Reservoir - South West
Statistical Area - sa2

Reservoir - South West has seen population growth performance typically on par with national averages when looking at short and medium term trends

Reservoir - South West's population is approximately 15,218 as of August 2025. This figure represents an increase of 1,128 people (8.0%) since the 2021 Census, which recorded a population of 14,090. The change is inferred from ABS's estimated resident population of 15,161 in June 2024 and an additional 247 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 2,707 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile compared to other locations assessed by AreaSearch. The area's 8.0% growth since the census is within 0.6 percentage points of the national average (8.6%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 79.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections released in 2024 with a base year of 2022 for each SA2 area. For areas not covered, AreaSearch employs the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusting using a weighted aggregation method from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041 based on these aggregations. Projecting demographic shifts, the area is forecasted to increase by 6,155 persons to 2041, reflecting a total increase of 40.1% over the 17 years.

Recent residential development output has been above average within Reservoir - South West when compared nationally

Reservoir - South West has averaged approximately 87 new dwelling approvals per year. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis, with 436 homes approved over the past five financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and an additional 5 in FY-26 thus far. On average, around 0.5 people have moved to the area per dwelling built annually over these five years. This indicates that new supply is keeping pace with or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts.

The average construction value of new properties is $454,000, which aligns with regional patterns. In this financial year, there have been $61,000 in commercial approvals, reflecting the area's residential nature. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Reservoir - South West records about three-quarters the building activity per person and ranks among the 72nd percentile of areas assessed nationally. Recent construction comprises 32.0% detached houses and 68.0% townhouses or apartments, marking a significant shift from the current housing pattern of 57.0% houses. This change suggests diminishing developable land availability and responds to evolving lifestyle preferences and housing affordability needs.

With around 181 people per dwelling approval, Reservoir - South West exhibits characteristics of a growth area. By 2041, it is projected to grow by approximately 6,098 residents. If current development rates continue, housing supply may not keep pace with population growth, potentially increasing competition among buyers and supporting stronger price growth.

Reservoir - South West has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 20% nationally

"Changes in local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified three projects likely to affect this region: Goosnargh Housing Development, Reservoir Leisure Centre Redevelopment, Reservoir Suburban Revitalisation Program, and John Fawkner Secondary College Upgrade and Modernisation.".

Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.

The labour market in Reservoir - South West demonstrates typical performance when compared to similar areas across Australia

Reservoir - South West has an educated workforce with strong professional services representation. The unemployment rate was 4.0% in June 2025, below Greater Melbourne's 4.6%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 2.0%. There were 8,821 residents employed as of June 2025, with workforce participation at 66.5%, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key employment sectors include health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. Public administration & safety shows high specialization, with an employment share 1.4 times the regional level.

Retail trade has lower representation at 8.3% compared to the regional average of 9.8%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited, as indicated by Census data on working population vs resident population. From Jun-25 to Jul-25, employment increased by 2.0%, labour force by 1.4%, reducing unemployment by 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne had higher employment growth of 3.5% and labour force growth of 4.0%. State-level data as of Sep-25 shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%, slightly higher than the national rate of 4.5%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Reservoir - South West's employment mix suggests local growth could be approximately 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years.

The economic profile demonstrates above-average performance, with income metrics exceeding national benchmarks based on AreaSearch comparative assessment

Reservoir - South West had a median taxpayer income of $53,296 and an average of $63,093 in financial year 2022. This is lower than the national average, with Greater Melbourne having a median income of $54,892 and an average of $73,761. By March 2025, estimates suggest the median would be approximately $58,684 and the average $69,472, based on a 10.11% increase from the Wage Price Index since financial year 2022. In Reservoir - South West, incomes cluster around the 56th percentile nationally according to 2021 Census figures. The largest income segment is 33.9%, with residents earning $1,500-$2,999 weekly (5,158 residents). Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 83.1% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 49th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

Reservoir - South West displays a diverse mix of dwelling types, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

As evaluated in the latest Census, dwelling structures within Reservoir - South West comprised 56.8% houses and 43.2% other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This is compared to Melbourne metro's figures of 60.2% houses and 39.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Reservoir - South West stood at 27.3%, with the remainder either mortgaged (31.0%) or rented (41.6%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,020, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. Median weekly rent in Reservoir - South West was recorded at $361, compared to Melbourne metro's $371. Nationally, Reservoir - South West's mortgage repayments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are lower than the national figure of $375.

Reservoir - South West features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 64.2% of all households, including 28.6% couples with children, 23.0% couples without children, and 10.8% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 35.8%, with lone person households at 30.6% and group households comprising 5.3%. The median household size is 2.4 people, which aligns with the Greater Melbourne average.

Reservoir - South West shows strong educational performance, ranking in the upper quartile nationally when assessed across multiple qualification and achievement indicators

The area's educational profile is notable regionally, with university qualification rates at 38.9% of residents aged 15+, surpassing the Australian average of 30.4% and the SA4 region's rate of 32.8%. Bachelor degrees are most prevalent at 24.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (10.6%) and graduate diplomas (3.9%). Vocational credentials are also prominent, with 27.1% of residents aged 15+ holding such qualifications - advanced diplomas at 11.6% and certificates at 15.5%.

Educational participation is high, with 28.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 8.8% in primary education, 6.5% in tertiary education, and 6.0% pursuing secondary education. As of the latest data (2021), Reservoir - South West's 4 schools have a combined enrollment of 1,076 students. The area demonstrates above-average socio-educational conditions with an ICSEA score of 1070. Education provision is balanced with 3 primary and 1 secondary school serving distinct age groups. School places per 100 residents stand at 7.1, below the regional average of 10.2, indicating some students may attend schools in adjacent areas. Note: where schools show 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

Reservoir-South West has 108 active public transport stops. These include train, light rail, and bus services. There are 11 routes serving these stops, with a total of 11,676 weekly passenger trips.

The average distance from residents to the nearest stop is 147 meters. On average, there are 1,668 daily trips across all routes, which amounts to around 108 weekly trips per stop.

The level of general health in Reservoir - South West is notably higher than the national average with prevalence of common health conditions low among the general population though higher than the nation's average across older, at risk cohorts

Reservoir - South West shows superior health outcomes with lower prevalence of common conditions among its general population compared to the national average, although rates are higher among older, at-risk cohorts.

Approximately 51% (~7,776 people) have private health cover, slightly below the average SA2 area. The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues (9.7%) and asthma (7.7%), while 71.2% report no medical ailments, compared to 70.2% in Greater Melbourne. The area has 13.0% of residents aged 65 and over (1,984 people), lower than Greater Melbourne's 15.2%. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention than the broader population.

Reservoir - South 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

Reservoir-South West has notable cultural diversity, with 33.2% of its population born overseas and 36.6% speaking a language other than English at home. Christianity is the predominant religion in Reservoir-South West, accounting for 42.5% of the population. Islam is slightly overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, making up 6.5% versus 6.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (17.5%), Australian (16.5%), and Other (13.2%). Some ethnic groups show significant differences: Italian is overrepresented at 12.2% (regional average: 12.3%), Greek at 5.2% (regional average: 6.1%), and Macedonian at 1.4% (regional average: 2.1%).

Reservoir - South West's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

Reservoir - South West has a median age of 37, matching Greater Melbourne's figure and closely aligning with Australia's median age of 38. The 35-44 age group constitutes 18.8% of the population in Reservoir - South West, higher than Greater Melbourne's percentage. Conversely, the 15-24 cohort makes up 10.5%, lower than Greater Melbourne's figure. Between 2021 and present day, the 15-24 age group has increased from 9.2% to 10.5%. During this period, the 5-14 age group has decreased from 11.0% to 9.8%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant changes in Reservoir - South West's age structure. Notably, the 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 57%, reaching 3,182 people from its current figure of 2,028.