Port Melbourne Industrial

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

Port Melbourne Industrial's population was around 5,213 as of November 2025. This reflected an increase of 3,306 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,907 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 2,895 in June 2024 and an additional 1,756 validated new addresses since the Census date. This resulted in a density ratio of 682 persons per square kilometer, relatively in line with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Port Melbourne Industrial's growth of 173.4% since the 2021 census exceeded both national (8.9%) and state averages, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth was primarily driven by interstate migration contributing approximately 76.5% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered, AreaSearch utilized VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 with adjustments 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. Population projections predicted exceptional growth, placing the area in the top 10 percent of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch. The area was expected to grow by 7,764 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 99.0% over the 17 years.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions Port Melbourne Industrial among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

Port Melbourne Industrial has seen approximately 397 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 1,986 homes were approved, with an additional 389 approved so far in FY26. The average number of people moving to the area per dwelling built over these years is approximately 0.7, indicating that supply has been meeting or exceeding demand.

This supports greater buyer choice and potential population growth above projections. The average construction value for new properties is around $429,000, which is moderately higher than regional levels, suggesting an emphasis on quality construction. In the current financial year, $15.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered, indicating balanced commercial development activity. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Port Melbourne Industrial has seen 1684.0% more construction activity per person, which should provide buyers with ample choice and reflects strong developer confidence in the location. All new construction in the area has been comprised of townhouses or apartments, focusing on higher-density living that creates more affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. The location currently has approximately 5 people per dwelling approval, indicating an expanding market.

According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, Port Melbourne Industrial is forecasted to gain around 5,162 residents by the year 2041. With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling growth that exceeds current forecasts.

Port Melbourne Industrial has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 123 projects likely to impact the area. Notable projects include Defence Science Technology Group Redevelopment, Trielle at Yarra's Edge, University of Melbourne Fishermans Bend Campus, and Emerald Place. 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 performance in Port Melbourne Industrial has been broadly consistent with national averages

Port Melbourne Industrial has a highly educated workforce with strong representation in professional services. Its unemployment rate was 4.7% as of September 2025.

The area experienced an estimated employment growth of 4.0% over the past year. As of September 2025, 2,037 residents were employed, with an unemployment rate matching Greater Melbourne's at 4.7%. Workforce participation was higher than Greater Melbourne's average at 74.6%. The leading employment industries among residents were professional & technical, construction, and finance & insurance.

Professional & technical had a notable concentration, being 1.5 times the regional average. However, health care & social assistance had limited presence with 7.8% employment compared to 14.2% regionally. There were 15.8 workers per resident as at the Census, indicating it functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. Over the 12 months to September 2025, employment increased by 4.0%, while labour force grew by 5.2%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.0 percentage points in Port Melbourne Industrial. This compared to Greater Melbourne where employment grew by 3.0%, labour force expanded by 3.3%, and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. Providing broader context, state-level data up to 25-Nov showed Victorian employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, adding 41,950 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. This compared to the national rate of 4.3%, with Victoria's employment growth outpacing the national average of 0.14%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia indicated a projected expansion of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years nationally. Applying these projections to Port Melbourne Industrial's employment mix suggested local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not account for localised population projections.

The economic profile demonstrates exceptional strength, placing the area among the top 10% nationally based on comprehensive AreaSearch income analysis

The Port Melbourne Industrial SA2 had one of the highest income levels nationally according to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest ATO data for financial year 2022. Its median income among taxpayers was $71,550 and average income stood at $107,812, compared to Greater Melbourne's figures of $54,892 and $73,761 respectively. Based on a 12.16% growth in wages from financial year 2022 until September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $80,250 (median) and $120,922 (average). The 2021 Census showed household, family, and personal incomes ranking highly in Port Melbourne Industrial, between the 88th and 95th percentiles nationally. Income analysis revealed that 36.2% of the population earned within the $1,500 - $2,999 range, consistent with broader trends across the region showing 32.8% in the same category. Notably, 40.0% earned above $3,000 weekly. High housing costs consumed 21.9% of income, but strong earnings placed disposable income at the 79th percentile and the area's SEIFA income ranking was in the 9th decile.

Port Melbourne Industrial features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

Port Melbourne Industrial had 0.0% houses and 99.9% other dwellings at the latest Census, compared to Melbourne metro's 8.7% houses and 91.3% other dwellings. Home ownership in Port Melbourne Industrial was 6.7%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.1% and rented ones at 62.2%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,279, higher than the Melbourne metro average of $2,170. The median weekly rent figure was $585, compared to Melbourne metro's $420. Nationally, Port Melbourne Industrial's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $2,279 versus Australia's average of $1,863. Rents in the area were substantially above the national figure of $375.

Port Melbourne Industrial features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households account for 52.5% of all households, including 14.2% that are couples with children, 30.9% that are couples without children, and 6.3% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 47.5%, consisting of 34.3% lone person households and 12.9% group households. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 1.9.

Educational achievement in Port Melbourne Industrial places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

Educational attainment in Port Melbourne Industrial significantly surpasses broader benchmarks, with 55.2% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to the national average of 30.4% and the Victorian average of 33.4%. This substantial educational advantage positions the area strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees are the most prevalent at 35.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (16.5%) and graduate diplomas (3.2%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 25.7% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (13.1%) and certificates (12.6%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 33.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.8% pursuing tertiary education, 6.1% in primary education, and 3.9% in secondary education.

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

Port Melbourne Industrial has 55 active public transport stops. These are a mix of light rail and bus services. There are 11 individual routes operating in the area.

Together, these routes provide 8,412 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from residents to the nearest transport stop is 138 meters. On average, there are 1,201 trips per day across all routes. This equates to approximately 152 weekly trips per individual stop.

Port Melbourne Industrial's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Health outcomes data shows excellent results across Port Melbourne Industrial with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. The rate of private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 75% of the total population (3894 people), compared to the national average of 55.3%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 7.4 and 7.1% of residents respectively. A total of 82.0% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, higher than the 73.3% across Greater Melbourne. The area has 4.5% of residents aged 65 and over (233 people), which is lower than the 14.3% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention despite the lower percentage of elderly population.

Port Melbourne Industrial is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Port Melbourne Industrial has a high level of cultural diversity, with 37.1% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 51.3% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in Port Melbourne Industrial, making up 37.1% of people in the area. Notably, Buddhism comprises 3.0% of the population, which is higher than the regional average of 1.9%.

The top three ancestry groups are English at 19.7%, Other at 16.5%, and Australian at 14.1%. There are also notable differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Spanish is overrepresented at 1.1% compared to the regional average of 0.7%, French at 0.9% versus 1.1%, and Serbian at 0.7% compared to 0.4%.

Port Melbourne Industrial hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide

Port Melbourne Industrial's median age is 35 years, slightly younger than Greater Melbourne's 37 and the national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group has a strong representation at 32.8%, compared to Greater Melbourne, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 6.3%. This concentration in the 25-34 age group is well above the national average of 14.5%. Between 2021 and present, residents have aged on average by 2.6 years, with the median age rising from 32 to 35. Key changes include the growth of the 55-64 age group from 6.1% to 7.5%, and an increase in the 5-14 cohort from 5.2% to 6.3%. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort has declined from 40.4% to 32.8%. Population forecasts for 2041 suggest substantial demographic changes for Port Melbourne Industrial. The 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 190%, adding 1,182 residents to reach a total of 1,805 residents in that cohort.