South Lake - Cockburn Central
Statistical Area - sa2

An assessment of population growth drivers in South Lake - Cockburn Central reveals an overall ranking slightly below national averages considering recent, and medium term trends

South Lake - Cockburn Central's population is approximately 12,904 as of November 2025. This figure represents a 10.1% increase from the 2021 Census population of 11,723 people. The increase is estimated based on ABS data showing an estimated resident population of 12,878 in June 2024 and an additional 114 validated new addresses since the Census date. The population density stands at 1,449 persons per square kilometer, higher than the average across national locations assessed by AreaSearch. South Lake - Cockburn Central's growth rate of 10.1% since the 2021 census is above the national average of 8.9%, indicating it as a region with significant population growth. Overseas migration contributed approximately 64.0% to the overall population gains in recent periods, driving this growth.

AreaSearch uses ABS/Geoscience Australia projections for each SA2 area released in 2024 with a base year of 2022. For areas not covered by this data and post-2032 estimates, AreaSearch employs growth rates by age cohort provided by the ABS in its latest Greater Capital Region projections released in 2023 based on 2022 data. According to demographic trends, South Lake - Cockburn Central is projected to experience above median population growth among statistical areas analyzed by AreaSearch. By 2041, the area's population is expected to increase by 2,344 persons, representing an 18.0% total increase over the 17-year period.

AreaSearch assessment of residential development activity positions South Lake - Cockburn Central among the top 25% of areas assessed nationwide

South Lake - Cockburn Central has seen approximately 66 new homes approved annually over the past five financial years, totalling 332 homes. By June 2026302 approvals have been recorded. On average, 2.7 people moved to the area per new home constructed between FY-21 and FY-25, indicating solid demand that supports property values. New homes are being built at an average expected construction cost of $285,000.

In FY-26, there have been $54.2 million in commercial approvals, suggesting strong commercial development momentum. Compared to Greater Perth, South Lake - Cockburn Central shows around 57% of the construction activity per person and ranks among the 79th percentile nationally. Recent periods have seen increased development activity. New building activity comprises 56.0% detached dwellings and 44.0% medium and high-density housing, with a growing mix of townhouses and apartments offering options across different price points.

This shift reflects reduced availability of development sites and addresses changing lifestyle demands and affordability requirements, differing from the current housing mix of 79.0% houses. With around 197 people per dwelling approval, South Lake - Cockburn Central exhibits characteristics of a growth area. By 2041, it is projected to grow by 2,318 residents. Building activity is keeping pace with growth projections, though buyers may face increased competition as the population grows.

South Lake - Cockburn Central has emerging levels of nearby infrastructure activity, ranking in the 31stth percentile nationally

Infrastructure changes significantly influence an area's performance. AreaSearch has identified 30 projects likely impacting the area. Notable ones are Glen Iris Local Shopping Centre (Glen Iris Estate), Stockland Bull Creek Shopping Centre upgrade, Aboriginal Cultural and Visitors Centre Bibra Lake, and Cockburn Central Station upgrade. Below is a list of 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 conditions in South Lake - Cockburn Central remain below the national average according to AreaSearch analysis

South Lake - Cockburn Central has a skilled workforce with well-represented essential services sectors. The unemployment rate was 5.3% as of June 2024, with an estimated employment growth of 4.2%.

As of June 2025, the unemployment rate is 1.4% higher than Greater Perth's rate of 3.9%, while workforce participation is similar at 65.2%. Key industries of employment among residents are health care & social assistance, construction, and education & training. The area has a specialization in manufacturing, with an employment share 1.3 times the regional level. However, mining is under-represented, with only 5.8% of South Lake - Cockburn Central's workforce compared to 7.0% in Greater Perth.

Many residents commute elsewhere for work based on Census data analysis. Over the 12 months to June 2025, employment increased by 4.2%, while labour force increased by 5.8%, causing the unemployment rate to rise by 1.5 percentage points. In contrast, Greater Perth experienced employment growth of 3.7% and labour force growth of 3.8%, with a 0.1 percentage point rise in unemployment. National employment forecasts from Jobs and Skills Australia (May 2025) project national employment growth of 6.6% over five years and 13.7% over ten years. Applying these projections to South Lake - Cockburn Central's employment mix suggests local growth of approximately 6.3% over five years and 13.3% over ten years, based on a simple weighting extrapolation for illustrative purposes.

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

South Lake - Cockburn Central had a median taxpayer income of $60,148 and an average of $73,123 in the financial year 2022, according to postcode level ATO data aggregated by AreaSearch. This is higher than the national averages of $58,380 (median) and $78,020 (average). By September 2025, these figures are estimated to be approximately $68,689 (median) and $83,506 (average), based on a 14.2% growth in wages since financial year 2022. Census data indicates that incomes in South Lake - Cockburn Central cluster around the 52nd percentile nationally. Income distribution shows that 35.4% of the population falls within the $1,500 - $2,999 range, with 4,568 individuals in this category. This is consistent with broader trends across the surrounding region, where 32.0% fall into the same income bracket. Housing affordability pressures are severe, with only 84.4% of income remaining after housing costs, ranking at the 49th percentile nationally. The area's SEIFA income ranking places it in the 5th decile.

South Lake - Cockburn Central is characterized by a predominantly suburban housing profile, with above-average rates of outright home ownership

The dwelling structure in South Lake - Cockburn Central, as per the latest Census, consisted of 78.6% houses and 21.4% other dwellings (semi-detached, apartments, 'other' dwellings). In comparison, Perth metro had 81.2% houses and 18.8% other dwellings. Home ownership in South Lake - Cockburn Central stood at 29.1%, with the rest being mortgaged (42.6%) or rented (28.3%). The median monthly mortgage repayment was $1,680, lower than Perth metro's average of $1,950. The median weekly rent in South Lake - Cockburn Central was $360, compared to Perth metro's $370 and the national average of $375. Nationally, South Lake - Cockburn Central's mortgage repayments were below the Australian average of $1,863.

South Lake - Cockburn Central features high concentrations of group households, with a lower-than-average median household size

Family households constitute 68.4% of all households, including 28.2% couples with children, 27.2% couples without children, and 11.5% single parent families. Non-family households account for 31.6%, with lone person households at 27.2% and group households comprising 4.4%. The median household size is 2.4 people, smaller than the Greater Perth average of 2.6.

Educational attainment in South Lake - Cockburn Central aligns closely with national averages, showing typical qualification patterns and performance metrics

University qualification levels in South Lake - Cockburn Central are 25.8%, slightly below the Australian average of 30.4%. Bachelor degrees are most common at 18.1%, followed by postgraduate qualifications (5.2%) and graduate diplomas (2.5%). Vocational credentials are prominent, with 36.0% of residents aged 15+ holding them - advanced diplomas at 10.4% and certificates at 25.6%.

Educational participation is high at 27.0%, including 8.6% in primary education, 6.5% in secondary education, and 5.9% in tertiary education. South Lake - Cockburn Central has a network of 10 schools educating approximately 1,431 students, with typical Australian school conditions (ICSEA: 1023) and balanced educational opportunities. The schools include 3 primary, 5 secondary, and 2 K-12 schools. Note: for schools showing 'n/a' in enrolments, please refer to the parent campus.

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

The analysis shows that there are 104 active public transport stops in South Lake - Cockburn Central. These stops offer a mix of train and bus services. There are 19 individual routes operating, which together provide 3,887 weekly passenger trips.

Residents have excellent transport accessibility, with an average distance of 197 meters to the nearest stop. The service frequency is high, with an average of 555 trips per day across all routes. This equates to approximately 37 weekly trips per individual stop.

Health outcomes in South Lake - Cockburn Central are marginally below the national average with common health conditions somewhat prevalent across both younger and older age cohorts

South Lake - Cockburn Central shows below-average health indicators.

Common conditions are prevalent across both younger and older age groups. Private health cover rate is very high at approximately 56%, covering around 7,226 people. Mental health issues and arthritis are the most common medical conditions, affecting 9.0% and 8.0% of residents respectively. About 68.8% of residents report no medical ailments, compared to 72.9% in Greater Perth. The area has a higher proportion of seniors aged 65 and over at 17.6%, totaling around 2,277 people, compared to 14.8% in Greater Perth. Health outcomes among seniors present some challenges, broadly aligning with the general population's health profile.

South Lake - Cockburn Central was found to be more culturally diverse than the vast majority of local markets in Australia, upon assessment of a range of language and cultural background related metrics

South Lake-Cockburn Central was found to have higher cultural diversity than most local areas, with 20.7% of residents speaking a language other than English at home and 35.2% born overseas. Christianity is the predominant religion in South Lake-Cockburn Central, comprising 44.4% of its population. Islam is notably overrepresented compared to Greater Perth, making up 2.1% versus 1.6%.

The top three ancestry groups are English (26.9%), Australian (22.7%), and Other (11.6%). Some ethnic groups show notable differences: Croatian at 1.0% (versus 2.3% regionally), South African at 0.8% (versus 1.1%), and Serbian at 0.5% (versus 0.7%).

South Lake - Cockburn Central's population is slightly younger than the national pattern

South Lake - Cockburn Central has a median age of 37, matching Greater Perth's figure of 37 and closely resembling Australia's median age of 38 years. The 25-34 age group constitutes 15.9% of the population compared to Greater Perth, while the 5-14 cohort makes up 10.6%. Between 2021 and present, the 75-84 age group has increased from 4.4% to 5.4%, and the 35-44 cohort has grown from 13.2% to 14.2%. Conversely, the 45-54 cohort has decreased from 12.9% to 11.8%. By 2041, demographic projections indicate significant shifts in South Lake - Cockburn Central's age structure. The 75-84 group is expected to grow by 97%, reaching 1,378 people from the current 700. Those aged 65 and above are projected to comprise 63% of this growth. Meanwhile, the 5-14 and 35-44 age groups are anticipated to experience population declines.