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

The Basin's population was around 4,380 as of February 2026. This reflected an increase of 35 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 4,345 people. The change was inferred from the estimated resident population of 4,345 from the ABS in June 2024 and four validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equated to a density ratio of 765 persons per square kilometer. Population growth was primarily driven by natural growth contributing approximately 54.3% of overall population gains during recent periods.

AreaSearch adopted ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered, AreaSearch utilised 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 were applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Future population trends showed an anticipated lower quartile growth, 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 approximately five new dwelling approvals per year. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, 27 homes were approved, with seven more approved so far in FY-26. Despite a decline in population during this period, housing supply has remained adequate relative to demand, resulting in a well-balanced market with good buyer choice.

The average construction cost value of new properties is $430,000, slightly above the regional average, indicating a focus on quality developments. This financial year has seen $1.1 million in commercial approvals registered, suggesting a predominantly residential focus. Compared to Greater Melbourne, The Basin has significantly less development activity, 73.0% below the regional average per person. This scarcity of new homes typically strengthens demand and prices for existing properties. When measured against national averages, The Basin's development activity is also lower, reflecting market maturity and possible development constraints.

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. As of now, there are an estimated 1264 people in the area per dwelling approval, reflecting its quiet, low activity development environment. Looking ahead, The Basin is expected to grow by 93 residents through to 2041, according to 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

Changes to local infrastructure significantly impact an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified one major project likely affecting this region: Mountain Highway Logistics Hub, Angliss Hospital Expansion, Bayswater Business Precinct Transformation Strategy, and Dandenong Ranges Environmental Protection Program are key projects, with the following list detailing those 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 performance in The Basin exceeds national averages across key labour market indicators

The Basin's workforce is skilled with notable representation in construction. The unemployment rate was 3.6% in the past year, with an estimated employment growth of 1.6%. As of September 2025, 2,462 residents were employed at a 1.0% lower unemployment rate than Greater Melbourne's 4.7%, while workforce participation was similar at 71.0%.

A high 25.8% of residents worked from home, potentially influenced by Covid-19 lockdowns. Leading employment industries included construction, health care & social assistance, and retail trade. Construction showed strong specialization with an employment share 1.6 times the regional level. Conversely, professional & technical services were under-represented at 6.0% compared to Greater Melbourne's 10.1%.

Limited local employment opportunities were indicated by the working population count versus resident population. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 1.6%, labour force grew by 0.7%, reducing the unemployment rate by 0.8 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Melbourne saw employment growth of 3.0% and labour force growth of 3.3%, with a slight rise in unemployment to 4.0%. Jobs and Skills Australia's national employment forecasts from May-25 project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years, varying significantly by industry sector. Applying these projections to The Basin's employment mix suggests local employment should increase by 6.3% over five years and 13.1% over ten years, though this is a simplified extrapolation for illustrative purposes only and does not consider local population projections.

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

The Basin SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $58,839 and an average of $70,207 in financial year 2023, according to AreaSearch's latest postcode level ATO data. This is higher than the national average. Greater Melbourne, for comparison, had a median income of $57,688 and an average of $75,164 during the same period. Based on Wage Price Index growth of 8.25% since financial year 2023, estimated incomes as of September 2025 would be approximately $63,693 (median) and $75,999 (average). Census data indicates that household, family, and personal incomes in The Basin cluster around the 62nd percentile nationally. Distribution data shows that 37.3% of individuals in The Basin earn between $1,500 and $2,999 annually, which is similar to the broader area where this group represents 32.8%. Housing expenses account for 13.6% of income. Residents' strong earnings rank them 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 dwelling structure, as per the latest Census, consisted of 96.4% houses and 3.6% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Melbourne metro had 67.9% houses and 32.1% other dwellings. Home ownership in The Basin was at 36.3%, with mortgaged dwellings at 53.4% and rented ones at 10.4%. The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,950, below Melbourne metro's average of $2,000. The median weekly rent figure was $366, compared to Melbourne metro's $390. Nationally, The Basin's mortgage repayments were higher than the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were 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 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 comprise 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, 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'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 such qualifications – advanced diplomas at 13.5% and certificates at 26.6%. Educational participation is 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

The Basin has 15 active public transport stops, all serving buses. These are covered by three routes that together offer 507 weekly passenger trips. Residents enjoy good transport accessibility, with an average distance of 263 meters to the nearest stop. Most residents commute outwards daily. Cars remain the primary mode of transport at 93%. The area has an average vehicle ownership of 1.9 per dwelling, higher than the regional norm.

According to the 2021 Census, 25.8% of residents work from home, which might be due to COVID-19 conditions. On average, there are 72 trips per day across all routes, translating to roughly 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, according to an assessment by AreaSearch that considered mortality rates and chronic condition prevalence. Common health conditions are somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts.

The rate of private health cover is approximately 54% of the total population (~2,360 people), slightly higher than the average SA2 area but lower than Greater Melbourne's 56.7%. Mental health issues and asthma are the most common medical conditions in the area, impacting 9.4 and 8.5% of residents respectively. However, 68.0% of residents declare themselves 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), higher than Greater Melbourne's 15.1%. National rankings for health outcomes are 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's cultural diversity was found to be below average, 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 in The Basin, comprising 38.2% of people. Notably, Judaism was overrepresented at 0.1%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 1.0%.

In terms of ancestry, the top three groups were English (31.2%), Australian (27.4%), and Scottish (8.8%). These percentages were substantially higher than their respective regional averages: English (20.1%), Australian (18.4%). There was overrepresentation of Dutch people at 2.8% (regional average: 1.2%), Welsh at 0.8% (0.4%), and Sri Lankan at 0.7% (0.8%).

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

The median age in The Basin is 39 years, which is 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 people aged 55-64 (13.4%) and a lower proportion of people aged 25-34 (8.1%). Post-2021 Census data shows that the population aged 15-24 grew from 11.4% to 14.7%, while the population aged 75-84 increased from 3.8% to 6.1%. Conversely, the population aged 25-34 declined from 12.1% to 8.1%, and the population aged 45-54 dropped from 15.2% to 14.2%. Population forecasts for 2041 indicate substantial demographic changes in The Basin. The 85+ age group is expected to grow by 109% (from 66 to 138 people), led by an increase of residents aged 65 and older who will represent 62% of the anticipated growth. Meanwhile, the populations aged 55-64 and 0-4 are expected to decline.