South Melbourne
VIC 3205 · Port Phillip
11,548 (2021) → 12,791 est. (2025) · High Growth
Based on transport, liveability & education. Safety is scored separately below.
South Melbourne is a high growth suburb in Port Phillip, VIC 3205, about 2km from Melbourne CBD. Its median house price of $1.67M is more expensive than the VIC average. The suburb has 5 schools, a transport score of 92/100, and is right by the coast. South Melbourne has an overall score of 94/100, based on transport, liveability and education, plus a separate residential safety score of 15/100.
Demographics
Age distribution
Top countries of birth: England (4.83%), New Zealand (2.69%), China (2.63%), India (1.7%), Malaysia (1.33%)
Top languages: Mandarin (3.18%), Greek (2.33%), Spanish (1.77%), Russian (1.42%), Cantonese (1.36%)
Source: ABS Census 2021
Property
Median price history
Source: Valuer-General Victoria (DTF) · Updated 2024
Residential Safety
Commercial & services hub. This suburb is a major employment and services centre, drawing a significant daily influx of workers and visitors from surrounding areas. Crime figures are recorded by incident location and include offences involving commuters and visitors, not just residents, so the per-resident crime rates below may overstate the risk for people who live here.
Nightlife hub. This suburb has a high concentration of licensed venues. Crime figures include incidents involving visitors to the nightlife area, not just residents.
Recorded residential incidents (latest year), with rate per 100,000 residents:
Includes street and public-place assaults — supplementary context, not part of the safety score.
Residential incidents over time
Sum of the five residential categories above — not all recorded crime.
Area crime context
Totals include incidents involving commuters and visitors, not just residents.
An independent score — crime data quality varies by state, so safety is shown separately and is not part of the overall score.
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria (suburb-level) · Updated 2025
Schools
Strong school options
Well above average — good-quality schools within reach and a healthy range of options to choose from.
Average ICSEA of schools within 10km 1113 (above the national average of 1000).
In suburb
- Galilee Regional Catholic Primary SchoolPrimary · CatholicICSEA 1149
- Youth2Industry CollegeSecondary · IndependentICSEA 1011
- Montague Continuing Education CentreSecondary · GovernmentICSEA 1001
- Hester Hornbrook AcademySecondary · IndependentICSEA 928
- Hester Hornbrook Academy - South MelbourneSecondary · Independent
Nearby (within 10km)
- South Melbourne Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 0.6kmICSEA 1140
- South Melbourne Park Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 0.8kmICSEA 1106
- Victorian College Of The Arts Secondary SchoolSecondary · Government · 0.9kmICSEA 1140
- Albert Park Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 1kmICSEA 1160
- SEDA College (Victoria) - Sailing - Albert ParkSecondary · Independent · 1km
- SEDA College (Victoria) - MSAC Function RoomSecondary · Independent · 1.1km
- MacRobertson Girls High SchoolSecondary · Government · 1.3kmICSEA 1182
- Port Phillip Specialist SchoolCombined · Government · 1.4kmICSEA 1105
- Albert Park CollegeSecondary · Government · 1.4kmICSEA 1124
- Middle Park Primary SchoolPrimary · Government · 1.5kmICSEA 1149
- Melbourne Grammar School - Wadhurst CampusCombined · Independent · 1.5km
- Melbourne Grammar SchoolCombined · Independent · 1.6kmICSEA 1177
Source: ACARA 2023
Transport
Source: TfNSW GTFS
Liveability
Amenities within 2–3km
Counted within a short distance of the suburb centre (so nearby facilities count), with the in-boundary count shown beneath.
Source: Bureau of Meteorology · OpenStreetMap
Fitness
Plenty of options
Well above average — a good spread of gyms and sports facilities within easy reach.
Facilities within 3km of the suburb centre. The Fitness Score is a national percentile of these counts per resident.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Outdoors
Great outdoor access
Well above average — plenty of parkland and outdoor recreation within easy reach.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Outdoor Score is a national percentile led by parks and green space.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Culture
Cultural hotspot
Top 20% nationally — theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and landmarks all within reach. A genuinely vibrant cultural scene.
Within 3km of the suburb centre. The Culture Score is a national percentile weighting theatres, museums, galleries, libraries and arts centres most heavily.
Source: OpenStreetMap
Entertainment Scene
Entertainment paradise
A seriously impressive licensed venue scene — top 20% nationally for density of pubs, bars, clubs and dining.
Nightlife hub. High licensed-venue density drives a significant evening economy here — incidents near the venues are recorded by location, so crime figures include visitors, not just residents.
View nearby venues on the Entertainment Map →
Source: VGCCC (Victorian liquor register)
Childcare
Some choices available
Around the national average — a reasonable mix of childcare options, though popular services may have waiting lists.
View childcare centres on the map →
Source: ACECQA National Quality Framework Register
Population & Growth
High GrowthSource: ABS ERP & NSW DPHI
Nearby suburbs in Port Phillip
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Frequently asked questions about South Melbourne
Is South Melbourne safe?
South Melbourne has a residential safety score of 15/100, based on residential crime (break-ins, theft from dwellings, vehicle theft, domestic assault and robbery) per resident relative to the NSW median. Its total recorded incident rate is 21,415 per 100,000 across all categories.
What are property prices in South Melbourne?
In South Melbourne, the .
How far is South Melbourne from Melbourne CBD?
South Melbourne is about 2.3 km from Melbourne CBD, an estimated 19 minutes by public transport.
What schools are in South Melbourne?
South Melbourne has 5 schools, with an average ICSEA of 1022 (the national average is 1000). Schools are listed factually, not ranked.
What is public transport like in South Melbourne?
South Melbourne has a transport score of 92/100 and 16 bus stops.