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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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ABS ERP | -- people | --
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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
Rockbank - Mount Cottrell lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends
Rockbank - Mount Cottrell's population was around 37,867 as of Nov 2025. This figure reflects an increase of 20,314 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 17,553. The growth is inferred from ABS estimates: 31,589 in June 2024 and an additional 6,952 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of 301 persons per square kilometer. Rockbank - Mount Cottrell's population grew by 115.7% between the 2021 Census and Nov 2025, exceeding the national average growth rate of 8.9%. Interstate migration contributed approximately 84.8% 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, it utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Based on these projections, Rockbank - Mount Cottrell is predicted to grow exceptionally, placing it in the top 10 percent of national areas. By 2041, the area is expected to increase by 59,698 persons, reflecting a gain of 140.5% over the 17-year period.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
The level of residential development activity in Rockbank - Mount Cottrell was found to be higher than 90% of real estate markets across the country
Rockbank - Mount Cottrell has seen approximately 1916 new homes approved annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, around 9584 homes were approved, with an additional 737 approved in FY26 so far. This results in an average of about 2.2 people moving to the area per new home constructed over these five years, indicating strong demand that supports property values.
The average construction cost value for these new homes is around $248000, which is below the regional average, suggesting more affordable housing options for buyers. This financial year has seen $587.2 million in commercial approvals registered, demonstrating robust commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Rockbank - Mount Cottrell records approximately 373% more development activity per person, offering ample choice for buyers. However, development activity has shown some moderation in recent periods. This level of activity is notably higher than the national average, indicating strong developer confidence in the location.
The new development in the area consists predominantly of detached dwellings, at around 90%, with the remaining 10% being attached dwellings. This maintains the area's traditional low-density character and focus on family homes that appeal to those seeking space. Currently, Rockbank - Mount Cottrell reflects a developing area with approximately 18 people per approval. Looking ahead, Rockbank - Mount Cottrell is projected to grow by around 53220 residents by 2041, according to the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate. Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering favourable conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Infrastructure
Rockbank - Mount Cottrell has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 50% nationally
Changes to local infrastructure significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 170 projects that may impact the area. Notable projects include Melton Line Upgrade, Thornhill Park, Woodlea Estate, and Woodlea Estate. The following details projects likely to be most relevant.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Melton Line Upgrade
The $650 million Melton Line Upgrade, jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments, is preparing the rail corridor for future electrification to Melton. The project includes: extending platforms at Deer Park, Caroline Springs, Rockbank, and Cobblebank to accommodate longer nine-car VLocity trains, which will boost passenger capacity by 50% from 2027; building a new four-platform Melton Station (opening 2026 as part of the Melton level crossing removals); and constructing a new future-proofed train stabling yard at Cobblebank. Early works are underway, with major construction starting in early 2026. The contract has been awarded to a consortium including John Holland and KBR. This project is a precursor to the full Melton Electrification.
Stockland Mt Atkinson
Large-scale masterplanned community by Stockland delivering over 5,000 homes across 315 hectares in Melbourne's west. Includes a future town centre (construction commencing 2025, opening 2027), two government schools, multiple parks, sports reserves and community facilities. Forms part of the broader 1,000+ hectare Mt Atkinson Precinct with Melbourne Business Park expected to create 18,000 jobs.
Thornhill Park
Large-scale masterplanned residential community by Resi Ventures (formerly Wel.Co) delivering approximately 2,800 homes across 20+ stages. Features include a future town centre (Central Square), two government primary schools (one now open), sporting reserves, extensive linear parklands, wetlands and display village. Multiple stages are currently under construction or titling.
Woodlea Estate
Woodlea is a 711 hectare masterplanned residential community in Aintree and Bonnie Brook in Melbourne's western growth corridor. The project is being delivered as a joint venture between Mirvac and Victoria Investments and Properties (VIP) and will ultimately deliver around 7,000 homes together with a major and local town centre, schools, childcare, community facilities, large areas of open space and sporting fields. The community already includes the HomeCo Woodlea Town Centre with Coles and specialty retail, multiple schools and an emerging active open space and skate park precinct. Construction is progressing in stages, with more than 14,000 residents now living in the estate and substantial completion expected between 2030 and 2035.
Kororoit Part 2 Precinct Structure Plan
Major residential and environmental precinct planning for urban development integrated with the 215-hectare Kororoit Creek Regional Park. The project excludes the approved regional park area and focuses on sustainable urban development around conservation areas with habitat for growling grass frogs and native grasslands. Project commenced planning phase in mid-2022 with recent landowner engagement activities in early 2025.
Bridgefield Estate
Bridgefield is a completed 91 hectare masterplanned residential community in Rockbank in Melbourne's western growth corridor. The 1002 lot estate will be home to around 3,000 residents and features landscaped parks and wetlands, a private residents club with pool, gym and tennis courts, and convenient access to Rockbank train station, future schools and a planned local activity centre and town centre.
Woodlea Estate
Woodlea is a 711 hectare greenfield masterplanned house and land community located about 29km west of Melbourne CBD in Aintree, Bonnie Brook and Rockbank within the City of Melton. The project is being delivered by Mirvac and Victoria Investments Properties and will ultimately provide around 7,000 residential lots plus townhouses, a town centre, schools, parks and community facilities for roughly 20,000 residents, with more than 14,000 to 16,000 people already living in the estate and a new display village, sales and experience centre and active open space precinct completed or underway. Staged construction and lot settlements are planned to continue through to around FY32, with the Local Town Centre open since 2021 and further community, retail and sporting infrastructure rolling out as the remaining neighbourhoods are delivered. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}:contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}:contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}
Plumpton Aquatic and Leisure Centre
The Plumpton Aquatic and Leisure Centre is a two-storey all-electric aquatic and leisure facility in Fraser Rise, featuring a 50m 8-lane competition pool, indoor splash play areas, water slides, spas, sauna, Australia's first sensory aquatic space, health and fitness areas, allied health spaces, an outdoor interactive water play area with beach-style access, change facilities, caf‚, meeting/function spaces, and a rooftop deck. Designed for 5-star Green Star accreditation with a focus on wellbeing, accessibility, and inclusion. Construction commenced in November 2025, with opening anticipated in 2028.
Employment
Employment conditions in Rockbank - Mount Cottrell remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis
Rockbank - Mount Cottrell has an unemployment rate of 4.9% as of September 2025. Employment growth in the area over the past year is estimated at 6.3%.
There are 15,127 residents currently employed, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%, which is 0.3% higher than Greater Melbourne's rate. Workforce participation stands at 60.4%, below Greater Melbourne's rate of 64.1%. Key employment sectors include health care & social assistance, transport, postal & warehousing, and construction. The area has a strong specialization in transport, postal & warehousing, with an employment share 2.5 times the regional level.
However, professional & technical services are under-represented, at 6.7% compared to Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. The worker-to-resident ratio is 0.7, indicating a higher-than-average level of local employment opportunities. Over the past year, employment increased by 6.3%, while labour force grew by 7.8%, leading to an unemployment rate rise of 1.4 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 3.0% and unemployment increase by 0.3 percentage points. Statewide in Victoria, employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year as of 25-November, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National forecasts suggest total employment will expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Rockbank - Mount Cottrell's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 6.6% over five years and 13.6% over ten years, assuming constant population projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch
AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data for financial year 2022 shows that Rockbank - Mount Cottrell SA2 has lower income levels compared to national averages. The median income is $54,315 and the average income stands at $61,820. In contrast, Greater Melbourne's figures are a median income of $54,892 and an average income of $73,761. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16% since financial year 2022, current estimates for Rockbank - Mount Cottrell would be approximately $60,920 (median) and $69,337 (average) as of September 2025. The 2021 Census data indicates that household, family and personal incomes in Rockbank - Mount Cottrell cluster around the 73rd percentile nationally. The earnings profile shows that 46.4% of locals (17,570 people) fall within the $1,500 - 2,999 income category, reflecting regional patterns where 32.8% similarly occupy this range. High housing costs consume 19.1% of income in Rockbank - Mount Cottrell, but strong earnings place disposable income at the 68th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
Rockbank - Mount Cottrell is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region
Rockbank - Mount Cottrell's dwellings were 96.3% houses and 3.8% other dwellings in the latest Census, compared to Melbourne metro's 90.9% houses and 9.1% other dwellings. Home ownership was 9.2%, with mortgaged dwellings at 66.3% and rented ones at 24.5%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,017, higher than Melbourne metro's $1,800 and Australia's average of $1,863. Median weekly rent was $400, surpassing Melbourne metro's $351 and the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
Rockbank - Mount Cottrell features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size
Family households account for 84.3% of all households, including 53.5% couples with children, 20.8% couples without children, and 8.9% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 15.7%, with lone person households at 13.6% and group households comprising 2.1%. The median household size is 3.2 people, which is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 3.0.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
The educational profile of Rockbank - Mount Cottrell exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics
Educational attainment in Rockbank - Mount Cottrell shows significant surpassing of broader benchmarks, with 34.7% of residents aged 15+ holding university qualifications compared to the SA3 area's 24.3%. This indicates a substantial educational advantage for the area, positioning it strongly for knowledge-based opportunities. Bachelor degrees lead at 22.4%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (9.9%) and graduate diplomas (2.4%). Trade and technical skills are prominently featured, with 27.9% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials – advanced diplomas (12.6%) and certificates (15.3%).
Educational participation is notably high, with 42.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 16.6% in primary education, 7.4% in secondary education, and 5.8% pursuing tertiary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is moderate compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
Rockbank - Mount Cottrell has 43 active public transport stops offering a mix of train and bus services. These stops are served by 18 different routes facilitating 7,007 weekly passenger trips in total. Transport accessibility is limited with residents usually located 1034 meters from the nearest stop.
On average, there are 1,001 daily trips across all routes, equating to around 162 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
Rockbank - Mount Cottrell's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups
Rockbank - Mount Cottrell shows excellent health outcomes with a very low prevalence of common health conditions across all ages.
Approximately 51% (~19,160 people) have private health cover, lower than Greater Melbourne's average. The most prevalent medical conditions are asthma (6.0%) and mental health issues (4.0%). About 84.6% report no medical ailments, higher than Greater Melbourne's 73.7%. Only 3.6% of residents are aged 65 and over (1,382 people), lower than Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. However, health outcomes among seniors require more attention despite being strong overall.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
Rockbank - Mount Cottrell is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics
Rockbank-Mount Cottrell is among the most culturally diverse areas in Australia, with 48.1% of its population born overseas and 62.6% speaking a language other than English at home. The predominant religion in Rockbank-Mount Cottrell is Christianity, comprising 39.5% of people. However, the category 'Other' is notably overrepresented, making up 17.4%, which is substantially higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 5.6%.
In terms of ancestry, the top three groups are 'Other', at 31.5%, Indian at 15.9%, and Australian at 10.6%. Notably, Filipino, Maltese, and Samoan ethnicities are overrepresented in Rockbank-Mount Cottrell compared to regional averages.
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
Rockbank - Mount Cottrell hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide
Rockbank - Mount Cottrell's median age is 31 years, which is lower than the Greater Melbourne average of 37 and significantly below the Australian median of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, Rockbank - Mount Cottrell has a higher percentage of residents aged 35-44 (25.1%) but fewer residents aged 55-64 (4.6%). This concentration of 35-44 year-olds is notably higher than the national average of 14.2%. Between 2021 and present, the population aged 5-14 has grown from 13.8% to 17.4%, while the 35-44 cohort increased from 21.9% to 25.1%. Conversely, the 25-34 age group declined from 26.4% to 20.8%, and the 0-4 age group dropped from 10.8% to 9.6%. Demographic projections suggest that Rockbank - Mount Cottrell's age profile will change significantly by 2041, with the 35-44 age cohort projected to expand substantially, growing by 12,149 people (128%) from 9,508 to 21,658.