%.

Limited local employment opportunities are indicated by the Census working population vs resident population count. Over a 12-month period ending September 2025, Shelley's employment increased by 2.2%, labour force by 2.0%, and unemployment fell by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Perth experienced employment growth of 2.9% and labour force growth of 3.0%. Statewide in WA, from November 25, employment contracted by 0.27% (losing 5,520 jobs), with an unemployment rate of 4.6%, compared to the national rate of 4.3%. National employment forecasts from May-25 suggest growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Shelley's employment mix, local employment is estimated to increase by 6.7% over five years and 13.9% over ten years.

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

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year ended 30 June 2023 shows median income in Shelley suburb was $61,110 and average income was $90,119. This compares to Greater Perth's median income of $60,748 and average income of $80,248. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% from financial year ended 30 June 2023 to September 2025, estimated median income in Shelley would be approximately $66,989 and average income would be around $98,788. According to the Census conducted on 10 August 2021, incomes in Shelley are at the 71st percentile nationally. In Shelley, 27.8% of people (1,574 individuals) earn between $1,500 and $2,999, slightly lower than the metropolitan region's 32.0%. High weekly earnings exceeding $3,000 are reported by 36.6% of households, indicating strong consumer spending power. After housing costs, residents retain 87.6% of their income, reflecting robust purchasing power. Shelley's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

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

In Shelley, as per the latest Census evaluation, 78.5% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 21.4% consisting of semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types of dwellings. This is similar to Perth metro's composition of 78.4% houses and 21.6% other dwellings. Home ownership in Shelley stood at 41.6%, with mortgaged properties making up 33.4% and rented dwellings accounting for 25.0%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in Shelley was $2,275, surpassing the Perth metro average of $1,820. Meanwhile, the median weekly rent in Shelley was $380, compared to $350 in Perth metro. Nationally, Shelley's median monthly mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Shelley features high concentrations of family households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households comprise 78.5% of all households, including 40.9% couples with children, 27.8% couples without children, and 9.2% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 21.5%, with lone person households at 19.3% and group households comprising 2.1%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which aligns with the Greater Perth average.

Educational achievement in Shelley places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Shelley's educational attainment exceeds broader standards, with 45.9% of its residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications compared to WA's 27.9% and the SA4 region's 29.9%. This notable advantage in education places Shelley strongly for opportunities centered around knowledge. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 28.8%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 13.7% and graduate diplomas at 3.4%. Vocational pathways account for 24.6% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas making up 10.7% and certificates accounting for 13.9%.

Educational participation is notably high in Shelley, with 31.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.9% in primary education, 9.5% in secondary education, and 7.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Shelley has 23 active public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 11 different routes that together facilitate 1,428 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from residents' homes to the nearest transport stop is 181 meters, indicating excellent accessibility.

On average, services run 204 times a day across all routes, which translates to approximately 62 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Shelley demonstrates excellent health outcomes across all age groups, with a very low prevalence of common health conditions. As of March 2021, approximately 63% of Shelley's total population (3567 people) have private health cover, which is higher than the Greater Perth average of 52.4%. This compares to the national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions in Shelley are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 6.4% and 5.7% of residents respectively. A total of 74.7% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 76.0% across Greater Perth. As of March 2021, 19.9% of Shelley's population is aged 65 and over (1127 people), higher than the Greater Perth average of 15.9%. Health outcomes among seniors in Shelley are particularly strong, broadly aligning with the general population's health profile.

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

Shelley's population shows high cultural diversity, with 34.7% speaking a language other than English at home as of 2016 Census data. Born overseas, 48.5% of Shelley's residents were recorded in the same census year. Christianity is the predominant religion in Shelley, accounting for 44.0%.

Notably, Buddhism's representation stands at 6.6%, slightly higher than Greater Perth's 6.7%. Regarding ancestry, the top groups are English (24.8%), Australian (14.4%), and Other (14.2%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Sri Lankan is overrepresented at 1.2% compared to the regional 0.7%, Korean at 1.3% versus 1.2%, and Chinese at 12.9% against Greater Perth's 14.7%.

Shelley's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Shelley is 42 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Perth's average of 37 years and Australia's median age of 38 years. The 15-24 age group constitutes 15.1% of Shelley's population, compared to Greater Perth. The 25-34 cohort makes up 8.4%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 15-24 age group has increased from 13.6% to 15.1%, while the 0-4 age group has decreased from 4.4% to 3.5%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes in Shelley. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 41%, reaching 574 people from 407. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 62% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. Conversely, the 0-4 and 5-14 cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.