Woolloomooloo

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

As of May 2026, the population of Woolloomooloo is estimated at around 4,084 people. This reflects an increase of 292 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 3,792 people. The change is inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of the resident population as 4,079 following examination of the latest ERP data release by the ABS in June 2025, along with an additional two validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population results in a density ratio of 11,037 persons per square kilometer, placing Woolloomooloo in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. The suburb's growth rate of 7.7% since the 2021 census exceeded the state average of 7.1%, indicating it as a growth leader in the region. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year, and NSW State Government's SA2 level projections for areas not covered by this data, released in 2022 with 2021 as the base year. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are applied to all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on aggregated SA2-level projections, Woolloomooloo is forecasted to increase its population by 1,328 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 32.4% in total over the 16 years.

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

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers shows Woolloomooloo had approximately 4 dwellings receiving development approval annually. Between FY21-FY25, about 21 homes were approved, with 9 so far in FY26. Despite population decline, development activity has been relatively adequate.

New properties are targeted at the premium market segment, with average construction costs of $1,870,000. Commercial approvals this year totaled $3.1 million, reflecting Woolloomooloo's residential character. Compared to Greater Sydney, Woolloomooloo has significantly less development activity, 81.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings. Nationally, Woolloomooloo also reflects lower development activity, indicating market maturity and potential development constraints. Recent building activity consists solely of medium and high-density housing, creating more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers.

With around 1607 people per dwelling approval, Woolloomooloo demonstrates a highly mature market. Population forecasts estimate Woolloomooloo will gain 1,323 residents by 2041. At current development rates, housing supply may struggle to match population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price increases.

Woolloomooloo has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 28 projects likely to affect the area. Notable ones include Minerva Theatre Restoration, The Potts Point Hotel Redevelopment (Queensgate), Holiday Inn Potts Point Redevelopment, and 20-26 Bayswater Road Mansions Terrace. Below is a list of 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.

AreaSearch assessment indicates Woolloomooloo faces employment challenges relative to the majority of Australian markets

Woolloomooloo has a highly educated workforce with notable representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate is 6.3% according to AreaSearch's aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, there are 2,385 residents employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.2% higher than Greater Sydney's rate of 4.2%.

The workforce participation rate in Woolloomooloo is 66.8%, slightly below Greater Sydney's rate of 68.8%. Census responses indicate that 60.4% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Employment among residents is concentrated in professional & technical (37.2%), finance & insurance (15.6%), and public administration & safety (14.7%) sectors. Woolloomooloo has a particularly high employment specialization in professional & technical services, with an employment share 1.9 times the regional level.

Conversely, health care & social assistance shows lower representation at 9.0% compared to the regional average of 14.1%. The ratio of workers to residents is 0.8, indicating substantial local employment opportunities. Between December 2024 and December 2025, labour force levels decreased by 0.4%, and employment declined by 1.4%, leading to a rise in the unemployment rate by 0.9 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Sydney experienced employment growth of 2.2% and labour force growth of 2.3%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Woolloomooloo's employment should increase by 7.4% over five years and 14.5% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation of industry-specific projections against the local employment mix.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch released postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023. Woolloomooloo's median income among taxpayers was $66,014 with an average of $122,394. Nationally, this is exceptionally high compared to Greater Sydney's median of $60,817 and average of $83,003. Based on Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023, current estimates would be approximately $72,827 (median) and $135,025 (average) as of March 2026. Census 2021 income data shows individual earnings at the 96th percentile nationally ($1,368 weekly), though household income ranks lower at the 65th percentile. The largest segment comprises 26.6% earning $1,500 - 2,999 weekly (1,086 residents). A substantial proportion of high earners (34.1%) are above $3,000/week. High housing costs consume 23.0% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 56th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Woolloomooloo features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Woolloomooloo's dwelling structure in 2016 comprised 0.5% houses and 99.5% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Sydney metro's 55.9% houses and 44.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Woolloomooloo was at 13.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 14.1% and rented ones at 72.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $3,000, higher than Sydney metro's average of $2,427. Median weekly rent in Woolloomooloo was $500, compared to Sydney metro's $470. Nationally, Woolloomooloo's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 40.7% of all households, including 7.0% couples with children, 25.8% couples without children, and 6.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 59.3%, with lone person households at 51.3% and group households comprising 7.9%. The median household size is 1.7 people, which is smaller than the Greater Sydney average of 2.7.

Woolloomooloo performs slightly above the national average for education, showing competitive qualification levels and steady academic outcomes

Woolloomooloo has a notably higher educational attainment than broader averages. Among residents aged 15 and above, 54.5% have university qualifications, compared to the national average of 30.4% and the NSW average of 32.2%. This indicates a significant educational advantage for Woolloomooloo. The majority of these qualifications are bachelor degrees (34.5%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (16.3%) and graduate diplomas (3.7%).

Vocational pathways account for 23.3% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 11.6% and certificates at 11.7%. Notably, 23.0% of the population is actively pursuing formal education, including 7.9% in tertiary education, 4.0% in primary education, and 3.2% in secondary education.

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

Woolloomooloo has 14 active public transport stops. These are served by 7 different bus routes that together facilitate 3,641 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically living just 106 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards, with walking being the most common mode at 42%, followed by train use at 13%. Vehicle ownership averages 0.3 per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 60.4% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions.

The service frequency across all routes averages 520 trips per day, equating to approximately 260 weekly trips per individual stop.

The level of general health in Woolloomooloo is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Woolloomooloo shows better-than-average health outcomes. AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence indicates low prevalence across younger and older age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at 75% (3,067 people), compared to Greater Sydney's 59.9% and the national average of 55.7%.

The most common conditions are mental health issues (11.3%) and asthma (7.3%), with 69.6% reporting no medical ailments, compared to Greater Sydney's 74.6%. Health outcomes among working-age residents are typical. Seniors make up 15.8% of the population (645 people), with health outcomes above average, aligning with national rankings for the general population.

Woolloomooloo was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Woolloomooloo has a high cultural diversity, with 25.8% speaking a language other than English at home and 43.0% born overseas. Christianity is the main religion in Woolloomooloo, comprising 38.3%. Judaism is overrepresented compared to Greater Sydney, making up 1.4% of Woolloomooloo's population.

The top three ancestry groups are English (22.3%), Australian (14.3%), and Other (14.2%). French (1.6%), Spanish (1.3%), and Russian (0.9%) ethnicities are notably overrepresented compared to regional averages of 0.5%, 0.6%, and 0.4% respectively.

Woolloomooloo's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in Woolloomooloo is 38 years, close to Greater Sydney's average of 37 and equivalent to Australia's median of 38. Compared to Greater Sydney, Woolloomooloo has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (28.1%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (4.0%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly above the national average of 14.6%. Between the 2021 Census and present, the proportion of residents aged 15-24 has grown from 7.0% to 9.2%, while those aged 75-84 have increased from 4.4% to 5.6%. Conversely, the proportion of residents aged 45-54 has declined from 13.2% to 11.6%, and those aged 55-64 have decreased from 12.3% to 11.1%. By 2041, Woolloomooloo is projected to experience significant changes in its age composition. Notably, the 25-34 age group is expected to grow by 27%, reaching 1,452 residents from a previous total of 1,147.