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 Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Soldiers Hill (Vic.) is around 2,842. This reflects an increase of 29 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,813. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 2,754 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2024, and an additional 5 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,857 persons per square kilometer, above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed approximately 43.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, with all drivers including natural growth and interstate migration being 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 released in 2023, adjusted using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Considering these projections, a significant population increase in the top quartile of non-metropolitan areas nationally is forecast for Soldiers Hill (Vic.), with an expected expansion of 891 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 33.1% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Soldiers Hill according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Soldiers Hill has seen limited development activity with an average of one approval per year over five years (9 approvals in total). This low level of development is characteristic of rural areas where housing needs drive projects rather than broader market demand. The small number of approvals means individual projects can significantly impact annual growth figures.

Compared to the rest of Victoria and national averages, Soldiers Hill has much lower development activity. By 2041, Soldiers Hill's population is forecasted to increase by 942 residents (AreaSearch quarterly estimate).

If current development rates persist, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially leading to increased buyer competition and stronger price growth.

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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified six projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include La Trobe Street Saleyards Redevelopment, Central Neighbourhood Activity Centre in Ballarat North, Ballarat Station Upgrade, and Ballarat Base Hospital Redevelopment. The following list 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 employment landscape in Soldiers Hill shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

Soldiers Hill has an educated workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. Its unemployment rate is 3.8%, with estimated employment growth of 1.6% over the past year, as per AreaSearch's statistical area data aggregation. As of September 2025, 1,538 residents are employed, matching Rest of Vic.'s unemployment rate of 3.8%.

Workforce participation is high at 69.8%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 61.4%. Census responses show that 26.0% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key employment industries include health care & social assistance, education & training, and accommodation & food. Notably, education & training has a high share of employment at 1.6 times the regional level, while agriculture, forestry & fishing is under-represented with only 1.0% of Soldiers Hill's workforce compared to Rest of Vic.'s 7.5%.

Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 1.6%, labour force grew by 1.1%, leading to a unemployment rate decrease of 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Rest of Vic. saw employment decline by 0.7% and unemployment rise marginally during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Soldiers Hill's employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.4% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to its current employment mix.

Income levels sit below national averages according to AreaSearch assessment

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 indicates Soldiers Hill's median income among taxpayers is $51,986. The average income is $66,748. This is slightly lower than the national average. Rest of Vic.'s median income is $50,954 with an average of $62,728. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, current estimates for Soldiers Hill would be approximately $56,275 (median) and $72,255 (average) as of September 2025. According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 57th percentile ($842 weekly), while household income is at the 33rd percentile. The $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 28.8% of the community (818 individuals). 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 assessed in the latest Census, 84.5% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 15.5% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This contrasts with Non-Metro Vic., where 90.1% of dwellings were houses and 9.9% were other types. 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 Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,430. Weekly rent in Soldiers Hill averaged $300, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $285. Nationally, Soldiers Hill's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,509 versus the Australian 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 account for 56.6% of all households, including 23.6% couples with children, 22.7% couples without children, and 9.7% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 43.4%, with lone person households at 38.0% and group households comprising 5.2% of the total. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of 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 and over holding university qualifications, compared to 21.7% in the rest of Victoria and 24.6% in the SA4 region. Bachelor degrees are most common at 24.6%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 10.0% and graduate diplomas at 6.2%. Vocational credentials are also prevalent, with 28.4% of residents aged 15 and over holding such qualifications, including advanced diplomas at 10.5% and certificates at 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 offering a mix of train services. These stops are served by 27 different routes, together facilitating 3,024 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is deemed good, with residents typically residing 241 meters away from the nearest stop. Primarily residential, most residents commute outward, predominantly using cars (88%), while walking and cycling account for 7% and 2%, respectively. On average, there is one car per dwelling, below the regional norm. According to the 2021 Census, 26% of residents work from home, potentially due to COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency averages 432 trips daily across all routes, translating to roughly 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 outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are elevated, particularly for common health conditions which are slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts.

Private health cover is at approximately 53% of the total population (~1,512 people), leading the average SA2 area rate of 50.5% across Rest of Vic.. The most prevalent medical conditions in the area are mental health issues (12.4%) and asthma (10.5%), while 62.5% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 63.4% across Rest of Vic.. The working-age population faces notable health challenges with elevated chronic condition rates. The area has 16.4% of residents aged 65 and over (466 people), lower than the 23.9% in Rest of 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 main religion, comprising 41.9% of people in Soldiers Hill. The category 'Other' had an overrepresentation, making up 0.8% compared to the regional average of 0.8%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (28.8%), Australian (24.6%), and Irish (13.7%). Scottish ancestry was notably overrepresented at 11.6%, Dutch at 1.6%, and Hungarian at 0.3%.

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

The median age in Soldiers Hill 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., Soldiers Hill has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (16.6%) but fewer residents aged 65-74 (9.4%). According to the 2021 Census, the percentage of residents aged 25 to 34 has increased from 15.3% to 16.6%, while the percentage of those aged 55 to 64 has decreased from 12.9% to 11.5%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Soldiers Hill's age structure. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 68%, adding 319 people and reaching a total of 791 from the current 471. Meanwhile, the 55-64 cohort is projected to grow by a modest 8%, adding 25 people.