Morwell
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in Morwell reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

Morwell's population was approximately 14,724 as of November 2025. This figure represents an increase of 292 people, a 2.0% growth since the 2021 Census which reported a population of 14,432. The change is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 14,529 in June 2024 and an additional 176 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 172 persons per square kilometer. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 are used with adjustments made employing weighted aggregation of population growth. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future projections anticipate an above median population growth in Australia's non-metropolitan areas, with the area expected to increase by 2,334 persons to 2041 based on latest numbers, marking a 14.5% total increase over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Morwell according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Morwell has recorded approximately 46 residential properties granted approval annually over the past five financial years, totalling 230 homes. In FY-26 so far, 15 approvals have been recorded. On average, 1.5 new residents arrive per year for each new home over these five years (FY-21 to FY-25), indicating balanced supply and demand dynamics. The average expected construction cost value of new dwellings is $258,000, aligning with broader regional development trends.

This financial year has seen $83.5 million in commercial development approvals, reflecting high local commercial activity. Compared to the Rest of Vic., Morwell records around 59% of building activity per person and ranks at the 26th percentile nationally, suggesting relatively constrained buyer choice and supporting interest in existing homes. Recent construction comprises 86.0% detached houses and 14.0% attached dwellings, preserving Morwell's low-density nature while attracting space-seeking buyers. With an estimated 635 people per dwelling approval, the area maintains a quiet development environment.

Population forecasts indicate Morwell will gain 2,136 residents by 2041. If current construction levels persist, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and underpinning price growth.

Morwell has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 33rdth percentile nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 26 projects likely to impact the area. Key projects include ICON Morwell Innovation Business Park, The Range Estate Morwell, Gippsland Line Upgrade, and Tramway Road Battery Energy Storage System. Below is a list of those most relevant.

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 conditions in Morwell face significant challenges, ranking among the bottom 10% of areas assessed nationally

Morwell's workforce is balanced across white and blue-collar jobs, with prominent essential services sectors. As of June 2025, the unemployment rate was 14.5%.

There were 5,075 residents employed, which was 10.8% higher than the Rest of Vic.'s rate of 3.8%, indicating potential improvement areas. Workforce participation in Morwell lagged at 44.4%, compared to Rest of Vic.'s 57.4%. Key industries included health care & social assistance, retail trade, and accommodation & food. Retail trade stood out with employment levels at 1.3 times the regional average.

Agriculture, forestry & fishing had limited presence at 2.4% compared to the regional average of 7.5%. The worker-to-resident ratio was 0.7, indicating local employment opportunities above the norm. Between June 2024 and June 2025, labour force decreased by 0.8%, while employment declined by 2.8%, leading to a 1.8 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. In comparison, Rest of Vic. saw an employment decline of 0.9%, labour force decline of 0.4%, and unemployment rising by 0.4 percentage points. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May 2025 suggest potential future demand within Morwell. National employment is projected to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, but growth rates vary significantly between industry sectors. Applying these projections to Morwell's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.2% over five years and 13.2% over ten years.

Income metrics place the area in the bottom 10% of locations nationally according to AreaSearch analysis

Morwell's median taxpayer income was $44,406 and average was $55,209 in financial year 2022. This is lower than national averages. Rest of Vic.'s median income was $48,741 with an average of $60,693 during the same period. Based on a 12.16% Wage Price Index growth since 2022, estimated incomes for Morwell are approximately $49,806 (median) and $61,922 (average) by September 2025. According to 2021 Census figures, household, family, and personal incomes in Morwell fall between the 2nd and 5th percentiles nationally. Income brackets show that 31.6% of Morwell's population earns between $400-$799 weekly, contrasting with metropolitan regions where the $1,500-$2,999 category predominates at 30.3%. The prevalence of lower-income residents (43.0% earning under $800/week) indicates constrained household budgets across much of Morwell. After housing expenses, 85.9% of income remains, ranking at the 4th percentile nationally.

Morwell is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Morwell's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 86.0% houses and 14.0% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Non-Metro Vic.'s dwelling structure was 88.1% houses and 11.9% other dwellings. Home ownership in Morwell was at 38.7%, with the rest either mortgaged (26.2%) or rented (35.0%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in Morwell was $953, below Non-Metro Vic.'s average of $1,213. The median weekly rent figure for Morwell was $215, compared to Non-Metro Vic.'s $237. Nationally, Morwell's median monthly mortgage repayments were significantly lower than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were substantially below the national figure of $375.

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

Family households account for 59.2% of all households, including 18.6% couples with children, 24.2% couples without children, and 15.1% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 40.8%, with lone person households at 37.7% and group households comprising 3.2%. The median household size is 2.2 people, which is smaller than the Rest of Vic. average of 2.3.

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

The area has university qualification rates of 11.0%, significantly lower than the VIC average of 33.4%. This presents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 7.7%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (1.8%) and graduate diplomas (1.5%). Trade and technical skills are prominent, with 41.2% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (8.4%) and certificates (32.8%).

Educational participation is high at 29.5%, including primary education (11.1%), secondary education (8.2%), and tertiary education (3.0%). Morwell has a network of 7 schools educating approximately 2,304 students. These include 4 primary and 3 secondary schools serving distinct age groups.

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

Morwell has 107 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These are served by 19 different routes that together facilitate 2,111 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy good transport accessibility, with an average distance of 202 meters to the nearest stop.

The service operates at a frequency of 301 trips per day across all routes, resulting in approximately 19 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in Morwell is a key challenge with a range of health conditions having marked impacts on both younger and older age cohorts

Morwell faces significant health challenges, with various conditions affecting both younger and older residents. Approximately 48% (~7,008 people) have private health cover, compared to 50.2% in the rest of Victoria and a national average of 55.3%. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most prevalent conditions, impacting 12.2% and 11.3% of residents respectively.

About 55.0% report no medical ailments, compared to 60.1% in the rest of Victoria. Residents aged 65 and over comprise 22.6% (3,324 people), higher than the 21.2% in the rest of Victoria. Health outcomes among seniors generally align with those of the wider population.

In terms of cultural diversity, Morwell records figures broadly comparable to the national average, as found in AreaSearch's assessment of a number of language and cultural background related metrics

Morwell's cultural diversity was found to align with the wider regional average, with 83.3% of its population being citizens, 81.8% born in Australia, and 88.1% speaking English only at home. Christianity was identified as the predominant religion in Morwell, accounting for 44.4% of the population. Notably, Islam was overrepresented in Morwell compared to the rest of Victoria, with 2.4% versus 0.8%.

The top three ancestry groups based on parents' country of birth were English (29.9%), Australian (28.3%), and Scottish (7.6%). There were also notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Dutch at 2.3% compared to 2.9% regionally, Maltese at 1.9% versus 1.6%, and Italian at 5.5% compared to 3.4%.

Morwell hosts an older demographic, ranking in the top quartile nationwide

Morwell's median age is 42 years, similar to the Rest of Vic.'s average of 43 but older than Australia's 38 years. The age profile shows that individuals aged 25-34 make up a significant portion at 13.7%, while those aged 35-44 are comparatively smaller at 10.8% compared to the Rest of Vic.. Between 2021 and present, the proportion of 25 to 34-year-olds has increased from 12.3% to 13.7%. Conversely, the percentage of individuals aged 45-54 has decreased from 12.2% to 11.0%. By 2041, population forecasts indicate substantial demographic changes for Morwell. The 25 to 34 age group is projected to grow by 47%, adding 948 residents to reach a total of 2,961. In contrast, the number of individuals aged 55-64 is expected to decrease by 18%.