South Bunbury

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

South Bunbury's population is estimated at approximately 9,204 as of May 2026, according to AreaSearch evaluations of ABS population figures for the surrounding region and new address points confirmed since the Census. Compared to the 2021 Census population of 8,810 people, this represents an addition of 394 people (4.5%). The update is calculated from a resident population of 9,190, which AreaSearch estimated using the ABS release of ERP figures in June 2025 alongside an additional 55 validated new addresses since the Census. This population level means a density ratio of 1,424 persons per square kilometer, exceeding the average across national locations evaluated by AreaSearch. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains, acting as virtually the sole source of growth in recent times.

Projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia released in 2024 using 2022 as the base year are adopted by AreaSearch for each SA2 region. In cases where SA2 regions lack this data, and for growth projections beyond 2032, growth rates by age cohort from the latest Greater Capital Region projections of the ABS (released in 2023, utilizing 2022 data) are applied. Looking at future demographic trends, population growth in non-metropolitan regions of Australia is expected to exceed the median, with this specific area projected to expand by 1,188 persons by 2041 based on compiled SA2-level figures, indicating a total growth of 12.8% over the 16 years.

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

South Bunbury has seen approximately 32 residential property approvals on an annual basis, amounting to an estimated 160 homes over the last 5 financial years, based on AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approvals allocated from statistical area data. In the current financial year of FY-26, 36 approvals have been registered. Given that only an average of 0.8 people per year relocated to the area for every dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25, new builds are keeping pace with or exceeding demand, widening options for buyers and supporting population growth potential beyond current projections. The average value of these new builds is $445,000, indicating that developers are focusing on the higher-end market with premium properties. Furthermore, commercial approvals worth $45.6 million have been registered during this financial year, pointing to strong investment in the local business sector.

Construction activity per resident in South Bunbury is roughly 60% of the level seen in the Rest of WA, placing the area in the 45th percentile of locations analyzed across the country, which restricts choices for buyers and helps maintain demand for existing properties. This level of activity is below the national average, reflecting a mature market and highlighting potential planning limitations. The mix of new residential activity consists of 97.0% detached dwellings and 3.0% attached dwellings, which preserves the suburban character dominated by spacious family homes. Developers are building detached houses at a higher rate than the current housing mix would suggest (74.0% at the Census), reflecting sustained demand for family homes despite overall densification trends. The market is well established, with roughly 366 people for each dwelling approval.

Demographic projections indicate that South Bunbury is set to add 1,174 residents by 2041, based on the latest quarterly calculations from AreaSearch. Property development is keeping a moderate pace with this anticipated growth, though buyers might experience higher levels of competition as the population rises.

South Bunbury has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 46thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, planning choices, and development initiatives are major drivers of regional performance. AreaSearch has identified 13 projects likely to impact this area. Some of the most notable include the Bunbury Ocean Pool, the SWAMS Health Hub and Community Centre, the Hands Oval Redevelopment, and the Wilman Wadandi Highway (Bunbury Outer Ring Road), with details on the most relevant schemes provided below.

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.

Employment performance in South Bunbury has been broadly consistent with national averages

South Bunbury features a qualified workforce with a strong presence in essential services, an unemployment rate of only 3.0%, and a minor 0.6% rise in estimated employment over the last year, compiled from statistical area data by AreaSearch. In March 2026, 4,871 residents were employed, and the local unemployment rate was 0.5% below the Regional WA average of 3.5%. Participation in the workforce matched the Regional WA level of 65.6%. According to Census records, a low 5.9% of residents worked from home, though this figure may have been affected by COVID-19 restrictions.

The primary employment sectors for local residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. The workforce is highly concentrated in health care & social assistance, representing 1.4 times the regional average. Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing is underrepresented, employing only 1.3% of the local workforce compared to 9.3% in Regional WA. Comparing the resident population to the working population from the Census suggests this mostly residential suburb offers limited local employment opportunities.

According to AreaSearch analysis combining SALM and ABS data aggregated from broader statistical areas, employment rose by 0.6% while the labour force grew by 0.4% over the 12 months to March 2026, which led to an unemployment decrease of 0.2 percentage points. Meanwhile, Regional WA saw a 0.1% drop in employment alongside a 0.3% increase in the labour force, causing a 0.4 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 provide additional context regarding potential future demand within South Bunbury. These projections span five and ten-year periods and have been overlaid onto the local employment profile to estimate growth trajectories. Although national employment is expected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, sector-specific growth rates vary considerably. Applying these industry-specific forecasts to South Bunbury's employment composition indicates that local employment should rise by 6.3% over five years and 13.4% over ten years. Please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.

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

The median income for taxpayers in the suburb of South Bunbury is $55,714, with an average income of $71,617, according to the latest postcode-level ATO data released for the 2023 financial year. This exceeds the national average and compares to a median of $59,973 and an average of $74,392 in Regional WA. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since the 2023 financial year, current estimates would stand at approximately $61,804 (median) and $79,445 (average) as of March 2026. Census figures from 2021 rank personal income at the 47th percentile ($791 weekly) and household income at the 31st percentile. Income distribution shows the largest cohort is the $1,500 - 2,999 brackets, containing 28.6% of residents (2,632 people), which aligns with the regional trend of 31.1% in this category. Residents retain 85.1% of their income for non-housing expenses, and the area ranks in the 4th decile for SEIFA income.

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

According to the latest Census, the housing stock in South Bunbury consisted of 73.9% houses and 26.1% other dwelling types (such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and alternative options), compared to 88.5% houses and 11.6% other dwellings in Regional WA. Home ownership in South Bunbury stood at 36.2%, which is higher than the rate in Regional WA, while mortgaged properties accounted for 32.2% and rental properties made up 31.6%. The median monthly mortgage payment was $1,600, which is higher than the Regional WA median of $1,560, while the median weekly rent was $300, compared to $265 in Regional WA. Nationally, mortgage repayments in South Bunbury are lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents are also below the national average of $375.

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

Families make up the majority of households at 62.0%, consisting of couples with children at 22.3%, couples without children at 28.4%, and single-parent households at 10.6%. The remaining 38.0% consists of non-family households, with single-person households representing 35.0% and group households making up 3.1% of the total. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Regional WA average of 2.5.

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

Educational attainment levels in South Bunbury are lower than regional benchmarks, with 22.6% of residents aged 15+ holding a university degree compared to 30.4% across Australia. This difference suggests opportunities exist for educational growth and training. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 15.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 3.7% and graduate diplomas at 3.0%. Technical and trade skills are prominent, with 40.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational qualifications, split between advanced diplomas (10.5%) and certificates (30.2%).

A high proportion of the population participates in education, with 25.5% of residents enrolled in study. This group is composed of 9.5% in primary school, 7.9% in high school, and 2.6% enrolled in tertiary education programs.

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

An analysis of public transport reveals 82 transit stops in South Bunbury, which are serviced by a mix of buses. There are 8 different routes operating across these stops, providing a total of 696 passenger trips per week. Transport access is rated as excellent, with residents living an average of 165 meters from the nearest stop. Because this is a residential suburb, the majority of workers travel outside the area for employment, and cars are the primary method of travel for 91% of commuters. Households own an average of 1.3 vehicles, which is lower than the regional average. A low 5.9% of residents worked from home during the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 measures.

Across all routes, service frequency averages 99 runs per day, which translates to approximately 8 weekly trips for each transport stop.

South Bunbury's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with a fairly standard level of common health conditions seen across both young and old age cohorts

Health indicators in South Bunbury are close to national averages, according to AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality rates and chronic illness prevalence, showing typical rates of common medical conditions across both younger and older cohorts. Private health insurance coverage is high, with approximately 56% of the population (~5,120 people) holding a policy.

The most prevalent medical conditions recorded locally were arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 10.5 and 8.6% of the population, respectively. Meanwhile, 65.4% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 69.3% in Regional WA. Health profiles for working-age residents are generally typical. Residents aged 65 and over represent 21.8% of the population (2,006 people), which is higher than the Regional WA proportion of 19.2%. Seniors in the area exhibit above-average health outcomes, with national health rankings matching the broader population.

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 showed lower levels of cultural diversity than average, with 79.5% of residents born in Australia, 88.2% holding citizenship, and 91.8% using English solely at home. Christianity accounted for 49.1% of the population in South Bunbury as the dominant faith. Judaism stood out as the most notably overrepresented religion, making up 0.1% of locals, whereas it represented no residents in Regional WA.

English ancestry is the most common parental country of birth at 33.8%, followed by Australian at 26.3%, and Irish at 8.2%. There are also notable differences in other backgrounds, with Welsh ancestry representing 0.9% of the population in South Bunbury (compared to 0.6% regionally), Polish at 1.1% (compared to 0.5% regionally), and Italian at 5.4% (compared to 3.0% regionally).

South Bunbury hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average

The median age of 43 in South Bunbury is slightly higher than the Regional WA average of 40 and noticeably above the national median of 38. The 25 - 34 age bracket is overrepresented locally at 14.2% compared to the Regional WA average, while children aged 5 - 14 are underrepresented at 11.2%. The 25 to 34 age group increased from 11.4% to 14.2% of the population since the 2021 Census, while the 85+ cohort fell from 4.2% to 2.7% and the 55 to 64 group decreased from 12.9% to 11.7%. Population projections for 2041 indicate notable demographic shifts for South Bunbury, with the 25 to 34 cohort expected to grow by 552 people (42%) from 1,306 to 1,859, while the 15 to 24 and 65 to 74 cohorts are projected to contract.