The Basin
Statistical Area - sa2

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

The Basin's population, as of August 2025, stands at approximately 4,349 individuals. This figure represents an increase of four people from the 2021 Census total of 4,345 inhabitants. The change is inferred from ABS estimates showing a resident population of 4,347 in June 2024 and two additional validated addresses since the Census date. This results in a density ratio of about 760 persons per square kilometer, aligning with averages observed across locations assessed by AreaSearch. Natural growth contributed roughly 54.3% to overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch employs ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024, using 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises VIC State Government's Regional/LGA projections from 2023 with adjustments made through 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. Future trends suggest a lower quartile growth, with the area projected to expand by 128 persons to 2041, resulting in a total gain of approximately 2.9% over the 17-year period.

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

The Basin averaged approximately 5 new dwelling approvals per year. Development approval data is produced by the Australian Bureau of Statistics on a financial year basis. Between FY-21 and FY-25, there were 27 dwelling approvals in total, with 1 approval recorded so far in FY-26. Despite population decline in the area, development activity has been adequate relative to other regions.

The average construction cost value of new homes is $780,000, indicating that developers are targeting the premium market segment. This financial year, there have been $1.1 million in commercial approvals, suggesting a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Greater Melbourne, The Basin has significantly less development activity, with 73.0% below the regional average per person. This constrained new construction can reinforce demand and pricing for existing homes. The area's development activity is also below national averages, reflecting its maturity and possible planning constraints.

Recent building activity consists entirely of detached houses, maintaining the area's traditional low density character and appealing to those seeking space in family homes. With an estimated 1264 people per dwelling approval, The Basin has a quiet, low activity development environment. Population forecasts indicate that the area will gain 124 residents by 2041. 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 strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 40% nationally

Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project expected to impact this region: Mountain Highway Logistics Hub, Dandenong Ranges Environmental Protection Program, Six Senses Resort And Spa At Burnham Beeches, and Fairpark Reserve are key projects; the following details those most relevant.

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

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

The Basin has a skilled workforce with notable representation in the construction sector. The unemployment rate was 3.4% as of June 2025, lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.6%.

Employment growth over the past year was estimated at 1.4%. As of June 2025, 2,468 residents were employed with an unemployment rate of 1.2% below Greater Melbourne's rate. Workforce participation in The Basin was 69.2%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 64.1%. Leading employment industries among residents included construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade.

Construction showed particularly strong specialization with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level. However, professional & technical services were under-represented at 6.0% compared to Greater Melbourne's 10.1%. Employment opportunities locally appeared limited based on Census working population vs resident population data. During the year to June 2025, employment levels increased by 1.4%, labour force by 0.6%, reducing unemployment rate by 0.7 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne experienced employment growth of 3.5% and labour force growth of 4.0%, with a 0.5 percentage point rise in unemployment rate. State-level data to Sep-25 showed VIC employment grew by 1.08% year-on-year, adding 39,880 jobs, with the state unemployment rate at 4.7%. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia projected a 6.6% growth over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to The Basin's employment mix suggested local growth of approximately 6.3% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, though these are simple extrapolations for illustrative purposes.

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 The Basin's median income among taxpayers is $54,820. The average income is $66,132. This is slightly above the national average. Greater Melbourne's median income is $54,892 with an average of $73,761. Using Wage Price Index growth of 10.11% since financial year 2022, current estimates for The Basin are approximately $60,362 (median) and $72,818 (average) as of March 2025. Census data indicates household, family, and personal incomes in The Basin cluster around the 62nd percentile nationally. Distribution data shows that 37.3% of residents earn between $1,500 and $2,999 (1,622 individuals), which is similar to the broader area where this cohort represents 32.8%. Housing expenses account for 13.6% of income. Strong earnings place residents within the 73rd percentile for disposable income. The Basin'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

The Basin's latest Census data showed 96.4% houses and 3.6% other dwellings, compared to Melbourne metro's 83.4% houses and 16.7% other dwellings. Home ownership in The Basin was 36.3%, with mortgages at 53.4% and rentals at 10.4%. Mortgage repayments were $1,950 monthly, below Melbourne's $2,000 average, while median weekly rent was $366, lower than Melbourne's $400. Nationally, The Basin's mortgage repayments were higher at $1,950 compared to the Australian average of $1,863, and rents were lower at $366 against the national figure of $375.

The Basin features high concentrations of family households, with a fairly typical median household size

Family households constitute 79.7% of all households, including 39.7% couples with children, 27.7% couples without children, and 11.3% single parent families. Non-family households account for the remaining 20.3%, with lone person households at 18.6% and group households comprising 1.9%. The median household size is 2.7 people, which aligns with the Greater Melbourne average.

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

The area's university qualification rate is 23.5%, significantly lower than Greater Melbourne's average of 37.0%. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 16.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (4.5%) and graduate diplomas (3.0%). Vocational credentials are prevalent, with 40.1% of residents aged 15+ holding them, including advanced diplomas (13.5%) and certificates (26.6%). Educational participation is high at 29.1%, comprising primary education (10.6%), secondary education (8.6%), and tertiary education (4.0%).

St Bernadette's Catholic Primary School and The Basin Primary School serve a total of 847 students, with The Basin having above-average socio-educational conditions (ICSEA: 1056). Both schools focus on primary education, while secondary options are available in nearby areas. The area functions as an educational hub with 19.5 school places per 100 residents, higher than the regional average of 12.0, attracting students from surrounding communities.

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

The Basin has 15 active public transport stops operating, with a mix of bus services. These stops are served by three individual routes that collectively provide 536 weekly passenger trips. Transport accessibility is rated as good, with residents typically located 263 meters from the nearest transport stop.

Service frequency averages 76 trips per day across all routes, equating to approximately 35 weekly trips per individual stop.

The Basin's residents are healthier than average in comparison to broader Australia with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts

Health data shows relatively positive outcomes for Basin residents, with common health conditions slightly more prevalent than average across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover stands at approximately 52%, leading that of the average SA2 area (~2,278 people). Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 9.4% and 8.5% of residents respectively. A total of 68.0% of residents declare themselves completely clear of medical ailments, compared to 69.4% across Greater Melbourne. The area has 16.2% of residents aged 65 and over (705 people), which is lower than the 19.5% in Greater Melbourne. This aligns broadly with the general population's health profile.

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 had a below-average cultural diversity, with 84.0% of its population born in Australia, 91.1% being citizens, and 92.6% speaking English only at home. Christianity was the main religion, comprising 38.2%. Judaism, however, was overrepresented at 0.1%, compared to 0.1% across Greater Melbourne.

In terms of ancestry, English comprised 31.2%, Australian 27.4%, and Scottish 8.8%. Notably, Dutch were overrepresented at 2.8%, Welsh at 0.8%, and Sri Lankan at 0.7%.

The Basin's population is slightly older than the national pattern

The median age in The Basin is 39 years, slightly higher than Greater Melbourne's average of 37 years and close to the national average of 38 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, The Basin has a notably higher proportion of individuals aged 55-64 (13.5% locally) but a lower proportion of those aged 25-34 (8.6%). According to post-2021 Census data, the population aged 15-24 grew from 11.4% to 14.3%, while the 75-84 cohort increased from 3.8% to 5.5%. Conversely, the 25-34 age group declined from 12.1% to 8.6%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate significant demographic changes in The Basin. Leading these shifts, the 75-84 age group is projected to grow by 40%, reaching 333 people from 237. This growth will contribute to a higher proportion of residents aged 65 and older representing 68% of anticipated population growth. Meanwhile, the 55-64 and 0-4 age cohorts are expected to experience population declines.