Blackburn South

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 around 11,385 as of November 2025. This showed an increase of 446 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,939. The change was inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 11,079 in June 2024 and validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 3,162 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch's assessment. Overseas migration primarily drove this growth.

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 Victorian 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. By 2041, Blackburn South is expected to grow by 424 persons based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a total increase of 1.0% over the 17-year period.

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

Blackburn South has recorded approximately 44 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling 224 homes. As of FY-26, 15 approvals have been recorded. The area's population decline has likely been matched by new supply, offering good choice to buyers. Developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties, as indicated by an average construction cost value of $514,000.

This financial year, $2.2 million in commercial approvals have been registered, reflecting the area's residential nature. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Blackburn South records significantly lower building activity, which is 53.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings. The area maintains its traditional suburban character with 73.0% standalone homes and 27.0% townhouses or apartments.

Blackburn South reflects a low density area, with around 304 people per approval. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, the area is expected to grow by 118 residents through to 2041. 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

Fourteen infrastructure projects have been identified by AreaSearch as potentially impacting the area. Key projects include Mirrabooka Reserve Pavilion Redevelopment, Wurundjeri Walk Master Plan, Raleigh Street Road Reconstruction Renewal Program, and Blackburn South Exclusive Townhouse Collection. The following list details those likely to be most relevant.

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

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

Blackburn South has a highly educated workforce with professional services well represented. The unemployment rate in the area was 5.1% as of September 2025, with an estimated employment growth of 2.6% over the past year. This rate is 0.4% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%, and workforce participation lags at 65.3% compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%.

According to Census responses, 39.6% of residents work from home. The key industries of employment are health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. Blackburn South has a notably high concentration in education & training, with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average. However, construction is under-represented, with only 7.9% of the workforce compared to Greater Melbourne's 9.7%.

Over the year ending September 2025, employment increased by 2.6%, while labour force grew by 2.4%, leading to a decrease in unemployment by 0.2 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 3.3%, with an increase in unemployment by 0.3 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 suggest that Blackburn South's employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, based on industry-specific projections applied to the local employment mix.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

Blackburn South SA2 has an income level above the national average, according to AreaSearch data aggregated from the latest ATO figures for financial year 2023. The median income among taxpayers is $56,741, and the average income stands at $78,595. These figures compare to Greater Melbourne's median of $57,688 and average of $75,164 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes for September 2025 would be approximately $61,422 (median) and $85,079 (average). Census data shows household income ranks at the 56th percentile ($1,861 weekly), while personal income sits at the 39th percentile. Income analysis reveals that 28.8% of the population (3,278 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region showing 32.8% in the same category. High housing costs consume 15.5% of income, but 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 residential structure, as per the latest Census evaluation, consisted of 75.7% houses and 24.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This compares to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Blackburn South stood at 39.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 35.9% and rented ones at 24.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,251, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure in Blackburn South was $410, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Blackburn South's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher than the national figure of $375.

Blackburn South has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 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 account for the remaining 29.3%, with lone person households at 26.1% and group households comprising 3.3% of the total. The median household size is 2.6 people, which aligns with the Greater Melbourne average.

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 notably exceeds national and state averages. Among residents aged 15+, 42.6% possess university qualifications, surpassing Australia's 30.4% and Victoria's 33.4%. University qualifications are predominantly bachelor degrees (26.5%), followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.5%) and graduate diplomas (4.6%). Vocational pathways account for 23.7%, with advanced diplomas at 11.1% and certificates at 12.6%.

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 9.7% in primary, 8.2% in secondary, and 6.7% in tertiary education.

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

Blackburn South has 47 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These stops are covered by 11 different routes that together facilitate 1,916 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is considered good, with residents on average being 225 meters away from the nearest stop. Most residents in this predominantly residential area commute outwards. Cars remain the primary mode of transport, used by 84% of residents, while 7% use trains. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling.

According to the 2021 Census, a significant 39.6% of residents work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. Across all routes, service frequency averages 273 trips per day, equating to roughly 40 weekly trips per stop.

The level of general health in Blackburn South is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Blackburn South demonstrates above-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence.

The prevalence of common health conditions is low among the general population but higher than the national average among older, at-risk cohorts. Approximately 58% (~6,648 people) of the total population has private health cover. The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, affecting 7.4% and 7.3% of residents respectively. 70.1% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has 21.2% (2,415 people) of residents aged 65 and over, which is higher than the 14.9% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than those of 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 a high level of cultural diversity, with 38.0% of its population born overseas and 37.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Blackburn South, making up 44.0% of the population. Buddhism is notably overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 5.4% of Blackburn South's population versus the regional average of 4.2%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (19.3%), Australian (18.1%), and Chinese (17.9%), with the latter being significantly higher than the regional average of 6.5%. There are also notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups, including Sri Lankan at 0.9% compared to the regional average of 0.8%, Greek at 3.9% versus 2.7%, and Vietnamese at 1.3% compared to the regional average of 1.9%.

Blackburn South's median age exceeds the national pattern

The median age in Blackburn South is 42 years, which is significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and Australia's national average of 38 years. The 75-84 age group comprises 7.5% of the population in Blackburn South, compared to a lower percentage in Greater Melbourne. Conversely, the 25-34 age cohort makes up 9.9%, which is less prevalent than in Greater Melbourne. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 13.2% to 14.3% of the population, while the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 14.4% to 13.1%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in Blackburn South. The 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 21%, adding 179 people, reaching a total of 1,036 from the current figure of 856. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 64% of the total population growth, reflecting Blackburn South's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 0-4 and 15-24 age cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.