South Yarra - West

Population growth drivers in South Yarra - West are slightly above average based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium term trends

South Yarra - West's population was around 6,959 as of Feb 2026. This reflected an increase of 536 people (8.3%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,423 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 6,946 from the ABS as of June 2024 and address validation since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of 4,639 persons per square kilometer, placing it in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch, indicating high demand for land in the area. South Yarra - West's 8.3% growth since census was within 1.6 percentage points of the national average (9.9%), demonstrating competitive growth fundamentals. Population growth was primarily driven by overseas migration during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered, AreaSearch utilised the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, adjusting using weighted aggregation from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group were applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends forecast a significant increase in the top quartile of national statistical areas, with South Yarra - West expected to increase by 1,552 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an overall increase of 22.1% over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in South Yarra - West is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

South Yarra - West has seen approximately 13 dwellings granted development approval each year over the past five financial years, totalling 65 homes. As of FY-26, 86 approvals have been recorded. Despite a decrease in population during this period, the relative level of development activity has been adequate, potentially benefiting buyers. The average expected construction cost value for new dwellings is $2,623,000, indicating a focus on premium market developments.

This financial year has seen $186.3 million in commercial development approvals, suggesting strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Melbourne, South Yarra - West's building activity is significantly lower (86.0% below the regional average per person), which can typically strengthen demand and prices for existing properties. This trend also applies when compared nationally, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints. All recent developments have consisted of townhouses or apartments, offering affordable entry pathways and attracting downsizers, investors, and first-time purchasers. According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, South Yarra - West is projected to add 1,539 residents by 2041.

If current construction levels continue, housing supply may lag population growth, potentially intensifying buyer competition and supporting price growth.

South Yarra - West has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally

The performance of an area is significantly influenced by changes in local infrastructure, major projects, and planning initiatives. AreaSearch has identified a total of 49 projects that are expected to impact the area. Notable projects include Holckner Family Senior Living and Community Precinct - St Kilda Road Stage 2, The Muse, 322-332 St Kilda Road Mixed-Use Development Opportunity, and The Albertine. The following list details those projects likely to be most relevant.

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

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.

Employment conditions in South Yarra - West demonstrate exceptional strength compared to most Australian markets

South Yarra - West has a highly educated workforce with significant representation in the technology sector. Its unemployment rate is 2.7%, lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.7%. In September 2025, 4,585 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 2.0% below Greater Melbourne's rate.

Workforce participation is 74.4%, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's 71.0%. Census data shows that 52.3% of residents work from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Key industries include professional & technical (2.1 times the regional average), health care & social assistance, and education & training. Construction has lower representation at 4.1% compared to the regional average of 9.7%.

The area hosts more jobs than residents, with a ratio of 3.1 workers per resident. Over one year, employment increased by 4.5%, while labour force grew by 4.8%, leading to a slight rise in unemployment (0.2 percentage points). In comparison, Greater Melbourne had employment growth of 3.0% and unemployment rose by 0.3 percentage points. National employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth at 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to South Yarra - West's industry mix suggests local employment should increase by 7.6% over five years and 15.2% over ten years, though these are illustrative extrapolations not accounting for local population changes.

Income metrics indicate excellent economic conditions, with the area achieving higher performance than 75% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of ATO data released on June 30, 2023, South Yarra - West SA2 had a median income among taxpayers of $68,433 and an average level of $107,974. Nationally, this places it in the top percentile. Comparatively, Greater Melbourne had median and average incomes of $57,688 and $75,164 respectively. By September 2025, adjusted for Wage Price Index growth of 8.25%, estimated median income is approximately $74,079 and average income is $116,882. Census data from 2021 shows individual earnings in the area are at the 97th percentile nationally, with a weekly earning of $1,454. The dominant earnings bracket is $1,500 - 2,999, with 33.2% of residents (2,310 people) falling within this range, similar to Melbourne's metropolitan region at 32.8%. High weekly earnings exceeding $3,000 are achieved by 37.4% of households, indicating strong consumer spending power. Housing accounts for 14.7% of income, with residents ranking in the 81st percentile for disposable income. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 10th decile.

South Yarra - West features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with a higher proportion of rental properties than the broader region

South Yarra - West's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, had 5.7% houses and 94.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). This contrasts with Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in South Yarra - West was 28.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 17.0% and rented ones at 54.7%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,100, above Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure was $457, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, South Yarra - West's mortgage repayments were significantly higher than the Australian average of $1,863, and rents substantially above the national figure of $375.

South Yarra - West features high concentrations of lone person households and group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households account for 49.1% of all households, including 11.9% couples with children, 31.5% couples without children, and 4.5% single parent families. Non-family households constitute the remaining 50.9%, with lone person households at 44.8% and group households comprising 6.1%. The median household size is 1.8 people, which is smaller than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

Educational achievement in South Yarra - West places it within the top 10% nationally, reflecting strong academic performance and high qualification levels across the community

South Yarra - West has an educational attainment level that exceeds national and state averages. Among residents aged 15 and above, 66.0% have university qualifications, compared to 30.4% in Australia and 33.4% in Victoria. The most common qualification is the bachelor degree, held by 39.6% of residents, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 21.6%, and graduate diplomas at 4.8%. Vocational pathways account for 16.1% of qualifications, with advanced diplomas at 9.4% and certificates at 6.7%.

Educational participation is high in the area, with 26.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 9.4% in tertiary education, 5.8% in secondary education, and 4.6% pursuing primary education.

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

South Yarra - West has 34 active public transport stops, serving a mix of light rail and bus routes. These stops are serviced by 11 individual routes, providing a total of 12,977 weekly passenger trips. The average distance from residents' homes to the nearest transport stop is 124 meters, indicating excellent transport accessibility. As a primarily residential area, most commuting is outward-bound. Cars remain the dominant mode of transport at 48%, with 22% walking and 7% using trains for their journeys. The average vehicle ownership per dwelling is 0.5, which is below the regional average.

According to the 2021 Census, 52.3% of residents work from home, a figure that may reflect COVID-19 conditions. Service frequency averages 1,853 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 381 weekly trips per individual stop.

South Yarra - West's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with prevalence of common health conditions quite low across both younger and older age cohorts

South Yarra - West residents show positive health outcomes, aligning with national benchmarks. Common health conditions are low across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover is high at 74%, compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne and a national average of 55.7%.

Mental health issues and asthma are the most common conditions, affecting 8.0 and 7.4% respectively, with 72.0% reporting no medical ailments, similar to Greater Melbourne's 72.6%. Working-age residents have low chronic condition prevalence. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 23.1%, compared to 15.1% in Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among seniors are strong, ranking even higher than the general population nationally.

South Yarra - West was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

South Yarra-West was found to have a higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 21.2% of its population speaking a language other than English at home and 35.7% born overseas. Christianity is the dominant religion in South Yarra-West, comprising 37.8% of the population. Notably, Judaism is overrepresented in South Yarra-West at 3.2%, compared to 1.0% across Greater Melbourne.

The top three ancestry groups are English (24.9%), Australian (17.2%), and Other (11.1%). There are significant differences in the representation of certain ethnic groups: Polish is overrepresented at 1.5% versus 0.8% regionally, French at 1.1% versus 0.5%, and Scottish at 9.4% versus 5.6%.

South Yarra - West's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The median age in South Yarra - West is 39 years, which is higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and close to the national average of 38 years. Locally, the 25-34 cohort makes up 22.3%, notably over-represented compared to Greater Melbourne's average. Meanwhile, those aged 5-14 are under-represented at 5.4%. The concentration of the 25-34 age group is higher than the national average of 14.4%. Post-2021 Census data shows the population aged 15 to 24 has grown from 8.7% to 11.0%, while those aged 45 to 54 have declined from 10.4% to 9.1%, and the 25 to 34 group has dropped from 23.6% to 22.3%. By 2041, South Yarra - West's population is forecasted to experience substantial demographic changes. The 45-54 age group is projected to grow by 57%, adding 358 people and reaching a total of 989 from the current 630. The 0-4 age group will see more modest growth, increasing by 5% with an addition of 11 residents.