The Basin

The Basin is positioned among the lower quartile of areas assessed nationally for population growth based on AreaSearch's assessment of recent, and medium term trends

Based on AreaSearch's analysis, The Basin's population is around 4,380 as of Feb 2026. This reflects an increase of 35 people (0.8%) since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,345 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 4,345 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 4 validated new addresses since the Census date. This population level equates to a density ratio of 765 persons per square kilometer, which is relatively in line with averages seen across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by natural growth, which contributed approximately 54.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, as released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For any SA2 areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch is utilising the VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections released in 2023, with adjustments made employing a method of weighted aggregation of population growth from LGA to SA2 levels. Growth rates by age group from these aggregations are also applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. As we examine future population trends, lower quartile growth of statistical areas analysed by AreaSearch is anticipated, with the area expected to expand by 128 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting a gain of 2.1% in total over the 17 years.

The level of residential development activity in The Basin is very low in comparison to the average area assessed nationally by AreaSearch

The Basin has averaged around 5 new dwelling approvals per year, with 27 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-21 and FY-25) and 7 so far in FY-26. Given population has fallen over the past period, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, creating a well-balanced market with good buyer choice, while new properties are constructed at an average value of $430,000—slightly above the regional average—suggesting a focus on quality developments. Additionally, $1.1 million in commercial approvals have been registered this financial year, suggesting a predominantly residential focus.

When measured against Greater Melbourne, The Basin has significantly less development activity (73.0% below regional average per person). This scarcity of new homes typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. This activity is likewise lower than nationally, reflecting market maturity and pointing to possible development constraints. Furthermore, recent building activity consists entirely of detached houses, maintaining the area's traditional low density character with a focus on family homes appealing to those seeking space. The estimated count of 1264 people in the area per dwelling approval reflects its quiet, low activity development environment.

Looking ahead, The Basin is expected to grow by 93 residents through to 2041 (from the latest AreaSearch quarterly estimate). Based on current development patterns, new housing supply should readily meet demand, offering good conditions for buyers and potentially facilitating population growth beyond current projections.

The Basin has moderate levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 46thth percentile nationally

Nothing can influence an area's performance as much as changes to local infrastructure, major projects and planning initiatives. In total, 1 single project has been identified by AreaSearch that is likely to have an impact on the area. Key projects include the Mountain Highway Logistics Hub, Angliss Hospital Expansion, Bayswater Business Precinct Transformation Strategy, and Dandenong Ranges Environmental Protection Program, with the list below detailing those likely to be of most relevance.

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 performance in The Basin exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

The Basin possesses a skilled workforce, with the construction sector a particular standout in terms of representation, an unemployment rate of only 3.8%, and 2.3% in estimated employment growth over the past year. As of December 2025, 2,471 residents are in work while the unemployment rate is 1.0% below Greater Melbourne's rate of 4.8%, and workforce participation is broadly similar to Greater Melbourne's 71.3%. Based on Census responses, a high 25.8% of residents were found to work from home, though Covid-19 lockdown impacts should be considered.

Leading employment industries among residents comprise construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. The area shows particularly strong specialization in construction, with an employment share of 1.6 times the regional level. On the other hand, professional & technical services are under-represented, with only 6.0% of The Basin's workforce compared to 10.1% in Greater Melbourne. The area appears to offer limited employment opportunities locally, as indicated by the count of the Census working population versus the resident population.

Based on AreaSearch analysis of SALM and ABS data, during the year to December 2025, employment levels increased by 2.3% and the labour force increased by 1.5%, causing the unemployment rate to fall by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced employment growth of 2.4% and labour force growth of 2.8%, with a 0.3 percentage point rise. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 can offer further insight into potential future demand within The Basin. These projections, covering five and ten-year periods, have been mapped against the local employment profile to estimate growth patterns. While national employment is forecast to expand by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, growth rates differ significantly between industry sectors. Applying these industry-specific projections to The Basin's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.1% over ten years (please note this is a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes and does not take into account localised population projections).

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

As per AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data released for FY-23, the The Basin SA2's median income among taxpayers is $58,839, with an average of $70,207. This is above the national average, and compares to Greater Melbourne's median of $57,688 and average of $75,164. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since FY-23, current estimates would be approximately $63,693 (median) and $75,999 (average) as of September 2025. Census data reveals household, family and personal incomes in The Basin cluster around the 62nd percentile nationally. Distribution data shows the $1,500 - 2,999 earnings band captures 37.3% of the community (1,633 individuals), aligning with the broader area where this cohort likewise represents 32.8%. Housing accounts for 13.6% of income while strong earnings rank residents within the 73rd percentile for disposable income and the area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 6th decile.

The Basin is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

Dwelling structure within The Basin, as evaluated at the latest Census, comprised 96.4% houses and 3.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings), in comparison to Melbourne metro's 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Meanwhile, the level of home ownership within The Basin was well beyond that of Melbourne metro, at 36.3%, with the remainder of dwellings either mortgaged (53.4%) or rented (10.4%). The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was below the Melbourne metro average at $1,950, while the median weekly rent figure was recorded at $366, compared to Melbourne metro's $2,000 and $390. Nationally, The Basin's mortgage repayments are higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents are less than the national figure of $375.

The Basin features high concentrations of family households, with a higher-than-average median household size

Family households dominate at 79.7% of all households, comprising 39.7% couples with children, 27.7% couples without children, and 11.3% single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 20.3%, with lone person households at 18.6% and group households comprising 1.9% of the total. The median household size of 2.7 people is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 2.6.

The educational profile of The Basin exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics

The area faces educational challenges, with university qualification rates (23.5%) substantially below the Greater Melbourne average of 37.0%. This represents both a challenge and an opportunity for targeted educational initiatives. Bachelor degrees lead at 16.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.5%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Trade and technical skills feature prominently, with 40.1% of residents aged 15+ holding vocational credentials, including advanced diplomas (13.5%) and certificates (26.6%).

Educational participation is notably high, with 29.1% of residents currently enrolled in formal education. This includes 10.6% in primary education, 8.6% in secondary education, and 4.0% pursuing tertiary education.

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

Public transport analysis reveals 15 active transport stops operating within The Basin, comprising a mix of buses. These stops are serviced by 3 individual routes, collectively providing 507 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 263 meters from the nearest transport stop. As a primarily residential area, most residents commute outward, and the car remains the dominant mode at 93%. Vehicle ownership averages 1.9 per dwelling, which is above the regional average. A high 25.8% of residents work from home (2021 Census; may reflect COVID-19 conditions).

Service frequency averages 72 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 33 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health performance in The Basin is lower than average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

The Basin faces significant health challenges, based on AreaSearch's assessment of mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts, and the rate of private health cover just leads the average SA2 area at approximately 54% of the total population (~2,360 people). This compares to 56.7% across Greater Melbourne.

The most common medical conditions in the area were found to be mental health issues and asthma, impacting 9.4 and 8.5% of residents, respectively, while 68.0% declared themselves as completely clear of medical ailments compared to 72.6% across Greater Melbourne. Health outcomes among the working-age population are broadly typical. The area has 17.1% of residents aged 65 and over (749 people), which is higher than the 15.1% in Greater Melbourne, with national rankings broadly in line with the general population.

The Basin ranks below the Australian average when compared to other local markets across a number of language and cultural background related metrics

The Basin was found to be below average in terms of cultural diversity, with 84.0% of its population born in Australia, 91.1% being citizens, and 92.6% speaking English only at home. The main religion in The Basin is Christianity, which makes up 38.2% of people. However, the most apparent overrepresentation was in Judaism, which comprises 0.1% of the population, compared to 1.0% across Greater Melbourne.

In terms of ancestry (country of birth of parents), the top three represented groups in The Basin are English, comprising 31.2% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 20.1%, Australian, comprising 27.4% of the population, which is substantially higher than the regional average of 18.4%, and Scottish, comprising 8.8% of the population. Additionally, there are notable divergences in the representation of certain other ethnic groups: Dutch is notably overrepresented at 2.8% of The Basin (vs 1.2% regionally), Welsh at 0.8% (vs 0.4%) and Sri Lankan at 0.7% (vs 0.8%).

The Basin's population aligns closely with national norms in age terms

The 39-year median age in The Basin is somewhat higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 and similarly very close to the 38-year national average. Compared to the Greater Melbourne average, the 55 - 64 cohort is notably over-represented (13.4% locally), while 25 - 34 year-olds are under-represented (8.1%). Post-2021 Census data shows the 15 to 24 age group has grown from 11.4% to 14.7% of the population, while the 75 to 84 cohort increased from 3.8% to 6.1%. Conversely, the 25 to 34 cohort has declined from 12.1% to 8.1% and the 45 to 54 group dropped from 15.2% to 14.2%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes for The Basin. Leading the demographic shift, the 85+ group will grow by 109% (71 people), reaching 138 from 66. Demographic aging continues as residents 65 and older represent 62% of anticipated growth. On the other hand, the 55 to 64 and 0 to 4 cohorts are expected to experience population declines.