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 was around 15,221 as of Nov 2025. This shows an increase of 1,131 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 14,090. The change is inferred from ABS estimated resident population of 15,161 in June 2024 and additional 248 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 2,708 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the upper quartile nationally according to AreaSearch assessments. The area's 8.0% growth since census is within 0.9 percentage points of the national average (8.9%), indicating competitive growth fundamentals. Overseas migration contributed approximately 79.9% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 with adjustments made employing weighted aggregation methods. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on projected demographic shifts, a significant population increase is forecast in the top quartile of statistical areas nationally by 2041, with Reservoir - South West expected to increase by 6,155 persons, reflecting a total increase of 40.0% over the 17 years.

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

Reservoir - South West averaged approximately 87 new dwelling approvals per year over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25. A total of 436 homes were approved during this period, with an additional 17 approved in FY26 as of now. The average number of people moving to the area for each dwelling built over these five years was 0.5 per year.

This suggests that new supply has been keeping pace with or exceeding demand, providing ample buyer choice and creating capacity for population growth beyond current forecasts. The average expected construction cost value of new homes being built in the area is $281,000, which is under regional levels, indicating more accessible housing choices for buyers. In FY26, $61,000 worth of commercial development approvals have been recorded, suggesting a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Reservoir - South West shows approximately 75% of the construction activity per person and places 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 existing housing patterns, which are currently 57.0% houses.

This focus on higher-density living creates more affordable entry points and suits downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. With around 181 people per dwelling approval, Reservoir - South West shows characteristics of a growth area. Looking ahead to the year 2041, Reservoir - South West is expected to grow by approximately 6,095 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 in the future.

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

Area infrastructure changes significantly influence local performance. AreaSearch identified four projects expected to impact the area: Reservoir Leisure Centre Redevelopment, Suburban Rail Loop North, Goosnargh Housing Development, and Reservoir Suburban Revitalisation Program. The following details these key initiatives.

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

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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 the past year, with estimated employment growth of 2.0%.

As of June 2025, there were 8,821 residents employed, and the unemployment rate was 0.6% lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%. Workforce participation was 66.5%, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Key employment sectors include health care & social assistance, education & training, and construction. The area has a significant specialization in public administration & safety (1.4 times the regional level).

Retail trade shows lower representation at 8.3% versus the regional average of 9.8%. Employment opportunities locally may be limited as indicated by Census data. Over a 12-month period ending June 2025, employment increased by 2.0%, labour force by 1.4%, and unemployment rate fell by 0.5 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced higher employment growth of 3.5% and labour force growth of 4.0%. Jobs and Skills Australia forecasts national employment to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Reservoir - South West's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.6%% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.

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 the financial year 2022, according to AreaSearch's postcode level ATO data. This is lower than the national average, with Greater Melbourne having a median income of $54,892 and an average of $73,761. As of September 2025, estimated incomes would be approximately $59,777 (median) and $70,765 (average), based on a 12.16% growth in wages since the financial year 2022. The 2021 Census showed household, family, and personal incomes in Reservoir - South West clustered around the 56th percentile nationally. The largest income segment comprised 33.9% earning $1,500-$2,999 weekly (5,159 residents), similar to the region where this cohort also represented 32.8%. Housing affordability pressures were severe, with only 83.1% of income remaining, ranking at the 49th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed 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

The latest Census evaluated Reservoir - South West with 56.8% houses and 43.2% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), compared to Melbourne metro's 60.2% houses and 39.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Reservoir - South West was at 27.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 31.0% and rented ones at 41.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,020, higher than Melbourne metro's $2,000. The median weekly rent figure was $361, lower than Melbourne metro's $371. Nationally, Reservoir - South West's mortgage repayments were higher at $2,020 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were lower at $361 compared to 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 comprise the remaining 35.8%, with lone person households at 30.6% and group households making up 5.3% of the total. 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, including 8.8% in primary, 6.5% in tertiary, and 6.0% pursuing secondary education. The four schools in Reservoir - South West have a combined enrollment of 1,076 students as of the latest data. The area has above-average socio-educational conditions with an ICSEA score of 1070. Education provision is balanced with three primary and one 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 that for schools showing 'n/a' for enrolments, please refer to their 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 individual routes operating in total.

Collectively, these routes facilitate 11,676 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from residents to the nearest transport stop is 147 meters. Daily service frequency averages 1,668 trips across all routes, which equates to approximately 108 weekly trips per individual 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 better-than-average health outcomes, with fewer common health conditions among its general population compared to national averages, but higher prevalence in older and at-risk cohorts.

Private health cover is held by approximately 51% of the total population (~7,777 people), slightly lower than the average SA2 area. The most prevalent medical conditions are mental health issues (9.7%) and asthma (7.7%), while 71.2% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 70.2% in Greater Melbourne. The area has a lower proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 13.0% (1,984 people), compared to Greater Melbourne's 15.2%. Health outcomes among seniors require more attention than those for 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 a high level of 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. However, Islam is slightly overrepresented compared to Greater Melbourne, comprising 6.5% versus 6.1%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (17.5%), Australian (16.5%), and Other (13.2%). Notably, Italian (12.2%) and Greek (5.2%) are slightly overrepresented compared to regional averages of 12.3% and 6.1%, respectively, while Macedonian is underrepresented at 1.4% versus the regional average of 2.1%.

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

Reservoir - South West has a median age of 37, which is equal to Greater Melbourne's figure and comparable to 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%, which is less prevalent compared to Greater Melbourne. Between 2021 and present day, the 15-24 age group has increased from 9.2% to 10.5%. Meanwhile, the 5-14 age group has decreased from 11.0% to 9.8%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in Reservoir - South West's age structure. Notably, the 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 57%, adding 1,153 people and reaching a total of 3,182 from its current figure of 2,028.