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

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, Blackburn South's population is around 11,389 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 450 people (4.1%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 10,939 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 11,079 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 41 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 3,163 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile relative to national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration, which was essentially the sole driver of population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the 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 from these aggregations are also applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Moving forward with demographic trends, a population increase just below the median of statistical areas across the nation is expected, with the area expected to grow by 424 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 1.0% in total over the 17 years.

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 around 44 residential properties granted approval per year, totalling 224 homes over the past 5 financial years. So far in FY-26, 16 approvals have been recorded. With population declining over recent years, new supply has likely been keeping up with demand, offering good choice to buyers, while new homes are being built at an average value of $514,000, revealing that developers are targeting the premium market segment with higher-end properties. Additionally, $2.2 million in commercial approvals have been registered this financial year, demonstrating the area's residential nature.

When measured against Greater Melbourne, Blackburn South records markedly lower building activity (53.0% below regional average per person). This constrained new construction usually reinforces demand and pricing for existing dwellings. New building activity consists of 73.0% standalone homes and 27.0% Paragraph 2: 0% townhouses or apartments, maintaining the area's traditional suburban character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. At around 304 people per approval, Blackburn South reflects a low density area.

Looking ahead, Blackburn South is expected to grow by 114 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). 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

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. In total, 14 projects have been identified by AreaSearch that are likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Mirrabooka Reserve Pavilion Redevelopment, Wurundjeri Walk Master Plan, Raleigh Street Road Reconstruction Renewal Program, and Blackburn South Exclusive Townhouse Collection, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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.

Employment performance in Blackburn South has been below expectations when compared to most other areas nationally

Blackburn South features a highly educated workforce, with professional services showing strong representation, an unemployment rate of 5.5%, and 1.5% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 5,699 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 0.7% above Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%, and workforce participation lags significantly (65.3% compared to Greater Melbourne's 71.3%). Based on Census responses, a high 39.6% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

The key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, professional & technical, and education & training. The area demonstrates a particularly notable concentration in education & training, with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average. On the other hand, construction is under-represented, with only 7.9% of Blackburn South's workforce compared to 9.7% in Greater Melbourne. The predominantly residential area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of Census working population vs resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, over the 12 months to December 2025, employment increased by 1.5% while the labour force increased by 2.3%, resulting in unemployment rising by 0.8 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. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within Blackburn South. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to Blackburn South's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.9% over five years and 14.0% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

The Blackburn South SA2's income level is well above the national average according to the latest ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch for FY-23. The Blackburn South SA2's median income among taxpayers is $56,741 and the average income stands at $78,595, compared to Greater Melbourne's figures of $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $61,422 (median) and $85,079 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household income ranks at the 56th percentile ($1,861 weekly), while personal income sits 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 broader trends across the surrounding region showing 32.8% in the same category. High housing costs consume 15.5% of income, though strong earnings still place disposable income 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

Dwelling structure within Blackburn South, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 75.7% houses and 24.3% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within Blackburn South was well beyond that of Melbourne metro, at 39.3%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (35.9%) or rented (24.8%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was well above the Melbourne metro average at $2,251, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $410, compared to Melbourne metro's $2,000 and $390. Nationally, Blackburn South's mortgage repayments are significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceed the national figure of $375.

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

Family households dominate at 70.7% of all households, comprising 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% of the total. The median household size of 2.6 people matches the Greater Melbourne average.

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

Educational attainment in Blackburn South significantly surpasses broader benchmarks, with 42.6% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to 30.4% in Australia and 33.4% in VIC. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees lead at 26.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (11.5%) and graduate diplomas (4.6%). Vocational pathways account for 23.7% of qualifications among those aged 15+; advanced diplomas (11.1%) and certificates (12.6%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 30.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.7% 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

Public transport analysis reveals 47 active transport stops operating within Blackburn South, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 11 individual routes, collectively providing 1,916 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 225 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward; the car remains the dominant mode at 84%, with 7% by train. Vehicle ownership averages 1.3 per dwelling. A high 39.6% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 273 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 40 weekly trips per individual 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, though higher than the national average across older, at-risk cohorts. The rate of private health cover is very high, at approximately 58% of the total population (~6,651 people).

The most common medical conditions in the area are arthritis and mental health issues, impacting 7.4% and 7.3% of residents, respectively, while 70.1% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Working-age residents are notably healthy with 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, though they rank lower nationally than 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 scores highly on cultural diversity, with 38.0% of its population born overseas and 37.6% speaking a language other than English at home. The main religion in Blackburn South is Christianity, which makes up 44.0% of the people. However, the most apparent overrepresentation is in Buddhism, which comprises 5.4% of the population, compared to 4.2% across Greater Melbourne.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in Blackburn South are English, comprising 19.3% of the population, Australian, comprising 18.1% of the population, and Chinese, comprising 17.9% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 6.5%. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Sri Lankan is notably overrepresented at 0.9% of Blackburn South (vs 0.8% regionally), Greek at 3.9% (vs 2.7%) and Vietnamese at 1.3% (vs 1.9%).

Blackburn South's median age exceeds the national pattern

The 42-year median age in Blackburn South is significantly above Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and similarly considerably older than Australia's 38 years. The 75 - 84 age group shows strong representation at 7.6% compared to Greater Melbourne, whereas the 25 - 34 cohort is less prevalent at 9.7%. Post-2021 Census data shows the 35 to 44 age group has grown from 13.2% to 14.2% of the population. Conversely, the 45 to 54 cohort has declined from 14.4% to 12.9%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for Blackburn South. Leading the demographic shift, the 45 to 54 group will grow by 12% (180 people), reaching 1,650 from 1,469. Notably, the combined 65+ age groups will account for 62% of total population growth, reflecting the area's aging demographic profile. In contrast, the 0 to 4 and 15 to 24 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.