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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 | --
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Sales Activity
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Sales Detail
Population
West Melbourne - Residential lies within the top 10% of areas nationally in terms of population growth performance according to AreaSearch analysis of short and medium-term trends
West Melbourne - Residential's population is around 9,318 as of Nov 2025. This reflects an increase of 1,872 people since the 2021 Census, which reported a population of 7,446 people. The change is inferred from the estimated resident population of 9,301 from the ABS as of June 2024 and an additional 84 validated new addresses since the Census date. This level of population equates to a density ratio of 11,363 persons per square kilometer, which lies in the top 10% of national locations assessed by AreaSearch. West Melbourne - Residential's 25.1% growth since the 2021 census exceeded the national average (8.9%), along with the state, marking it as a growth leader in the region. Population growth for the area was primarily driven by overseas migration that contributed approximately 77.7% of overall population gains during recent periods.
AreaSearch is adopting ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area, released in 2024 with 2022 as the base year. For areas not covered by this data, AreaSearch utilises 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 are applied across all areas for years 2032 to 2041. Looking at population projections moving forward, exceptional growth is predicted over the period with the area expected to grow by 5,670 persons to 2041 based on the latest annual ERP population numbers, reflecting an increase of 60.7% in total over the 17 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
Development
Residential development activity is slightly higher than average within West Melbourne - Residential when compared nationally
West Melbourne - Residential has seen approximately 194 dwellings granted development approval annually. Over the past five financial years, from FY-21 to FY-25, around 970 homes were approved, with an additional 198 approved in FY-26 so far. On average, each dwelling has accommodated about 2.3 new residents per year over these five years.
The average construction cost value of new homes is $202,000, reflecting more affordable housing options compared to regional norms. This financial year alone has seen $47.0 million in commercial development approvals, indicating strong local business investment. Compared to Greater Melbourne, West Melbourne - Residential records 91.0% more development activity per person. Building activity has slowed recently but remains significantly above the national average, suggesting robust developer interest. Current building activity consists solely of medium and high-density housing, catering to downsizers, investors, and entry-level buyers. With around 1089 people per dwelling approval, West Melbourne - Residential indicates a highly mature market.
According to AreaSearch's latest quarterly estimate, the area is projected to grow by approximately 5,653 residents by 2041. Current development appears well-suited to meet future needs, supporting steady market conditions without excessive price pressure.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Infrastructure
West Melbourne - Residential has strong levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the top 30% nationally
Changes in local infrastructure significantly affect an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 19 projects that could impact this region. Notable ones include WOBO North Melbourne, Gurrowa Place - QVM Southern Precinct, Errol Street Private Hospital, and Metro Tunnel Project. The following list details those expected to be most relevant.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Metro Tunnel Project
The Metro Tunnel is Melbourne's largest public transport project, delivering twin 9km rail tunnels and five new underground stations (Arden, Parkville, State Library, Town Hall, Anzac). It creates a new end-to-end rail line from Sunbury to Cranbourne/Pakenham, introduces high-capacity signalling and new High Capacity Metro Trains to enable turn-up-and-go services every 2-3 minutes, and removes four level crossings on the Cranbourne-Pakenham line.
Errol Street Private Hospital
New 8-level private hospital in North Melbourne delivering 223 overnight beds, 10 ICU beds, 7 operating theatres, medical imaging, pathology and specialist consulting suites within the Parkville Biomedical Precinct.
Metro Tunnel Project
The Metro Tunnel is a 9km twin-tunnel underground rail project with five new stations (Arden, Parkville, State Library, Town Hall, Anzac). It creates a new end-to-end rail line from Sunbury to Cranbourne/Pakenham, includes High Capacity Signalling and new High Capacity Metro Trains. Major construction is complete, systems testing and trial operations are underway. Limited passenger services on the tunnel section commence 30 November 2025, with full integration into the metropolitan network and new timetable from early 2026.
Level Crossing Removal Project
State-wide program to remove 110 level crossings across metropolitan Melbourne by 2030, delivering safer roads, less congestion and more reliable train services. Includes rebuilding or upgrading 57 train stations, opening up new community spaces and creating thousands of jobs.
Elysium Fields
Australia's first next-generation wellness and anti-ageing precinct - a $1.7 billion biosphere-like mixed-use development by GURNERT on a 27,000sqm waterfront site in Docklands. Features 1,100+ luxury apartments across multiple towers (first stage ~700-1,100 dwellings), a 200+ room luxury hotel, retail and commercial offices, extensive public gardens under a futuristic glass dome, and world-leading health facilities including the Elysian Reverse Ageing Medical Clinic (MRIs, DEXA scans, brain scans, blood testing), cryotherapy, IV infusions, infrared saunas, red light therapy, grounding/PEMF beds, ancient bathhouses, and Australia's largest Saint Haven private wellness club. Early construction works commenced in 2025 with Hamilton Marino appointed as builder for the first tower.
Gurrowa Place - QVM Southern Precinct
$1.7 billion mixed-use urban renewal project by Lendlease, City of Melbourne, and Scape as part of the Queen Victoria Market Precinct Renewal. The development includes three new buildings: a next-generation office tower, build-to-rent apartments (approx. 1129 total, including over 130 affordable homes), and a student accommodation tower (approx. 1150 residences, total dwellings/beds approx. 2279). It also features the creation of Market Square, a 1.8-hectare public park, the restoration of the heritage Franklin Street Stores for retail and hospitality, and a new 220-space basement car park. Final heritage and planning approvals were secured in August 2025.
Queen Victoria Market Precinct Renewal
The City of Melbourne's Queen Victoria Market Precinct Renewal is a multi-stage program to preserve and modernise Australia's largest and most intact 19th-century market. Key completed/ongoing works include heritage shed restorations, new trader facilities, customer amenities and core market infrastructure (largely finished by end-2024). The southern development (Gurrowa Place), delivered in partnership with Lendlease and Scape, received final federal heritage approval in August 2025 and includes a new 1.8 ha public open space (Market Square), restoration of the Franklin Street Stores, a 220-space basement car park, and mixed-use towers providing student accommodation, build-to-rent and affordable housing. Total program value approximately $268 million, with full precinct completion expected later this decade.
Abbotsford Street Social Housing
Redevelopment of 112 outdated homes into 340+ new homes including 127 social homes, 85 affordable homes, and 128+ private dwellings. Features universal design, community facilities, and sustainable building practices.
Employment
The employment environment in West Melbourne - Residential shows above-average strength when compared nationally
West Melbourne - Residential has an educated workforce with a notable technology sector. Its unemployment rate is 4.0%, lower than Greater Melbourne's 4.7%.
Employment growth over the past year is estimated at 6.1%. As of September 2025, 6,791 residents are employed, with an unemployment rate of 3.1% and workforce participation at 74.9%. Dominant employment sectors include professional & technical (at 1.9 times the regional average), accommodation & food, and health care & social assistance. Construction shows lower representation at 4.4% compared to the regional average of 9.7%.
The worker-to-resident ratio is 0.7, indicating ample local employment opportunities. Between September 2024 and September 2025, employment levels increased by 6.1%, labour force grew by 5.6%, and unemployment fell by 0.5 percentage points. In comparison, Greater Melbourne recorded employment growth of 3.0% with a slight increase in unemployment. State-level data from November 25 shows Victoria's employment grew by 1.13% year-on-year, with an unemployment rate of 4.7%. National forecasts suggest total employment will grow by 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to West Melbourne - Residential's employment mix indicates local employment should increase by 7.1% over five years and 14.2% over ten years, though this is a simple extrapolation for illustrative purposes only.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Income
Income levels align closely with national averages, indicating typical economic conditions for Australian communities according to AreaSearch analysis
West Melbourne Residential SA2 had a median taxpayer income of $52,489 and an average income of $70,007 in financial year 2022, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. These figures are higher than the national averages of $50,546 (median) and $68,118 (average). By September 2025, estimates suggest median income will be approximately $58,872 and average income $78,520, based on Wage Price Index growth of 12.16%. In Census 2021, individual earnings ranked at the 82nd percentile nationally ($1,047 weekly), while household income ranked at the 52nd percentile. Income distribution shows 35.1% (3,270 individuals) fall within the $1,500 - $2,999 range, similar to the broader regional trend of 32.8%. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 79.6% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 47th percentile. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 9th decile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Housing
West Melbourne - Residential features a more urban dwelling mix with significant apartment living, with ownership patterns similar to the broader region
In West Melbourne - Residential, as per the latest Census evaluation, 1.3% were houses while 98.7% comprised other dwellings such as semi-detached homes, apartments, and 'other' dwellings. This contrasts with Melbourne metro's figures of 2.2% houses and 97.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in West Melbourne - Residential stood at 12.4%, with mortgaged dwellings at 21.0% and rented ones at 66.6%. The median monthly mortgage repayment in the area was $2,135, higher than Melbourne metro's average of $1,962. The median weekly rent figure for West Melbourne - Residential was $390, compared to Melbourne metro's $396. Nationally, West Melbourne - Residential's mortgage repayments exceeded the Australian average of $1,863, while rents were higher than the national figure of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Household Composition
West Melbourne - Residential features high concentrations of group households and lone person households, with a higher-than-average median household size
Family households account for 48.1% of all households, including 11.6% that are couples with children, 30.5% that are couples without children, and 4.2% that are single parent families. Non-family households make up the remaining 51.9%, with lone person households at 38.3% and group households comprising 13.6%. The median household size is 1.9 people, which is larger than the Greater Melbourne average of 1.8.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
Local Schools & Education
The educational profile of West Melbourne - Residential exceeds national averages, with above-average qualification levels and academic performance metrics
Educational attainment in West Melbourne is notably higher than national averages. Specifically, 62.8% of residents aged 15+ have university qualifications, compared to 30.4% nationally and 33.4% in Victoria. Bachelor degrees are the most common at 38.0%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (21.2%) and graduate diplomas (3.6%). Vocational qualifications account for 16.9% of those aged 15+, with advanced diplomas at 9.0% and certificates at 7.9%.
Educational participation is high, with 35.9% of residents currently enrolled in formal education, including 18.1% in tertiary education, 3.4% in primary education, and 3.1% pursuing secondary education.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Nearby Services & Amenities
Transport
Transport servicing is high compared to other areas nationally based on assessment of service frequency, route connectivity and accessibility
The analysis of public transport in West Melbourne - Residential shows that there are 22 active transport stops currently operating. These stops offer a mix of train, light rail, and bus services. A total of 12 individual routes service these stops, collectively facilitating 8,626 weekly passenger trips.
The accessibility to transport is rated as excellent, with residents typically located approximately 114 meters from the nearest transport stop. On average, there are 1,232 trips per day across all routes, which equates to about 392 weekly trips per individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
Health
West Melbourne - Residential's residents boast exceedingly positive health performance metrics with both young and old age cohorts seeing low prevalence of common health conditions
West Melbourne - Residential shows excellent health outcomes with low prevalence of common conditions across both young and elderly residents.
Approximately 54% (~5068 people) have private health cover, which is high compared to Greater Melbourne. Mental health issues affect 8.3%, asthma impacts 6.4%, while 80.9% report no medical ailments, higher than the citywide average of 79.8%. Only 4.5% (~417 people) are aged 65 and over, lower than Greater Melbourne's 6.8%. Despite this, seniors' health outcomes require more attention due to their particular needs.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Cultural Diversity
West Melbourne - Residential is among the most culturally diverse areas in the country based on AreaSearch assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics
West Melbourne's Residential area has significant cultural diversity, with 49.5% speaking a language other than English at home and 56.9% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion, comprising 24.5%. Buddhism is notably higher in West Melbourne - Residential at 5.7%, compared to Greater Melbourne's 7.0%.
The top three ancestry groups are Chinese (18.3%), Other (16.8%), and English (15.1%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Korean at 2.3% (regional average is 1.5%), Spanish at 0.8% (vs regional 0.7%), and Russian at 0.6% (vs regional 0.4%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
Age
West Melbourne - Residential hosts a very young demographic, ranking in the bottom 10% of areas nationwide
West Melbourne - Residential 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 years. Compared to Greater Melbourne, West Melbourne - Residential has a higher proportion of residents aged 25-34 (37.9%) but fewer residents aged 5-14 (4.5%). This concentration of 25-34 year-olds is significantly higher than the national average of 14.5%. According to data from the 2021 Census, the proportion of residents aged 35-44 has increased from 17.5% to 19.5%, while the proportion of those aged 25-34 has decreased from 40.0% to 37.9%. By 2041, demographic modeling suggests that West Melbourne - Residential's age profile will change significantly. The 25-34 age group is projected to grow by 40%, adding 1,424 residents to reach a total of 4,951 residents in this age bracket.