Southbank (West) - South Wharf
Statistical Area - sa2

Population growth drivers in Southbank (West) - South Wharf are strong compared to national averages based on AreaSearch's ranking of recent, and medium to long-term trends

Southbank (West) - South Wharf's population was around 7,787 as of Aug 2025. This figure reflects a growth of 1,324 people (20.5%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 6,463 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 7,866 in June 2024 and an additional 33 validated new addresses since the Census date. This results in a population density ratio of 9,161 persons per square kilometer, placing it within the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. Southbank (West) - South Wharf's growth rate exceeded the national average (8.6%) and state levels since the 2021 Census. The primary driver for this population growth was overseas migration, contributing approximately 92.2% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting 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 the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023 and adjusts them 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 demographic trends, exceptional growth is predicted over the period with an expected increase of 6,118 persons to 2041 based on the latest population numbers, resulting in a total gain of 79.6% over the 17 years.

Residential development activity is lower than average in Southbank (West) - South Wharf according to AreaSearch's national comparison of local real estate markets

Southbank West-South Wharf averaged 158 new dwelling approvals annually. ABS data shows 794 homes approved over the past five financial years, from FY21 to FY25, with none recorded yet in FY26. An average of 0.2 people moved to the area per dwelling built annually during these years, indicating supply met or exceeded demand. $29.1 million in commercial development approvals were recorded this year, reflecting robust local business investment.

Compared to Greater Melbourne, Southbank West-South Wharf had 75% higher development activity per person as of recent years, suggesting strong developer confidence. All building activity recently has been attached dwellings, promoting affordable entry points for downsizers, investors, and first-home buyers. By 2041, the area is expected to gain 6,197 residents. Construction pace is reasonable but may face growing competition as population increases.

Population forecasts indicate Southbank (West) - South Wharf will gain 6,197 residents through to 2041. Construction is maintaining a reasonable pace with projected growth, although buyers could encounter growing competition as population increases.

Southbank (West) - South Wharf has very high levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 10% nationally

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch identified 67 projects likely affecting the region. Notable initiatives include Melbourne Arts Precinct Transformation - Southern Package (The Fox: NGV Contemporary), Sento, One Queens Bridge, and R.Evolution. The following list details those most relevant.

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

Southbank (West) - South Wharf ranks among the top 25% of areas assessed nationally for overall employment performance

Southbank (West) - South Wharf has a highly educated workforce with professional services being strongly represented. The unemployment rate in the area was 2.9% as of June 2025, which is lower than Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.6%.

There was an estimated employment growth of 6.7% over the past year. As of June 2025, there were 5,882 residents in work and the workforce participation rate was 74.2%, higher than Greater Melbourne's rate of 64.1%. The dominant employment sectors among residents include professional & technical, finance & insurance, and accommodation & food services. The area has a particular specialization in professional & technical jobs, with an employment share that is 1.9 times the regional level.

However, health care & social assistance has limited presence, with only 8.5% of employment compared to the regional average of 14.2%. There are 4.5 workers for every resident in the area, indicating it functions as an employment hub attracting workers from surrounding areas. During the year to June 2025, employment levels increased by 6.7% while the labour force grew by 7.2%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 0.4 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne saw employment grow by 3.5%, labour force expand by 4.0%, and unemployment rise by 0.5 percentage points. State-level data from Sep-25 shows that Victoria's employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. This compares to the national unemployment rate of 4.5%, with Victoria's employment growth outpacing the national average of 0.26%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia, released in May 2025, project an increase of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to Southbank (West) - South Wharf's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 7.0% over five years and 14.0% over ten years. However, it should be noted that these are simple weighted extrapolations for illustrative purposes and do not take into account localized population projections.

Income analysis reveals strong economic positioning, with the area outperforming 60% of locations assessed nationally by AreaSearch

According to AreaSearch's aggregation of latest postcode level ATO data released for financial year ending June 2022, Southbank (West) - South Wharf had a median income among taxpayers of $56,359 with the average level standing at $76,249. This is above national averages of $54,892 and $73,761 respectively for Greater Melbourne. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year ending June 2022, estimated median and average incomes as of March 2025 would be approximately $62,057 and $83,958 respectively. From the Australian Bureau of Statistics Census conducted in August 2021, individual earnings stood out at the 92nd percentile nationally with a weekly income of $1,227. Income analysis revealed that 36.6% of the population (2,850 individuals) fell within the $1,500 - $2,999 income range, aligning with surrounding regions where this cohort represented 32.8%. High housing costs consumed 17.8% of income, yet strong earnings placed disposable income at the 66th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking placed it in the 9th decile.

Southbank (West) - South Wharf features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Southbank (West) - South Wharf's dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, had 0.0% houses and 100.0% other dwellings such as semi-detached units, apartments, and 'other' dwellings, contrasting with Melbourne metro's 2.2% houses and 97.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in Southbank (West) - South Wharf stood at 16.2%, with mortgaged properties at 19.7% and rented ones at 64.1%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $2,000, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $1,962. The median weekly rent figure in the area was $430, compared to Melbourne metro's $396. Nationally, Southbank (West) - South Wharf's mortgage repayments were above the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were substantially higher than the national figure of $375.

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

Family households constitute 47.0% of all households, including 10.3% couples with children, 30.4% couples without children, and 4.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 53.0%, with lone person households at 43.1% and group households comprising 9.7% of the total. The median household size is 1.8 people, which aligns with the Greater Melbourne average.

The educational profile of Southbank (West) - South Wharf exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

Southbank (West) - South Wharf has a higher educational attainment than national and state averages. 64.5% of residents aged 15 and above have university qualifications, compared to 30.4% in Australia and 33.4% in Victoria. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 38.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications at 22.6%. Vocational pathways account for 18.4% of qualifications among those aged 15 and above, with advanced diplomas at 10.3% and certificates at 8.1%.

Educational participation is high, with 27.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 13.2% in tertiary education, 3.3% in primary education, and 1.6% pursuing secondary education. Schools may be located outside the immediate area, requiring families to access them in neighboring regions.

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

Transport analysis shows 14 active stops operating in Southbank (West) - South Wharf area, with a mix of lightrail and bus services. These stops are served by 11 individual routes, offering 6,025 weekly passenger trips collectively. Transport accessibility is rated excellent, with residents typically located 121 meters from the nearest stop.

Service frequency averages 860 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 430 weekly trips per stop.

Southbank (West) - South Wharf's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with very low prevalence of common health conditions across all age groups

Southbank West-South Wharf shows excellent health outcomes with low prevalence of common conditions across all ages.

Approximately 58% of its total population of 4,500 have private health cover. Mental health issues and asthma are the most prevalent conditions, affecting 6.0 and 5.5% of residents respectively. The area has a high proportion of residents reporting no medical ailments at 81.4%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 79.8%. As of 2021, 7.7% of the population are aged 65 and over (602 people). Seniors in this area have strong health outcomes, generally comparable to those of the wider population.

Southbank (West) - South Wharf is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

Southbank West-South Wharf, Melbourne has a population where 50.1% speak languages other than English at home, with 62.3% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion at 30.8%. Buddhism stands out at 6.8%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 7.0%.

The top three parental ancestry groups are Other (19.0%), Chinese (17.0%), and English (16.1%). Korean, Indian, and Spanish ethnicities show notable overrepresentation: Korean at 1.8% vs regional 1.5%, Indian at 8.2% vs 5.5%, and Spanish at 0.9% vs 0.7%.

Southbank (West) - South Wharf's young demographic places it in the bottom 15% of areas nationwide

Southbank (West) - South Wharf has a median age of 32 years, which is younger than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and significantly lower than the national average of 38. Compared to Greater Melbourne, it has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (36.9%), but fewer residents aged 5-14 (3.4%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is well above the national average of 14.5%. Post-2021 Census data shows that the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 11.0% to 13.7%, while the 55 to 64 cohort has declined from 8.2% to 7.2%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests Southbank (West) - South Wharf's age profile will evolve significantly. The 25 to 34 cohort is projected to grow by 53%, adding 1,529 residents to reach a total of 4,401.