Woollahra

Woollahra is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

As of Feb 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Woollahra is around 7,684, reflecting an increase of 495 people since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 7,189. This change is inferred from an estimated resident population of 7,503 in June 2024 and additional 84 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is 6,247 persons per square kilometer, placing Woollahra in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Between 2021 and Feb 2026, Woollahra's growth rate exceeded that of its SA3 area, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration contributed approximately 90.0% of overall population gains during this period. AreaSearch projections for Woollahra's population are based on ABS/Geoscience Australia data released in 2024 with a base year of 2022, and NSW State Government SA2-level projections released in 2022 with a base year of 2021.

By 2041, Woollahra is projected to grow by 199 persons based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a gain of 0.2% over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in Woollahra is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Woollahra has seen approximately 8 new homes approved annually, with a total of 43 homes approved from FY-21 to FY-25 and 1 so far in FY-26. The population decline during this period suggests that the new supply has likely kept pace with demand, offering good choice for buyers. The average expected construction cost value of new homes is $3,179,000, indicating a focus on the premium market segment.

This financial year, Woollahra has registered $2.4 million in commercial approvals, reflecting its primarily residential nature. Compared to Greater Sydney, Woollahra has significantly less development activity, being 60.0% below the regional average per person. This limited new supply generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings, although building activity has accelerated recently. Nationally, Woollahra's level of development is also lower, suggesting market maturity and possible development constraints. Recent construction comprises 33.0% detached houses and 67.0% attached dwellings, promoting higher-density living to suit downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. Notably, developers are building more traditional houses than the current mix suggests (18.0% at Census), indicating strong demand for family homes despite density pressures.

With around 676 people per dwelling approval, Woollahra reflects a highly mature market. Future projections estimate Woollahra to add 12 residents by 2041, with current construction levels likely meeting housing supply demands and creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Woollahra 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 37 projects likely to affect the region. Notable projects include Westfield Bondi Junction, Woollahra Station Completion and Rezoning (scheduled for completion in late 2021), Woollahra Public School Redevelopment Stage 2 (commenced March 2020, expected completion mid-2023), and Woollahra Station Activation as part of the Eastern Suburbs Railway project (underway since 2015). The following list details projects most relevant to the area.

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

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The labour market in Woollahra shows considerable strength compared to most other Australian regions

Woollahra has a highly educated workforce with notable representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate was 3.0% as of September 2025, below Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.3%.

Residents' work participation rate is 72.1%, slightly higher than Greater Sydney's 70.0%. Home-based workers account for a high 66.3% of residents, possibly influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries include professional & technical (2.0 times the regional average), finance & insurance, and health care & social assistance. Construction employs just 4.0% locally, below Greater Sydney's 8.6%.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work. Over a 12-month period, employment increased by 2.3%, labour force grew by 2.8%, raising unemployment by 0.5 percentage points. This contrasts with Greater Sydney's figures of employment rise by 2.1%, labour force growth by 2.4%, and unemployment increase by 0.2 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Woollahra's industry mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.8% over five years and 15.3% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows that Woollahra suburb has top percentile national incomes. The median assessed income is $86,294 and the average income stands at $217,455. This contrasts with Greater Sydney's median income of $60,817 and average income of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.86% since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $93,940 (median) and $236,722 (average) as of September 2025. The 2021 Census data ranks Woollahra's household, family, and personal incomes highly, between the 97th and 98th percentiles nationally. Income distribution shows that 40.2% of locals (3,088 people) fall into the $4,000+ category, unlike regional trends where 30.9% are in the $1,500 - $2,999 range. A substantial proportion of high earners (50.3%) are above $3,000/week, indicating strong economic capacity. High housing costs consume 16.1% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 96th percentile. Woollahra's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

Woollahra features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Woollahra's dwelling structure at the latest Census showed 17.9% houses and 82.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Sydney metro had 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Woollahra was 37.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 25.8% and rented ones at 36.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $4,000, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427 and the national average of $1,863. Median weekly rent in Woollahra was $670, above Sydney metro's $470 and the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 59.9% of all households, consisting of 23.1% couples with children, 27.4% couples without children, and 8.2% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 40.1%, with lone person households at 33.6% and group households comprising 6.4%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Educational achievement in Woollahra places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Woollahra's educational attainment is notably higher than national averages. Among residents aged 15+, 65.0% possess university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and NSW's 32.2%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 42.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (19.1%) and graduate diplomas (3.5%). Vocational pathways account for 15.5%, with advanced diplomas at 8.7% and certificates at 6.8%.

Educational participation is high, with 27.6% currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.7% in primary, 6.7% in secondary, and 6.6% in tertiary education.

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

Woollahra has 32 active public transport stops serving a mix of bus routes. These stops are used by 32 different routes, collectively providing 10,611 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 123 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to its primarily residential nature. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 57%, followed by walking at 15% and train at 14%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.7 per dwelling, below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a high 66.3% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,515 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 331 weekly trips per individual stop.

Woollahra's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Woollahra's health outcomes show remarkable results based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are very low across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 112% of the total population (8,629 people), compared to 59.9% in Greater Sydney and a national average of 55.7%.

The most prevalent medical conditions are arthritis and asthma, affecting 6.4% and 6.3% of residents respectively. A significant majority, 74.9%, report being completely free from medical ailments, slightly higher than the 74.6% in Greater Sydney. Woollahra has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 23.5% (1,805 people), compared to 15.4% in Greater Sydney. Health outcomes among seniors are broadly in line with national rankings and the general population.

The level of cultural diversity witnessed in Woollahra was found to be above average when compared nationally for a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Woollahra, as per data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census of Population and Housing conducted on 29 August 2016, had a higher cultural diversity than most local areas. It was found that 15.8% of its population spoke a language other than English at home, and 34.4% were born overseas. Christianity was the predominant religion in Woollahra, making up 43.6% of people.

However, Judaism was significantly overrepresented, comprising 8.4% of the population compared to the Greater Sydney average of 0.8%. In terms of ancestry, English was the most represented group at 26.6%, higher than the regional average of 19.0%. Australian ancestry followed with 18.6%, while Other ancestry made up 10.8%, notably lower than the regional average of 16.0%. Notably, Hungarian (0.9% vs 0.3%), Polish (1.5% vs 0.6%), and French (1.1% vs 0.5%) ethnic groups were overrepresented in Woollahra compared to regional averages.

Woollahra's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Woollahra is 42 years, significantly higher than Greater Sydney's average of 37 years and Australia's national average of 38 years. The 75-84 age group comprises 9.6% of Woollahra's population, compared to the 15-24 cohort which makes up 10.3%. According to the post-2021 Census data, the 75-84 age group has increased from 8.2% to 9.6%, while the 15-24 cohort has risen from 9.0% to 10.3%. Conversely, the 65-74 age group has decreased from 11.0% to 9.0%. Population forecasts for 2041 suggest substantial demographic changes in Woollahra. The 85+ age group is projected to grow by 66%, reaching 626 people from its current total of 376. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 90% of the total population growth, reflecting Woollahra's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 55-64 and 0-4 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.