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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
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 3,299 as of May 2026. This showed an increase of 1,392 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 1,907 people. The growth was inferred from ABS estimates and validated new addresses. The population density was 431 persons per square kilometer. Port Melbourne Industrial's growth rate of 73.0% exceeded the state (9.3%) and national averages between the 2021 Census and May 2026. Interstate migration contributed approximately 78.6% to this growth.
AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area, and VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 for areas not covered by ABS data. Population projections indicate exceptional growth for Port Melbourne Industrial, placing it in the top 10 percent of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch. The population is expected to grow by 6,599 persons to 2041, reflecting a gain of 195.4% over the 16-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
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, and by June 2026, a total of 389 homes have been approved in FY26. On average, about 0.7 people moved to the area annually for each dwelling built between FY21 and FY25, indicating that supply has met or exceeded demand during this period.
The average construction cost value of new properties was $429,000, which is moderately above regional levels, suggesting an emphasis on quality construction. In terms of commercial development activity, $15.1 million in approvals have been registered in the current financial year. Comparatively, Port Melbourne Industrial has seen 1459.0% more construction activity per person than Greater Melbourne, indicating strong developer confidence and ample choice for buyers. All new constructions between FY21 and FY26 were comprised of townhouses or apartments, focusing on higher-density living which creates more affordable entry points suitable for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. The location has approximately five people per dwelling approval, suggesting an expanding market with potential for growth that exceeds current forecasts. According to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate, Port Melbourne Industrial is projected to gain 6,448 residents by 2041.
With current construction levels, housing supply should adequately meet demand, creating favourable conditions for buyers while potentially enabling population growth above projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Port Melbourne Industrial
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
Infrastructure
Port Melbourne Industrial has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally
Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 114 projects that may impact the area. Notable projects include Local South Melbourne, The Canopy on Normanby, Trielle at Yarra's Edge, and Emerald Place. Below is a list detailing those 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
Melbourne Metro 2
Melbourne Metro 2 is a proposed cross-city rail tunnel connecting Newport to Clifton Hill, with services from Werribee and Geelong running through Fishermans Bend, Southern Cross, Flagstaff and Parkville to connect with the Mernda line. The project is intended to relieve future pressure on Melbourne's rail network, support electrified Geelong services, improve capacity and frequency on western and northern lines, and unlock urban renewal in Fishermans Bend. Current official material indicates the project remains in planning and corridor protection rather than funded delivery; in 2024 the Victorian Government confirmed a preferred route and station locations for a possible Fishermans Bend rail tunnel at Docklands, Sandridge and the Innovation Precinct.
Defence Science Technology Group Redevelopment
The $209 million redevelopment of the Defence Science and Technology Group (DSTG) facility at Fishermans Bend modernizes essential research infrastructure. The project includes the construction of a new consolidated office building, the upgrade of specialized research laboratories, and the implementation of enhanced physical security and access control measures to support a workforce of over 1,000 personnel.
University of Melbourne Fishermans Bend Campus
The University of Melbourne owns a 7.2 hectare Fishermans Bend site for a proposed engineering, advanced manufacturing and design campus within the Victorian Government's Innovation Precinct. The campus was planned to include industrial scale education, research, fabrication, testing and prototyping facilities, but in September 2025 the University paused work on the campus and said the project will be reassessed as part of its next 10 year strategy from 2030.
150-188 Turner Street Port Melbourne
A five-tower masterplanned community in the Lorimer precinct of Fishermans Bend. The development includes 1,526 apartments, with 6% allocated for affordable housing, alongside 15,803 sq m of office space and over 3,000 sq m of retail. Stage 1 features a 31-storey tower designed as the national headquarters for Acciona Geotech. Community amenities include two basketball courts and landscaped podiums. Architect: Rothelowman.
276-284 Ingles Street Mixed-Use Tower
A 55-56 storey mixed-use tower in the Sandridge Precinct of Fishermans Bend, comprising 389 apartments (including affordable and social housing), approximately 8,693 square metres of commercial office space, and 2,088 square metres of retail space across a four-storey podium with two basement levels. Designed by Studio Kristen Whittle, the slender tower reflects the industrial heritage of the area through concrete silo forms and bronzed curtain walling. A Planning Scheme Amendment to the Port Phillip Planning Scheme was gazetted following approval by the Minister for Planning. The site currently remains leased to its existing tenant pending commencement of construction.
Local South Melbourne
A 35 to 40-storey build-to-rent tower featuring 406 apartments, designed by LiFE Architecture with a facade inspired by aviation heritage. The project includes extensive amenities such as a wellness podium with a gym and yoga studio, co-working spaces, a pet wash bay, and ground-level commercial retail. It is fully electric and achieves net zero emissions, targeting completion in late 2026.
2-28 Montague Street and 80 Munro Street Mixed-Use Precinct
Approved GURNER mixed-use precinct on a 10000 sqm South Melbourne gateway site in Fishermans Bend. The scheme allows demolition of existing buildings and staged development of three multi-storey towers with apartments, hotel and serviced apartment accommodation, affordable housing, commercial office space, retail, food and drink uses, childcare and showroom uses. GURNER currently lists the project as coming soon.
1 Waterfront Place Port Melbourne
Approved 10-storey mixed-use waterfront development over two basement levels, comprising apartments, retail and food and drink premises, a wellness centre, gymnasium, office space, car parking reductions and public realm works. Casa Property is progressing revised Woods Bagot plans for the landmark Port Melbourne site, with amended plans and permit conditions addressing design, vehicle access, parking, public realm and heritage interfaces near Station Pier.
Employment
Port Melbourne Industrial has seen below average employment performance when compared to national benchmarks
Port Melbourne Industrial has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation. Its unemployment rate was 5.3% in the past year, with estimated employment growth of 3.0%. As of December 2025, 2,045 residents are employed at an unemployment rate of 9.3%, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's 4.8%.
Workforce participation is standard at 73.3%. Census data shows 42.0% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. The leading employment industries among Port Melbourne Industrial residents are professional & technical, construction, and finance & insurance. The area has a notable concentration in professional & technical services with employment levels at 1.5 times the regional average.
However, health care & social assistance has limited presence at 7.8%, compared to 14.2% regionally. With 15.8 workers per resident as of the Census, Port Melbourne Industrial functions as an employment hub hosting more jobs than residents and attracting workers from surrounding areas. Between December 2024 and December 2025, employment increased by 3.0%, while labour force grew by 4.8%, causing unemployment to rise by 1.7 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 2.4%, labour force expand by 2.8%, and unemployment rise by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, issued in May-25, project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Port Melbourne Industrial's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.8% over five years and 13.5% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
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 2023. Its median income among taxpayers was $70,887 and average income stood at $102,431. These figures compared to Greater Melbourne's median income of $57,688 and average income of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 9.62% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of March 2026 would be approximately $77,706 (median) and $112,285 (average). The 2021 Census showed household, family, and personal incomes in Port Melbourne Industrial ranked highly nationally, between the 88th and 95th percentiles. Income analysis revealed that 36.2% of the population, equivalent to 1,194 individuals, fell within the $1,500 - 2,999 income range. This figure was consistent with broader trends across the region showing 32.8% in the same category. Notably, 40.0% earned above $3,000 weekly, indicating prosperity pockets driving robust local economic activity. Despite high housing costs consuming 21.9% of income, strong earnings placed disposable income at the 79th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 9th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Port Melbourne Industrial features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region
Dwelling structure in Port Melbourne Industrial, as per the latest Census, consisted of 0.0% houses and 99.9% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in Port Melbourne Industrial was at 6.7%, with the rest being mortgaged (31.1%) or rented (62.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,279, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. Median weekly rent was $585, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, Port Melbourne Industrial's mortgage repayments were significantly higher at $1,863 and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Port Melbourne Industrial features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a lower-than-average median household size
Family households account for 52.5% of all households, including 14.2% couples with children, 30.9% couples without children, and 6.3% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 47.5%, with lone person households at 34.3% and group households comprising 12.9%. The median household size is 2.1 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
Educational achievement in Port Melbourne Industrial places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community
Port Melbourne Industrial has an educational attainment that exceeds broader benchmarks. 55.2% of its residents aged 15 and above hold university qualifications, compared to Australia's 30.4% and Victoria's 33.4%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 35.5%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (16.5%) and graduate diplomas (3.2%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 25.7% of residents holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 13.1% and certificates at 12.6%.
Educational participation is high, with 33.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 12.8% in tertiary education, 6.1% in primary education, and 3.9% 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
Port Melbourne Industrial has 55 active public transport stops operating within it. These include a mix of light rail and bus services. Eleven individual routes service these stops, collectively providing 7,392 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as excellent, with residents typically located 138 meters from the nearest stop. The area is primarily residential, with most residents commuting outward using different modes of transport. Car remains the dominant mode at 68%, while walking accounts for 9% and train for 6%.
Vehicle ownership averages 0.7 per dwelling, below the regional average. According to the 2021 Census, 42.0% of residents work from home, which may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,056 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 134 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Port Melbourne Industrial's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups
Port Melbourne Industrial's health outcomes data shows excellent results based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. The area has a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups. Private health cover is exceptionally high at approximately 72% of the total population (2,385 people), compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne and 55.7% nationally.
Mental health issues affect 7.4% of residents, while asthma impacts 7.1%. 82.0% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, higher than the 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. The area has 4.7% of residents aged 65 and over (155 people), lower than Greater Melbourne's 15.0%. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, aligning with national rankings for the general population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
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, accounting for 37.1% of people. Buddhism is notably overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 3.0% of Port Melbourne Industrial's population versus 4.2%.
The top three ancestry groups are English (19.7%), Other (16.5%), and Australian (14.1%). Spanish, French, and Serbian ethnicities show notable divergences in representation compared to regional averages: Spanish is overrepresented at 1.1% versus 0.4%, French at 0.9% versus 0.5%, and Serbian at 0.7% versus 0.4%.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
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, which is slightly younger than Greater Melbourne's 37 and somewhat younger than the national average of 38 years. The 25-34 age group makes up a strong 33.2% of Port Melbourne Industrial's population compared to Greater Melbourne, while the 5-14 cohort is less prevalent at 6.9%. This concentration of the 25-34 age group is well above the national average of 14.6%. Between 2021 and present, residents have aged on average by 2.6 years, with the median rising from 32 to 35 years. Key changes include the 35-44 age group growing from 19.5% to 21.4%, and the 5-14 cohort increasing from 5.2% to 6.9%. Conversely, the 25-34 cohort has declined from 40.4% to 33.2%, and the 15-24 group dropped from 11.3% to 9.7%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes, with the 25-34 age group showing the strongest projected growth of 149%, adding 1,631 residents to reach a total of 2,727.