South Bunbury

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

As of Nov 2025, South Bunbury's population is estimated at around 9,271, reflecting an increase of 461 people since the 2021 Census. The population was reported as 8,810 in the 2021 Census. This increase is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 9,244 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS (June 2024), along with an additional 33 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 1,435 persons per square kilometer, above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth during recent periods for South Bunbury.

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 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). Future population dynamics anticipate an above median growth for Australia's non-metropolitan areas. By 2041, South Bunbury is projected to grow by 1,418 persons, reflecting a total increase of 15.3% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees South Bunbury recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide

Based on AreaSearch analysis using ABS building approval numbers from statistical area data, South Bunbury has experienced approximately 31 dwelling approvals annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 159 homes. As of FY26, 22 approvals have been recorded. On average, each new dwelling accommodates around 2.2 residents per year between FY21 and FY25, indicating solid demand that supports property values. The average construction cost value for new homes is approximately $445,000.

In the current financial year, there has been around $21.4 million in commercial approvals, demonstrating moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to the Rest of WA, South Bunbury has roughly two-thirds the rate of new dwelling approvals per person and ranks among the 49th percentile nationally, resulting in relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing dwellings. This lower rate reflects market maturity and possible development constraints. New developments consist predominantly of detached dwellings (94.0%) with a smaller proportion of townhouses or apartments (6.0%), preserving South Bunbury's suburban nature and attracting space-seeking buyers despite increasing density pressures.

Detached housing favours new construction more than current patterns suggest, indicating ongoing robust demand for family homes. With around 335 people per approval, South Bunbury reflects a low-density area. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the population is projected to increase by 1,417 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

South Bunbury has limited levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 17thth percentile nationally

The performance of a region can significantly be impacted by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified 15 such projects that are expected to influence the area. Notable among these are Bunbury Regional Hospital Redevelopment, Bunbury Ocean Pool, Hands Oval Redevelopment, and Wilman Wadandi Highway (Bunbury Outer Ring Road). The following list provides more details on those projects considered 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 South Bunbury ahead of most Australian regions for employment performance

South Bunbury has a skilled workforce with prominent representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 3.2% as of June 2025, consistent with the Rest of WA's rate.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 6.6%. As of June 2025, 5,091 residents were employed, with health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training being the most significant sectors. Notably, employment in health care & social assistance was 1.4 times the regional average, while agriculture, forestry & fishing had a limited presence at 1.3%. The area's predominantly residential nature suggests limited local employment opportunities.

Between June 2024 and June 2025, employment increased by 6.6%, and the labour force grew by 5.5%, leading to a 1.0 percentage point decrease in unemployment rate. In contrast, Rest of WA saw employment rise by 1.1% and unemployment fall by 0.6 percentage points over the same period. According to Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from Sep-22, total employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to South Bunbury's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.4% over ten years.

Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis

South Bunbury's median income among taxpayers was $55,714 in financial year 2022. The average income stood at $71,617 during the same period. These figures compare to Rest of WA's median and average incomes of $57,323 and $71,163 respectively. By September 2025, estimates suggest South Bunbury's median income will be approximately $63,625 and the average income around $81,787, based on a Wage Price Index growth of 14.2% since financial year 2022. According to census data, personal income ranks at the 47th percentile ($791 weekly) in South Bunbury, while household income sits at the 31st percentile. In terms of income distribution, 28.6% of South Bunbury's population (2,651 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region showing 31.1% in the same category. After housing expenses, 85.1% of income remains for other expenses in South Bunbury. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 4th decile.

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

South Bunbury's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 73.9% houses and 26.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Non-Metro WA's 88.1% houses and 11.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in South Bunbury stood at 36.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 32.2% and rented ones at 31.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,600, below Non-Metro WA's average of $1,616. The median weekly rent figure was $300, matching Non-Metro WA's figure but significantly lower than the national average of $375. Nationally, South Bunbury's mortgage repayments were lower at $1,600 compared to Australia's average of $1,863.

South Bunbury features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 62.0% of all households, including 22.3% couples with children, 28.4% couples without children, and 10.6% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 38.0%, with lone person households at 35.0% and group households comprising 3.1%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of WA average of 2.5.

Educational outcomes in South Bunbury fall within the lower quartile nationally, indicating opportunities for improvement in qualification attainment

Educational qualifications in South Bunbury trail regional benchmarks, with 22.6% of residents aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to Australia's 30.4%. This gap suggests potential for educational development and skills enhancement. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 15.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (3.7%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 40.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (10.5%) and certificates (30.2%).

Educational participation is high, with 25.5% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.5% in primary education, 7.9% in secondary education, and 2.6% pursuing tertiary education. A robust network of 8 schools operates within South Bunbury, educating approximately 1,723 students while the area demonstrates typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 972) with balanced educational opportunities. The educational mix includes 4 primary, 3 secondary, and 1 K-12 school. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments please refer to parent campus.

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

Transport analysis shows 82 active transport stops in South Bunbury, served by buses along seven routes. These routes facilitate 601 weekly passenger trips. Residents' access to transport is rated excellent, with an average distance of 165 meters to the nearest stop.

The services operate at a frequency of 85 trips per day across all routes, translating to around seven weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in South Bunbury is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

South Bunbury faces significant health challenges with common health conditions prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is very high at approximately 56% of the total population (~5,157 people). The most common medical conditions are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 10.5% and 8.6% of residents respectively. 65.4% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 66.4% across Rest of WA. As of 2016, 21.3% of residents are aged 65 and over (1,974 people), which is higher than the 17.6% in Rest of WA. Health outcomes among seniors are above average, performing better than the general population in health metrics.

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

South Bunbury's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 79.5% of its population born in Australia, 88.2% being citizens, and 91.8% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion in South Bunbury, comprising 49.1% of the population. Judaism, however, showed significant overrepresentation with 0.1%, compared to 0.0% across Rest of WA.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (33.8%), Australian (26.3%), and Irish (8.2%). Other ethnic groups also showed notable differences: Welsh was overrepresented at 0.9% in South Bunbury compared to 0.6% regionally, Polish at 1.1% compared to 0.7%, and Italian at 5.4% compared to 4.8%.

South Bunbury hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in South Bunbury is 43 years, which is slightly higher than Rest of WA's average of 40 years and significantly above the Australian median of 38 years. Compared to the Rest of WA average, the 25-34 age cohort is notably over-represented at 14.9% in South Bunbury, while the 5-14 age group is under-represented at 10.9%. Between the 2021 Census and now, the 25 to 34 age group has increased from 11.4% to 14.9% of the population. Conversely, the 85+ cohort has decreased from 4.2% to 2.9%, and the 65-74 age group has dropped from 12.2% to 11.0%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in South Bunbury. The 25-34 age cohort is projected to grow by 727 people, increasing from 1,381 to 2,109. Meanwhile, the 85+ and 15-24 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.