Yarraville

Population growth drivers in Yarraville are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

As of February 2026, the estimated population of the suburb of Yarraville is around 16,509. This figure represents an increase of 873 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 15,636. The latest estimate from AreaSearch, based on examination of the ABS's ERP data release in June 2024 and additional validated new addresses, is 16,437 residents. This results in a population density ratio of approximately 2,916 persons per square kilometer, placing Yarraville in the upper quartile relative to other locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration contributed around 65% 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, they utilise the 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. According to these projections, the suburb of Yarraville is expected to grow by 2,578 persons by the year 2041, reflecting a total growth rate of 15.2% over the 17-year period.

Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within Yarraville when compared nationally

AreaSearch analysis of ABS building approval numbers in Yarraville shows approximately 96 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 483 homes were approved, with an additional 73 approved so far in FY26. On average, 0.3 new residents per year have been arriving for each new home over these five years, indicating that new construction is keeping pace with demand and offering more options for buyers while supporting population growth.

The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings is $607,000, suggesting a focus on the premium market by developers. This financial year has seen $13.8 million in commercial approvals, indicating moderate levels of commercial development. Comparatively, Yarraville shows roughly half the construction activity per person compared to Greater Melbourne and ranks among the 68th percentile nationally based on AreaSearch assessments. Recent construction comprises 38% detached houses and 62% medium and high-density housing, marking a significant shift from the current housing mix of 72% houses. This change reflects reduced availability of development sites and addresses evolving lifestyle demands and affordability requirements.

With around 199 people per dwelling approval, Yarraville exhibits characteristics of a low-density area. Future projections estimate that Yarraville will add approximately 2,506 residents by 2041, based on the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Given current development patterns, new housing supply is expected to readily meet demand, providing favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

Yarraville 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 a total of seventeen projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include Bradmill Yarraville, Yarraville Green, 295 Whitehall Street Heritage Redevelopment, and Stockland Haven. The following list 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.

The labour market strength in Yarraville positions it well ahead of most Australian regions

Yarraville has a highly educated workforce. The technology sector is notably represented. The unemployment rate was 2.5% as of December 2025.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 4.2%. This figure is based on AreaSearch aggregation of statistical area data. As of December 2025, 11,098 residents were in work. The unemployment rate was 2.3%, lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%.

Workforce participation was high at 82.6%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.3%. According to Census responses, 49.4% of residents worked from home. Employment is concentrated in professional & technical, health care & social assistance, and education & training sectors. Yarraville has a particular employment specialization in professional & technical, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level. Conversely, construction shows lower representation at 7.1%, compared to the regional average of 9.7%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 4.2% while labour force increased by 4.5%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced employment growth of 2.4% and labour force growth of 2.8%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest potential future demand within Yarraville. These projections estimate national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Yarraville's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.9% over ten years, although this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections.

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

Yarraville suburb's income level is among Australia's highest, per latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY2023. Yarraville's median taxpayer income is $74,130, average is $93,294, compared to Greater Melbourne's $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. By September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $80,246 (median) and $100,991 (average), based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since FY2023. According to 2021 Census figures, Yarraville's household, family, and personal incomes rank highly nationally, between the 90th and 93rd percentiles. Income analysis shows 29.1% earn $1,500-$2,999 weekly (4,804 residents), consistent with broader trends at 32.8%. Notably, 42.3% earn above $3,000 weekly. High housing costs consume 15.4% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 89th percentile. Yarraville's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.

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

Yarraville's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 71.7% houses and 28.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Yarraville was at 27.1%, with mortgaged dwellings at 39.1% and rented ones at 33.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,500, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure was recorded at $462, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Yarraville's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Yarraville features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 69.3% of all households, including 33.2% couples with children, 26.2% couples without children, and 8.6% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 30.7%, with lone person households at 25.5% and group households making up 5.2%. The median household size is 2.5 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Yarraville shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

Yarraville's educational attainment is notably higher than national averages. Among residents aged 15+, 48.6% hold university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and the SA4 region's 32.0%. This high level of educational attainment positions Yarraville favourably for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 31.2%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (12.4%) and graduate diplomas (5.0%).

Vocational pathways account for 22.8% of qualifications among those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 9.7% and certificates at 13.1%. Educational participation is notably high, with 28.7% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.6% in primary education, 6.5% in secondary education, and 6.5% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Yarraville has 89 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These are covered by 11 routes, offering a total of 5,868 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is high, with residents typically living 139 meters from the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards, primarily by car (72%), followed by train (16%) and walking (4%). The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 1.0, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 49.4% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions.

Across all routes, there are an average of 838 trips per day, equating to approximately 65 weekly trips per stop.

Yarraville's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data shows positive outcomes for Yarraville residents. Mortality rates and health conditions align with national benchmarks. Common health conditions are low across all age groups.

Private health cover is high at 64% compared to Greater Melbourne's 56.7% and the national average of 55.7%. Mental health issues and asthma are most common, affecting 9.6% and 8.7% respectively. 71.4% report no medical ailments, similar to Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. Under-65 residents have better-than-average health outcomes. The area has 11.9% of residents aged 65 and over (1,964 people), lower than Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. Senior health outcomes are above average, matching national rankings for the general population.

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

Yarraville's population showed higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 25.5% born overseas and 20.8% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion in Yarraville, comprising 36.8% of its population. Notably, Judaism was overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 0.2% vs 1.0%.

The top three ancestry groups were English (23.5%), Australian (20.6%), and Irish (10.1%). Some ethnic groups showed significant differences: Polish at 1.2% in Yarraville vs 0.8% regionally, Macedonian at 1.5% vs 0.7%, and Greek at 4.1% vs 2.7%.

Yarraville's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Yarraville's median age is 37, matching Greater Melbourne and closely resembling Australia's figure of 38 years. The 35-44 age group comprises 19.0% in Yarraville compared to Greater Melbourne, while the 15-24 cohort makes up 10.6%. Between 2021 and present, the 15-24 age group has increased from 9.0% to 10.6%, whereas the 5-14 group decreased from 12.4% to 11.2% and the 0-4 group dropped from 6.7% to 5.6%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant changes in Yarraville's age structure: the 55-64 group is expected to grow by 40%, adding 732 people to reach 2,548 from 1,815, while the 5-14 group will decrease by 101 residents.