Wendouree

An assessment of population growth drivers in Wendouree reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

The suburb of Wendouree had an estimated population of around 10,174 as of May 2026, based on ABS population updates and new addresses validated by AreaSearch. This figure reflects a decrease of 202 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 10,376. The estimated resident population was 10,169, with an additional 76 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density was approximately 1,069 persons per square kilometer, in line with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed about 75.0% 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 by this data, AreaSearch utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023, adjusted using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking ahead, a significant population increase in the top quartile of regional areas nationally is forecasted, with Wendouree expected to expand by 2,690 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting an increase of 26.4% over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Wendouree, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers for Wendouree shows approximately 33 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling an estimated 169 homes. As of FY-26, 5 approvals have been recorded. The average population growth per dwelling built between FY-21 and FY-25 is 0.2 people per year, indicating that supply meets or exceeds demand. New dwellings are developed at an average cost of $385,000, slightly above the regional average.

In FY-26, there have been $71.4 million in commercial approvals, suggesting strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Rest of Vic., Wendouree has substantially reduced construction (73.0% below regional average per person). New development consists of 68.0% standalone homes and 32.0% townhouses or apartments. Wendouree shows a developed market with around 476 people per dwelling approval. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Wendouree is expected to grow by 2,685 residents through to 2041.

If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Wendouree has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified eight projects likely to affect the region. Notable initiatives include Learmonth Road Retail Hub, Wendouree Library and Learning Centre, Ballarat Major Events Precinct Upgrades, and Wendouree Station Precinct Structure Plan and Urban Design Framework. The following details 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.

Employment conditions in Wendouree face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Wendouree has a diverse workforce with both white and blue collar jobs, with essential services well represented. Its unemployment rate is 8.8%, according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, there are 3,988 residents employed while the unemployment rate stands at 5.1%, which is higher than Regional Vic.'s rate of 3.7%.

Workforce participation in Wendouree is lower at 50.8% compared to Regional Vic.'s 61.0%. According to Census responses, only 9.7% of residents work from home. Employment is concentrated in health care & social assistance, retail trade, and manufacturing sectors. Manufacturing shows a notable concentration with employment levels at 1.4 times the regional average.

Conversely, agriculture, forestry & fishing has lower representation at 1.3% compared to the regional average of 7.5%. The area appears to offer limited local employment opportunities as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between December 2024 and November 2025, Wendouree's labour force decreased by 2.1%, while employment declined by 1.1%, resulting in a fall of 0.9 percentage points in unemployment rate. In comparison, Regional Vic.'s employment fell by 0.6%, labour force contracted by 0.7%, and unemployment fell by 0.1 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Wendouree's employment should increase by 6.1% over five years and 13.0% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections applied to Wendouree's employment mix.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

The latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year 2023 shows Wendouree's median income among taxpayers is $41,873. The average income in Wendouree is $51,911. Nationally, the median income is higher at $62,250 and the average is $84,538. In Regional Vic., the median income is $50,954 and the average is $62,728. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62%, current estimates for Wendouree would be approximately $45,901 (median) and $56,905 (average) as of March 2026. According to the 2021 Census, household, family, and personal incomes in Wendouree fall between the 3rd and 8th percentiles nationally. Income distribution data shows that 31.5% of locals (3,204 people) earn between $400 and $799 per week, unlike broader trends where 30.3% fall within the $1,500 to $2,999 range. With 40.2% earning under $800 per week, Wendouree faces income constraints affecting local spending patterns. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.1% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 4th percentile nationally.

Wendouree is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

In Wendouree, as per the latest Census, 79.9% of dwellings were houses, with the remaining 20.1% comprising semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types. This contrasts with Regional Vic., where 90.1% were houses and 9.9% were other dwellings. Home ownership in Wendouree stood at 34.6%, with mortgaged properties at 21.2% and rented ones at 44.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,166, lower than Regional Vic.'s average of $1,430. Median weekly rent in Wendouree was $250, compared to Regional Vic.'s $285. Nationally, Wendouree's mortgage repayments were significantly lower at $1,166 versus the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

Wendouree features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 56.8% of all households, including 15.4% couples with children, 23.3% couples without children, and 16.5% single parent families. Non-family households comprise the remaining 43.2%, with lone person households at 39.7% and group households making up 3.5%. The median household size is 2.1 people, smaller than the Regional Vic. average of 2.4.

Wendouree faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The area's university qualification rate is 14.2%, significantly lower than Victoria's average of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (2.3%) and graduate diplomas (1.9%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 37.6% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (8.7%) and certificates (28.9%). Educational participation is high, with 28.1% currently enrolled in formal education, comprising 9.5% in primary, 8.5% in secondary, and 3.8% in tertiary education.

Educational participation is notably high, with 28.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.5% in primary education, 8.5% in secondary education, and 3.8% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Wendouree has 91 active public transport stops, offering a mix of train services. These are covered by 8 routes, facilitating 1,653 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is high, with residents located an average of 193 meters from the nearest stop. Most commuters travel outward due to Wendouree's residential nature; cars remain the primary mode at 92%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.0 per dwelling, below the regional norm. According to the 2021 Census, only 9.7% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Service frequency averages 236 trips daily across all routes, resulting in about 18 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Wendouree is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Wendouree faces significant health challenges, as indicated by AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are high across various health conditions that affect both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is low, at approximately 47% of the total population (around 4,826 people), compared to 50.5% in Regional Vic.

and a national average of 55.7%. The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues and arthritis, affecting 13.1% and 11.2% of residents respectively. Conversely, 53.6% of residents claim to have no medical ailments, compared to 63.4% in Regional Vic. Working-age population health is notably challenging due to high chronic condition rates. The area has 23.3% of residents aged 65 and over (2,370 people). Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings largely aligning with the general population.

Wendouree is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics

Wendouree's population showed lower cultural diversity, with 89.9% being citizens, 90.1% born in Australia, and 94.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, accounting for 44.3%. Judaism, however, was slightly overrepresented at 0.1%, compared to Regional Vic's 0.1%.

For ancestry, Australian (32.1%), English (31.8%), and Irish (9.2%) were the top groups. Notably, Dutch (1.9% vs regional 1.7%), Scottish (8.6% vs 8.8%), and Filipino (1.3% vs 0.6%) groups showed higher representation in Wendouree.

Wendouree's median age exceeds the national pattern

Wendouree's median age is 41 years, which is lower than Regional Vic.'s average of 43 but higher than the national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group comprises 16.3%, compared to Regional Vic., while the 5-14 cohort makes up 9.4%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 25-34 age group grew from 14.1% to 16.3%, the 5-14 cohort declined from 10.7% to 9.4%, and the 45-54 group decreased from 11.2% to 10.0%. Demographic modeling suggests Wendouree's age profile will change significantly by 2041. The 25-34 cohort is projected to grow by 61%, adding 1,010 residents to reach 2,669. Meanwhile, the 55-64 cohort shows minimal growth of just 5% (62 people).