Blackburn South
Statistical Area - sa2

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

Blackburn South's population was 10,939 as of August 2021. By August 2025, it is estimated to be around 11,079, an increase of approximately 140 people (1.3%) since the 2021 Census. This growth is inferred from ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 11,081 as of June 2024 and 36 new validated addresses since the Census date. The population density ratio is approximately 3,077 persons per square kilometer, placing Blackburn South in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Overseas migration was the primary driver of population growth 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, AreaSearch utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusting using weighted aggregation methods to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on demographic trends and latest population numbers, Blackburn South is anticipated to grow by approximately 424 persons to 2041, representing a total increase of around 3.8%.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Blackburn South according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Blackburn South has granted around 54 residential property approvals per year. The Australian Bureau of Statistics produces development approval data on a financial year basis, totalling 271 approvals from FY-20 to FY-25 and 3 so far in FY-26. With population decline over recent years, new supply has likely kept pace with demand, offering good choice for buyers. The average expected construction cost of new homes is $703,000, indicating developers target the premium market segment.

This financial year has seen $2.2 million in commercial approvals, suggesting a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Blackburn South records significantly lower building activity (54.0% below regional average per person), which typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings. New building activity consists of 73.0% standalone homes and 27.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes. Blackburn South reflects low density at around 304 people per approval.

By 2041, Blackburn South is expected to grow by 424 residents. At current development rates, new housing supply should comfortably meet demand, providing good conditions for buyers and potentially supporting growth beyond current population projections.

Blackburn South has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 14 projects that may impact the area. Notable ones include Blackburn South Exclusive Townhouse Collection, Mirrabooka Reserve Pavilion Redevelopment, Wurundjeri Walk Master Plan, and Raleigh Street Road Reconstruction Renewal Program. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Blackburn South has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks

Blackburn South has a highly educated workforce with strong professional services representation. Its unemployment rate is 4.9%, with estimated employment growth of 3.5% over the past year as of June 2025.

In this month, 5,830 residents are employed while the unemployment rate is 0.3% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation is lower at 60.3%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key industries include health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training, with notable concentration in the latter at 1.3 times the regional average. Construction employment is under-represented at 7.9% compared to Greater Melbourne's 9.7%.

Limited local employment opportunities are indicated by Census data. Over June 2024 to June 2025, Blackburn South's employment increased by 3.5%, labour force by 3.0%, reducing unemployment by 0.4 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne had employment growth of 3.5% and labour force growth of 4.0%, with a 0.5 percentage point rise in unemployment. State-level data to Sep-25 shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%. National forecasts from May 2025 project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Blackburn South's industry mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.9% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes only.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

Blackburn South's median income among taxpayers was $54,679 according to ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for financial year 2022. The average income stood at $79,321 during this period. These figures compare with Greater Melbourne's median and average incomes of $54,892 and $73,761 respectively in the same year. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022, estimated median income for Blackburn South would be approximately $60,207 as of March 2025, with average income estimated at $87,340 during the same period. Census data indicates household income ranks at the 57th percentile ($1,861 weekly), while personal income sits at the 39th percentile. Income analysis reveals that 28.8% of Blackburn South's population (3,190 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range. This is consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region, where 32.8% of individuals are in the same income category. High housing costs consume 15.5% of income in Blackburn South, yet strong earnings place disposable income at the 58th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.

Blackburn South is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Blackburn South's dwelling structure in 2016 had 75.7% houses and 24.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). Melbourne metro had 60.2% houses and 39.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Blackburn South was 39.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.9% and rented ones at 24.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,251, below Melbourne metro's average of $2,300. Median weekly rent was $410 compared to Melbourne metro's $412. Nationally, Blackburn South's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863 and rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Blackburn South has a typical household mix, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 70.7% of all households, including 37.7% couples with children, 22.0% couples without children, and 9.8% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 29.3%, with lone person households at 26.1% and group households comprising 3.3%. The median household size is 2.6 people, larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.5.

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

Blackburn South's educational attainment is notably high, with 42.6% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% in Victoria. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 26.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.5%) and graduate diplomas (4.6%). Vocational pathways account for 23.7% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 11.1% and certificates at 12.6%. Educational participation is high, with 30.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 9.7% in primary, 8.2% in secondary, and 6.7% pursuing tertiary education.

The area's three schools have a combined enrollment of 1,066 students. Blackburn South has above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1094), with all three schools focusing on primary education and secondary options available in surrounding areas. School places per 100 residents are lower than the regional average (9.6 compared to 14.5), indicating some students may attend schools outside Blackburn South.

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

Blackburn South has 47 active public transport stops operating currently. All these stops are served by buses via 11 different routes. These services facilitate a total of 2,430 weekly passenger trips in the area.

The accessibility of public transport is rated as good, with residents typically living within 225 meters of their nearest stop. On average, there are 347 daily trips across all routes, which equates to approximately 51 weekly trips per individual stop.

Blackburn South's residents are relatively healthy in comparison to broader Australia with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Blackburn South's health metrics are close to national benchmarks, with common health conditions among its general population being somewhat typical but higher than the national average for older cohorts. Approximately 59% of Blackburn South's total population (6,580 people) has private health cover, compared to 56.0% across Greater Melbourne.

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 7.4 and 7.3% of residents respectively. A total of 70.1% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 73.9% across Greater Melbourne. As of 2021, Blackburn South has 21.2% of its residents aged 65 and over (2,350 people), which is higher than the 17.7% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges that require more attention than those for the broader population.

Blackburn South is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Blackburn South has high cultural diversity, with 38.0% of its population born overseas and 37.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the main religion in Blackburn South, comprising 44.0% of people. Buddhism is overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 5.4%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (19.3%), Australian (18.1%), and Chinese (17.9%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Sri Lankan at 0.9% vs regional 0.8%, Greek at 3.9% vs regional 3.0%.

Blackburn South hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

The median age in Blackburn South is 42 years, significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and Australia's national median of 38 years. The 75-84 age group comprises 7.5% of Blackburn South's population compared to the rest of Greater Melbourne. Conversely, the 25-34 age cohort is less prevalent in Blackburn South at 9.9%. Post-Census data from 2021 shows that the 35-44 age group has increased from 13.2% to 14.3%, while the 45-54 age group has decreased from 14.4% to 13.1%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic shifts in Blackburn South. Notably, the 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 14%, reaching 1,650 people from its current figure of 1,446. The combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 59% of total population growth, reflecting Blackburn South's aging demographic profile. Conversely, the 15-24 and 0-4 age cohorts are forecasted to experience population declines.