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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
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Population
Population growth drivers in Yarra Junction are above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends
Based on ABS population updates and AreaSearch validation, the suburb of Yarra Junction's population was estimated at around 3,032 as of May 2026. This reflected an increase of 157 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 2,875. The change was inferred from AreaSearch's estimation of 3,029 residents following examination of ABS ERP data release in June 2025 and additional 79 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population resulted in a density ratio of 173 persons per square kilometer. Yarra Junction's 5.5% growth since the 2021 census exceeded its SA3 area (3.5%) and SA4 region, making it a growth leader. Natural growth contributed approximately 65.0% of overall population gains during recent periods.
AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year for each SA2 area. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises 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 are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends indicate an increase just below the median of statistical areas across the nation, with the suburb expected to increase by 125 persons to 2041 based on aggregated SA2-level projections, reflecting a total increase of 4.0% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
AreaSearch analysis of residential development drivers sees Yarra Junction recording a relatively average level of approval activity when compared to local markets analysed countrywide
AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Yarra Junction shows an average of around 23 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling approximately 116 homes. As of FY-26, 24 approvals have been recorded. This results in an estimated 1.7 new residents per year per dwelling constructed between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating a balance between supply and demand. The average construction value of new properties is $509,000, suggesting a focus on the premium segment.
In this financial year, $12.5 million in commercial approvals have been registered, showing moderate levels of commercial development. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Yarra Junction has 104.0% more development activity per person. The area's new development consists of 91.0% detached dwellings and 9.0% attached dwellings, maintaining its low density nature with a preference for detached housing. There are approximately 186 people per dwelling approval in the location.
Future projections estimate Yarra Junction to add 122 residents by 2041, suggesting that current construction levels should adequately meet demand and create favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Yarra Junction
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Infrastructure
Yarra Junction has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 40thth percentile nationally
No changes can significantly impact a region's performance like alterations to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified zero projects that could potentially affect this area. Notable projects include Additional VLocity Trains, Level Crossing Removal Project (Melbourne), Suburban Roads Upgrade, and Telstra InfraCo Intercity Fibre Network. The following list details those most likely to be 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
Victorian Desalination Plant Expansion
Proposed expansion of the existing Victorian Desalination Plant at Wonthaggi (Dalyston) to increase production capacity from 150 GL to 200 GL per year, leveraging the facility's built-in design headroom. The Victorian Water Security Plan released in September 2025 identified expanded desalination as a key long-term measure alongside purified recycled water and stormwater harvesting. Infrastructure Victoria's 2025-2055 strategy recommends the State Government complete a detailed business case for this expansion to help meet water demand until 2035. Urgency has increased following Melbourne storage levels falling to a six-year low in April 2026, prompting a record 150 GL order for 2026-27. Government modelling projects Victoria will require an additional 95 GL per year above the plant's current full capacity by 2030. A second desalination plant west of Melbourne is also under parallel consideration. The existing plant is operated by AquaSure (Ventia/Suez) under a 30-year PPP contract.
Marinus Link
Marinus Link is a high-voltage direct current (HVDC) electricity and fibre-optic interconnector linking Heybridge in north-west Tasmania with Hazelwood in Victoria's Latrobe Valley. The total project is planned at 1,500 MW capacity, delivered in two 750 MW stages. Stage 1 comprises 255 km of subsea cable across Bass Strait, a shore crossing at Waratah Bay, a communications station at Sandy Point, 90 km of underground land cable through south Gippsland, and converter stations at each end. Final Investment Decision was reached on 1 August 2025 with federal environmental approval granted on 3 August 2025. In December 2025, Marinus Link Pty Ltd awarded the final major Stage 1 contract, valued at approximately 994 million dollars, to TasVic Greenlink (a joint venture of DT Infrastructure and Samsung C and T Corporation) to build the converter stations and undertake the 90 km of land cable civils across Gippsland. Hitachi Energy is supplying the HVDC voltage source converter stations and Prysmian is supplying the cables. In February 2026, the Australian Energy Regulator approved approximately 3.47 billion dollars in Stage 1 capital expenditure, clearing the path for full construction. Preparatory works on the Waratah Bay and Heybridge shore crossings are commencing in early 2026, with commercial operation targeted for 2030. A separate business case for Stage 2 (a further 750 MW) will be considered by governments during 2026.
Low and Mid-Rise Housing Policy
Comprehensive NSW state planning reforms designed to increase housing density in well-located areas. The policy mandates mid-rise apartment buildings (3-6 storeys) and low-rise multi-dwelling housing (terraces, townhouses, and dual occupancies) within 800m of 171 high-frequency transport hubs and town centres. As of May 2026, the policy is fully operational following the phased rollout of dual occupancy provisions in July 2024 and mid-rise apartment provisions in early 2025. Recent updates include refined floor space ratios (FSR) and non-refusal standards to streamline local council assessments.
North East Rail Line Upgrade
Major upgrade to the North East Rail Line between Melbourne and Albury-Wodonga, improving freight and passenger services, including track resurfacing, mud-hole removal, drainage improvements, bridge upgrades, and signalling enhancements to allow VLocity trains and better ride quality.
Victorian Renewable Energy Zones
The Victorian Renewable Energy Zones (REZs) represent a strategic 15-year roadmap to upgrade the state electricity grid as it transitions from coal to renewable energy. Managed by VicGrid, the 2025 Victorian Transmission Plan identifies six onshore zones (Central Highlands, Central North, Gippsland, North-West, South-West, and Western/Grampians) and a Gippsland Shoreline zone for offshore wind. The plan coordinates the connection of approximately 25GW of new solar, wind, and storage capacity by 2035, requiring nearly 800km of transmission upgrades. As of early 2026, VicGrid is finalizing the declaration of these zones following extensive community consultation on draft REZ orders, which closed in March 2026.
NSW Renewable Energy Zones (REZ) Program
NSW is delivering five Renewable Energy Zones (Central-West Orana, New England, South West, Hunter-Central Coast, and Illawarra) to coordinate wind and solar generation, storage, and high-voltage transmission. Led by EnergyCo NSW under the Electricity Infrastructure Roadmap, the program targets at least 12 GW of new renewable generation and 2 GW of long-duration storage by 2030. Major construction of the first REZ (Central-West Orana) transmission project began in June 2025, involving 90km of 500kV and 150km of 330kV lines. As of February 2026, the project reached a milestone with the Australian Energy Regulator's final decision on network revenue determinations, and significant progress has been made on temporary worker accommodation and road upgrades between the Port of Newcastle and the Central-West Orana region.
Level Crossing Removal Project (Melbourne)
Program to remove 110 dangerous and congested level crossings across metropolitan Melbourne by 2030, with new or upgraded stations and open space created under elevated rail where suitable. 87 crossings were listed as removed as of late July 2025. The works are delivered under Victorias Big Build by the Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority (VIDA) through the Level Crossing Removal Project (LXRP).
Regional Housing Fund
A $1 billion Homes Victoria program delivering more than 1,300 social and affordable homes across at least 30 regional and rural Victorian LGAs. Delivery uses modern construction methods, redevelopment of existing social housing, community housing partnerships, refurbishments and purchases in new developments. Homes Victoria reports more than 630 homes completed or under construction, including 377 completed, with fund completion targeted for 2028.
Employment
Employment performance in Yarra Junction has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally
Yarra Junction has a balanced workforce across white and blue collar jobs. The construction sector is prominent with an unemployment rate of 6.1% and estimated employment growth of 3.0% in the past year (AreaSearch data). As of December 2025, 1,400 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 1.3% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%.
Workforce participation is lower at 60.1%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 69.9%. Approximately 19.2% of residents work from home (Census data). Key employment sectors are construction, health care & social assistance, and education & training. Construction stands out with employment levels at 1.9 times the regional average.
Conversely, professional & technical services have lower representation at 3.6%, compared to the regional average of 10.1%. The area may offer limited local employment opportunities, as indicated by Census data on working population versus resident population. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 3.0% while labour force grew by 2.4%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.5 percentage points (AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data). In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 2.4%, labour force expand by 2.8%, and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points during the same period. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Yarra Junction. Applying these projections to Yarra Junction's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 5.9% over five years and 12.4% over ten years, assuming constant population trends.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data
According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released on June 30, 2023, Yarra Junction had a median income among taxpayers of $42,825 and an average income of $51,637. These figures are lower than the national averages of $57,688 and $75,164 respectively for Greater Melbourne. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since June 30, 2023, estimated median income is approximately $46,945 and average income is around $56,604 as of March 2026. The 2021 Census shows household, family, and personal incomes in Yarra Junction fall between the 13th and 20th percentiles nationally. Income analysis reveals 30.4% of the population, equating to 921 individuals, have incomes ranging from $1,500 to $2,999, similar to the regional average of 32.8%. Housing affordability is severe, with only 82.0% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 19th percentile nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Yarra Junction is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership
Yarra Junction's dwelling structures, as per the latest Census, consisted of 79.9% houses and 20.1% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Yarra Junction stood at 38.5%, with mortgaged dwellings at 42.7% and rented ones at 18.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,800, lower than Melbourne metro's $2,000. The median weekly rent was $300, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Yarra Junction's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially lower at $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Yarra Junction features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size
Family households account for 67.1% of all households, including 29.5% couples with children, 25.0% couples without children, and 12.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 32.9%, with lone person households at 30.7% and group households comprising 2.2%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Educational attainment in Yarra Junction aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics
The area's university qualification rate is 14.7%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 10.0%, followed by graduate diplomas (2.4%) and postgraduate qualifications (2.3%). Vocational credentials are held by 44.2% of residents aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 11.3% and certificates at 32.9%. Educational participation is high, with 28.3% currently enrolled in formal education, including 12.0% in primary, 8.5% in secondary, and 2.4% in tertiary education.
Educational participation is notably high, with 28.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.0% in primary education, 8.5% in secondary education, and 2.4% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is low compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Yarra Junction has 16 operational public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by a single route, offering a total of 148 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents located an average of 317 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward due to Yarra Junction being primarily residential. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport, used by 94% of residents. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling, higher than the regional average.
According to the 2021 Census, 19.2% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 21 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 9 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Health performance in Yarra Junction is lower than average with prevalence of common health conditions notable across both younger and older age cohorts
Yarra Junction faces significant health challenges based on AreaSearch's assessment. Mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are notable across both younger and older age cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very low at approximately 47% of the total population (around 1,435 people), compared to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%.
The most common medical conditions are mental health issues and arthritis, affecting 9.9% and 9.4% of residents respectively. Meanwhile, 63.6% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents show an above-average prevalence of chronic health conditions. The area has 25.2% of residents aged 65 and over (764 people), higher than the 15.0% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Yarra Junction is considerably less culturally diverse than average when assessed alongside AreaSearch's national rankings for language and cultural background related metrics
Yarra Junction, as per the census data from June 2016, showed lower than average cultural diversity. The population was predominantly Australian citizens, with 88.2% holding citizenship, and 86.6% being born in Australia. English was the primary language spoken at home by 96.8% of residents.
Christianity was the dominant religion, comprising 39.0% of Yarra Junction's population. Notably, Judaism was not represented in Yarra Junction (0.0%), compared to a regional average of 1.0%. In terms of ancestry, Australian heritage was most prevalent at 33.8%, significantly higher than the regional average of 18.4%. English ancestry followed closely at 33.1%, exceeding the regional average of 20.1%. Irish ancestry was also notable at 8.6%. Some ethnic groups showed significant variations: Dutch heritage was overrepresented at 2.6% compared to 1.2% regionally, Sri Lankan at 0.4% (vs 0.8%), and German at 3.5% (vs 2.2%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Yarra Junction hosts a notably older demographic compared to the national average
The median age in Yarra Junction is 43 years, which is higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and exceeds the national average of 38 years. The age profile shows that those aged 75-84 make up 9.4%, while those aged 25-34 comprise 10.1%. From 2021 to present, the 75-84 age group has grown from 7.5% to 9.4%, and the 35-44 cohort has increased from 11.5% to 12.8%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has declined from 12.9% to 11.0%. By 2041, demographic projections show that the 85+ age group is expected to rise substantially by 106 people (95%), from 112 to 219. The combined 65+ age groups will account for 92% of total population growth, reflecting Yarra Junction's aging demographic profile. Meanwhile, the 55-64 and 0-4 cohorts are projected to experience population declines.