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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
Sales Activity
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Sales Detail
Population
West Melbourne lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends
Based on analysis of ABS population updates for the broader area and new addresses validated by AreaSearch, as of Feb 2026, the suburb of West Melbourne's population is estimated at around 10,133. This reflects an increase of 2,108 people (26.3%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 8,025 people. The change is inferred from the resident population of 9,918 estimated by AreaSearch following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS on Jun 2024 and an additional 100 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 1,568 persons per square kilometer, which is above the average seen across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. West Melbourne's 26.3% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (9.9%) and the state average, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 82.0% of overall population gains during recent periods, although all drivers including interstate migration and natural growth were positive factors.
AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Moving forward with demographic trends, exceptional growth is predicted over the period with the suburb expected to expand by 5,931 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 57.5% in total over the 17 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Recent residential development output has been above average within West Melbourne when compared nationally
AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers, allocated from statistical area data, shows West Melbourne has seen around 197 new homes approved annually over the past 5 financial years. This totals an estimated 985 homes. So far in FY-26198 approvals have been recorded. On average, 2.3 people per year move to the area for each new home constructed between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating solid demand that supports property values.
New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $572,000, suggesting developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties. This financial year has seen $47.0 million in commercial development approvals recorded, indicating strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Melbourne, West Melbourne records 78.0% more construction activity per person, creating greater choice for buyers. However, building activity has slowed in recent years. This is significantly above the national average, suggesting robust developer interest in the area. Recent development has been entirely comprised of townhouses or apartments, focusing on higher-density living that creates more affordable entry points and suits downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.
The location has approximately 720 people per dwelling approval, demonstrating an established market. Future projections show West Melbourne adding 5,828 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Present construction rates appear balanced with future demand, fostering steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Infrastructure
West Melbourne has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally
Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 137 projects likely to impact the area. Notable ones include Errol Street Private Hospital, Abbotsford Street Social Housing, West End Mixed-Use Precinct, and WOBO North Melbourne. The following list details those most relevant.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Errol Street Private Hospital
An 8-level private hospital facility located within the Parkville Biomedical Precinct. The development includes 223 overnight beds, 10 ICU beds, 7 operating theatres, and comprehensive medical services including imaging, pathology, and specialist consulting suites. The project was fast-tracked via the Victorian Government Development Facilitation Program to bolster healthcare infrastructure near the Royal Women's and Royal Children's Hospitals.
Elysium Fields
A $1.7 billion biosphere-inspired wellness precinct in Docklands featuring 1,100 luxury apartments, a 200-plus room luxury hotel, and Australia's largest Saint Haven private wellness club. The development includes the Elysian Reverse Ageing Medical Clinic, ancient bathhouses, and extensive public gardens under a futuristic glass dome. Built across multiple towers, the project integrates advanced health technologies like cryotherapy, MRI diagnostics, and circadian lighting within residential units. Early construction works on the first stage commenced in early 2025 with Hamilton Marino appointed as the lead builder.
Australian Institute for Infectious Disease (AIID)
A $650 million state-of-the-art infectious disease research facility spanning 15 storeys in the Melbourne Biomedical Precinct. The institute will house over 1,000 researchers and feature high-containment PC3 laboratories, a human infection challenge unit, robotic biobanking, and the Cumming Global Centre for Pandemic Therapeutics. The project is a collaboration between the University of Melbourne, Doherty Institute, and Burnet Institute, supported by the Victorian Government to enhance Australia's sovereign pandemic response capabilities.
Arden Precinct Urban Renewal
The Arden Precinct is a 45-hectare urban renewal project in North Melbourne designed to transform underutilised industrial land into a high-density innovation and employment hub. Anchored by the Arden Metro Station, which officially opened on November 30, 2025, the precinct is slated to accommodate 34,000 jobs and 20,000 residents by 2050. Key features include a focus on life sciences, digital technology, and health sectors, complemented by the planned relocation of the Royal Melbourne and Royal Women's Hospitals. The development includes over 8 hectares of green open space, a new government primary school, and approximately 15,000 to 20,000 dwellings delivered over a 30-year timeline.
Level Crossing Removal Project
State-wide program to remove 110 level crossings across metropolitan Melbourne by 2030, with 88 already removed. The project aims to deliver safer roads, reduce congestion, and provide more reliable train services by rebuilding or upgrading 54 stations and creating over 31 MCGs of new community open space.
Queen Victoria Market Precinct Renewal
A transformative multi-stage program to modernize Australia's largest 19th-century market. The flagship southern precinct, Gurrowa Place, is a $1.7 billion mixed-use development delivered by Lendlease and Scape. It features three towers providing build-to-rent apartments, student accommodation, and affordable housing. Key elements include the 1.8-hectare Market Square public park replacing the current open-air car park, restoration of the heritage Franklin Street Stores into retail and hospitality, and a new 220-space basement car park. Heritage shed restorations and core trader facilities were largely completed by 2024, with site works for the southern towers commencing in 2026.
Victoria Harbour Precinct
A major urban renewal precinct in Docklands delivering a mix of residential, commercial, and retail spaces. Current active phases include the Collins Wharf waterfront neighbourhood (featuring Ancora, Regatta, and Aluna residences) and a major Build-to-Rent tower at 899 Collins Street. The precinct aims to deliver over 2,300 new homes in its current construction wave.
Abbotsford Street Social Housing
Redevelopment of 112 outdated homes into 340+ new homes including 127 social homes, 85 affordable homes, and 128+ private dwellings. Features universal design, community facilities, and sustainable building practices.
Employment
Employment performance in West Melbourne exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators
West Melbourne has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. The unemployment rate is 4.2%, with an estimated employment growth of 6.0% over the past year (AreaSearch aggregation). As of September 2025, 7,339 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 0.4% below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%.
Workforce participation is high at 83.0%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. A significant portion, 43.6%, of residents work from home (Census responses). The leading employment industries are professional & technical, accommodation & food, and health care & social assistance. West Melbourne has a notable concentration in professional & technical services, with employment levels at 1.9 times the regional average.
However, construction is under-represented, with only 4.5% of West Melbourne's workforce compared to 9.7% in Greater Melbourne. The ratio of 0.7 workers per resident indicates a level of local employment opportunities above the norm. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 6.0%, while labour force increased by 5.5%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.4 percentage points (AreaSearch analysis). In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 3.0%, labour force expand by 3.3%, and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to West Melbourne's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.1% over ten years (simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes, not accounting for localised population projections).
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis
The suburb of West Melbourne had a median taxpayer income of $53,328 and an average income of $71,318 in financial year 2023, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. These figures are higher than the national averages at the time. Greater Melbourne's median income was $57,688 and its average income was $75,164 in the same period. By September 2025, based on an 8.25% growth rate from the Wage Price Index since financial year 2023, estimated incomes would be approximately $57,728 (median) and $77,202 (average). Census data indicates individual earnings in West Melbourne stand at the 83rd percentile nationally, with weekly earnings of $1,058. However, household income ranks lower at the 52nd percentile. The earnings profile shows that 35.4% of residents fall into the $1,500 - $2,999 weekly income bracket, which is composed of 3,587 people. This pattern is similar to regional levels where 32.8% of residents occupy this income range. Housing affordability pressures are severe in West Melbourne, with only 79.7% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 47th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
West Melbourne features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region
In West Melbourne, as per the latest Census evaluation, 1.2% of dwellings were houses while 98.7% comprised semi-detached units, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This contrasted with Melbourne metropolitan area's dwelling structure of 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in West Melbourne stood at 12.0%, with mortgaged dwellings at 21.1% and rented ones at 66.9%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,106, higher than the Melbourne metro average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure in West Melbourne was $388, slightly above Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, West Melbourne's median mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,106 compared to the Australian average of $1,863. Similarly, rents in West Melbourne exceeded the national average of $375 by $13.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
West Melbourne features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size
Family households account for 47.7% of all households, including 11.2% couples with children, 30.6% couples without children, and 4.0% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 52.3%, with lone person households at 39.0% and group households comprising 13.3%. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
The educational profile of West Melbourne exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics
Educational attainment in West Melbourne is notably higher than broader benchmarks. Among residents aged 15+, 62.6% hold university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% statewide in Victoria. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 37.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (21.0%) and graduate diplomas (3.7%). Vocational pathways account for 17.2% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 9.2% and certificates at 8.0%.
Educational participation is high, with 35.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 18.1% in tertiary education, 3.4% in primary education, and 3.1% pursuing secondary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
West Melbourne has 50 active public transport stops, serving a mix of train, light rail, and bus services. These stops are covered by 29 individual routes, collectively providing 21,676 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 111 meters from the nearest stop. As primarily residential, most residents commute outward. Car remains the dominant mode at 34%, followed by walking (22%) and train (19%). Vehicle ownership averages 0.3 per dwelling, below the regional average.
According to the 2021 Census, a high 43.6% of residents work from home, potentially reflecting COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 3,096 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 433 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
West Melbourne's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups
West Melbourne's health outcomes show excellent results based on AreaSearch's analysis of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence, indicating a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups.
The rate of private health cover is approximately 55% (around 5,574 people) in West Melbourne, which is higher than the Greater Melbourne average. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent medical conditions, affecting 8.6 and 6.7% of residents respectively. A total of 80.5% of residents report being completely free from medical ailments, compared to 72.6% in Greater Melbourne. West Melbourne has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 4.7% (476 people), compared to the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. The health outcomes among seniors in West Melbourne are particularly strong and align with national rankings for the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
West Melbourne is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics
West Melbourne has a high level of cultural diversity, with 48.5% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 56.3% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion in West Melbourne, making up 24.7% of people there, but Buddhism is more prevalent at 5.7%, compared to 4.2% across Greater Melbourne. The top three ancestry groups in West Melbourne are Chinese (17.4%), Other (16.8%), and English (15.3%).
Notably, Korean (2.1%) and Spanish (0.8%) populations are higher than the regional averages of 0.3% and 0.4%, respectively, while Russian is also somewhat overrepresented at 0.6%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
West Melbourne hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide
West Melbourne's median age is 32 years, which is younger than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and lower than the national average of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, West Melbourne has a higher percentage of 25-34 year-olds at 37.9%, but fewer 5-14 year-olds at 4.2%. This concentration is significantly higher than the national average of 14.4%. According to data from the 2021 Census, the 35-44 age group has increased from 17.2% to 19.3% of West Melbourne's population. Conversely, the 25-34 age group has decreased from 40.5% to 37.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests that West Melbourne's age profile will change significantly. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 41%, adding 1,575 residents and reaching a total of 5,416.