South Fremantle

Population growth drivers in South Fremantle are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of South Fremantle is around 3,791, reflecting an increase of 393 people since the 2021 Census. The population in 2021 was reported as 3,398. This growth is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population at 3,763 following examination of ABS ERP data released in June 2024, along with an additional validated new address since the Census date. The population density ratio is 2,477 persons per square kilometer, placing South Fremantle in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Since the 2021 census, South Fremantle's growth of 11.6% exceeded the national average of 9.9%. Overseas migration contributed approximately 75.0% 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 using a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and post-2032 estimations, 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). Demographic trends project an above median population growth for South Fremantle, with an expected increase of 615 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 14.6% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within South Fremantle when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in South Fremantle shows approximately 5 dwellings receiving development approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 28 homes. As of FY-26, 2 approvals have been recorded. This results in an average of around 12.2 new residents per year per dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25.

South Fremantle's building activity is significantly lower than the Greater Perth average, with 71.0% fewer approvals per person. New development consists of equal parts standalone homes and attached dwellings, promoting higher-density living and affordability. Current development rates may struggle to match population growth projections, which estimate an increase of 554 residents by 2041. This could potentially heighten buyer competition and support price increases in the future.

Looking ahead, South Fremantle is expected to grow by 554 residents through to 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.

South Fremantle has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 39thth percentile nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified eight projects likely to impact this region. Notable projects are Stockland Nara, Cockburn Coast Redevelopment, Knutsford East Village, and Monument East. 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 employment landscape in South Fremantle shows performance that lags behind national averages across key labour market indicators

South Fremantle has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in essential services sectors. The unemployment rate is 4.7%, with an estimated employment growth of 3.9% over the past year, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of September 2025, there are 2190 residents employed, while the unemployment rate is 0.8% higher than Greater Perth's rate of 4.0%.

Workforce participation in South Fremantle stands at 68.5%, slightly below Greater Perth's 71.6%. Based on Census responses, 15.2% of residents work from home, although Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. The leading employment industries among residents include health care & social assistance, education & training, and professional & technical services. South Fremantle shows particular strength in the latter industry, with an employment share 1.5 times higher than the regional level.

Conversely, retail trade has lower representation at 5.6% compared to the regional average of 9.3%. Many residents commute elsewhere for work, as indicated by the count of Census working population relative to local population. Over a 12-month period ending in May-25, employment increased by 3.9%, while labour force grew by 4.4%, leading to an unemployment rate increase of 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Perth experienced employment growth of 2.9% and labour force growth of 3.0%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia project national employment expansion at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to South Fremantle's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released on 30 June 2023 for financial year 2023, the suburb of South Fremantle's median income among taxpayers is $63,782. The average income in South Fremantle during this period was $88,810. Nationally, these figures are extremely high compared to the Greater Perth median of $60,748 and average of $80,248. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, current estimates for South Fremantle's median income would be approximately $69,918 as of September 2025, with the average estimated at $97,354 during this same period. According to the 2021 Census, household, family and personal incomes in South Fremantle cluster around the 67th percentile nationally. The earnings profile shows that 24.0% of residents (909 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 weekly income bracket, reflecting regional patterns where 32.0% similarly occupy this range. Notably, 32.9% of South Fremantle residents exceed $3,000 in weekly earnings, indicating strong purchasing power within the community. After accounting for housing costs, 86.4% of income remains for other expenses. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

South Fremantle displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

South Fremantle's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 57.7% houses and 42.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Perth metro's 77.8% houses and 22.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in South Fremantle stood at 46.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.6% and rented ones at 28.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,249, above Perth metro's average of $1,907. Median weekly rent in South Fremantle was $450, higher than Perth metro's $350. Nationally, South Fremantle's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 61.2% of all households, including 21.6% couples with children, 31.3% couples without children, and 7.4% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 38.8%, with lone person households at 33.1% and group households comprising 5.8%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

South Fremantle demonstrates exceptional educational outcomes, ranking among the top 5% of areas nationally based on AreaSearch's comprehensive analysis of qualification and performance metrics

South Fremantle's educational attainment notably exceeds broader standards. Among residents aged 15 and above, 50.3% possess university qualifications, surpassing Western Australia's average of 27.9% and the SA4 region's average of 28.6%. This high level of educational attainment positions South Fremantle favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 31.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (13.6%) and graduate diplomas (5.2%).

Vocational pathways account for 24.6% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas comprising 10.9% and certificates making up 13.7%. Notably, 23.3% of the population is actively engaged in formal education. This includes 7.1% pursuing tertiary education, 5.9% in primary education, and another 5.9% engaged in secondary education.

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

South Fremantle has 18 operational public transport stops serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are covered by 12 different routes, offering a total of 2,485 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically living 142 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its residential nature. Car remains the primary mode of transport at 67%, followed by train at 13% and walking at 7%. On average, there are 1.1 vehicles per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 15.2% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 355 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 138 weekly trips per stop.

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

South Fremantle's health outcomes, as assessed by AreaSearch, show notable results. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 62% of the total population (2,367 people), compared to Greater Perth's 59.0% and the national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common conditions, affecting 9.2% and 8.6% of residents respectively. 68.1% of residents report being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Greater Perth's 71.9%. The under-65 population has better than average health outcomes. South Fremantle has a higher proportion of seniors (aged 65 and over), at 24.2% (917 people), compared to Greater Perth's 16.3%. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in South Fremantle was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

South Fremantle had a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 10.9% speaking a language other than English at home and 35.9% born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion, making up 32.1%. Judaism was overrepresented at 0.4%, compared to 0.3% in Greater Perth.

The top three ancestry groups were English (32.8%), Australian (18.2%), and Irish (10.5%). Welsh (1.1%) French (1.1%), and Croatian (1.5%) were notably overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.7%, 0.5%, and 0.8% respectively.

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

South Fremantle's median age is 48 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Perth's average of 37 years and Australia's national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 55-64 are particularly prominent, making up 16.7% of the population, while those aged 5-14 make up only 8.1%. This is compared to Greater Perth where the 55-64 group makes up 12.3%, and the national average for this age group is 11.2%. From 2021 to present, the 15-24 age group has grown from 8.4% to 9.4%, while the 0-4 cohort has declined from 4.7% to 3.2%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate significant demographic changes for South Fremantle. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 54%, adding 158 residents to reach a total of 450. Residents aged 65 and above will drive 57% of the population growth, highlighting trends towards an aging demographic. Conversely, population declines are projected for both the 0-4 and 5-14 age groups.