🔍

East Melbourne

VIC 3002 • Greater Melbourne

4,896
Population (2021)
$121,940
Median Household Income
1.86 km²
Area
$480/wk
Median Rent
PrestigiousHeritageInner CityMedical PrecinctHistoric

About East Melbourne

East Melbourne is one of Melbourne's most prestigious inner-city suburbs, located just 2 kilometres east of the CBD. With a population of around 4,900, it's bounded by Spring Street, Victoria Parade, Punt Road, and the Yarra River parklands. The suburb is home to significant government, health, and religious institutions including the Parliament of Victoria, St Patrick's Cathedral, and several major hospitals.

Life in East Melbourne combines historic elegance with urban convenience. The suburb features beautiful Victorian-era terrace houses, tree-lined streets, and the famous Fitzroy Gardens. Residents enjoy proximity to the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG) in Yarra Park, excellent dining in nearby Richmond and Fitzroy, and outstanding public transport connections. The area attracts affluent professionals, medical specialists, and those who appreciate heritage architecture and a quiet inner-city lifestyle surrounded by Melbourne's finest attractions.

East Melbourne falls under postcode 3002 and is governed by Melbourne Council (LGA). For state elections, residents vote in the Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan) electorate.

📍 Location

State
Victoria
Postcode
3002
Urban Area
Melbourne - Central
LGA / Council
Melbourne
Federal Electorate
Melbourne
State Electorate
Melbourne (Northern Metropolitan)
Type
Major Urban
Timezone
Melbourne (UTC+10)
Coordinates
-37.82°, 144.98°
Statistical Area
Greater Melbourne
Area
1.86 km²
Elevation
32m

🏷️ Property Prices June quarter 2025

Median sale prices in East Melbourne for the June quarter 2025. Median sale prices published by the Valuer-General Victoria.

🏡House
$2.4M
6 sales · ▼ 36% YoY
🏢Unit / Apartment
$610K
23 sales · ▼ 20.3% YoY

Source: Valuer-General Victoria — Victorian Property Sales Report. Medians are for the latest quarter; the change shown is the official 12-month movement. Suburbs with very few sales in a quarter can be volatile.

🏠 Housing 2021 Census

Median Rent (weekly)
$480
Median Mortgage (monthly)
$2,383
Avg Household Size
1.8 people
Median Age
42 years
Social Housing (% of dwellings)
0.2%

4 state housing + 0 community housing dwellings (ABS 2021 Census)

🚌 Transport & Commute

Nearest Train Stations

Jolimont
0.6 km
8 min
Parliament
0.7 km
9 min
West Richmond
1 km
12 min
Flinders Street
1.2 km
15 min

Bus Services

  • Tram 48, 75 — Docklands/CBD Loop 10 min
  • Tram 86 — Bundoora/Docklands 15 min

Commute to Melbourne

Distance
2 km
By Train
5-8 min
By Bus
10-15 min (tram)
By Car (Peak)
10-15 min
By Car (Off-Peak)
5-8 min

🛣️ Exceptional connectivity; walking distance to CBD; multiple tram routes

Walkability Walker's Paradise

Almost everything accessible on foot; CBD, parks, trams, trains all nearby

🛒 Supermarkets Nearby

No major supermarkets listed for this suburb.

🎓 Schools

No schools listed for this postcode.

🚔 Crime Statistics LGA-wide

These are the latest rates for the Melbourne Local Government Area, which contains East Melbourne. Rates are per 100,000 residents for the year ending September 2025; trends compare 2 and 10 year periods.

Break & enter (dwelling)
550.4 / 100k
2yr Up 22.3% 10yr Down 10.8%
Motor vehicle theft
785.3 / 100k
2yr Up 73.2% 10yr Up 76.2%
Non-FV assault
1,345.5 / 100k
2yr Stable 10yr Up 14.7%
Robbery (unarmed)
26.2 / 100k
2yr Down 19.7% 10yr Stable
Steal from vehicle
2,849.7 / 100k
2yr Up 154.0% 10yr Up 99.5%
View all offence subgroups for Melbourne →

Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria

🎓 Educational Institution Attending 2021 Census

School Sector Breakdown

👥 Demographics

Census 2016
4,964
Census 2021
4,896
▼ 1.4% decline

Population Growth

Gender Distribution (Census 2021)

Personal Income 2016
$69,732
Personal Income 2021
$79,664
▲ 14.2% increase

2021 Census income breakdown

Personal = median for one earner. Household = all members of a dwelling pooled. Family = related members only. Annual = weekly × 52.

Personal
$79,664 / yr
$1532/wk
Household
$121,940 / yr
$2345/wk
Family
$194,116 / yr
$3733/wk

Personal Income Comparison (2016 vs 2021)

📊 Population: ABS Census 2021
💰 Income: ABS Census 2021

🌍 Country of Birth 2021 Census

Born in Australia 3,291
Born Overseas 1,348

Top Countries of Birth (excl. Australia)

  • 1. England 217
  • 2. New Zealand 144
  • 3. China 97
  • 4. United States 67
  • 5. Malaysia 63
  • 6. Italy 45
  • 7. Ireland 40
  • 8. Hong Kong 34
  • 9. Philippines 34
  • 10. India 32

🧬 Ancestry 2021 Census

Top ancestries reported (people may report up to two)

English 1,867
Australian 1,143
Irish 877
Scottish 678
Chinese 329
Italian 314
German 229
Greek 125
Indian 84
Dutch 80

👨‍👩‍👧 Parents' Birthplace 2021 Census

2,278
Both parents born in Australia
1,668
Both parents born overseas
666
One parent AU, one overseas

🛐 Religion 2021 Census

No Religion
52.0%
Christianity
36.3%
Buddhism
1.5%
Islam
1.0%
Hinduism
0.8%
Judaism
0.6%
Sikhism
0.1%

📊 Age Distribution 2021 Census

0-4 years
110 (2.2%)
5-14 years
176 (3.6%)
15-19 years
92 (1.9%)
20-24 years
275 (5.6%)
25-34 years
1,144 (23.4%)
35-44 years
786 (16.1%)
45-54 years
552 (11.3%)
55-64 years
663 (13.5%)
65-74 years
651 (13.3%)
75-84 years
324 (6.6%)
85+ years
119 (2.4%)

Nearby Suburbs

Frequently Asked Questions

What is East Melbourne known for? +

East Melbourne is one of Melbourne's most prestigious inner-city suburbs, located just 2 kilometres east of the CBD. Life in East Melbourne combines historic elegance with urban convenience.

How far is East Melbourne from Melbourne CBD? +

East Melbourne is approximately 2 kilometres from Melbourne CBD, with a typical drive taking around 2-4 minutes depending on traffic and route taken.

Does East Melbourne have public transport? +

East Melbourne is served by PTV (Public Transport Victoria) bus services and is within reach of the Melbourne Metro rail network. Check ptv.vic.gov.au for current route and timetable information.

What is the population of East Melbourne? +

According to the 2021 Census, East Melbourne has a population of approximately 4,896 residents, a modest but established community. The suburb falls within the Melbourne (City) local government area.

Is East Melbourne a good place to live? +

East Melbourne offers a comfortable suburban lifestyle with access to local parks, shops, and community services. It suits a broad range of residents including families, professionals, and retirees looking for a connected and well-serviced neighbourhood.

What is the postcode for East Melbourne? +

The postcode for East Melbourne, VIC is 3002. This postcode covers East Melbourne and may also serve nearby localities within the same postcode zone.

What is the average income in East Melbourne? +

Based on the 2021 Census, the median personal income in East Melbourne is about $1,532 per week (around $79,700 per year). The median household income is $2,345 per week and the median family income is $3,733 per week.

What is the median house price in East Melbourne? +

As of June quarter 2025, the median house price is $2,400,000, down 36% year-on-year, and the median unit/apartment price is $610,000, down 20.3% year-on-year. Figures are based on Valuer-General Victoria — Victorian Property Sales Report.

What is the age profile of East Melbourne? +

The median age in East Melbourne is 42. The largest age group is 25–34 (1,144 residents, around 23%). Around 8% of residents are under 20 and about 22% are aged 65 or older. (2021 Census)

Is East Melbourne a safe area? +

Crime statistics are recorded at the Local Government Area level. East Melbourne is part of the Melbourne LGA — see the Crime Statistics section on this page for the latest recorded offence rates per 100,000 residents, along with 2-year and 10-year trends.

How much is rent in East Melbourne? +

In East Melbourne, the median weekly rent is $480, and the median monthly mortgage repayment is $2,383 (2021 Census).