Urban Centre · Area profile
Yarra Junction - Wesburn
9 km²
A rapidly expanding community, Yarra Junction - Wesburn saw its population grow by 181% since 2016 to reach 3,283 people. It is a family-oriented area where nearly one in five residents are children, making it younger than most similar places. The community is largely Australian-born and predominantly English-speaking, with a strong preference for detached housing. Many residents here work from home or in construction, contributing to a residential character that feels distinct from the broader Melbourne region.
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The population is noticeably older than the state and national figures, with a typical resident aged 41. However, this is a significant drop from 2016, when the typical age was 53, and children under 15 now make up 19% of the community.
Most residents were born in Australia (80.6%) or have English, Irish, or Scottish ancestry. Only 11.2% of people were born overseas, which is far below the national figure of 27.7%.
English is the primary language for 90% of the community, and very few people—only 0.3%—speak little or no English. This is far below the state and national averages.
A majority of residents (55.3%) report having no religion, a figure that is far above the national average and rose 18 points since 2016.
Education levels are lower than the state average, with only 11.4% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. Many residents hold a Certificate III or IV, which is the most common qualification at 42.3%.
Typical weekly household income is $1,365, which is well below the national figure of $1,746. However, earnings are rising, with typical family incomes growing by $585 since 2016.
Health needs are higher than in most similar areas, with 8.4% of people needing help with daily activities. Long-term health conditions, particularly arthritis and mental health, are also more common than the state average.
Unpaid care is common here, as 29.6% of people care for children, which is well above the national average. In contrast, the number of volunteers fell 18 points since 2016 to 13.6%.
Homes tend to be larger, with an average of 2.5 people per household. This is consistent with the fact that over half of all households are couples with children.
The area is dominated by separate houses (86.1%), which is far above the state average. Renting is uncommon at 14.9%, while 35.6% of homes are owned outright.
Cars are essential for most, as only 0.6% of people commute by public transport. A significant 15.6% of the workforce now works from home, a rise of 10 points since 2016.
The community is relatively stable, with 32.1% of people moving in the last five years, which is well below the national average of 40.7%.
Construction is a major employer at 18.4%, and the unemployment rate of 3.8% is lower than both the state and national figures.
While it is considered somewhat walkable, many residents live more than 15 minutes from health services and parks. The area is also steeper than the state average, with a mean terrain slope of 8.9%.