Glenelg (Vic.)

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

According to investigations by AreaSearch, the population of Glenelg stands at approximately 8,777 in May 2026. This represents a contraction of 143 individuals (1.6%) from the 8,920 residents counted in the 2021 Census. The decline is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 8,775 alongside 92 validated new addresses identified since the Census. This population size results in a density of 1.4 persons per square kilometer, indicating low density living. The -1.6% drop in Glenelg closely matches the regional trend, sitting within 0.6 percentage points of the SA3 area rate (-1.0%). Growth in the region has been almost entirely dependent on overseas migration to offset losses.

AreaSearch incorporates projections from ABS/Geoscience Australia published in 2024, utilising 2022 as the base year. For locations lacking this data, projections from the VIC State Government's 2023 Regional/LGA release are adapted via a weighted aggregation of population changes from the LGA to the SA2 level. The age structure growth trends from these aggregations are applied to all areas for the period 2032 to 2041. Projections indicate future growth will be slightly below the median for regional Australia, with the local population expected to rise by 459 individuals by 2041 compared to the most recent annual ERP, representing a 5.2% cumulative increase over the 16 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development drivers sees a low level of activity in Glenelg, placing the area among the bottom 25% of areas assessed nationally

Approximately 26 residential building approvals have been granted annually in Glenelg, amounting to 130 homes over the last 5 financial years. In the current FY-26 period, 9 approvals have been logged. With the local population contracting, supply has likely met local demand, offering options for purchasers, with new builds averaging an estimated construction cost of $306,000. Additionally, commercial approvals worth $9.2 million have been registered during this financial year, reflecting a quiet commercial sector.

Glenelg registers 15.0% less building activity per capita than the Rest of Vic., placing it in the 36th percentile of all analyzed locations across the country, which restricts supply and directs demand toward existing properties. This is also lower than the national benchmark, suggesting a mature market or local development constraints. Additionally, recent approvals consist entirely of detached houses, preserving the low-density profile of the area and catering to families seeking space. The ratio of 466 people per single dwelling approval highlights the low level of construction activity.

Looking forward, the population of Glenelg is projected to grow by 455 residents by 2041 based on the most recent AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Current construction volumes should easily absorb this growth, maintaining balanced conditions for buyers and potentially supporting population growth beyond current estimates.

Glenelg has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 30thth percentile nationally

Local infrastructure projects, major works, and planning policies play a major role in regional performance. AreaSearch has tracked 17 projects expected to influence the local area. Notable projects include the Kentbruck Green Power Hub, Budj Bim Cultural Landscape Infrastructure, Tyrendarra Town Area Restructure Plan, and the Settlers Rd, Tyrendarra - Roads to Recovery Project, with details of the most significant works listed below.

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.

AreaSearch analysis places Glenelg well above average for employment performance across multiple indicators

The workforce in Glenelg displays an even distribution of blue and white collar positions across multiple sectors, with an unemployment rate of 1.9%. In March 2026, employed residents numbered 4,171, representing an unemployment rate 1.8% below the Regional Vic. average of 3.7%. Participation in the labor force is slightly low at 56.9% compared to 61.1% in Regional Vic. Census data indicated that 18.3% of workers operated from home, though this figure may have been influenced by pandemic-related restrictions.

The primary sectors employing local residents are agriculture, forestry & fishing, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. The agricultural, forestry, and fishing sector is heavily concentrated here, employing workers at 3.5 times the regional rate. In contrast, education & training employs just 5.5% of the workforce compared to the regional average of 9.1%. A comparison of the Census working population against resident workers suggests that local employment options within the area are limited.

Analysis of SALM and ABS statistics by AreaSearch shows that during the 12 months leading to March 2026, the local labor force contracted by 6.5% while the number of employed residents fell by 6.3%, leading to a decrease in the unemployment rate of 0.2 percentage points. Across Regional Vic., employment declined by 0.1%, the labor force shrank by 0.3%, and the unemployment rate decreased by 0.2 percentage points. Forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia released in May-25 provide an outlook on future employment trends. These five and ten-year national projections have been applied to the local industry mix to model potential local growth. While national employment is expected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, trends vary widely by sector. Applying these trends to the local industry structure suggests employment in Glenelg could grow by 5.3% over five years and 11.8% over ten years, representing a simple weighting extrapolation that does not adjust for local population forecasts.

The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data

Taxpayer income in the Glenelg SA2 is below the national average based on AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO statistics for the 2023 financial year. The median income for local taxpayers was $46,476 while the average was $57,149, compared to Regional Vic. medians of $50,954 and averages of $62,728. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since the 2023 financial year, estimated figures would be approximately $50,947 for the median and $62,647 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census placed household, family, and individual incomes in Glenelg between the 15th and 19th percentiles nationwide. The largest bracket is the 28.0% of households earning $1,500 - 2,999 per week (2,457 residents), which is similar to the regional share of 30.3%. Although housing costs are low, allowing residents to retain 91.8% of their income, total disposable income sits in the 24th percentile nationally.

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

The housing stock in Glenelg at the time of the last Census consisted of 96.9% detached houses and 3.1% alternative dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and other types, compared to 90.1% houses and 9.9% other dwellings in Regional Vic. Outright home ownership in Glenelg was high at 55.8%, with the remaining properties being mortgaged (31.4%) or rented (12.8%). The median monthly mortgage payment of $1,073 was lower than the Regional Vic. average of $1,430, and the median weekly rent was $180 compared to the regional figure of $285. Nationally, these figures are well below the Australian mortgage average of $1,863 and the median rent of $375.

Glenelg features high concentrations of lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Families make up 66.7% of all households in the area, consisting of couples with children at 23.3%, couples without children at 35.2%, and single parent households at 7.3%. Non-family living arrangements account for the remaining 33.3%, with single person households representing 30.9% and group households at 2.3%. The median household size is 2.2 persons, which is smaller than the Regional Vic. average of 2.4.

Glenelg faces educational challenges, with performance metrics placing it in the bottom quartile of areas assessed nationally

The region records lower rates of higher education, with 13.9% of residents holding a university degree compared to the VIC average of 33.4%. This presents a clear opportunity for targeted educational development. Among graduates, bachelor degrees are the most common at 9.6%, followed by graduate diplomas at 2.2% and postgraduate degrees at 2.1%. Vocational education is prominent, with 41.1% of the population aged 15+ holding a trade qualification, consisting of advanced diplomas (9.7%) and certificate qualifications (31.4%).

A total of 24.8% of local residents are enrolled in formal study. This comprises 9.3% in primary schooling, 8.1% in secondary schooling, and 1.9% attending tertiary institutions.

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

Analysis of transit options shows 14 active public transport stops in Glenelg. These locations are served by 3 routes, providing a total of 42 passenger trips per week. Transport access is limited, with residents living an average of 4054 meters from the nearest stop. Because it is a residential area, commuting is common, with 91% of workers traveling by car and 7% walking. Car ownership stands at 1.9 vehicles per household, which is above the regional average. In the 2021 Census, 18.3% of residents worked from home, which may reflect pandemic-era conditions.

Service frequency across the routes averages 6 trips per day, which translates to roughly 3 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Glenelg is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

Health outcomes in Glenelg present challenges based on AreaSearch's evaluation of mortality and chronic illness rates, with health conditions distributed across both young and old cohorts. Private health insurance coverage is low, with approximately 48% of the population (~4,177 people) covered, compared to 50.5% in Regional Vic. and a national average of 55.7%.

Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent health issues in the area, affecting 12.0 and 8.1% of residents respectively. Conversely, 63.3% of the population reported no chronic medical conditions, close to the Regional Vic. figure of 63.4%. The working-age population shows high rates of chronic health issues. Residents aged 65 and over make up 28.9% of the population (2,537 people), higher than the Regional Vic. figure of 23.9%. However, health metrics among the senior population rank higher than those of the general population nationally.

The latest Census data sees Glenelg placing among the least culturally diverse areas in the country when compared across a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Cultural diversity in Glenelg is below average, with citizenship at 89.8%, Australian-born residents at 91.3%, and monolingual English speakers at 97.6% of the population. Christianity is the dominant religion, practiced by 48.5% of the population, compared to 47.3% across Regional Vic.

The primary ancestral origins reported in Glenelg are Australian at 33.3%, English at 32.9%, and Scottish at 9.7%. Some differences exist compared to regional figures: Maltese ancestry represents 0.6% of the population (compared to 0.5% regionally), Dutch accounts for 1.5% (compared to 1.7%), and Irish stands at 9.3% (compared to 9.7%).

Glenelg ranks among the oldest 10% of areas nationwide

The median age of 50 in Glenelg is older than the Regional Vic. median of 43 and the national average of 38. The 65 - 74 age group is highly represented at 16.8% of the population compared to Regional Vic., while the 25 - 34 bracket is smaller at 8.3%. The concentration of residents aged 65 - 74 is higher than the national figure of 9.4%. Since the 2021 Census, the 15 to 24 cohort has increased from 8.6% to 9.8%, and the 75 to 84 bracket rose from 8.2% to 9.4%. Conversely, the 45 to 54 group declined from 13.3% to 11.5% and the 55 to 64 group fell from 17.7% to 15.9%. Projections indicate that the age profile will change by 2041, with the 75 to 84 age group expected to grow by 206 people (25%) from 824 to 1,031, while the 65 to 74 and 15 to 24 cohorts are expected to decrease.