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This analysis uses ABS Statistical Areas Level 2 (SA2) boundaries, which can materially differ from Suburbs and Localities (SAL) even when sharing similar names.
SA2 boundaries are defined by the Australian Bureau of Statistics and are designed to represent communities for statistical reporting (e.g., census and ERP).
Suburbs and Localities (SAL) represent commonly-used suburb/locality names (postal-style areas) and may use different geographic boundaries. For comprehensive analysis, consider reviewing both boundary types if available.
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Sales Activity
Curious about local property values? Filter the chart to assess the volume and appreciation (including resales) trends and regional comparisons, or scroll to the map below view this information at an individual property level.
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Sales Detail
Population
Melbourne CBD - West lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends
Melbourne CBD - West's population was around 22,168 as of May 2026. This reflected an increase of 6,520 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 15,648. The change was inferred from ABS' estimated resident population of 22,163 in June 2025 and additional validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 21,948 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the top 10% nationally. The area's growth of 41.7% since 2021 exceeded the state (9.3%) and national averages. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration contributing approximately 97.2% of overall gains.
AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, they used VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group were applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, the area is forecasted to increase by 8,019 persons to 2041, reflecting an overall increase of 36.1% over the 16-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Residential development activity is lower than average in Melbourne CBD - West according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets
Melbourne CBD - West has seen approximately six dwellings receiving development approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 30 homes were approved, with none yet approved in FY26. This results in an average of 92.6 new residents per year for every home built during these years.
The demand significantly outpaces supply, putting upward pressure on prices and increasing competition among buyers. In the current financial year, $434.4 million in commercial development approvals have been recorded, indicating robust local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Melbourne CBD - West shows substantially reduced construction levels, which generally supports stronger demand and values for established dwellings.
This level is also below the national average, suggesting the area's established nature and potential planning limitations. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Melbourne CBD - West is projected to add 8,014 residents by 2041. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Melbourne CBD - West
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Infrastructure
Melbourne CBD - West has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally
The performance of an area can significantly be influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 45 projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include the Greenline Project, Level Crossing Removal Project, Collins Street Office Tower (55 King Street), and Metro Tunnel Project. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Greenline Project
The Greenline Project is a transformational 4km urban renewal initiative creating a continuous promenade along the north bank of the Yarra River (Birrarung). It connects five precincts: Birrarung Marr, The Falls, River Park, Maritime, and Saltwater Wharf. As of mid-2026, the first major stage at Birrarung Marr is complete, featuring 450 metres of new boardwalks, native habitat restoration, and Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung cultural design elements. Planning and detailed design are currently underway for the central riverfront sections, including Federation Wharf and Flinders Walk.
Metro Tunnel Project
The Metro Tunnel is a city-shaping 9km twin-tunnel underground rail project featuring five new stations: Arden, Parkville, State Library, Town Hall, and Anzac. The project enables a new end-to-end rail line from Sunbury to Cranbourne/Pakenham, utilizing High Capacity Signalling, platform screen doors, and new High Capacity Metro Trains to support turn-up-and-go services every 2-3 minutes during peak periods. While limited passenger services began on 30 November 2025 as part of a 'Summer Start' program, the project reached full operational integration on 1 February 2026. This 'Big Switch' introduced over 1,000 extra weekly services and a network-wide timetable overhaul, significantly increasing capacity across Melbourne's metropolitan rail network.
Elysium Fields
A $1.7 billion biosphere-inspired wellness precinct in Docklands featuring approximately 1,100 to 1,700 dwellings across multiple towers. The project includes a 200-plus room luxury hotel, Australia's largest Saint Haven private wellness club, and the Elysian Reverse Ageing Medical Clinic. Designed to integrate advanced health technologies like cryotherapy, MRI diagnostics, and circadian lighting, the site also features 3,700 square meters of public gardens under a futuristic glass dome. Early construction works on the first phase, involving three towers, commenced in late 2024 with Hamilton Marino appointed as the lead builder.
Level Crossing Removal Project
Victorian Government program to remove 110 dangerous and congested level crossings across metropolitan Melbourne by 2030. The program has removed 88 crossings to date, is rebuilding or upgrading stations and rail infrastructure, and is creating new public open space while improving safety, reducing congestion and making train services more reliable.
Gurrowa Place - QVM Southern Precinct
Gurrowa Place is a 1.7 billion dollar mixed-use urban renewal project delivered by Lendlease in partnership with the City of Melbourne and Scape. Located in the Queen Victoria Market Southern Precinct, the development features three distinct towers: a 28-level next-generation office building, a build-to-rent tower with approximately 560 units (including affordable housing), and a dedicated student accommodation tower with 1,100 beds. The project integrates the 1.8-hectare Market Square public park, the restoration of the heritage Franklin Street Stores into a retail and dining hub, and a new underground car park for market visitors.
Queen Victoria Market Precinct Renewal
A transformative multi-stage program to modernize Australia's largest 19th-century market. The flagship southern precinct, Gurrowa Place, is a $1.7 billion mixed-use development delivered by Lendlease and Scape. It features three towers providing build-to-rent apartments, student accommodation, and affordable housing. Key elements include the 1.8-hectare Market Square public park replacing the current open-air car park, restoration of the heritage Franklin Street Stores into retail and hospitality, and a new 220-space basement car park. Heritage shed restorations and core trader facilities were largely completed by 2024, with site works for the southern towers commencing in 2026.
Metro Tunnel - Town Hall Station
New underground train station in Melbourne's CBD as part of the Metro Tunnel project, providing improved rail connectivity with modern features including platform screen doors, accessibility enhancements, and integration with cultural precincts.
Sento
Melbourne's first urban onsen featuring a 48-storey residential tower with Japanese-inspired wellness living. The development includes 140 apartments and a boutique 126-room hotel on the lower nine levels, with amenities including a Japanese bathhouse, private teahouse, expansive sky garden, yoga room, gym, and separate hotel lobby with dedicated lifts.
Employment
The labour market in Melbourne CBD - West demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia
Melbourne CBD - West has an unemployment rate of 4.9% with estimated employment growth of 4.8% in the past year as of December 2025. The area has 16,633 residents in work and an unemployment rate of 5.9%, which is 0.1% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%. Workforce participation stands at 81.0%, significantly higher than Greater Melbourne's 69.9%.
According to Census responses, 38.3% of residents work from home. Employment among residents is concentrated in accommodation & food, professional & technical services, and retail trade. The area has a notable employment specialization in accommodation & food with an employment share of 3.1 times the regional level, while construction is under-represented at 3.4%. There are 7.2 workers for every resident, indicating that the area functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas.
Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment levels increased by 4.8% and labour force increased by 4.9%, keeping the unemployment rate relatively stable at 5.9%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, published in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Melbourne CBD - West's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.0% over five years and 13.9% over ten years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
The area's income levels rank in the lower 15% nationally based on AreaSearch comparative data
The Melbourne CBD - West SA2 has a lower-than-average income level nationally, based on AreaSearch's aggregation of latest ATO data for financial year 2023. Its median taxpayer income is $40,013 and average income is $62,836, compared to Greater Melbourne's figures of $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. By March 2026, estimated incomes would be approximately $43,862 (median) and $68,881 (average), accounting for a 9.62% Wage Price Index growth since financial year 2023. According to the 2021 Census, personal income ranks at the 61st percentile ($861 weekly), while household income is at the 32nd percentile. In this area, 33.0% of individuals (7,315 people) earn within the $1,500 - $2,999 range, similar to the broader area where 32.8% fall into this bracket. Housing affordability is severe, with only 76.0% of income remaining, ranking at the 21st percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 8th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Melbourne CBD - West features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region
Melbourne CBD - West had 0.1% houses and 99.8% other dwellings in the latest Census, compared to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership was at 8.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 12.8% and rented ones at 78.8%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,710, lower than Melbourne metro's $2,000. Median weekly rent was $376, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863 and rents were above the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Melbourne CBD - West features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size
Family households constitute 36.5% of all households, including 4.9% couples with children, 25.9% couples without children, and 2.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 63.5%, with lone person households at 46.8% and group households comprising 16.8%. The median household size is 1.7 people, smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
The educational profile of Melbourne CBD - West exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics
Educational attainment in Melbourne CBD-West exceeds broader benchmarks significantly. Among residents aged 15+, 61.7% hold university qualifications, compared to national figures of 30.4% and state figures of 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 38.9%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (20.5%) and graduate diplomas (2.3%). Vocational pathways account for 19.2% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 11.6% and certificates at 7.6%.
Educational participation is high, with 41.3% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 22.8% in tertiary education, 1.1% in primary education, and 1.0% pursuing secondary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Public transport analysis shows 78 active transport stops operating within Melbourne CBD - West. These include a mix of train, light rail, and bus services. There are 82 individual routes servicing these stops, collectively providing 64,454 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 67 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward. Train is the most common mode of commuting at 26%, followed by walking at 23%.
Vehicle ownership averages 0.1 per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions, a high 38.3% of residents work from home. Service frequency averages 9,207 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 826 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Melbourne CBD - West's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups
AreaSearch's assessment of health outcomes data shows excellent results for Melbourne CBD - West. The prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups is very low. Approximately half (around 11,172 people) of the total population has private health cover, which is lower than Greater Melbourne's 56.7% and the national average of 55.7%.
Mental health issues affect 6.8% of residents, while asthma impacts 5.3%. Around 85.6% report being completely free from medical ailments, higher than Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. Only 2.4% (540 people) are aged 65 and over, compared to Greater Melbourne's 15.0%. Health outcomes among seniors in the area align with national rankings and are broadly similar to those of the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Melbourne CBD - West is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics
Melbourne CBD-West has a population where 65.1% speak languages other than English at home, with 75.3% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion at 22.6%. Buddhism's representation is significantly higher at 11.2%, compared to Greater Melbourne's average of 4.2%.
Top ancestry groups include Chinese (25.5%), Other (21.3%), and English (11.6%). Korean, Indian, and Spanish groups are notably overrepresented in Melbourne CBD-West compared to regional averages.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Melbourne CBD - West hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide
Melbourne CBD-West has a median age of 29, which is younger than Greater Melbourne's figure of 37 and the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, it has a higher concentration of residents aged 25-34 (43.1%), but fewer residents aged 5-14 (1.3%). This 25-34 concentration is significantly higher than the national average of 14.6%. Between 2021 and now, the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 24.0% to 28.4%, while the 25 to 34 age group has declined from 45.8% to 43.1%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate that Melbourne CBD-West's population aged 25-34 will increase by 3,158 people (33%), reaching a total of 12,722 in this age group.