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National Forecasting Program
Population and housing forecast for Melbourne – Inner East
Our latest population and housing forecasts for Melbourne – Inner East, which covers the Boroondara council area and parts of Manningham and Whitehorse, stretching from Kew and Hawthorn in the west to Blackburn in the east, and including Camberwell, Box Hill and Doncaster.
- Region
- Melbourne – Inner East · SA4 207
- Councils
- Boroondara, Manningham (part), Whitehorse (part)
- Built on
- 2025 national forecast (2021.2024.3)
- Released
- 02/07/2026
- Status
- Current
- Boundaries
- ASGS 2021 Ed. 3
- Horizon
- 2046
- Kew
- Hawthorn
- Camberwell
- Canterbury
- Balwyn
- Surrey Hills
- Box Hill
- Burwood
- Blackburn
- Doncaster
- Templestowe
- Bulleen
Where this region sits
- NationAustralia+8.6m to 2046Population growth, 2021 to 20462025 forecast
- StateVictoria+2.53m to 2046Population growth, 2021 to 20462025 forecast
- You are here: RegionMelbourne – Inner East+94,2413.7% of Victoria's growth2021.2024.3.1.1 · Jul 2026
- Below the region25 small areas, all forecastSmall-area forecasts available through Placemaker.
Victoria's share of national growth is set from the national drivers. This region's share of Victoria is built from development assessed on the ground.
The forecast
377,518
Population, 2021
471,759
Population, 2046
+94,241
Total growth to 2046
+45,288
Additional dwellings
Population, dwellings and age structure, five-yearly
| Population | Dwellings | Age structure, % | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Total | Change | Total | Change | 0–14 | 15–64 | 65+ |
| 2021 | 377,518 | — | 159,993 | — | 16.0 | 65.2 | 18.9 |
| 2026 | 409,523 | +32,005 | 167,501 | +7,508 | 14.3 | 66.4 | 19.3 |
| 2031 | 426,079 | +16,556 | 175,620 | +8,119 | 13.2 | 66.3 | 20.5 |
| 2036 | 443,041 | +16,962 | 185,757 | +10,137 | 12.7 | 65.7 | 21.6 |
| 2041 | 458,334 | +15,293 | 195,700 | +9,943 | 12.6 | 65.0 | 22.4 |
| 2046 | 471,759 | +13,425 | 205,281 | +9,581 | 12.7 | 64.6 | 22.7 |
What we assess, and where
Different things drive population change at different scales. We form a view at each level, and each level constrains the one below it.
- Nation
- Overseas migration
- Fertility and life expectancy
- Housing completions
- State
- Share of overseas migration
- Interstate migration
- State housing policy
- Region (this page)
- Intrastate migration
- Development pipeline
- Capacity and limiting factors
- Ageing in place
- Suburb and site
- Site-by-site development assessment
- Dwelling type and density
Housing capacity, by area
| Sub-area (SA3) | Area character | Capacity used by 2046 |
|---|---|---|
| Boroondara | 48.5% | |
| Manningham – West | 80.5% | |
| Whitehorse – West | 47.0% | |
| Melbourne – Inner East total | 50.4% |
How to read this
Capacity used is the share of an area's assessed dwelling capacity that the forecast draws down by 2046. Assessed capacity is post-census capacity across 583 tracked residential development sites, so it counts what those sites can hold, not every theoretical dwelling a planning control would permit.
The major sites that shape this forecast
| Site | Location | Type | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Box Hill Central North Precinct | 17-21 Market Street | Apartments | Approved |
| Blackburn Train And Tram Zone Activity Centres - Potential Development | 101 - 107 Whitehorse Road Blackburn | Redevelopment | Structure plan / Under-utilised (med-high density) |
| Box Hill Srl Mixed Use - Significant Change Area | 1 Main Street Box Hill | Redevelopment | Structure plan / Under-utilised (med-high density) |
| Trio Box Hill | 845-851 Whitehorse Rd (Lot 5 Ps434842D | Apartments | Complete |
| Vicroads Site Redevelopment | 60 Denmark Street Kew | Redevelopment | Pre-approved / Lapsed approval |
Who prepared this forecast
Places covered by this forecast
The largest of the 27 suburbs and localities in this region. Every one of them is forecast at small-area level, and any combination can be built into a custom catchment through Placemaker.
- Doncaster East
- Doncaster
- Glen Iris
- Kew
- Hawthorn
- Camberwell
- Balwyn North
- Box Hill
- Burwood
- Templestowe
- Hawthorn East
- Blackburn
- Templestowe Lower
- Balwyn
- Surrey Hills
- Box Hill North
- Burwood East
- Bulleen
- Blackburn South
- Box Hill South
- + 7 more
Plus 7 more. Search for any suburb or locality on our forecast analysis page.
Common questions about the forecast for Melbourne – Inner East
A credible, independent forecast
Independent of government
Our forecasts are not commissioned by any government, so they give an independent view.
Granular forecasts for custom catchments
Forecast at small-area level, so they can be built up into any catchment you need, such as a school catchment, a retail trade area or a utility service area.
Every region, on one basis
A single national model, not a collection of unconnected local studies.
Assessed site by site
Built on a national development sites layer maintained by our own forecasters. 583 development sites assessed in this region alone.
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Questions about a forecast go to the team who prepared it.
See the forecast for your exact area
Placemaker gives you the population, housing and development forecast for any catchment you draw inside this region, by single year, with the development pipeline behind it.