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This analysis uses Suburbs and Localities (SAL) boundaries, which can materially differ from Statistical Areas (SA2) even when sharing the same name.
SAL boundaries are defined by Australia Post and the Australian Bureau of Statistics to represent commonly-known suburb names used in postal addresses.
Statistical Areas (SA2) are designed for census data collection and may combine multiple suburbs or use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
est. as @ -- *
2021 Census | -- people
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Upper Ferntree Gully has an estimated 3,407 residents. The population has thinned by an average 0.5% a year over five years, slower than 93% of areas nationally. That puts 1,017 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
As of Aug 2026, the population of the suburb of Upper Ferntree Gully stands at approximately 3,407, determined via AreaSearch's evaluation of regional ABS releases alongside post-Census validated addresses. Compared to the 3,417 individuals recorded in the 2021 Census, this indicates a slight contraction of 10 people (0.3%). This net adjustment draws on an estimated resident population of 3,396 from the ABS ERP release in June 2025, combined with 1 validated new address logged post-Census. Population density sits at 1,017 persons per square kilometer, tracking closely with typical AreaSearch benchmarks.
Net overseas migration served as the primary demographic driver, supplying roughly 52.0% of recent population gains. Demographic modeling for the suburb of Upper Ferntree Gully utilizes 2024 ABS/Geoscience Australia SA2 projections based on 2022 benchmarks, supplemented where necessary by 2023 Victorian State Government LGA projections weighted to SA2 boundaries. These aggregated age-bracket growth trajectories are applied across the 2032 to 2041 timeframe. Demographic projections point to modest expansion trailing the national median, with the suburb of Upper Ferntree Gully forecast to expand by 156 persons to 2041 under SA2 aggregations, representing an overall increase of 4.3% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Detail
Analysis of ABS building approvals by AreaSearch shows the suburb averaging roughly 3 residential development approvals annually, culminating in 16 approved dwellings across the last 5 financial years. During FY-25 to date, 2 dwellings have received approval. In the context of recent population contraction, this level of construction activity offers reasonable supply for purchasers. Approved residential builds average $538,000 in estimated construction cost—exceeding regional benchmarks and pointing toward premium builds. Furthermore, commercial approvals totaling $12.8 million have been registered during this financial year, demonstrating steady non-residential development. Detached houses account for 67.0% of newly approved residential development while attached dwellings make up 33.0%, introducing a greater variety of townhouses and apartments alongside standalone residences to accommodate varying budgets and household sizes.
This marks a notable shift from the prevailing housing stock of 97.0% detached houses, driven by constrained land availability, evolving living preferences, and housing affordability pressures. An established residential market is evidenced by a ratio of approximately 2267 residents per building approval. According to the latest quarterly forecasts from AreaSearch, the local population is projected to expand by 145 residents through to 2041. Should current construction rates persist, new dwelling supply could lag behind demographic expansion, potentially intensifying buyer competition and placing upward pressure on property values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Upper Ferntree Gully
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks one current infrastructure or development project inside Upper Ferntree Gully, worth an estimated $112 million. A further 40 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $2.6 billion. 12 are already under construction and 7 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, transport & logistics and sports & recreation. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local capital works, major projects, and strategic urban planning initiatives have a fundamental influence on property and area performance. AreaSearch has pinpointed 3 active projects likely to influence the locality, including key undertakings such as the Angliss Hospital Expansion, Kings Park Masterplan, Woolworths Ferntree Gully eCommerce Expansion, and Fairpark Reserve.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Angliss Hospital Expansion
A $112 million major redevelopment featuring a new four-storey, all-electric tower. The expansion delivers a 32-bed inpatient unit, four state-of-the-art operating theatres, a new central sterile supply department, and expanded outpatient and allied health services. Major structural works were completed in July 2025, and the project is currently in the fit-out and final construction phase to increase surgical capacity for the Knox and Yarra Ranges communities.
13 Mountain Gate Drive Townhouses
A residential development featuring three 2-bedroom townhouses, each spanning two storeys, designed for modern and spacious living. Located in Ferntree Gully within the City of Knox. The development application has been submitted with estimated completion in mid-2026.
Bluett Reserve Playground Upgrade
As part of the 2025-26 capital works program, Knox City Council is investing in the renewal of local playgrounds, including the one at Bluett Reserve in Ferntree Gully. The project aims to improve the recreational facilities for the local community.
Kings Park Masterplan
Knox City Council's long-term master plan to upgrade Kings Park, a key sporting and recreation precinct. Stage 1 delivers a fully fenced dog park featuring two distinct off-leash zones, sealed path circuits, picnic seating, drinking fountains, and site drainage improvements. Future stages for parkland enhancement remain subject to council planning and annual capital works budgeting.
Boronia Station Upgrade & Plaza
Upgrade of Boronia Station and creation of a new landscaped plaza connecting to Dorset Road. Scope includes widened concourse, entrance canopies, relocated ticket and PSO offices, upgraded platform shelters and waiting room, new pedestrian crossing, improved pick-up/drop-off on Lupton Way, accessibility upgrades, enhanced lighting and CCTV. A new pocket park near Boronia Junction Shopping Centre is also included. Early works commenced in 2025 with geotechnical investigations along Lupton Way. Major works scheduled for early 2026 with the upgraded station, plaza and pocket park to open by end of 2026.Delivered by an alliance of Acciona, WSP and Metro Trains Melbourne under the Level Crossing Removal Project.
Ferntree Gully Village Creative Placemaking Plan
Community-driven arts and cultural development project transforming public spaces in Ferntree Gully Village through murals, sculptures, lightbox galleries, and parklet upgrades to enhance safety, community connection, and local pride.
Burwood Highway-McMahons Road Intersection Upgrade
Upgraded intersection at Burwood Highway, McMahons Road and Clyde Street in Ferntree Gully completed in 2024. Includes extra lanes in each direction on Burwood Highway, new traffic lights with dedicated pedestrian crossings, more street lights, dedicated right turn lanes, shared left turn and through lanes, and a dedicated left turn lane into Clyde Street with improved business access. Improves safety, reduces crashes, and enhances traffic flow.
Woolworths Ferntree Gully eCommerce Expansion
A comprehensive 14-week upgrade project to enhance the store's direct-to-boot operations and eCommerce capabilities. The initiative focused on expanding store facilities and improving click-and-collect services through major store extension, civil works, installation of new precast panels, structural steel frameworks, a new canopy, and significant refrigeration and cool room works. All construction was executed within a live trading environment to minimize disruption to daily store operations.
1,977 residents of Upper Ferntree Gully are employed, from a labour force of 2,037. Unemployment sits at 2.9%, with participation at 70.8%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.7% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 2,923, about 86% of the resident population, so more people leave the area for work than travel in. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local labour market benefits from a qualified resident workforce, strong representation across essential services, a low unemployment rate of 2.9%, and annual employment growth estimated at 1.6% via aggregated statistical area metrics. March 2026 figures show 1,977 employed residents, an unemployment rate 1.8% below the 4.8% recorded for Greater Melbourne, and workforce participation broadly aligned with the metropolitan figure of 70.1%. At the Census, 30.3% of workers indicated working remotely, although pandemic-related lockdown measures should be kept in mind. Residents are predominantly employed across health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training.
Construction represents a key area of local specialization, with workforce concentration reaching 1.4 times regional levels. Conversely, the finance & insurance industry accounts for only 2.9% of employed residents, trailing the Greater Melbourne proportion of 4.9%. The balance between the local working population at the Census and resident worker counts highlights the suburb's primarily residential character, with limited internal employment generation. Aggregated ABS and SALM figures show local employment expanded by 1.6% over the 12-month period while the labour force grew by 1.7%, keeping the jobless rate stable. Across Greater Melbourne, employment increased by 2.1%, the workforce rose by 2.3%, and unemployment lifted by 0.2 percentage points. Longer-term workforce expectations can be evaluated using national forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26. Mapping these sectoral projections against local industry representation suggests employment among residents could rise by 6.7% over five years and 13.7% over ten years (calculated as a simple illustrative weighting excluding localized population adjustments), compared to national baseline projections of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Upper Ferntree Gully is $2,039 a week (about $106,000 a year), with median personal income at $847 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $54,943 a year against an average of $68,263. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
ATO taxation statistics for financial year 2023 aggregated by AreaSearch indicate resident earnings align closely with national standards. Taxpayers recorded a median income of $54,943 and an average income of $68,263, compared with $57,688 and $75,164 across Greater Melbourne. Accounting for 9.62% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, updated estimates reach roughly $60,229 (median) and $74,830 (average) as of March 2026. In the 2021 Census, personal, family, and household incomes clustered near the 62nd percentile nationwide. The $1,500 - 2,999 weekly earnings bracket is the most prevalent, encompassing 33.6% of residents (1,144 people) compared to 32.8% regionally.
Housing expenses absorb 13.6% of income, while earnings place local households in the 72nd percentile for disposable income and the 6th decile on the SEIFA income index.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Upper Ferntree Gully had 1,234 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 97% detached houses and 2% apartments. 49% are owned with a mortgage, 14% rented and 37% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $369 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,000 a month. Rent absorbs 18.1% of household income here and mortgage repayments 22.6%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census data indicates standalone houses constitute 97.0% of the housing stock, with apartments, townhouses, and other dwellings comprising 3.1%, in contrast to Greater Melbourne's split of 67.9% houses and 32.1% attached or multi-unit dwellings. Outright home ownership is elevated at 37.3%, well above metropolitan averages, while mortgaged properties account for 48.7% and rental properties make up 14.0%. Median monthly mortgage costs match the metropolitan benchmark at $2,000, while median weekly rent sits at $369 compared to $2,000 and $390 across Greater Melbourne. Nationally, local mortgage repayments exceed the Australian median of $1,863, whereas weekly rents remain lower than the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Upper Ferntree Gully counted 1,234 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 2.6 people each. 36% are couples with children, against 27% couples without children. 23% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.6 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up 74.9% of households, consisting of couples with children (36.0%), couples without children (26.6%), and single parent families (11.1%). Non-family living arrangements represent 25.1% of households, divided between lone person households at 22.8% and group households at 2.2%. Average household occupancy matches the Greater Melbourne benchmark at 2.6 people per home.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
29.8% of adults in Upper Ferntree Gully hold a university qualification, including 18.8% with a bachelor degree and 6.9% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 24.9% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 71 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,039 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
Tertiary qualification levels in the area trail broader metropolitan benchmarks, with 29.8% of individuals aged 15+ holding university degrees compared to 37.0% across Greater Melbourne. Among degree holders, bachelor degrees are held by 18.8%, postgraduate qualifications by 6.9%, and graduate diplomas by 4.1%. Vocational education is strongly represented, with 37.4% of residents aged 15+ holding technical credentials, broken down into certificates (24.9%) and advanced diplomas (12.5%). Formal education engagement remains robust, with 26.7% of the resident population actively studying. This cohort includes 9.3% attending primary school, 7.2% enrolled in secondary education, and 4.7% undertaking tertiary courses.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Upper Ferntree Gully reaches 16 stops on 14 routes, timetabled for about 3,900 services a week. The typical home sits about 320 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.6 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local transit network comprises 16 bus stops operating across 14 separate bus routes, providing a combined 3,863 passenger trips each week. Transit access is favorable, with residents situated an average of 319 meters from the closest stop. Outbound commuting is standard for this residential area, with private vehicles accounting for 90% of journey-to-work trips and trains accommodating 5%. Vehicle ownership sits above regional norms at 1.6 vehicles per household, while 30.3% of workers reported working from home at the 2021 Census during pandemic conditions. Transit services provide an average of 551 scheduled trips per day across all routes, translating to roughly 241 trips per stop weekly.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
66.7% of residents in Upper Ferntree Gully report no long-term health condition. 7.7% need daily assistance with core activities, and 53.8% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.4 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch health metrics show overall health outcomes running below regional norms based on mortality and chronic illness rates. Prevalence of common health conditions matches broader patterns among the general population but rises among senior demographics. Private health insurance coverage covers approximately 54% of residents (~1,833 people), slightly exceeding typical SA2 levels while trailing the 56.7% benchmark for Greater Melbourne. Mental health conditions (10.1%) and arthritis (8.9%) represent the most frequently reported diagnoses, while 66.7% of residents reported having no long-term medical conditions, compared to 72.6% regionally. Health metrics among working-age residents align with broader averages.
Seniors aged 65 and over comprise 20.9% of the population (712 people), well above the 15.1% share recorded across Greater Melbourne, and face notable health challenges, though displaying lower national vulnerability rankings than the wider community.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Upper Ferntree Gully is largely Australian-born, at 80.1% of residents, with 8.7% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (28.8%) and Australian (27.0%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity measures place the locality below regional averages, with 80.1% of residents Australian-born, 91.1% holding Australian citizenship, and 91.3% speaking solely English at home. Christianity is the dominant religious affiliation, representing 39.7% of the population. Buddhism represents 1.2% of residents, lower than the 4.2% share observed across Greater Melbourne. Examining parental country of birth, the leading ancestral origins are English (28.8%), Australian (27.0%), and Irish (9.0%), with English and Australian backgrounds substantially exceeding their regional shares of 20.1% and 18.4% respectively. Additional distinct ancestral representations include Dutch at 2.7% (compared to 1.2% regionally), Polish at 1.2% (against 0.8%), and Hungarian at 0.4% (versus 0.3%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Upper Ferntree Gully is 41. 22.7% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The local age distribution is skewed older than Greater Melbourne. AreaSearch estimates for August 2026 show seniors aged 65+ making up 20.9% of residents versus 15.1% regionally, while adults aged 25 - 44 account for 24.3% compared to 32.1% across Greater Melbourne. The median age remains at 41, unchanged since the 2021 Census and 4 years older than the metropolitan benchmark of 37 at that time. The 65+ cohort has expanded from 18.5% at the Census to an estimated 20.9% presently. By 2041, seniors will drive the strongest demographic growth, increasing by 218 residents (31%) to reach 930 individuals, while cohorts of children, young adults, and adults aged 25 - 44 are forecast to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Upper Ferntree Gully
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Oct 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the Suburb (SAL) boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 2 months ago headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Oct 2026 this month headline measures · Sep 2026 baseline |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Oct 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | May 2026 5 months ago all 1 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 7 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Sep 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Sep 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 1 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (3,417 at the 2021 Census → 3,407 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to Aug 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (SAL22614). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.