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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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Wattle Glen has an estimated 1,884 residents, down from 1,911 at the 2021 Census — a change of 27 people, or 1.4%. The population has thinned by an average 1.0% a year over five years, slower than 96% of areas nationally. That puts 210 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 suburb of Wattle Glen has an estimated population of approximately 1,884, drawn from AreaSearch evaluations of broader regional ABS updates alongside validated post-Census address additions. This indicates a contraction of 27 people (1.4%) relative to the 1,911 individuals recorded in the 2021 Census. The updated figure builds on an estimated resident population of 1,879 identified after reviewing the ABS ERP release (June 2025), coupled with 1 validated new addresses confirmed since Census night. Population density stands at 209 persons per square kilometer, affording residents substantial open space while leaving scope for prospective expansion.
Natural increase was the primary contributor to demographic gains locally, accounting for roughly 62.0% of all recent additions. Demographic projections for each SA2 incorporate ABS/Geoscience Australia models released in 2024 (using 2022 as a base), while areas without coverage utilize 2023 VIC State Government Regional/LGA projections converted via weighted growth aggregation from LGA down to SA2 boundaries. Age-specific rates from these aggregations are projected forward across all localities for the period spanning 2032 to 2041. Based on these SA2-level figures, the suburb of Wattle Glen is positioned in the upper quartile of analyzed areas, with an anticipated addition of 469 persons by 2041, representing a cumulative increase of 24.6% across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
20 new dwellings have been approved in Wattle Glen over the past five years, an average of 4 a year. That is 2.1 approvals per 1,000 residents. Few approvals have been recorded in the most recent months, well below the longer-run average; the latest ABS periods are still being reported. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this Suburb (SAL) boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Dwelling consent data compiled by AreaSearch from ABS records shows the suburb averaging roughly 4 approved dwellings annually, amounting to an estimated 20 residential approvals across the previous 5 financial years. Throughout FY-25 to date, no approvals have been recorded. In the context of recent demographic shrinkage, this construction rate appears adequate to satisfy local demand, maintaining sufficient options for purchasers. Per capita residential construction in the locality aligns closely with Greater Melbourne averages, fostering market equilibrium consistent with the broader metropolitan area, while falling below nationwide levels due to established surroundings and potential regulatory constraints.
Recent building activity has been divided between separate houses at 67.0% and medium-to-high density formats at 33.0%. This growing emphasis on medium density introduces diverse price points ranging from conventional family homes to compact, budget-friendly choices. It also marks a noticeable pivot from the existing profile (where freestanding houses account for 99.0%), addressing evolving resident lifestyles, budget requirements, and scarce development parcels. According to current AreaSearch quarterly figures, local population projections foresee an influx of 464 residents up to 2041. Should construction volumes remain at current levels, housing creation could face difficulty keeping pace with population expansion, potentially tightening buyer competition and placing upward pressure on property values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Wattle Glen
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 40 current infrastructure and development projects close to Wattle Glen, worth an estimated $2.86 billion. 11 are already under construction and 15 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans sports & recreation, transport & logistics and communities, precincts & urban renewal. 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, planning frameworks, and major civic projects play a pivotal role in shaping community outcomes. AreaSearch has identified 6 specific initiatives expected to influence the district, highlighted by the Diamond Creek Community Infrastructure Master Plan, Eltham Major Activity Centre, Kangaroo Ground Landfill Rehabilitation, and safety works along Eltham-Yarra Glen Road and Kangaroo Ground-St Andrews Road.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Diamond Creek Community Infrastructure Master Plan
A comprehensive Council-led redevelopment of the Diamond Creek Community Centre precinct. The plan features a new Community Hub with a permanent library, neighbourhood house, and creative arts spaces. It also includes an Aquatic, Health and Fitness Centre comprising an indoor warm water pool and gym, while upgrading existing outdoor facilities. As of early 2026, benchmarking is complete and the draft master plan is scheduled for public exhibition in mid-late 2026.
Eltham Major Activity Centre
Strategic planning project for the Eltham Major Activity Centre to guide long-term land use, housing, employment, transport, public realm and urban design outcomes. The 2020 Structure Plan has now been implemented through Amendment C143nillPt1 to the Nillumbik Planning Scheme, providing the statutory framework for future redevelopment within the activity centre.
Plenty River Flood Management Works
Comprehensive flood management program led by Melbourne Water to update flood mapping and planning controls for the Plenty River and Diamond Creek catchments. The project involves utilizing advanced computer modeling and community data to identify high-risk zones, update the Nillumbik Planning Scheme, and inform future mitigation infrastructure such as retarding basins and levees. This data-driven approach aims to improve climate resilience for new developments and emergency response strategies within the shire.
Diamond Creek Outdoor Pool Upgrade
Upgrade of the ageing outdoor pool facility to improve accessibility and user experience, including refurbished change rooms and amenities, a rejuvenated toddlers play pool area, spectator improvements, a new accessible BBQ, swimming club room improvements, new energy-efficient plant equipment, upgraded chemical delivery systems, and accessible walkways. Funded via $1.5 million from the Australian Government Investing in Our Communities program, construction was completed in October 2025. Follow-on plant electrification works, including a compliant chemical delivery bund and replacement of the gas boiler with electric heat pumps, are planned for early 2026.
Nillumbik Waste Management Facility Upgrade
Upgrade of waste management facilities in Nillumbik area including recycling processing improvements, organic waste processing capabilities, and enhanced environmental monitoring systems.
Diamond Creek Regional Playspace Upgrade
Major upgrade to the Diamond Creek Regional Playspace, featuring new play equipment, improved accessibility features, and enhanced landscaping to meet the needs of the growing community. The nature-themed playspace includes areas for all ages and abilities, integrating with the natural parkland environment.
Diamond Creek Trail Extension to Hurstbridge
The extension of the Diamond Creek Trail from Wattle Glen to Hurstbridge provides enhanced shared-use pathways for walking, cycling, and horse riding along the natural creek corridor, completing a continuous 55km trail from Hurstbridge to Melbourne CBD.
Eltham Urban Congestion Fund Project
Traffic and transport upgrades across the Eltham Activity Centre to improve pedestrian safety, bus access and local traffic flow. Works include raised pedestrian crossings, kerb and footpath improvements, signal changes and Eltham Central Oval parking and drainage upgrades. Stages on Bible St and Eltham Central Oval are complete; Main Rd, Arthur St and St Laurence Lane works are underway with bus terminal works scheduled to finish by December 2025.
1,158 residents of Wattle Glen are employed, from a labour force of 1,185. Unemployment sits at 2.3%, with participation at 76.3%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.5% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 1,591, about 84% 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
Wattle Glen boasts a capable labor pool where essential service industries are strongly represented. The area recorded an unemployment rate of 2.3% and an estimated employment growth of 1.7% over the previous year, according to AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. As of March 2026, 1,158 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate that sat 2.5% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%. Workforce participation stood at 76.3%, which exceeded the Greater Melbourne benchmark of 70.1%. Census data indicated that 28.5% of residents worked from home, a figure that may reflect the lingering effects of Covid-19 lockdowns.
Key sectors engaging resident workers include construction, health care & social assistance, alongside education & training. Construction represents a major local specialization, with resident participation reaching 1.9 times the metropolitan benchmark. Conversely, accommodation & food accounts for only 3.5% of the local workforce, compared to 6.4% across Greater Melbourne. Given the disparity between working and resident counts in Census records, this largely residential enclave offers relatively few internal employment positions. Examining ABS and SALM figures across the surrounding area shows that over the 12-month span, an employment rise of 1.7% coincided with a 2.5% expansion in the labour pool, nudging local unemployment upward by 0.8 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment climb 2.1%, the workforce expand 2.3%, and unemployment edge up 0.2 percentage points. Forward-looking guidance from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 models potential local job demand across five- and ten-year horizons against existing workforce composition. Across the nation, total employment is projected to expand 6.6% in five years and 13.7% in ten years, though individual industry trajectories vary considerably. Projecting these sectoral expectations onto the local employment distribution suggests prospective resident job growth of 6.5% after five years and 13.3% after ten years (representing an illustrative weighted calculation without localized population adjustments).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Wattle Glen is $2,425 a week (about $126,000 a year), with median personal income at $850 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $52,422 a year against an average of $66,070. 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 postcode statistics compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 indicate a median taxpayer income of $52,422 and a mean of $66,070 in the area, trailing national figures as well as Greater Melbourne's median of $57,688 and average of $75,164. Accounting for a 9.62% increase in the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, updated March 2026 benchmarks are modeled at approximately $57,465 for the median and $72,426 for the average. In the 2021 Census, local household earnings achieved the 88th percentile ($2,425 weekly), whereas individual incomes sat at the 59th percentile.
Around 34.5% of residents (649 individuals) earn within the $1,500 - 2,999 bracket, aligning with the metropolitan figure of 32.8%. Substantial earning capacity is underscored by the 36.3% of households generating more than $3,000 weekly, bolstering discretionary expenditure. After servicing housing obligations, households preserve 88.4% of earnings, which underpins strong spending capacity and places the locality within the 7th decile for SEIFA income.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Wattle Glen had 609 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 99% detached houses and 1% apartments. 52% are owned with a mortgage, 5% rented and 43% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $420 a week and the median mortgage repayment $2,167 a month. Rent absorbs 17.3% of household income here and mortgage repayments 20.6%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
At the time of the most recent Census, separate houses made up 99.2% of the local housing stock, with remaining formats (apartments, attached dwellings, and other types) representing 0.8%, contrasting with Greater Melbourne where houses formed 67.9% and alternate dwellings comprised 32.1%. Outright ownership reached 42.8%, significantly outpacing the metropolitan rate, while mortgaged properties accounted for 52.2% and rented residences stood at 5.1%. Typical monthly mortgage payments reached $2,167 against the metropolitan standard of $2,000, and weekly median rents were $420 compared to $390 across Greater Melbourne. On a nationwide scale, local mortgage obligations exceed the Australian median of $1,863, and weekly rents sit well above the countrywide figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Wattle Glen counted 609 households at the 2021 Census, averaging 3.0 people each. 48% are couples with children, more than in 92% of areas nationally, against 26% couples without children. 12% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.7 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families constitute 85.4% of all local domestic units, broken down into couples with children (47.5%), couples without children (26.0%), and single parent households (11.9%). Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 14.6%, consisting of single-person households at 12.4% and group homes at 0.7%. An average household accommodates 3.0 occupants, exceeding the Greater Melbourne benchmark of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
25.8% of adults in Wattle Glen hold a university qualification, including 17.4% with a bachelor degree and 4.6% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 25.2% hold a vocational qualification. 1 school serves the area, with 147 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,060 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
Attainment of university credentials sits at 25.8%, trailing the Greater Melbourne standard of 37.0% and highlighting an area for educational development. Within higher education, bachelor awards represent 17.4% of residents, while postgraduate degrees and graduate diplomas account for 4.6% and 3.8% respectively. Vocational and technical qualifications are widespread, with 38.0% of individuals aged 15+ holding practical credentials, split between certificates (25.2%) and advanced diplomas (12.8%). Community engagement in study is strong, with 28.6% of all residents enrolled in education programs. This cohort comprises 8.6% attending primary schools, 8.6% in secondary institutions, and 5.7% engaged in higher or vocational education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Wattle Glen means driving: households keep an average of 2.2 vehicles, and scheduled services reach only a handful of stops. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Local passenger transport services operate across 4 dedicated stops in Wattle Glen, accommodating various bus lines. These facilities are linked by 3 separate routes that provide a combined total of 1,193 passenger journeys every week. Transit reach is moderately rated, with typical dwellings situated 578 meters from a stop. Outward travel dominates commuting behavior in this residential community, with private vehicles accounting for 90% of travel. Households maintain an average of 2.2 vehicles, exceeding regional standards, while 28.5% of workers performed their duties from home at the 2021 Census under potential pandemic restrictions.
Timetables provide an average of 170 daily trips across the transit network, translating to around 298 services per week at each transport stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
66.5% of residents in Wattle Glen report no long-term health condition. 7.4% need daily assistance with core activities, and 53.0% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.5 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
AreaSearch evaluations of mortality statistics and chronic health patterns indicate notable health considerations locally, with standard conditions present across all cohorts and elevated among older residents, while private health insurance uptake covers approximately 53% of the community (~997 people), edging past the typical SA2 level but trailing the Greater Melbourne average of 56.7%. Mental health conditions and arthritis represent the primary diagnosed chronic ailments, registered among 10.1 and 8.4% of the population respectively, whereas 66.5% reported no chronic medical issues compared to 72.6% regionally. Chronic ailments appear at elevated rates within the working-age demographic.
Residents aged 65 and over make up 19.1% of the community (359 people), surpassing Greater Melbourne's 15.1%, with senior health presenting distinct challenges despite more favorable national rankings than the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Wattle Glen is largely Australian-born, at 85.5% of residents, with 5.4% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (30.1%) and Australian (29.0%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity in the area is relatively limited, with Australian-born residents comprising 85.5%, citizens making up 94.0%, and 94.6% speaking only English at home. Christianity forms the largest religious affiliation at 38.9% of the population. Conversely, Judaism accounts for no residents locally, compared to a 1.0% representation across Greater Melbourne. Ancestral backgrounds are led by English origins at 30.1% of the populace (surpassing the regional 20.1%), Australian ancestry at 29.0% (above the 18.4% regional share), and Irish lineage at 10.3%. Notable differences also appear across other heritage groups, including Hungarian representation at 0.4% (against 0.3% regionally), Scottish at 9.2% (compared to 5.6%), and Maltese at 1.0% (relative to 1.1%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Wattle Glen is 42. 24.9% 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 age distribution aligns fairly closely with the metropolitan standard, showing a maximum divergence of 11.1 percentage points across the four primary age tiers. The estimated median age reached 42 as at August 2026, mirroring the 2021 Census figure and sitting 5 years above Greater Melbourne's 37 recorded at that time. Seniors and retirees aged 65+ expanded from 17.4% at the Census to an estimated 19.1% currently, and this cohort is projected to capture the bulk of future demographic expansion, gaining 241 residents (67%) to total 601 by 2041.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Wattle Glen
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Sep 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 last month 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 last month 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 last month headline measures · Jul 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Sep 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| 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 Sep 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, Local governments Daily | May 2026 4 months ago all 2 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 6 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) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago 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 (1,911 at the 2021 Census → 1,884 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 (SAL22727). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.