Southbank vs Docklands

In both, most households rent, the large majority of homes are flats or apartments, and most households are people living alone. Southbank is closer to the city centre: 2.4 km, against 2.8 km.

Which one suits you?

There is no overall winner — the suburb that suits a family with school-age kids is routinely the wrong one for someone commuting into the city. So each of these answers its own question, against a checklist you can see, using the same figures in the tables below.

Families with school-age kids

Southbank

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more schools rated above their peers (2 vs 0)

Weighs schools, house stock, crime, parks, childcare, and who already lives there.

First-home buyers

Docklands

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has cheaper houses ($586,000 vs $660,000)

Weighs house prices, unit prices, and mortgage stress.

Renters

Too close to call

Nothing among the 3 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs rent, rental stress, and how much is for rent.

Commuting to the city

Too close to call

Nothing among the 4 things we measure here separates them by enough to be worth acting on.

Weighs distance, drive time, rail access, and walkability.

Downsizers and retirees

Southbank

ahead on the one thing that separates them

  • has more GPs (5 vs 2)

Weighs smaller dwellings, who already lives there, GPs, walkability, and crime.

Investors

They split

one each way, out of the 3 things we measure here

  • Southbank returns a higher gross yield on houses (4.4% vs 3.2%)
  • Docklands is growing faster (41.3% vs 21.0%)

Weighs house yield, unit yield, and population growth.

Where they sit

Southbank and Docklands drawn to the same scale. Both outlines are shown together, so the map answers whether they share a border and how their areas compare.

Southbank Docklands
Hides rows where both suburbs match

Bars start at zero. Scores, risks and rankings are drawn against their full 0–100 range; other rows are drawn in proportion to the larger of the two.

Side by side, out of 100

Risks are inverted — shown as safety and low exposure — so a longer bar always means better.

Southbank Docklands
Walkability 100 / 96
Southbank — Walkability: 100/100 Docklands — Walkability: 96/100
Safety 7 / 5
Southbank — Safety: 7/100 Docklands — Safety: 5/100
Low fire risk 100 / 100
Southbank — Low fire risk: 100/100 Docklands — Low fire risk: 100/100
Low flood risk 7 / 14
Southbank — Low flood risk: 7/100 Docklands — Low flood risk: 14/100

Demographics

Southbank has more residents (22,631 vs 15,495).

Southbank Docklands
Population 22,631
+32% vs other
 15,495
Population trend (2016 → 2021) +21.0% +41.3%
Median age 31 32
Median household income $100,152/yr $101,764/yr
+2% vs other
Median weekly rent $411/wk
same for both

Age profile

Share of residents in each band, 2021 Census.

Southbank Docklands
0-4 3.1% / 4.5%
Southbank — 0-4: 3.1% Docklands — 0-4: 4.5%
5-14 2.9% / 3.3%
Southbank — 5-14: 2.9% Docklands — 5-14: 3.3%
15-19 2.0% / 1.6%
Southbank — 15-19: 2.0% Docklands — 15-19: 1.6%
20-24 12.6% / 10.1%
Southbank — 20-24: 12.6% Docklands — 20-24: 10.1%
25-34 41.6% / 39.0%
Southbank — 25-34: 41.6% Docklands — 25-34: 39.0%
35-44 18.6% / 18.7%
Southbank — 35-44: 18.6% Docklands — 35-44: 18.7%
45-54 7.7% / 9.0%
Southbank — 45-54: 7.7% Docklands — 45-54: 9.0%
55-64 5.8% / 7.8%
Southbank — 55-64: 5.8% Docklands — 55-64: 7.8%
65-74 3.8% / 4.5%
Southbank — 65-74: 3.8% Docklands — 65-74: 4.5%
75-84 1.6% / 1.3%
Southbank — 75-84: 1.6% Docklands — 75-84: 1.3%
85+ 0.3% / 0.3%
Southbank — 85+: 0.3% Docklands — 85+: 0.3%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (41.6%).

Who lives together

Household composition, 2021 Census.

Southbank 61.4% lone person
Southbank — Lone Person: 61.4% Southbank — Group Household: 18.3% Southbank — Couple Families: 11.5% Southbank — One Parent Families: 5.8% Southbank — Other Families: 3.0%
Docklands 59.2% lone person
Docklands — Lone Person: 59.2% Docklands — Group Household: 13.7% Docklands — Couple Families: 18.7% Docklands — One Parent Families: 5.7% Docklands — Other Families: 2.8%
Lone Person Group Household Couple Families One Parent Families Other Families

Who owns and who rents

Occupied private dwellings by tenure, 2021 Census.

Southbank 68.9% renting
Southbank — Owned Outright: 12.9% Southbank — Mortgage: 18.2% Southbank — Renting: 68.9%
Docklands 68.8% renting
Docklands — Owned Outright: 12.7% Docklands — Mortgage: 18.5% Docklands — Renting: 68.8%
Owned outright Mortgage Renting

Where residents were born

Largest overseas birthplaces, as a share of all residents, 2021 Census. A dash means that country is not among the suburb's own eight largest.

Southbank Docklands
India 9.4% / 14.5%
Southbank — India: 9.4% Docklands — India: 14.5%
China 8.9% / 12.9%
Southbank — China: 8.9% Docklands — China: 12.9%
Malaysia 3.7% / 2.5%
Southbank — Malaysia: 3.7% Docklands — Malaysia: 2.5%
England 3.0% / 1.9%
Southbank — England: 3.0% Docklands — England: 1.9%
New Zealand 2.7% / 2.1%
Southbank — New Zealand: 2.7% Docklands — New Zealand: 2.1%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (14.5%).

Qualifications

Highest non-school qualification, residents 15+, 2021 Census.

Southbank Docklands
Bachelor Degree 33.1% / 31.8%
Southbank — Bachelor Degree: 33.1% Docklands — Bachelor Degree: 31.8%
Postgraduate Degree 19.3% / 17.5%
Southbank — Postgraduate Degree: 19.3% Docklands — Postgraduate Degree: 17.5%
Advanced Diploma / Diploma 8.8% / 8.0%
Southbank — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.8% Docklands — Advanced Diploma / Diploma: 8.0%
Certificate III & IV 5.1% / 5.1%
Southbank — Certificate III & IV: 5.1% Docklands — Certificate III & IV: 5.1%
Graduate Diploma / Certificate 3.1% / 2.6%
Southbank — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 3.1% Docklands — Graduate Diploma / Certificate: 2.6%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (33.1%).

What people live in

Occupied private dwellings by structure, 2021 Census.

Southbank 98.6% flats / apartments
Southbank — Flats / Apartments: 98.6% Southbank — Townhouses: 1.3% Southbank — Houses: 0.0%
Docklands 98.0% flats / apartments
Docklands — Flats / Apartments: 98.0% Docklands — Townhouses: 1.4% Docklands — Houses: 0.5%
Flats / Apartments Townhouses Houses

Property market

Southbank Docklands
Median house price $660,000 $586,000
Median unit price $570,000 $580,000
Median land price $680,000 —
Typical days to sell (houses) 84 days
from 8 sales
 85 days
from 8 sales

Unit price by bedroom count

Only bed counts both suburbs published enough sales for. Sale counts are shown because the buckets differ in depth.

Southbank Docklands
1 bed $390K / $408K
Southbank — 1 bed: $390K (529 sales) Docklands — 1 bed: $408K (263 sales)

529 vs 263 sales

2 bed $600K / $638K
Southbank — 2 bed: $600K (1089 sales) Docklands — 2 bed: $638K (437 sales)

1089 vs 437 sales

3 bed $1M / $1.2M
Southbank — 3 bed: $1M (255 sales) Docklands — 3 bed: $1.2M (70 sales)

255 vs 70 sales

Zoning mix

Southbank has more commercially zoned land (54% vs 26%).

Southbank Docklands
Other and special use 4% 62%
Commercial 54% 26%
Infrastructure and transport 28% 10%
Residential 9% 0%
Parks and recreation 6% 2%
Zoning sets what may be built, not what is there today. A single address can sit in a different zone to the suburb around it. Zones as at 2026-09.

Development activity

Southbank Docklands
New dwellings approved 4,715
across Melbourne
same for both
Approvals change year on year +195%
same for both

Gross rental yield

Gross — before strata, rates, management, insurance and vacancy. From median advertised rents and median asking prices over the last 6 months. How we calculate.

Southbank Docklands
Houses 4.4%
$750/wk on $877K
 3.2%
$865/wk on $1.43M
Units 6.6%
$740/wk on $579K
 6.3%
$730/wk on $605K

Ranking within VIC

Southbank Docklands
House price —
same for both
Income Higher than 73% of VIC Higher than 74% of VIC
Schools —
same for both
Walkability Higher than 100% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
Affordability —
same for both
EV adoption Higher than 95% of VIC Higher than 99% of VIC
NBN connectivity Higher than 91% of VIC Higher than 89% of VIC
Rental yield (houses) Higher than 90% of VIC Higher than 20% of VIC
Rental yield (units) Higher than 97% of VIC Higher than 95% of VIC

Liveability

Southbank Docklands
Grade B
same for both
Score 67/100 68/100
Socio-economic band very advantaged area
decile 10/10
same for both

Risk profile

Southbank Docklands
Bushfire None
0/100
same for both
Crime High
93/100
 High
95/100
Flood High
93/100
 High
86/100
Coastal erosion None
0/100
same for both
Aircraft noise None
0/100
same for both
Industrial facilities nearby 29
within 5 km
 42
within 5 km

Schools

Southbank Docklands
Inside the suburb 2
same for both
Rated above peers 2 0
Rated at peers 0 1
Rated below peers 0
same for both
Universities within 10 km 3
Melbourne C.Q.U Campus, 0.8 km
 3
Melbourne C.Q.U Campus, 2.6 km
Full-time students aged 15–24 5.8% 5.0%

Schools in Southbank

  • South Melbourne Primary School Government · Primary above peers
  • Victorian College Of The Arts Secondary School Government · Secondary above peers

Schools in Docklands

  • Docklands Primary School Government · Primary at peers
  • Docklands Primary School-Bundha Campus Government · Primary

Amenities in the suburb

Southbank Docklands
Supermarkets 8 10
Cafes & restaurants 75 130
Parks & reserves 15
same for both
Childcare 6
same for both
GPs 5 2
Pharmacies 3 4
Police stations 1
same for both
Banks & Bank@Post 2 5
Fuel stations 2 0
EV chargers 0 1
Waterways 0 2

Mobility

Southbank Docklands
Walkability score 100/100 96/100
Distance to Melbourne 2.4 km 2.8 km
+17% vs other
Drive time (normal traffic) 8 min 9 min
Public transport score 82/100
Tram · Bus
 97/100
Rail · Tram · Bus
Peak arrivals per hour 391.2
7-9am + 5-7pm
 707.8
7-9am + 5-7pm
Median peak wait 0 min
scheduled, not actual
same for both
Electric vehicle share 2.1%
postcode 3006
 3.2%
postcode 3008
Rooftop solar per 100 dwellings 0
postcode 3006
 1
postcode 3008

How people get to work

Method of travel on census day 2021 — which fell during COVID restrictions, so working from home is inflated and every travel mode understated.

Southbank Docklands
Worked from Home 47.6% / 52.3%
Southbank — Worked from Home: 47.6% Docklands — Worked from Home: 52.3%
Car (driver) 17.7% / 18.7%
Southbank — Car (driver): 17.7% Docklands — Car (driver): 18.7%
Walked Only 15.1% / 8.6%
Southbank — Walked Only: 15.1% Docklands — Walked Only: 8.6%
Tram / Light Rail 9.9% / 12.3%
Southbank — Tram / Light Rail: 9.9% Docklands — Tram / Light Rail: 12.3%
Train 5.6% / 4.7%
Southbank — Train: 5.6% Docklands — Train: 4.7%

Bars are drawn against the largest share shown (52.3%).

Setting

Southbank Docklands
Elevation 12 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
 0 m
above sea level, at the suburb centre
Distance to the ocean 2.8 km
2.8 km to a named beach
 2.7 km
3.1 km to a named beach

NBN connectivity

Southbank Docklands
Connectivity score 81/100 78/100
Most common technology Fibre to the building
same for both
Full-fibre (FTTP) share 46%
18,885 premises
 38%
11,299 premises

Climate

Southbank Docklands
Annual rainfall 534 mm
same for both
Summer max (Jan) 26.7°C
same for both
Winter min (Jul) 6.5°C
same for both

Air quality (annual mean)

Southbank Docklands
PM2.5 7.9 µg/m³
same for both
PM10 —
same for both
NO₂ —
same for both

Council rates

Southbank Docklands
Average residential rate $2,345/yr
same for both
Council Melbourne
same for both

Federal electorate

Southbank Docklands
Division Macnamara Melbourne
Member Josh Burns Sarah Witty
Party Australian Labor Party
same for both

First Home Owner Grant

Southbank Docklands
Grant amount $10,000
same for both
Property price cap $750,000
same for both
Eligibility New
same for both

Tags

Southbank

Apartments Coastal Inner Multicultural Parks Professionals Trams Transport Hub Urban

Docklands

Apartments Cafe Culture Coastal Easy Commute Inner Multicultural Nightlife Parks Professionals Trams Transport Hub Urban

More comparisons

Other comparisons with Southbank

Southbank vs Melbourne Southbank vs South Melbourne Southbank vs South Wharf

Other comparisons with Docklands

Docklands vs Melbourne Docklands vs Port Melbourne Docklands vs South Melbourne Docklands vs West Melbourne Docklands vs South Wharf
Full data on Southbank Full data on Docklands
Unlock full address-level data — $29/month

Information shown is provided as-is from Australian government and commercial data sources.
Always verify with the relevant authority before making property decisions.
See Data Sources and How We Calculate for details.

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