Diggers Rest

Diggers Rest lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends

Diggers Rest's population, as of February 2026, is approximately 7,250. This figure represents a growth of 2,013 people, an increase of 38.4% since the 2021 Census which recorded a population of 5,237. The change can be inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,967 in June 2024 and an additional 692 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 139 persons per square kilometer, indicating significant space per person and potential for further development. Diggers Rest's growth rate exceeded the national average (9.9%) and the state average, positioning it as a growth leader in the region. Interstate migration contributed approximately 73.4% of overall population gains during recent periods, with natural growth and overseas migration also being positive factors.

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 employs the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusting using a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on these projections, Diggers Rest is expected to experience exceptional growth, placing it in the top 10 percent of national areas. By 2041, the area's population is projected to increase by 8,327 persons, reflecting an overall increase of 111.0% over the 17 years, based on the latest annual ERP population numbers.

The level of residential development activity in Diggers Rest was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country

Diggers Rest averaged approximately 234 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, totalling 1,172 homes. As of FY-26, 58 approvals have been recorded. Each dwelling has accommodated an average of 2.7 new residents annually between FY-21 and FY-25. The average construction cost value for these dwellings is $243,000, lower than regional norms, indicating more affordable housing options.

In FY-26, commercial development approvals totalled $235,000, reflecting the area's residential nature. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Diggers Rest has 164.0% more new home approvals per person. New building activity has slowed in recent years but remains well above national averages, with strong developer confidence in the area. Detached dwellings make up 96.0% of new builds, and townhouses or apartments account for 4.0%, maintaining Diggers Rest's low-density character focused on family homes. With around 32 people per dwelling approval, Diggers Rest exhibits growth area characteristics.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the population is projected to grow by 8,044 residents by 2041. Building activity aligns with these growth projections, though increased competition among buyers is expected as the population expands.

Diggers Rest has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 40thth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 41 such projects likely affecting the region. Notable ones include Diggers Rest Town Centre (proposed mixed-use precinct), Grandview Estate, Nightjar Estate, and Mary St, Diggers Rest. The following list details those most relevant.

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

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Employment conditions in Diggers Rest demonstrate strong performance, ranking among the top 35% of areas assessed nationally

Diggers Rest has a skilled workforce with diverse sector representation. Its unemployment rate was 3.3% as of September 2025. Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.8%.

As of that date, 4,310 residents were in work, with an unemployment rate of 1.3%, below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.7%. Workforce participation in Diggers Rest was 82.3%, higher than Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. According to Census responses, 25.8% of residents worked from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered. Leading employment industries among residents were health care & social assistance, construction, and transport, postal & warehousing.

Diggers Rest showed strong specialization in transport, postal & warehousing, with an employment share 2.1 times the regional level. However, professional & technical services were under-represented, with only 6.0% of Diggers Rest's workforce compared to Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by the count of Census working population versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 1.8%, labour force by 2.6%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 3.3%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise in unemployment. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 offer insight into potential future demand within Diggers Rest. These projections suggest national employment should expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these industry-specific projections to Diggers Rest's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.2% over five years and 12.9% over ten years, though this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not account for localised population projections.

The area exhibits notably strong income performance, ranking higher than 70% of areas assessed nationally through AreaSearch analysis

AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2023 shows Diggers Rest SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $64,070 and an average of $71,938. These figures are above the national averages of $57,688 (median) and $75,164 (average). Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated median income as of September 2025 would be approximately $69,356, with average income around $77,873. Census data indicates household, family and personal incomes in Diggers Rest are at the 71st percentile nationally. Income distribution shows that 43.5% (3,153 individuals) earn between $1,500 - 2,999, slightly higher than the broader area's 32.8%. High housing costs consume 16.7% of income, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 65th percentile nationally. Diggers Rest's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Diggers Rest is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region

Diggers Rest's housing structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 92.2% houses and 7.8% other dwellings. In contrast, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Diggers Rest was at 18.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 60.3% and rented ones at 21.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,800, below Melbourne metro's $2,000. Median weekly rent in Diggers Rest was $396, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Diggers Rest's mortgage repayments were lower than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents exceeded the national figure of $375.

Diggers Rest has a typical household mix, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households compose 76.2% of all households, including 36.2% couples with children, 27.8% couples without children, and 10.8% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 23.8%, with lone person households at 21.5% and group households comprising 2.4%. The median household size is 2.6 people, aligning with Greater Melbourne's average.

The educational profile of Diggers Rest exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area's university qualification rate is 26.0%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. This disparity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common, at 18.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.3%) and graduate diplomas (2.7%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 39.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (13.3%) and certificates (26.4%).

Educational participation is high, with 26.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.0% in primary education, 5.2% in secondary education, and 3.6% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Diggers Rest has 33 operational public transport stops, all of which are bus stops. These stops are served by three different routes that collectively facilitate 1,427 weekly passenger trips. The accessibility of these stops is considered good, with residents typically located approximately 262 meters from the nearest stop. As a predominantly residential area, most residents commute outward. Car remains the primary mode of transport for 89% of residents, while train usage accounts for 9%. On average, there are 1.6 vehicles per dwelling in Diggers Rest, which is higher than the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, a significant portion of residents, specifically 25.8%, work from home, which may be influenced by COVID-19 conditions. The service frequency across all routes averages at 203 trips per day, translating to approximately 43 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in Diggers Rest are marginally below the national average with the level of common health conditions among the general population somewhat typical, though higher than the nation's average among older cohorts

Health indicators suggest below-average outcomes in Diggers Rest.

AreaSearch's assessment shows mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence are somewhat typical but higher than the national average among older cohorts. Approximately 55% (~3,980 people) of the total population has private health cover. The most common medical conditions are asthma (9.6%) and mental health issues (9.0%). 71.7% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among the working-age population are typical. Diggers Rest has 9.7% (700 people) of residents aged 65 and over, lower than Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges but rank lower nationally than the broader population.

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

Diggers Rest, as per the census conducted on the 9th of August, 2016, exhibited a higher degree of cultural diversity compared to most local areas. This was evident in its overseas-born population percentage of 24.9%, and the 24.7% who spoke languages other than English at home. Christianity was the predominant religion, comprising 47.2% of Diggers Rest's population.

However, the category 'Other' was notably higher at 5.5%, compared to Greater Melbourne's average of 2.3%. Regarding ancestry, Australian-born parents were most prevalent at 23.8%, significantly higher than the regional average of 18.4%. English and Other ancestry groups followed, with percentages of 20.7% and 10.8% respectively. Notably, Maltese (3.0%), Croatian (1.3%), and Polish (1.2%) ethnicities were overrepresented compared to their respective regional averages of 1.1%, 0.7%, and 0.8%.

Diggers Rest hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Diggers Rest has a median age of 32 years, which is younger than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and significantly lower than the national average of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Diggers Rest has a higher proportion of 35-44 year-olds (19.7%) but fewer 15-24 year-olds (9.2%). This concentration of 35-44 year-olds is notably higher than the national average of 14.3%. According to post-2021 Census data, the proportion of 35-44 year-olds has grown from 16.9% to 19.7%, while the 5-14 age group increased from 11.8% to 13.5%. Conversely, the 25-34 age group has declined from 24.6% to 19.9%. Demographic modeling indicates that Diggers Rest's age profile will change significantly by 2041, with the strongest projected growth in the 35-44 cohort (104%), adding 1,490 residents to reach a total of 2,918.