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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 | --
2021 Census | -- people
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Sunshine has an estimated 10,164 residents, up from 9,445 at the 2021 Census — a change of 719 people, or 7.6%. 175 new addresses have been validated here since Census night. Overseas migration accounts for 88.6% of that increase. That puts 2,149 residents on each square kilometre. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
According to research conducted by AreaSearch, Sunshine has a population of approximately 10,164 as of May 2026. This represents a growth of 719 people (7.6%) from the 9,445 residents recorded in the 2021 Census. This population shift is calculated using the June 2025 ABS estimated resident population of 10,151 combined with 175 validated new addresses registered after the Census. The area has a population density of 2,148 persons per square kilometer, which exceeds the typical density found in other evaluated national settings. Sunshine outpaced the broader SA3 area (2.1%) with its 7.6% rate of growth, establishing it as a local leader in population expansion.
The primary catalyst for this growth was overseas migration, which accounted for roughly 88.6% of the overall population rise in recent times. AreaSearch utilizes the 2024 population projections from the ABS and Geoscience Australia, using 2022 as the baseline year. For SA2 areas where these projections are unavailable, VIC State Government projections from 2023 are applied, using weighted aggregation to scale LGA growth trends down to the SA2 level. Growth projections across different age brackets from these aggregations are also applied to all areas for the period spanning 2032 to 2041. Future demographic projections suggest significant population growth that places the area in the top quartile of national statistical regions, with an estimated increase of 3,172 persons to 2041 compared to the most recent annual ERP data, representing a total growth rate of 31.1% over the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
248 new dwellings have been approved in Sunshine over the past five years, an average of 49 a year. That is 5.0 approvals per 1,000 residents. Of the 38 dwellings approved in the latest reporting year, 24% were detached houses and the rest townhouses or apartments. Approvals are currently running at an annualised 230, running ahead of that longer-run average. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Sunshine averages approximately 49 residential approvals annually, with a total of 248 homes approved during the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, and 211 approvals recorded so far in FY-26. Because only 0.2 people moved to the area for each new home built during the 5 financial years from FY-21 to FY-25, the volume of new supply is matching or exceeding local demand, which increases options for buyers and supports the potential for population growth to exceed projections, while new dwellings are built with an average construction cost of $337,000.
Additionally, commercial approvals have reached $48.4 million this financial year, pointing to robust business development in the locality. Per capita development activity in Sunshine is 69.0% higher than the rate observed in Greater Melbourne, expanding options for prospective buyers. Recent building activity consists of 24.0% freestanding houses and 76.0% medium or high-density formats like townhouses and apartments. This emphasis on higher-density housing provides more attainable price points for first-time buyers, downsizers, and property investors. This represents a distinct shift from the current housing stock, which is 69.0% houses, showing that vacant residential land is becoming scarcer while highlighting changing household needs and a demand for more varied, cost-effective housing types. The area currently records about 275 people for each approved dwelling, suggesting potential for further development. Looking forward, the population of Sunshine is projected to grow by 3,159 people to 2041, based on the most recent quarterly estimates from AreaSearch. If the current pace of construction remains unchanged, the volume of new housing may fail to match population growth, which could increase competition among buyers and support higher property values.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Sunshine
SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 8 current infrastructure and development projects inside Sunshine, worth an estimated $40.4 billion. A further 120 sit in the immediately surrounding suburbs, taking the tracked pipeline within reach of the area to $77.4 billion. 38 are already under construction and 31 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans communities, precincts & urban renewal, residential development and transport & logistics. Records are compiled from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, council planning portals and public announcements, reviewed and updated daily, then ranked by proximity, construction stage, completion horizon and project scale.
Detail
Local infrastructure projects, major works, and planning policies have a significant influence on regional performance. AreaSearch has identified a total of 12 projects that are expected to impact the local area. Key developments include the Sunshine Superhub and Albion Station Upgrade, the Sunshine Priority Precinct Vision 2050, the Western Rail Plan, and the Next Generation Trams, with details on the most relevant projects provided below.
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Sunshine Superhub and Albion Station Upgrade
A major transformation of Sunshine Station into a transport superhub and the complete rebuild of Albion Station as part of Melbourne Airport Rail Stage 1. The 4.1 billion dollar project spans 6km of track upgrades from West Footscray to Albion, untangling a complex rail junction to enable airport services and Melton Line electrification. Major construction is actively underway following early works and utility relocations, with completion targeted for 2030.
Vietnamese Museum Australia
Australia's first museum dedicated to preserving and sharing the story of Vietnamese refugee settlement in Australia. The three-storey building, designed by Konzepte Melbourne, features a wave-like facade and bamboo exterior details symbolising the journey to freedom. Total funding of approximately $20.4 million includes $9.7M Federal, $8.7M State, and $2M additional State contributions plus community fundraising. The museum will house over 100,000 stories on veterans, refugees, and Vietnamese Australians, receive more than 280 artefacts, and include a resource centre, function centre and cafe for up to 450 guests.Part of the Multicultural Museums Victoria network. Construction commenced April 2025 and reached the topping-out milestone in September 2025, two weeks ahead of schedule. Builder is McCorkell Constructions.
Sunshine Precinct
Long-term Victorian Government urban renewal and transport precinct program centred on Sunshine Station, Sunshine CBD and Albion Quarter. The precinct is being positioned as a major centre for Melbourne's west, supported by Melbourne Airport Rail, Suburban Rail Loop connections, regional rail upgrades, the $4.1 billion Sunshine Superhub, the Sunshine Station Masterplan and the Albion Quarter Structure Plan. Current activity includes Superhub and West Footscray to Albion rail upgrade works, station precinct improvements, and continuing structure planning for Albion Quarter to support jobs, innovation, services, housing and public realm enhancements.
Sunshine Priority Precinct Vision 2050
The Sunshine Priority Precinct Vision 2050 is a 30-year urban renewal strategy establishing Sunshine as the capital of Melbourne's west. It leverages over $20 billion in broader infrastructure investments, including the $4.1 billion Sunshine Superhub, and targets 43,000 new residents and up to 50,000 new jobs by 2051. Key components include the Sunshine Station Precinct Masterplan Stage 1, the Albion Quarter Structure Plan, and the 54-hectare Sunshine Energy Park.
Melbourne Airport Rail (SRL Airport)
A 27-kilometre heavy rail link connecting Melbourne Airport to the Melbourne CBD via Sunshine Station and the Metro Tunnel. Stage 1 (West Footscray to Albion Rail Upgrade) officially commenced construction in March 2026 and is scheduled for completion in 2030, with full project completion expected by late 2033. Delivered by the Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority alongside major contractors, the project features the Sunshine Superhub, rebuilt stations, and new dedicated regional connections.
Western Rail Plan - Sunshine Superhub (West Footscray to Albion Rail Upgrade)
The Western Rail Plan umbrella program is now centred on the Sunshine Superhub, formally known as the Melbourne Airport Rail Stage 1 West Footscray to Albion Rail Upgrade. The $4.1 billion program spans 6km from West Footscray to Albion, untangling a complex rail junction by building 6km of new raised track and 2 rail bridges to separate 6 regional and metropolitan rail lines. Sunshine Station will be transformed into a superhub with 2 new dedicated regional platforms and an extended concourse, supporting more than 1,000 train services per day.A new Tottenham Station and a rebuilt Albion Station are also included. The enabling works contract was awarded in February 2026 to a consortium of McConnell Dowell, Arup, Metro Trains Melbourne, V/Line and VIDA Rail, with early works commencing April 2026. Full construction completion is targeted for 2030. The Geelong Fast Rail component has been cancelled following the withdrawal of federal funding in November 2023. Electrification to Melton and Wyndham Vale remains a future stage subject to separate business cases.
Next Generation Trams
The Victorian Government is investing 1.85 billion AUD to deliver 100 accessible, low-floor Next Generation G Class trams and infrastructure upgrades, including the newly completed Maidstone Tram Depot. Designed by Alstom, the fleet of 25-metre-long vehicles will feature enhanced disability access, accommodating up to 150 passengers. The first test tram was delivered to Maidstone in September 2025, launching an extensive network testing and enabling works program across local routes before progressively rolling out to passengers.
Melbourne Airport Rail - Sunshine to Albion Package
Stage 1 of the Melbourne Airport Rail connecting passengers from West Footscray to Albion. The project involves upgrading Sunshine Station into a superhub, laying over 6 kilometres of new track, constructing two new rail bridges, and adding new regional platforms. Construction commenced in early 2026.
5,548 residents of Sunshine are employed, from a labour force of 5,960. Unemployment sits at 6.9%, with participation at 69.7%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 6.3% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth. The working-day population is estimated at 11,390, about 112% of the resident population, so the area draws in more workers than it sends out. Unemployment and labour force come from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, updated quarterly; the industry and occupation profile is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
The local workforce in Sunshine is highly educated and distributed across various industries, showing an unemployment rate of 6.9% and an estimated annual employment growth rate of 2.7%. In March 2026, there are 5,548 employed residents, though the local unemployment rate sits 2.1% higher than the Greater Melbourne average of 4.8%, while the rate of participation in the labor force is close to the metropolitan average of 70.2%. Census data indicates that 27.2% of local workers operated from home, though this figure may reflect the influence of public health restrictions during the pandemic.
The primary employment sectors for local residents are health care & social assistance, education & training, and retail trade. The workforce shows a particularly strong concentration in transport, postal & warehousing, employing residents at 1.5 times the broader metropolitan rate. Conversely, the professional & technical sector accounts for only 7.4% of local employment, which is lower than the Greater Melbourne average of 10.1%. At the time of the Census, the ratio of local jobs stood at 0.8 workers for every resident, pointing to a healthy volume of local employment options. Based on AreaSearch's evaluation of SALM and ABS statistics, employment rose by 2.7% and the size of the local labor force expanded by 1.9% over the 12-month period, which resulted in a decrease in the unemployment rate of 0.7 percentage points. Over the same timeframe, Greater Melbourne saw employment rise by 2.1%, the labor force expand by 2.3%, and the unemployment rate rise by 0.2 percentage points. Long-term employment projections from Jobs and Skills Australia as of May-25 offer additional perspective on prospective employment trends in Sunshine. These five and ten-year forecasts have been aligned with the local industry mix to estimate future employment patterns. Although national employment is projected to grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, the rate of change varies widely by sector. Applying these sector-specific forecasts to the local employment structure indicates that employment in Sunshine is projected to rise by 6.3% over five years and 13.2% over ten years, representing a basic weighted projection that does not incorporate local population forecasts.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Sunshine is $1,566 a week (about $81,000 a year), with median personal income at $706 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $57,357 a year against an average of $65,504. Household income is from the 2021 Census; taxable income is from ATO Taxation Statistics for the latest financial year available, indexed forward using the ABS Wage Price Index.
Detail
In the Sunshine SA2, the median taxpayer income is $57,357 and the average income is $65,504, according to the latest postal-level ATO figures compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023. These figures are slightly below national averages and compare to a median income of $57,688 and an average of $75,164 across Greater Melbourne. Adjusting for a Wage Price Index increase of 9.62% since financial year 2023 yields updated estimates of approximately $62,875 for the median and $71,805 for the average as of March 2026. The 2021 Census indicates that household, family, and individual incomes in Sunshine are modest, falling between the 29th and 39th national percentiles.
The $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket is the most common, accounting for 31.1% of households (3,161 people), which is comparable to the Greater Melbourne share of 32.8%. Financial strain from housing costs is significant, leaving residents with 82.7% of their income after housing expenses, placing the area in the 39th percentile for affordability.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Sunshine had 3,365 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 69% detached houses and 8% apartments. 30% are owned with a mortgage, 42% rented and 28% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $340 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,842 a month. Rent absorbs 21.7% of household income here and mortgage repayments 27.1%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
According to the latest Census, the housing mix in Sunshine consists of 69.4% detached houses and 30.6% semi-detached properties, apartments, or other dwelling types, compared to 67.9% detached houses and 32.1% other dwellings across Greater Melbourne. The home ownership rate in Sunshine is 27.9%, which is slightly lower than the metropolitan average, with the remaining properties occupied by residents with a mortgage (29.9%) or tenants renting their homes (42.2%). The median monthly mortgage repayment of $1,842 is lower than the Melbourne metropolitan average of $2,000, while the median weekly rent is $340, compared to $390 across the wider metropolitan area.
Nationwide, Sunshine's mortgage payments are below the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents are lower than the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Sunshine counted 3,365 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 3,621 today, averaging 2.6 people each. 29% are couples with children, against 22% couples without children. 26% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.3 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Families make up 66.8% of all local households, consisting of couples with children at 28.9%, couples without children at 21.7%, and single parents at 13.6%. The remaining 33.2% consist of non-family households, which are made up of single-person households at 25.5% and group households at 7.7%. The median size of local households is 2.6 people, matching the average across Greater Melbourne.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
35.4% of adults in Sunshine hold a university qualification, including 22.6% with a bachelor degree and 9.8% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 14.8% hold a vocational qualification. 6 schools serve the area, with 901 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 1,011 against a national benchmark of 1,000. Qualifications come from the 2021 Census; school enrolments, ICSEA and results come from ACARA's current release.
Detail
The level of educational qualification in Sunshine is higher than the regional average, with 35.4% of residents aged 15 and over holding a university degree, compared to 23.9% in the broader SA3 area. This high rate of tertiary qualification positions the population well for employment in knowledge-based industries. Bachelor degrees are the most common qualification at 22.6%, followed by postgraduate degrees at 9.8% and graduate diplomas at 3.0%. Vocational training is held by 24.2% of residents aged 15 and over, with 9.4% holding advanced diplomas and 14.8% holding certificates. Participation in education is high in the area, with 31.3% of the population currently enrolled in a course of study.
This cohort includes 8.4% of residents in primary school, 7.2% in tertiary institutions, and 5.9% attending secondary school.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Public transport in Sunshine reaches 100 stops on 31 routes, timetabled for about 14,100 services a week. The typical home sits about 130 m from its nearest stop. Buses carry the largest share of public transport commuters. Households keep an average of 1.0 vehicles. Stop and service counts are built from operators' published GTFS timetables and refresh with each timetable release; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
An analysis of public transport reveals 100 active transit stops in Sunshine, consisting of a network of trains and buses. These stops serve 31 different routes, which support 14,067 passenger trips each week. Transport access is rated as excellent, with residents living an average of 131 meters from their nearest stop. Because the suburb is primarily residential, most workers commute to outer areas, with cars remaining the main mode of travel at 72%, followed by trains at 16% and buses at 6%. The average number of vehicles per household is 1.0, which is below the metropolitan average.
A significant 27.2% of residents worked from home, based on 2021 Census data that may reflect pandemic-era travel patterns. Public transport services run an average of 2,009 trips daily across the network, which averages out to approximately 140 weekly trips for each transit stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
74.4% of residents in Sunshine report no long-term health condition. 7.2% need daily assistance with core activities, and 51.9% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 6.9 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Health data points to below-average outcomes in Sunshine, based on AreaSearch's analysis of mortality figures and the prevalence of chronic illnesses, with common conditions slightly more frequent than average across both younger and older cohorts. Additionally, the rate of private health insurance coverage is below the average SA2 area at approximately 52% of the population (~5,275 people), compared to 56.7% in Greater Melbourne. Asthma and mental health conditions are the most prevalent health issues in the area, affecting 7.1% and 7.0% of residents, respectively. Meanwhile, 74.4% of the population reported no chronic medical conditions, compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne.
Residents under the age of 65 experience better health outcomes than the national average. Seniors aged 65 and over make up 13.3% of the population (1,353 people), which is lower than the Greater Melbourne share of 15.0%. Health outcomes among this older cohort are above average, ranking higher nationally than the general local population.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
51.3% of Sunshine residents were born overseas and 56.6% speak a language other than English at home, more culturally diverse than 92% of areas nationally. The largest reported ancestries are English (14.7%) and Australian (13.6%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Sunshine ranks among the most culturally diverse suburbs in Australia, with 51.3% of the population born outside of Australia and 56.6% using a non-English language at home. Christianity is the most common religious affiliation, representing 40.1% of the local population. Buddhism shows a significant concentration at 11.1% of residents, which is notably higher than the Greater Melbourne average of 4.2%. Looking at ancestral backgrounds based on parents' country of birth, the top three groups in Sunshine are Other at 20.3% (above the metropolitan average of 14.6%), English at 14.7% (below the metropolitan average of 20.1%), and Australian at 13.6%.
There are also significant differences in specific ethnic groups, with Vietnamese ancestry representing 13.5% of the population (compared to 1.9% across the region), Maltese at 1.4% (compared to 1.1%), and Macedonian at 0.8% (compared to 0.7%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Sunshine is 35, younger than 79% of areas nationally. 32.2% of residents are aged 15 to 34. Age cohorts are not raw Census counts: the Census split is re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections.
Detail
The median age in Sunshine is 35 years, making it slightly younger than Greater Melbourne's median of 37 years and the national average of 38 years. Young adults aged 25 to 34 represent a large segment of the community at 20.1%, which is higher than the national share of 14.6%, while children aged 5 to 14 are less common at 10.2% compared to Greater Melbourne. Since 2021, the share of residents aged 65 to 74 grew from 6.8% to 7.9%, while the share of residents aged 25 to 34 decreased from 21.0% to 20.1%.
Demographic projections for 2041 point to significant changes, with the 55 to 64 age bracket expected to increase by 584 people (57%) from 1,030 to 1,615.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Sunshine
9 of 14 data sections on this page were updated within the last 12 months — the newest current to Aug 2026.
Everything is aggregated to the SA2 boundary shown above, on a 2021 Census baseline. Only 3 sections — housing, households and cultural diversity — still wait on the 2026 Census.
The ledger — source, cycle and currency by section
| Section | Source & update cycle | Currency |
|---|---|---|
| Updated within the last 12 months 9 sections | ||
| Population | ABS, GNAF, Geoscience Australia Annual (ABS ERP) | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release) and updated with new dwellings from GNAF address data. Current to May 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | May 2026 3 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to May 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Jun 2026 2 months ago headline measures · May 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 this month all 21 measures |
| Sales from the state Valuer General register, refreshed weekly, and rents from quarterly rental bond lodgements. Both are read live each time this page loads, current to Aug 2026. | ||
| Infrastructure projects | Infrastructure Australia, State agencies, Local governments Daily | Aug 2026 this month all 8 projects tracked here |
| Project pipeline maintained continuously from Infrastructure Australia, state agencies, local government and public announcements. Records are added and revised daily; this area was last updated Aug 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 5 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Unemployment and labour force from ABS Small Area Labour Markets, current to Mar 2026. The growth outlook applies Department of Employment (now Jobs and Skills Australia) forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to the local industry mix, so it measures sector composition rather than local expansion and makes no allowance for population growth. Job demand comes from the same agency via its Internet Vacancy Index; industry and occupation structure from the 2021 Census. | ||
| Education | ABS, ACARA Annual (ACARA) | Aug 2026 this month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 last month all 14 measures |
| Annual and financial-year sources 2 sections | ||
| Income | ABS, ATO Annual (ATO) | FY 2023 3 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| ATO taxable income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index. Census household income provides the distribution detail. | ||
| Health | ABS, ATO Annual | 2024 2 years ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Census-measured — next update: 2026 Census 3 sections No more current small-area source exists for these, so they are labelled as Census-measured rather than implied to be current. | ||
| Housing | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 30 measures |
| Households | ABS 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 18 measures |
| Cultural diversity | ABS, Geoscience Australia 5-yearly (Census) | 2021 Census next update 2026 all 44 measures |
"Currency" is the most recent release feeding that section. Where the Census supplies the structural baseline underneath a current headline figure, the row says so.
How the numbers are built
Population
The Census provides the small-area baseline, aggregated from mesh blocks to this boundary. It is then re-based to the ABS Estimated Resident Population (June 2025 release), and new dwellings built since Census night are counted from address data — 175 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for May 2026, not a 2021 count (9,445 at the 2021 Census → 10,164 now). Annual growth rates are compound (CAGR), not simple averages.
Age profile
Cohort shares are not raw Census counts. Every cohort is held as a pair — the Census baseline and a current estimate — and the split is re-based using ERP and state population projections, current to May 2026. Median age is the Census median plus modelled change since. Charts that show both are labelled "2021 Census vs Current Estimate".
Property sales
Sourced from the state valuation authority's sales register — current, not Census, and refreshed weekly. Medians are calculated from settled transactions in the period shown; periods with very low transaction counts are flagged or suppressed, because a handful of sales can move a median substantially.
Rents
Derived from state rental bond lodgement data, by dwelling type and bedroom count. Bonds are lodged at the start of a new tenancy, so this reflects new lettings, not the whole rented stock.
Development & infrastructure
Building approvals come from current ABS releases; development applications are collected from council and state planning portals; the infrastructure pipeline is compiled from Infrastructure Australia and local government sources. Applications are matched to this boundary by address or coordinates, so very recent lodgements may not yet appear.
Employment & income
Industry and occupation structure comes from the Census, but the headline labour-market indicators do not. Unemployment and labour force are derived from ABS Small Area Labour Markets (quarterly). The employment outlook applies Department of Employment forecasts for all 19 industry divisions to this area's own industry mix (the agency is now Jobs and Skills Australia), as does the Internet Vacancy Index used for job demand. Because it is weighted on industry composition alone, that outlook carries no allowance for local population growth — in fast-growing areas the real rise in local jobs will typically be higher. Income combines Census household income with ATO taxable-income statistics for FY 2023, indexed forward using the Wage Price Index.
Education, transport & amenities
School enrolments, ICSEA and performance come from ACARA's current release, not the Census. Public transport stops and service frequency are derived from GTFS timetable feeds published by state transport departments. Services and amenities are proximity and count scores built from provider directories, refreshed on their own cycle. The Census contributes only the travel-to-work and qualification measures.
Rankings and benchmarks. Where we rank this area, the comparison set is every area of the same boundary type — suburbs against suburbs, SA2s against SA2s. Benchmarks compare this area against its greater capital city region and the national figure for the same measure and period.
Limits worth knowing. Small areas carry larger error margins, and the ABS introduces small random adjustments to Census counts to protect confidentiality — so totals may not sum exactly. Estimates re-based from regional data describe the area's expected trajectory, not a direct count of it. Figures are indicative for research and are not financial, planning or valuation advice.
Cross-check us. The Census baseline for this boundary is at ABS 2021 Census QuickStats (213011336). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.