Soldiers Hill (Vic.)

An assessment of population growth drivers in Soldiers Hill reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

As of May 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Soldiers Hill (Vic.) is around 2,751. This figure reflects a decrease from the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,813 people, marking a reduction of 62 individuals or approximately 2.2%. AreaSearch's estimate of 2,735 residents, based on their examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025 and validated new addresses since the Census date, supports this decrease. This results in a population density ratio of 1,798 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth in Soldiers Hill (Vic.) was primarily driven by overseas migration, contributing approximately 43.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

However, all drivers including natural growth and interstate migration were positive factors. AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Considering projected demographic shifts, Soldiers Hill (Vic.) is forecasted to experience significant population increase in line with national trends for non-metropolitan areas. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, the suburb is expected to grow by 801 persons by 2041, reflecting an overall increase of approximately 28.5% over the 16-year period.

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

Soldiers Hill has minimal residential development activity with 2 dwelling approvals annually. Over five years, there have been 12 approvals. This low level of development reflects the rural nature of the area where housing needs drive development rather than broad market demand.

Yearly growth figures and relativities can vary considerably due to the low approval numbers. Soldiers Hill has substantially lower development levels compared to Rest of Vic.. The development pattern is also well below national averages. Recent building activity consists entirely of detached dwellings, aligning with rural living preferences for space and privacy.

New construction favours detached housing more than current patterns suggest (84.0% at Census), indicating ongoing demand for family homes. With around 1842 people per dwelling approval, Soldiers Hill reflects a highly mature market. Population forecasts indicate Soldiers Hill will gain 785 residents by 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially heightening buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Soldiers Hill has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified six projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include La Trobe Street Saleyards Redevelopment, Central Neighbourhood Activity Centre Ballarat North, Ballarat Station Upgrade, and Ballarat Base Hospital Redevelopment. The following list details 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.

The employment landscape in Soldiers Hill presents a mixed picture: unemployment remains low at 3.7%, yet recent job losses have affected its comparative national standing

Soldiers Hill has a well-educated workforce with essential services sectors well represented. The unemployment rate is 3.7%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 1,447 residents are employed, and the unemployment rate aligns with Regional Vic.'s rate of 3.7%.

Workforce participation stands at 65.3%, slightly higher than Regional Vic.'s 61.0%. Census responses indicate that 26.0% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdown impacts. The leading employment industries are health care & social assistance, education & training, and accommodation & food. Notably, Soldiers Hill has a strong specialization in education & training, with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has limited presence, accounting for only 1.0% of employment compared to the regional average of 7.5%. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities, as suggested by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 2.7%, accompanied by a 2.7% employment decline, leaving unemployment broadly unchanged. In comparison, Regional Vic. saw employment fall by 0.6%, the labour force contract by 0.7%, and unemployment drop by 0.1 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 provide further insight into potential future demand within Soldiers Hill. These projections suggest national employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with growth rates varying significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Soldiers Hill's employment mix indicates that local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.4% over ten years. However, it is essential to note that these extrapolations are illustrative and do not account for localized population projections.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that income in Soldiers Hill is slightly lower than average nationally. The median income is $51,986 and the average is $66,748. In Regional Vic., the median income is $50,954 and the average is $62,728. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $56,987 (median) and $73,169 (average). Census data indicates personal income ranks at the 57th percentile ($842 weekly), while household income is at the 33rd percentile. Income distribution shows that 28.8% of individuals earn between $1,500 - 2,999, aligning with the broader area's 30.3%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 84.7% of income remaining, ranking at the 34th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Soldiers Hill is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Soldiers Hill as of the latest Census, dwelling structures consisted of 84.5% houses and 15.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Regional Vic.'s 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Soldiers Hill stood at 30.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 29.5% and rented ones at 40.3%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,509, higher than Regional Vic.'s average of $1,430. Median weekly rent in Soldiers Hill was $300, compared to Regional Vic.'s $285. Nationally, Soldiers Hill's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,509 versus Australia's average of $1,863, and rents were substantially lower at $300 compared to the national figure of $375.

Soldiers Hill features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 56.6% of all households, composed of 23.6% couples with children, 22.7% couples without children, and 9.7% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 43.4%, with lone person households at 38.0% and group households comprising 5.2%. The median household size is 2.2 people, smaller than the Regional Vic. average of 2.4.

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

Educational attainment in Soldiers Hill is notable, with 40.8% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications, compared to 21.7% in the Rest of Vic., and 24.6% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most common at 24.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.0%) and graduate diplomas (6.2%). Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 28.4% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas comprise 10.5% and certificates make up 17.9%. Educational participation is high, with 27.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.8% in primary education, 6.7% in secondary education, and 6.2% pursuing tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 27.8% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.8% in primary education, 6.7% in secondary education, and 6.2% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Soldiers Hill has 13 active public transport stops, serving a mix of train services. These stops are covered by 27 different routes, collectively facilitating 3024 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 241 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward daily. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 88%, while walking and cycling account for 7% and 2% respectively. Vehicle ownership averages one per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 26% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency across all routes averages 432 trips per day, equating to approximately 232 weekly trips per individual stop.

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

Soldiers Hill shows below-average health indicators based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover is at approximately 53% of the total population (~1,464 people), leading the average SA2 area rate of 50.5% in Regional Vic. Mental health issues impact 12.4% of residents, while asthma affects 10.5%. 62.5% declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 63.4% across Regional Vic. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. Residents aged 65 and over comprise 17.7% (486 people), lower than the 23.9% in Regional Vic. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, ranking higher than the general population nationally.

Soldiers Hill ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Soldiers Hill's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 87.3% of its population born in Australia, 91.3% being citizens, and 93.0% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 41.9% of Soldiers Hill's population. However, there was an overrepresentation in the 'Other' category, which accounted for 0.8% compared to Regional Vic's 0.8%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English at 28.8%, Australian at 24.6%, and Irish at 13.7%. Notably, Scottish ancestry was overrepresented at 11.6% in Soldiers Hill versus 8.8% regionally, Dutch at 1.6% (versus 1.7%), and Hungarian at 0.3% (versus 0.2%).

Soldiers Hill's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in Soldiers Hill is 40 years, which is slightly below Regional Victoria's average of 43 but above the Australian median of 38. Compared to the regional average, the 25-34 age cohort is notably higher at 15.4% locally, while the 65-74 age group is under-represented at 9.7%. Between the 2021 Census and the present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 11.1% to 12.3%, and the 75-84 cohort has risen from 5.5% to 6.6%. Conversely, the 55-64 age group has decreased from 12.9% to 11.8%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes in Soldiers Hill. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to grow substantially by 63%, from 423 to 691 people. The 65-74 age group is expected to grow more modestly at 9%, adding only 24 residents.