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 Basin (Vic.) statistical area (Lv2) had an estimated population of around 4,527 as of Nov 2025, reflecting a growth of 30 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 4,497. This increase was inferred from AreaSearch's validation of new addresses and examination of ABS data. The population density is approximately 787 persons per square kilometer. Overseas migration contributed around 52.0% to the recent population gains in the area. AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in Jun 2024 with a base year of 2022.

For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch used VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group were applied across all areas for the years 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, population growth is projected to be lower in national areas. The Basin (Vic.) (SA2) is expected to expand by 162 persons by 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, allocated from statistical area data, indicates The Basin has experienced around 5 dwellings receiving development approval each year. Approximately 28 homes have been approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25), with an additional 7 approved so far in FY-26. Despite population decline during this period, new supply appears to have kept pace with demand, offering buyers good choice while demonstrating a developer focus on the premium segment, with upmarket properties valued at around $780,000 each.

In terms of commercial development, $1.1 million in approvals have been recorded this financial year, indicating minimal activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, The Basin records notably lower building activity (73.0% below regional average per person), which typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings. This is also under the national average, suggesting the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. Recent development has been entirely comprised of standalone homes, preserving the area's low density nature with detached housing attracting space-seeking buyers. The estimated population count per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment at 1121 people.

Future projections show The Basin adding approximately 133 residents by 2041, based on 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 to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project likely affecting this region. Key projects are Mountain Highway Logistics Hub, Angliss Hospital Expansion, Bayswater Business Precinct Transformation Strategy, and Dandenong Ranges Environmental Protection Program. Relevant details are listed 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.

The employment environment in The Basin shows above-average strength when compared nationally

The Basin has a skilled workforce with the construction sector being notably prominent. Its unemployment rate is 3.6%, with an estimated employment growth of 1.6% over the past year, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data.

As of September 2025, 2,525 residents are employed, while the unemployment rate is 1.0% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Workforce participation stands at 66.4%, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key employment industries among residents include construction, healthcare & social assistance, and retail trade. The area has a strong specialization in construction, with an employment share that is 1.6 times the regional level.

Conversely, professional & technical services have lower representation at 6.0% compared to the regional average of 10.1%. Employment opportunities appear limited locally, as indicated by the difference between Census working population and resident population counts. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 1.6%, while labour force grew by 0.8%, leading to a unemployment rate decrease of 0.8 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment rise by 3.0% and unemployment increase by 0.3 percentage points during the same period. State-level data from 25-Nov shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, adding 41,950 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%, compared to the national rate of 4.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 provide further insight into potential future demand within The Basin. These projections estimate national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to The Basin's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for 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 the 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 level of $64,024. This is lower than national averages, which were $57,688 (median) and $75,164 (average) for Greater Melbourne respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year ended June 2023, estimated median income would be approximately $57,562 and average income around $69,306 as of September 2025. From the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census conducted in August 2021, household incomes in The Basin cluster around the 59th percentile nationally. Income distribution shows that 36.6% of residents (1,656 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, aligning with regional averages. Housing costs account for 13.7% of income, and residents rank in the 70th percentile for disposable income. The Basin's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile nationally.

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

The Basin's dwellings, 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 83.4% houses and 16.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in The Basin was 36.3%, similar to Melbourne metro, 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. Median weekly rent in The Basin was $365, compared to Melbourne metro's $400. Nationally, The Basin's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,950 versus Australia's average of $1,863, while rents were lower at $365 against the national figure of $375.

The Basin features high concentrations of family households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households compose 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, aligning with Greater Melbourne's average.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 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%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 40.5% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (13.5%) and certificates (27.0%). Educational participation is high at 28.6%, comprising primary education (10.4%), secondary education (8.5%), and tertiary education (3.9%).

Educational participation is notably 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

Analysis of public transport in The Basin shows 15 active transport stops currently operating. These stops serve a mix of bus routes, with three individual routes in total providing 507 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located approximately 263 meters from the nearest transport stop.

Service frequency averages 72 trips per day across all routes, equating to roughly 33 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in The Basin is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across the board, though to a considerably higher degree among older age cohorts

The Basin faces significant health challenges with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across all age groups but to a higher degree among older individuals.

The rate of private health cover in the area is approximately 52%, slightly higher than the average SA2 area, with about 2,361 people having such coverage. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions, affecting 10.0% and 8.1% of residents respectively. However, 66.3% of residents reported being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 69.4% across Greater Melbourne. The area has 16.9% of residents aged 65 and over (765 people), lower than the 19.5% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention due to the specific challenges they face.

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 dominant religion, comprising 39.3% of The Basin's population. Judaism was overrepresented, making up 0.1% compared to the regional average of 0.1%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (30.8%, substantially higher than the regional average of 22.7%), Australian (27.1%, substantially higher than the regional average of 21.3%), and Scottish (8.7%). Other notable divergences included Dutch at 2.8% in The Basin versus 1.8% regionally, Welsh at 0.8% versus 0.4%, and Hungarian at 0.4% compared to the regional average of 0.4%.

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

The Basin has a median age of 40, which is slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and Australia's median age of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne's average, The Basin has a notably higher proportion of individuals aged 55-64 (13.4%) but a lower proportion of those aged 25-34 (8.6%). Between 2021 and the present, the population aged 15-24 has grown from 11.0% to 14.0%, while the 25-34 age group has decreased from 11.7% to 8.6%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests significant changes in The Basin's age profile. The 75-84 age cohort is projected to increase by 103 people (40%), from 258 to 362. Notably, the combined population aged 65 and above will account for 70% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic trend. Meanwhile, the 55-64 and 0-4 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.