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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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Murray has an estimated 2,598 residents, up from 2,376 at the 2021 Census — a change of 222 people, or 9.3%. Growth has averaged 1.2% a year over five years. Fewer than ten people live on each square kilometre, across a boundary that takes in surrounding rural land. Population is estimated from ABS Estimated Resident Population releases and GNAF address data, re-based from the 2021 Census and updated annually.
Detail
Demographic assessments by AreaSearch place the population of Murray at approximately 2,598 as of Aug 2026. This represents an addition of 222 people (9.3%) compared to the 2,376 people recorded in the 2021 Census. Such growth is calculated using the ABS June 2025 estimated resident population figure of 2,586 alongside 64 validated new addresses established following the Census. The area maintains a spacious living environment, featuring a population density of 0.90 persons per square kilometer. Outpacing the broader SA3 area (5.6%), Murray's 9.3% post-2021 Census expansion establishes it as a regional growth frontrunner.
Net interstate arrivals served as the primary growth engine, generating around 36.5% of recent population additions, with natural increase and overseas migration also delivering positive contributions. Projections published by the ABS/Geoscience Australia in 2024 (anchored to a 2022 baseline) are applied by AreaSearch across individual SA2 locations. Where local coverage is absent, and for broader long-term modeling beyond 2032, calculations incorporate age-cohort expansion rates drawn from the ABS Greater Capital Region projections (published in 2023 utilizing 2022 data). Long-range demographic modelling points to an expansion rate tracking slightly under the national regional median, with Murray projected to add 270 persons to 2041 relative to current annual ERP figures, translating to an overall 9.9% gain across the 16 years.
Frequently Asked Questions - Population
67 new dwellings have been approved in Murray over the past five years, an average of 13 a year. That places the area in the 52nd percentile for residential development activity nationally, about 5 approvals per 1,000 residents a year. Figures come from ABS building approvals aggregated to this SA2 boundary and are updated monthly as the ABS releases them.
Detail
Residential building activity in Murray averages roughly 13 dwellings approved each year, culminating in 67 homes approved over the past 5 financial years (between FY-22 and FY-26). Over this same span (between FY-22 and FY-26), the region welcomed an average of 2.2 people per year for every newly built home, demonstrating solid demand fundamentals that underpin local real estate. Average construction costs stand at $315,000 per dwelling, coming in beneath regional benchmarks and offering accessible price points for buyers. Meanwhile, non-residential building approvals totaled $2.3 million this financial year, reflecting a modest commercial development footprint.
Per capita residential building approvals in Murray exceed the Rest of WA benchmark by 111.0%, affording prospective homeowners substantial purchasing options. Building patterns remain heavily weighted toward standalone houses at 85.0%, with attached housing accounting for 15.0%, reinforcing a low-density neighborhood character that caters to buyers seeking spacious surrounds. Generating roughly 165 people per dwelling approval, the locality displays typical growth-corridor dynamics. According to the latest quarterly population projections from AreaSearch, Murray is slated to expand by 258 residents through to 2041. Existing rates of residential construction appear well positioned to satisfy anticipated demand, supporting buyer-friendly market dynamics while leaving scope for population expansion to outstrip baseline projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Development
Development applications around Murray
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| Lodged | Address | Description | Type | Distance | Status |
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SOURCE: Planning portals and council registers, compiled by AreaSearch. Distance & bearing measured from the suburb midpoint.
AreaSearch tracks 97 current infrastructure and development projects close to Murray, worth an estimated $16.8 billion. 30 are already under construction and 39 are due for completion within three years. The pipeline spans residential development, communities, precincts & urban renewal 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
Strategic infrastructure investments, major public works, and planning developments serve as fundamental drivers of local performance. AreaSearch has pinpointed 1 a single project that is positioned to shape the local environment. Key undertakings of local significance include the South West Interconnected System Transformation, Additional Australind Trains Procurement, Bellwether Wind Farm, and Dardadine Wind Farm, with core initiatives detailed below.
Professional plan users can use the search below to filter and access additional projects.
INFRASTRUCTURE SEARCH
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.
Frequently Asked Questions - Infrastructure
Railside Park, Waroona Town Centre Revitalisation
Railside Park is an 11,500 square metre multigenerational park delivered as Stage 1 of the Waroona Town Centre Revitalisation. Stretching between South Western Highway, Fouracre Street and the Waroona train station, the project includes a skatepark, pump track, junior playground, fenced toddler play area, large green spaces, Noongar themed six seasons garden, picnic areas, RV parking and upgraded streetscape links. The completed park is designed to activate the town centre, provide a central hub for community events and attract visitors to stop and spend more time in Waroona, with later stages focused on repurposing nearby heritage buildings.
Waroona Energy Park (Solar and Battery Precinct)
The Waroona Energy Park is a multi-stage renewable energy hub in Western Australia's South West, designed to deliver 1 GW of solar generation and 660 MW of battery storage by 2031. Stage 1 consists of a 120 MW solar farm paired with an 81.5 MW (380 MWh) battery system. The project recently secured revenue certainty through the Australian Government's Capacity Investment Scheme (CIS) in May 2026, which provides a revenue floor until 2042. Located near the Landwehr Terminal, it is positioned to replace retiring coal and gas assets in the South West Interconnected System.
Everleigh Estate - Ravenswood
A thoughtfully created master-planned residential community by Watson Property Group offering new land at great value. If you are starting out, looking for a fresh beginning or keen to downsize, then we warmly invite you to consider Everleigh Ravenswood as your new home address.
Ravenswood Waters Estate
Riverside living is now within reach. Land in Ravenswood Waters has been in high demand, and here's your chance with a new release of 22 prime lifestyle lots. These generous blocks are steps from the beautiful Murray River and a short walk to the iconic Ravenswood Hotel. Ultimate tranquillity and true riverside living await at Ravenswood Waters.
Ravenswood Green Private Estate
Nestled along the banks of the Murray River, Ravenswood Green Private Estate offers a tranquil and picturesque place to call home. Comprising 287 lots ranging in size from 312 square metres to 946 square metres, it's the perfect canvas for a range of home designs.
Ravenswood Neighbourhood Centre
A supermarket-anchored shopping centre, which is the first stage of the planned Ravenswood Neighbourhood Centre and future Ravenswood District Centre. Stage One includes a Coles supermarket and liquor store, and three other retail tenancies. A second stage will add a medical centre, pharmacy, office tenancy and a childcare facility.
Paterson Road Widening (Ravenswood)
Widening of Paterson Road to a 9 m seal with 1 m sealed shoulders (painted edge line) and 1.5 m gravel shoulders on both sides along the section from 220 m south to 1.72 km north of Old Mandurah Road in Ravenswood, WA.
Food Innovation Precinct WA Commercial Precinct Expansion
The Food Innovation Precinct WA Commercial Precinct Expansion is an agri-food research, processing, and enterprise hub located at 28 Off Lakes Road in Stake Hill near Peel Business Park. The expansion delivers dedicated commercial food manufacturing incubation units, cold storage logistics, pilot test kitchens, and advanced food technology research laboratories. Construction works are actively progressing.
1,281 residents of Murray are employed, from a labour force of 1,320. Unemployment sits at 3.0%, with participation at 63.1%. Weighted for its industry mix, the area's sectors are forecast to grow about 4.2% nationally over five years. That reflects industry composition only and makes no allowance for local population growth, so in an area growing as fast as this one it understates the likely rise in local jobs. The working-day population is estimated at 3,599, about 139% 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
Murray maintains a balanced occupational landscape across professional and trade-based roles, underpinned by strong industrial and manufacturing activity, alongside a low 3.0% unemployment rate. As of March 2026, employed residents count 1,281, while the jobless rate sits 0.6% lower than the Regional WA figure of 3.5%. Participation in the labor market trails broader standards slightly at 63.1% versus 65.4% across Regional WA. According to Census findings, only 8.6% of local workers performed their duties from home, though prevailing Covid-19 restrictions at the time provide relevant context. Local resident employment is anchored by agriculture, forestry & fishing, manufacturing, and mining.
The mining sector exhibits pronounced local concentration, capturing a workforce share 2.6 times the regional average. Conversely, health care & social assistance accounts for only 6.8% of resident workers, trailing the 11.9% recorded across Regional WA. With 1.3 workers for every resident at the time of the Census, Murray operates as a key regional employment destination, providing a surplus of jobs relative to its resident base and drawing commuting labor from neighboring districts. AreaSearch evaluations of ABS and SALM figures show an annual workforce reduction of 5.2% paired with a 6.8% decline in employment numbers over the 12-month period, pushing local unemployment up by 1.7 percentage points. Across Regional WA over the same period, employment edged down 0.1%, the broader labor force rose 0.3%, and unemployment lifted by 0.4 percentage points. Forward-looking employment estimates from Jobs and Skills Australia as of Mar-26 provide additional context on future labor requirements. Sector-level national forecasts pointing to overall employment gains of 6.6% across five years and 13.7% across ten years indicate divergent performance by industry. Weighting these projections against Murray's specific industrial profile suggests local employment could expand by 4.2% over five years and 10.5% over ten years, representing an illustrative baseline extrapolation that excludes localized demographic projections.
Frequently Asked Questions - Employment
Median household income in Murray is $1,644 a week (about $85,000 a year), with median personal income at $774 a week. ATO records put median taxable income at $64,874 a year against an average of $80,500. 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
ATO postcode records compiled by AreaSearch for financial year 2023 place individual earnings in the Murray SA2 at an upper tier nationally, showing a median taxable income of $64,874 and an average of $80,500. These figures outpace Regional WA benchmarks, where the median sits at $59,973 and the average at $74,392. Factoring in Wage Price Index growth of 10.93% since financial year 2023, updated estimates as of March 2026 indicate approximate earnings of $71,965 (median) and $89,299 (average). Census reporting indicates family, personal, and household earnings occupy moderate positions between the 43rd and 44th percentiles.
In terms of distribution, 30.7% of residents (797 people) fall into the $1,500 - 2,999 income bracket, aligning with the 31.1% regional standard. Residents retain 87.2% of income after housing expenses, while overall disposable earnings register modestly at the 48th percentile.
Frequently Asked Questions - Income
Murray had 837 occupied dwellings at the 2021 Census, 97% detached houses and 0% apartments. 34% are owned with a mortgage, 26% rented and 39% owned outright. At that Census the median rent was $280 a week and the median mortgage repayment $1,733 a month. Rent absorbs 17.0% of household income here and mortgage repayments 24.3%. Dwelling stock, tenure and housing costs are 2021 Census measures — the only source that counts dwellings at this boundary size.
Detail
Census records indicate that standalone separate houses make up 96.9% of Murray's housing stock, with apartments, semi-detached properties, and other formats accounting for 3.2%, in contrast to Regional WA's distribution of 88.5% houses and 11.6% other dwellings. Outright homeownership is particularly high at 39.3%, well above Regional WA levels, while mortgaged properties represent 34.3% and rental accommodation comprises 26.4%. The median monthly mortgage payment in Murray was $1,733 compared to $1,560 for Regional WA, while median weekly rent reached $280 compared to the regional figure of $265. Relative to nationwide benchmarks, Murray's mortgage costs sit below the Australian average of $1,863, and weekly rents track considerably lower than the national benchmark of $375.
Frequently Asked Questions - Housing
Murray counted 837 households at the 2021 Census, an estimated 915 today, averaging 2.5 people each. 30% are couples with children, against 34% couples without children. 25% of households are people living alone, and families average 1.9 children. Household and family composition is measured only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Family units constitute the majority of local living arrangements at 73.5%, featuring couples without children (33.7%), couples with children (30.0%), and single parent families (8.6%). Non-family setups make up the remaining 26.5%, primarily consisting of lone person households (25.0%) alongside group households (1.7%). The median household occupancy stands at 2.5 people, matching the Regional WA norm.
Frequently Asked Questions - Households
15.0% of adults in Murray hold a university qualification, including 11.3% with a bachelor degree and 2.3% with postgraduate qualifications. A further 33.3% hold a vocational qualification. 2 schools serve the area, with 351 enrolment places and an average ICSEA of 977 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
Attainment levels for higher education in the area remain subdued, with 15.0% of residents holding university degrees compared to 30.4% nationally, highlighting a key target for future educational engagement. Within tertiary achievements, bachelor degrees comprise 11.3%, postgraduate awards make up 2.3%, and graduate diplomas account for 1.4%. Vocational and technical qualifications are widespread, with 42.1% of the population aged 15+ holding trade credentials, consisting of 33.3% at the certificate level and 8.8% with advanced diplomas. A significant 29.0% of Murray residents participate in structured learning programs. Broken down by educational tier, 13.6% attend primary school, 8.7% are enrolled in secondary school, and 1.3% are engaged in tertiary studies.
Frequently Asked Questions - Education
Schools Detail
Getting around Murray means driving: households keep an average of 1.8 vehicles, and scheduled services reach only a handful of stops. Service data is built from operators' published GTFS timetables; vehicle ownership is from the 2021 Census.
Detail
Local public transport network coverage in Murray comprises 3 active transport stops served by bus connections. A total of 2 individual routes operate across these points, providing 23 weekly passenger trips in aggregate. Public transit availability is constrained, with residents positioned an average distance of 13434 meters from the nearest stop. Given its residential orientation, outward commuting is standard; private car travel accounts for 85% of journeys, while 7% of residents walk. Household car ownership sits above regional averages at 1.8 per dwelling. A modest 8.6% of residents worked from home according to the 2021 Census, subject to the conditions of that period.
Bus services run at an average frequency of 3 trips per day across the network, translating to roughly 7 weekly trips for each individual stop.
Frequently Asked Questions - Transport
Transport Stops Detail
67.7% of residents in Murray report no long-term health condition. 3.9% need daily assistance with core activities, and 59.5% hold private health cover. The standardised death rate runs at 5.5 per 1,000 residents. Health conditions, assistance needs and insurance are 2021 Census measures; the death rate comes from current ABS releases.
Detail
Chronic disease rates and mortality benchmarks in Murray track closely alongside national standards, reflecting typical health profiles across younger and older demographics. A substantial 60% of residents (1,545 people) hold private health insurance cover, exceeding the 56.4% figure recorded across Regional WA. Arthritis and mental health conditions are the most prevalent diagnosed ailments in the area, recorded among 10.1 and 8.0% of the population, respectively. Residents reporting no diagnosed chronic conditions represent 67.7%, compared to 69.3% across Regional WA. Chronic illnesses occur at an above-average frequency among working-age individuals. Seniors aged 65 and over comprise 20.2% of residents (525 people), above the 19.1% regional average, with older residents demonstrating strong relative health outcomes that exceed general population benchmarks nationally.
Frequently Asked Questions - Health
Murray is largely Australian-born, at 83.7% of residents, with 4.5% speaking a language other than English at home. The largest reported ancestries are English (35.4%) and Australian (30.6%). Ancestry, language and country of birth are counted only by the Census, so these are 2021 figures.
Detail
Cultural diversity metrics in Murray sit below broader averages, with Australian citizenship held by 84.8% of the community, 83.7% of residents born in Australia, and 95.5% using only English at home. Christianity is the predominant religious faith, practiced by 41.3% of locals. The most notable non-standard representation appears in the Other religious category, which accounts for 0.7% locally and 0.7% across Regional WA. Regarding ancestral background based on parental birthplace, the leading heritages in Murray are English (35.4%), Australian (30.6%), and Scottish (8.1%). Minor demographic variances also appear across other origins, with New Zealand ancestry at 0.9% (vs 0.9% regionally), Maori heritage at 0.8% (vs 1.0%), and French ancestry at 0.5% (vs 0.4%).
Frequently Asked Questions - Diversity
The median resident of Murray is 45, older than 78% of areas nationally. 19.7% 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 demographic profile of Murray closely mirrors Regional WA standards, with the greatest variance across age groups measuring 4.8 percentage points. The median age is estimated at 45, unchanged from the 2021 Census, sitting 5 years higher than the Regional WA Census baseline of 40 and above the national median of 38. The most visible shift since the 2021 Census occurred among the 45 - 64 age bracket, which declined from 30.5% to an estimated 28.6%. Simultaneously, children aged 5 to 14 dropped from 14.6% to an estimated 12.4%, whereas youth aged 15 to 24 grew from 7.4% to 10.3%, indicating cohort maturation without a commensurate influx of younger family households.
Long-range modeling to 2041 indicates adults aged 25 - 44 will drive future growth, increasing by 207 residents (37%) to reach 774, while middle aged, young retiree, and elderly age brackets are anticipated to contract.
Frequently Asked Questions - Age
Data & MethodBoundaries, Sources & Method for Murray
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) | Aug 2026 last month 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 Aug 2026, with the 2021 Census supplying the small-area baseline. | ||
| Age profile | ABS, Geoscience Australia, State governments Annual | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Age cohorts are re-based to the latest ABS population estimates and state projections, current to Aug 2026. Each cohort is held as a Census baseline and a current estimate. | ||
| Development & approvals | ABS, GNAF Monthly (ABS approvals) | Aug 2026 last month headline measures · Jun 2026 baseline |
| Property sales & rents | Valuer General, Rental Board, ABS Weekly sales, quarterly rents | Aug 2026 last 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, Local governments Daily | May 2026 4 months ago all 2 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 May 2026. | ||
| Employment | ABS, DEWR, JSA Quarterly (ABS SALM) | Mar 2026 6 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 last month headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Transport | ABS, State Transport Departments Each timetable release | Jul 2026 2 months ago headline measures · 2021 Census baseline |
| Services & amenities | Provider directories, ACECQA Continuous | Jul 2026 2 months ago 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 — 64 validated new addresses here. The headline figure is therefore a current estimate for Aug 2026, not a 2021 count (2,376 at the 2021 Census → 2,598 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 Aug 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 (509031248). QuickStats reports 2021 only — the figures on this page are more current wherever the ledger shows a later date.