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, as of February 2026, is approximately 11,389. This figure represents an increase of 450 people since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 10,939. The ABS estimated resident population in June 2024 was 11,079, with an additional 41 validated new addresses since the Census date contributing to this increase. This results in a population density of 3,163 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 in recent periods.

AreaSearch is using 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 employs 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 the years 2032 to 2041. Based on demographic trends and latest annual ERP population numbers, Blackburn South is expected to grow by 424 persons by 2041, reflecting an increase of approximately 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 granted around 44 residential property approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling 224 homes. As of FY-26, 15 approvals have been recorded. The area's population decline in recent years suggests new supply has kept pace with demand, offering good choice for buyers. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost value of $514,000, indicating developers target the premium market segment with higher-end properties.

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 lower building activity (53.0% below regional average per person), which typically reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings. New building activity comprises 73.0% standalone homes and 27.0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character focused on family homes appealing to those seeking space. Blackburn South reflects a low density area with around 304 people per approval.

By 2041, the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate projects an increase of 114 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

The performance of an area can significantly influenced by changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 14 projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable 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 projects considered 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. Its unemployment rate was 5.1% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 2.6%. As of September 2025, 5,699 residents were employed, while the unemployment rate was 5.1%, 0.4% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%.

Workforce participation in Blackburn South was 65.0%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. A significant 39.6% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries for employment among Blackburn South residents are health care & social assistance, professional & technical services, and education & training. Notably, employment in education & training is at 1.3 times the regional average.

Conversely, construction is under-represented, with only 7.9% of Blackburn South's 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 a rise in unemployment of 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May-25) project national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, with varying growth rates across industry sectors. Applying these projections to Blackburn South's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.0% over ten years, assuming constant population projections.

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

Blackburn South SA2 has an above average national income level according to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest ATO data for financial year 2023. Its median taxpayer income is $56,741 and the average income stands at $78,595. These figures compare to Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of 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) and personal income at the 39th percentile. Income analysis reveals 28.8% of the population (3,280 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range, consistent with surrounding region trends showing 32.8% in the same category. High housing costs consume 15.5% of income. Despite this, disposable income ranks at the 58th percentile and 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, as per the latest Census, consisted of 75.7% houses and 24.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), contrasting with 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 $2,000. Weekly rent median 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 has a notably high level of educational attainment, with 42.6% of residents aged 15 and above holding university qualifications. This figure exceeds the national average of 30.4% and the Victorian average of 33.4%. The area's strong educational background is reflected in its high proportion of Bachelor degree holders (26.5%), postgraduate qualifications (11.5%), and graduate diplomas (4.6%). Vocational pathways are also well-represented, with advanced diplomas accounting for 11.1% and certificates for 12.6% among residents aged 15 and above.

Educational participation is notably high in the area, with 30.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.7% enrolled in primary education, 8.2% in secondary education, and 6.7% pursuing 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 of which are bus stops. These stops are served by 11 different routes that together facilitate 1,916 weekly passenger trips. The area's transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically living within 225 meters of the nearest stop. Most residents commute outward from this primarily residential area. Car remains the dominant mode of transport at 84%, while train usage stands at 7%. On average, there are 1.3 vehicles per dwelling in Blackburn South.

According to the 2021 Census, 39.6% of residents work from home, which may be partly due to COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency averages 273 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 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 shows better-than-average health outcomes based on AreaSearch's evaluation 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. Private health cover is very high in the area, with approximately 58% of the total population (~6,651 people) having it. The most prevalent medical conditions 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 21.5% of residents aged 65 and over (2,448 people), which is higher than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, ranking lower nationally compared to 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. The predominant religion in Blackburn South is Christianity, accounting for 44.0% of the population. Buddhism, however, is more prevalent in Blackburn South compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 5.4% versus 4.2%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three 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%. Certain ethnic groups also have notable differences in representation: Sri Lankan is overrepresented at 0.9% compared to the regional average of 0.8%, Greek at 3.9% versus 2.7%, and Vietnamese at 1.3% versus 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 average of 38 years. The 75-84 age group constitutes 7.6% of the population in Blackburn South, compared to a lower percentage in Greater Melbourne. Conversely, the 25-34 age group makes up only 9.7%. According to post-2021 Census data, the 35 to 44 age group has increased from 13.2% to 14.2%, while the 45 to 54 cohort has decreased from 14.4% to 12.9%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes in Blackburn South. Notably, the 45 to 54 age group is projected to grow by 12%, reaching 1,650 people from 1,469. The combined 65+ age groups are expected to account for 62% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 0 to 4 and 15 to 24 age cohorts are anticipated to experience population declines.