The Basin (Vic.)

The Basin is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

The population of The Basin (Vic.), based on ABS updates and AreaSearch validations, is estimated to be around 4,528 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 31 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,497. The change is inferred from the resident population of 4,492 in Jun 2024 and four new addresses validated since the Census date. The population density is approximately 787 persons per square kilometer, similar to averages across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed about 52.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, it utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 with adjustments made employing weighted aggregation methods. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. According to population projections, the suburb is expected to expand by 161 persons to 2041, reflecting an increase of approximately 2.9% over the 17-year period.

The level of residential development activity in The Basin is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers from statistical area data shows The Basin has around 5 dwellings receiving development approval each year. Between financial years FY-21 and FY-25, approximately 28 homes were approved, with another 7 approved so far in FY-26. Despite population decline during this period, new supply appears to have kept up with demand, offering good choice for buyers.

The average construction cost value of new properties is $780,000, indicating a focus on the premium segment. In FY-26, $1.1 million in commercial development approvals were recorded, suggesting minimal commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, The Basin has markedly lower building activity, 73.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings, which is also under the national average, indicating the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. Recent development has been entirely comprised of standalone homes, preserving The Basin's low density nature and attracting space-seeking buyers.

As of now, there are an estimated 1121 people in the area per dwelling approval. Future projections show The Basin adding 132 residents by 2041, according to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate. Current development appears well-matched to future needs, supporting steady market conditions without extreme price pressure.

The Basin has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project likely affecting the region: Mountain Highway Logistics Hub, Angliss Hospital Expansion, Bayswater Business Precinct Transformation Strategy, and Dandenong Ranges Environmental Protection Program are key projects, with the following list focusing on 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 environment in The Basin shows above-average strength when compared nationally

The Basin's workforce is skilled with notable representation in construction. Its unemployment rate was 3.6% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 1.6%. As of September 2025, 2,524 residents were employed, and the unemployment rate was 1.0% lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.7%.

Workforce participation was equal to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. A high 25.8% of residents worked from home in Census responses, with Covid-19 lockdown impacts considered. Leading employment industries were construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Construction had particularly strong specialization with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level.

Conversely, professional & technical services showed lower representation at 6.0% compared to the regional average of 10.1%. The area offered limited local employment opportunities based on Census working population vs resident population comparison. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 1.6%, labour force grew by 0.7%, and unemployment fell by 0.8 percentage points. This contrasted with Greater Melbourne where employment rose by 3.0%, labour force grew by 3.3%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 projected national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varied industry-specific projections. Applying these projections to The Basin's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, using a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes without considering localized population projections.

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

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ended June 2023, The Basin suburb had a median income among taxpayers of $53,175 and an average income of $64,024. These figures are lower than the national averages of $57,688 (median) and $75,164 (average). Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% from June 2023 to September 2025, estimated median income in The Basin is approximately $57,562, and average income is around $69,306. As per the 2021 Census, incomes in The Basin cluster around the 59th percentile nationally. In terms of income distribution, 36.6% of residents (1,657 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range. Housing accounts for 13.7% of income in The Basin, with residents ranking in the 70th percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

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

The Basin's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 94.7% houses and 5.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in The Basin stood at 36.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 52.9% and rented ones at 10.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,950, lower than Melbourne metro's $2,000. The median weekly rent was $365, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, The Basin's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were less than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 78.6% of all households, including 39.0% couples with children, 27.5% couples without children, and 11.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 21.4%, with lone person households at 19.5% and group households comprising 1.9%. The median household size is 2.7 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

The educational profile of The Basin exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area has university qualification rates of 23.8%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 16.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.4%) and graduate diplomas (3.2%). Trade and technical skills are prevalent, with 40.5% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials - advanced diplomas at 13.5% and certificates at 27.0%. Educational participation is high, with 28.6% of residents currently enrolled in formal education.

This includes 10.4% in primary education, 8.5% in secondary education, and 3.9% pursuing tertiary education.

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

The Basin has 15 active public transport stops operating within its boundaries. These stops are served by a mix of buses along three individual routes, collectively providing 507 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility in The Basin is rated as good, with residents typically located 263 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward. Car remains the dominant mode of transportation at 93%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.9 per dwelling, which is above the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 25.8% of residents work from home, potentially reflecting COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 72 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 33 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in The Basin are marginally below the national average with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

The Basin's health indicators show below-average outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are somewhat typical but higher than the national average among older cohorts.

Private health cover is at approximately 52% of the total population (~2,361 people), slightly leading the average SA2 area, compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.7%. The most common medical conditions are mental health issues (impacting 10.0%) and asthma (8.1%), while 66.3% reported being completely clear of medical ailments, compared to Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and over at 17.8% (805 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, ranking lower nationally than the broader population.

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

The Basin's cultural diversity was found to be below average, with 82.4% of its population born in Australia, 89.8% being citizens, and 91.5% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion, comprising 39.3% of people in The Basin. However, Judaism was overrepresented at 0.1%, compared to Greater Melbourne's average of 1.0%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (30.8%), Australian (27.1%), and Scottish (8.7%), all higher than regional averages. Notably, Dutch (2.8%) and Welsh (0.8%) were overrepresented compared to regional figures of 1.2% and 0.4%, respectively, while Hungarian was also slightly overrepresented at 0.4%.

The Basin's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The Basin has a median age of 40, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, The Basin has a notably higher proportion of the 55-64 age cohort (13.3% locally) but a lower percentage of 25-34 year-olds (8.0%). Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group grew from 11.0% to 14.5%, while the 75-84 cohort increased from 4.9% to 6.3%. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort declined from 11.7% to 8.0%. By 2041, demographic modeling projects significant changes in The Basin's age profile. Notably, the 85+ age group is expected to grow by 84 people (99%), increasing from 86 to 171. The combined 65+ age groups are projected to account for 63% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic trend. Meanwhile, the 55-64 and 0-4 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.