Southern River

Southern River lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Demographic updates from the ABS for the surrounding region, combined with address validations completed by AreaSearch since the Census, indicate that the suburb of Southern River has an estimated population of 16,598 as of May 2026. Compared to the Census in 2021, when the resident count stood at 12,852, this represents a growth of 3,746 individuals, or 29.1%. This calculation is based on an estimated population of 16,291 derived from the June 2025 ABS release of ERP figures, supplemented by an additional 1,079 newly validated addresses since the Census date. Consequently, the suburb of Southern River has a density of 1,256 persons per square kilometer, which exceeds the national average for evaluated areas. With a 29.1% increase since the 2021 Census, growth in the suburb of Southern River outpaced both the national benchmark of 9.3% and the broader SA3 region, positioning the locality as a leading growth zone. Net overseas migration was the principal contributor to these gains, accounting for roughly 40.0% of the growth, though all other indicators, such as natural increase and interstate moves, also registered positive trends.

Projections developed by the ABS and Geoscience Australia for individual SA2 regions are utilized by AreaSearch, based on the 2024 release using 2022 as its starting point. For statistical divisions where this data is unavailable, or to calculate growth trends past the year 2032, regional age cohort growth trajectories from the 2023 ABS Greater Capital Region projections (utilizing 2022 figures) are applied. Anticipated demographic changes suggest the suburb of Southern River will experience population growth exceeding the median of national statistical areas, with cumulative SA2-level forecasts indicating an expansion of 3,066 residents by 2041, representing a 16.6% rise over the 16 years.

The level of residential development activity in Southern River was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Analysis of ABS building approvals mapped to local areas shows that Southern River has averaged approximately 220 residential approvals annually. Across the preceding 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), a total of 1,101 homes received approvals, with a further 166 approvals granted during the current FY-26 period. Over the 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), the ratio of new arrivals stood at 3 residents per built dwelling, indicating that supply is falling behind local demand, which typically intensifies buyer competition and drives prices upward. Approved new homes carry an average construction value of $380,000, which is moderately above the broader regional standard, pointing toward a preference for higher quality builds. Additionally, commercial development is moving at a moderate pace, with commercial approvals totaling $14.4 million in the current financial year.

Per capita development volume in Southern River is 249.0% higher than the rate across Greater Perth, providing prospective buyers with a broader selection of properties. This level of activity sits substantially above the national baseline, reflecting strong interest from homebuilders. Recent construction has consisted entirely of detached houses, maintaining the residential character of the neighborhood with a supply of standalone family homes. The ratio of approximately 79 residents per approved dwelling is typical of a developing suburb.

Long-term projections indicate that Southern River will add 2,759 new residents by 2041, based on the most recent quarterly estimates. If current building rates are sustained, the supply of new housing should comfortably align with demand, offering favorable buying conditions and potentially facilitating growth that exceeds current baseline expectations.

Southern River has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 47thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, major developments, and urban planning schemes represent key influences on the performance of a suburb. A total of 25 initiatives have been identified by AreaSearch as having potential impacts on the surrounding locality. Primary projects include the Sutherlands Park Leisure, Aquatic and Sports Hub (SPLASH), the Sutherlands Park Master Plan, Florian Huntingdale, and the Southern River Business Park, with the main relevant listings detailed below.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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AreaSearch analysis places Southern River well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

Locally aggregated statistical data indicates a well-qualified workforce in Southern River, with strong representation in critical public service fields, an unemployment rate of 3.1%, and a 3.1% annual expansion in employment. As of March 2026, the working population comprises 9,233 employed individuals. The local unemployment rate is 1.0% lower than the Greater Perth benchmark of 4.2%, and labor force participation is exceptionally high at 75.7%, compared to 70.2% for Greater Perth. Census records indicate that a modest 7.7% of the working population performed their duties from home, though this figure may reflect the influence of pandemic lockdowns.

The primary employment sectors for residents are health care & social assistance, retail trade, and education & training. There is a notable local concentration in transport, postal & warehousing, where the employment proportion is 1.3 times the regional average. Conversely, professional & technical roles account for only 7.2% of the local workforce, which is lower than the 8.2% recorded across Greater Perth. The comparison between the working population residing in the area and the locally based jobs suggests that this residential suburb offers few employment opportunities within its own boundaries.

Analysis of SALM and ABS data aggregated for local statistical zones indicates that over the 12-month period, the number of employed residents rose by 3.1% while the overall labor force grew by 3.2%, leading to a 0.2 percentage point increase in the unemployment rate. This compares to Greater Perth, which saw employment grow by 2.0%, the labor force expand by 2.5%, and the unemployment rate rise by 0.4 percentage points. National employment projections from May-25 published by Jobs and Skills Australia provide further context for future labor demand patterns. These five and ten-year projections have been applied to the local workforce structure to model potential changes. Nationwide employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though rates of change vary widely by industry. Weighting these national sector projections against the local job profile yields an estimated employment increase of 6.3% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, representing a basic proportional extrapolation that does not account for local population changes.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

Aggregated ATO statistics at the postcode level for the financial year 2023 indicate that taxpayers in Southern River recorded a median income of $65,398 and an average income of $77,041. These figures represent high levels on a national scale, comparing to $60,748 (median) and $80,248 (average) across Greater Perth. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since the financial year 2023, current estimates for March 2026 are positioned at approximately $72,546 for median earnings and $85,462 for the average. Census data from 2021 places weekly household incomes in the 86th national percentile, at $2,364. Income distribution analysis reveals that 39.0% of the population, representing 6,473 individuals, earn between $1,500 and $2,999, which is comparable to the 32.0% share in this bracket across the metropolitan area. The area's economic profile is supported by the 34.8% of households earning weekly incomes above $3,000, which bolsters local consumer spending. Although residential expenses absorb 16.0% of household income, strong earnings help maintain disposable income levels in the 85th percentile, and the SEIFA index ranks the area in the 7th decile for income.

Southern River is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Residential dwelling types in Southern River at the time of the latest Census consisted of 97.2% separate houses and 2.8% alternative housing formats such as townhouses, units, or other dwellings, compared to a mix of 77.8% houses and 22.1% alternative formats across metropolitan Perth. The home ownership rate in Southern River was lower than the metropolitan Perth benchmark, sitting at 19.8%, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (63.1%) or renting (17.1%). The median monthly cost for mortgage holders was $2,100, which is higher than the Perth metropolitan median of $1,907. The median weekly rent stood at $420, compared to $350 across the wider Perth metro. Nationally, mortgage costs are higher than the Australian median of $1,863, and rent prices are above the countrywide figure of $375.

Southern River features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Families make up the vast majority of households at 87.0%, which is composed of couples with children at 56.8%, couples without children at 19.5%, and single parent families at 9.6%. Non-family households account for the remaining 13.0%, with single person dwellings representing 11.4% and group households making up 1.7% of the total. The average household size is 3.3 individuals, which is larger than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

Southern River shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

The academic credentials of the local population are elevated relative to the wider region, with 32.2% of residents aged 15 and over holding a university qualification, compared to 23.7% in the SA3 region and 27.9% across Western Australia. Undergraduate bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 21.9%, while postgraduate degrees are held by 7.9% and graduate diplomas by 2.4% of residents. Vocational and technical training is also well represented, with 31.8% of the population aged 15 and over holding vocational credentials, including 11.3% with advanced diplomas and 20.5% with certificates.

Enrolment rates in education are high, with 35.6% of the population actively participating in studies. This is distributed as 13.6% in primary school, 9.9% in high school, and 6.0% in higher education or university programs.

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

Analysis of the local transit network shows 52 active public transport stops located within the suburb, consisting of bus services. These stops are served by 5 distinct transit routes, which provide a total of 1,247 passenger trips weekly. Transport coverage is good, with homes situated an average of 246 meters from the nearest stop. Due to the residential nature of the suburb, most working residents travel outside the area for employment, with private vehicles remaining the primary transport mode at 83%, followed by train travel at 10%. The average number of motor vehicles per household is 1.9, which is higher than the regional average. A low share of 7.7% of residents worked from home, according to the 2021 Census, which may have been influenced by COVID-19 pandemic conditions.

Transit service frequency averages 178 daily trips across the local routes, which translates to approximately 23 departures weekly per transport stop.

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

Analysis of mortality statistics and chronic disease data reveals strong health profiles across the local population, characterized by low rates of common illnesses in all age cohorts. Additionally, the proportion of residents with private health insurance is high, at approximately 58% of the population, which equates to roughly 9,591 people.

Asthma and mental health issues were the most frequently reported medical conditions, affecting 5.4% and 5.2% of the population respectively. Meanwhile, 80.9% of residents reported having no chronic medical conditions, compared to 71.9% across Greater Perth. Residents aged 65 and over make up 9.1% of the population, representing 1,510 individuals, which is lower than the 16.1% average in Greater Perth. The health indicators for older residents are strong, with national rankings aligning closely with the broader community.

Southern River is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

The population features high levels of cultural diversity, with 41.6% of residents using a language other than English in their homes and 49.3% of the population having been born overseas. The primary religious affiliation is Christianity, representing 39.6% of the local population. Islam shows a notable local concentration, accounting for 14.7% of residents, which is higher than the Greater Perth average of 3.2%.

Regarding ancestral backgrounds, the three most common ancestries are Other at 21.2% of the population, which is higher than the regional average of 11.2%, English at 20.4%, which is lower than the regional average of 28.0%, and Australian at 16.8%. There are also differences in the proportions of other backgrounds: South Australian ancestry is reported by 1.7% of residents, compared to 1.0% regionally, Indian ancestry stands at 8.8%, compared to 2.6% regionally, and Sri Lankan ancestry is recorded at 0.7%, compared to 0.2% regionally.

Southern River's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

The median age of 33 indicates a younger population profile than the Greater Perth average of 37 and the national average of 38 years. Southern River has a higher proportion of residents in the 5 - 14 age group, at 16.6%, compared to Greater Perth, but a lower share of residents in the 65 - 74 bracket, at 5.3%. Since the 2021 Census, the proportion of the population aged 15 to 24 grew from 14.3% to 15.5%, while the 75 to 84 cohort rose from 1.8% to 2.9%. Conversely, the 0 to 4 group decreased from 7.5% to 6.1% and the 5 to 14 cohort declined from 17.7% to 16.6%. By 2041, population projections indicate demographic shifts, with the 45 to 54 cohort expected to grow by 27%, adding 601 residents to reach a total of 2,792, while the 5 to 14 and 35 to 44 cohorts are projected to decrease in size.