South Melbourne, VIC 3205 — Suburb Profile
Last reviewed: · By Knowburb Research Team
In short
South Melbourne is a suburb of Victoria, postcode 3205, home to 11,548 residents with an established residential profile. Located in the Port Phillip local government area and roughly 2 km from the Melbourne CBD.
Snapshot
Demographics
- Population
- 11,548
- Median age
- 39 years
- Median household income
- $2,101 /week
- Median personal income
- $1,307 /week
- Median family income
- $3,073 /week
- Average household size
- 1.9
- Persons per bedroom
- 0.9
- Local government area
- Port Phillip
- Statistical region (SA4)
- Melbourne - Inner
- Remoteness classification
- Major Cities of Australia
- Federal electorate
- Macnamara
Property & cost of living
- Median rent
- $421 /week
- Median monthly mortgage
- $2,200
- Rent share of household income
- 20%
Schools
- South Melbourne Primary School
- Galilee Regional Catholic Primary School
- Victorian College Of The Arts Secondary School
- Montague Continuing Education Centre
- Youth2Industry College
Transport
- Within 800 m walk: 37 tram stops, 16 bus stops
- Within 1.6 km: 2 train stops, 8 metro stops, 115 tram stops, 80 bus stops
- South Melbourne Market/Cecil St
- York St/Clarendon St #127
- Dorcas St/Clarendon St #128
- Anzac Station
- Southern Cross Station
Lifestyle & amenities
- 159 cafés
- 231 restaurants
- 95 pubs and bars
- 134 parks and reserves
- 23 gyms and fitness centres
- 9 libraries
- 18 supermarkets
- 31 playgrounds
Climate
- Warmest month: Jan (25.9°C avg max)
- Coolest month: Jul (13.5°C avg max)
- Annual rainfall: 648 mm
- Reference station: Melbourne Regional Office, 2.6 km away
NBN & connectivity
Fibre to the Premises serves 41.7% of the 10,459 resolvable premises in South Melbourne. Most premises here have a fibre cable running directly into the property — the fastest and most reliable NBN option, with plans available up to NBN 1000.
- Fibre to the Premises: 41.7%
- Fibre to the Curb: 12.9%
- Fibre to the Building: 20.3%
- Fibre to the Node: 25.1%
Safety
- Recorded offences: 3,575 across postcode 3205 in the year to December 2025.
- Most common categories: 2,541 property offences, 441 violent offences, 148 public order offences.
- Wider Port Phillip LGA: 13,835 offences per 100,000 residents.
Frequently asked questions
What is the population of South Melbourne?
South Melbourne (VIC 3205) had 11,548 residents at the most recent ABS Census. The median age is 39. It sits within the Port Phillip local government area.
What is the median rent in South Melbourne?
The median advertised rent in South Melbourne is $421/week, based on SQM Research listings data. Rents vary by property type, bedrooms and condition.
Are there schools in South Melbourne?
Yes — 5 schools are listed within or near South Melbourne covering government, catholic, independent sectors. Nearest include: South Melbourne Primary School (0.5 km), Galilee Regional Catholic Primary School (0.6 km), Victorian College Of The Arts Secondary School (0.7 km). School data sourced from ACARA and state education departments.
What NBN technology is available in South Melbourne?
South Melbourne is predominantly served by Fibre to the Premises (41.7% of premises). Coverage data is sourced from the NBN upgrade map aggregated from NBN Co address checks.
How safe is South Melbourne?
Across postcode 3205, 3,575 offences were recorded in the 12 months to December 2025. The most common offence categories were property (2,541), violent (441), public order (148). Crime statistics are recorded by area (postcode or LGA), not by individual suburb. Data sourced from each state's crime statistics agency.
What is the climate like in South Melbourne?
In South Melbourne, mean daily temperatures range from 10.3°C to 19.9°C and annual rainfall is 648 mm measured at the Melbourne Regional Office weather station (2.6 km away). Long-term averages from the Bureau of Meteorology.
What public transport options are in South Melbourne?
205 public transport stops are mapped within 1.6 km of the South Melbourne centroid. Within 800 m, you'll find 16 bus stops, 37 tram stops. Stop data is sourced from state government GTFS feeds.
Sources & methodology
Demographics from ABS Census. Property data from SQM Research. Climate from Bureau of Meteorology. Schools from ACARA. NBN from NBN Co. Amenities from OpenStreetMap. See full methodology.
Additional sources for this profile: