AERIAL photos of Australia’s top 10 fastest growing regions show just how much the country has changed in just five years.
Some regions have grown by 50 per cent, according to the latest data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and photos from nearmap.com.au give Australians a bird’s eye view of the transformation.
Most of them are located in the outer areas of our major cities with four Melbourne regions dominating the top 10.
1. SERPERTINE-JARRAHDA LE, WA
The Western Australia shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale tops the list, having grown by 50.9 per cent from a population of 17,805 in 2011 to 26,873 in 2016.
The change can be seen quite clearly in one of its suburbs Byford, located on the southeastern edge of Perth.
Byford, WA
2. GUNGAHLIN, ACT
This area in Canberra has grown by 50.4 per cent, increasing from 47,303 to 71,142. It includes the fast-growing suburbs of Gangahlin and Bonner, named in memory of Australia’s first indigenous parliamentarian Senator Neville Bonner.
It’s not hard to see its potential appeal. Bonner has a median house price of $604,500 according to realestate.com.au, despite being only 16km from the centre of Canberra.
Bonner, ACT
Gungahlin, ACT
3. MELBOURNE CITY, VIC
The inner city of Melbourne has seen a boom in recent years, growing by 45.2 per cent from 93,612 to 135,969. It includes suburbs like Docklands, Melbourne Park and Carlton, where a avocado toast and coffee is never too far away.
Carlton, VIC
Melbourne Park, VIC
4. NORTH LAKES, QLD
This area in the Moretan Bay region of Queensland is about 26km away from the Brisbane CBD. It is made up mostly of newly developed housing around the North Lakes Golf Course.
A big source of jobs is the North Lakes Business Park, which is being built in the area.
The population of North Lakes grew by 38.8 per cent from 51,568 to 71,560 people.
North Lakes, QLD
5. WYNDHAM, VIC
This area sits in the outer south western suburbs of Melbourne and includes Point Cook, Truganina and Wyndham Vale. The area has grown by 33.7 per cent since 2011, from 166,020 to 221,895.
Point Cook, VIC
6. KWINANA, WA
A second Perth area in the top 10, this one is located about 38km south of the CBD and home to the Kwinana Oil Refinery run by BP. Other petrochemical companies like Coogee Chemicals are also based in the area, along with the Perth Motorplex. It includes the suburb of Wellard and Wandi.
Its population has grown by 33.2 per cent from 29,227 to 38,918.
Wellard, WA
7. CASEY-SOUTH, VIC
A suburban/semirural area in the outer south east of Melbourne about 40km from the CBD. Some of the fastest growing suburbs include Botanic Ridge and Cranbourne West, East and North.
The area has grown by 31 per cent, from 128,361 to 168,177 people.
Cranbourne East, VIC
8. ORMEAU-OXENFORD, QLD
This Gold Coast area includes the suburb of Upper Commera, which is a hotspot for urban development in the area and one of the Gold Coast’s three urban centres.
It’s expected to keep growing as it’s located in a central position, about halfway between the central commercial districts of Southport and Beenleigh, and within reasonable travelling distance of Brisbane CBD.
The region of Ormeau-Oxenford has grown 28.5 per cent from 94,056 to 120,883.
Upper Coomera, QLD
9. WHITTLESEA-WALLAN, VIC
Yet another area in the outer suburbs of Melbourne. Located 26km northeast of the CBD, this rural region is going through some big changes with growth of 28 per cent from 166,907 to 213,708 people.
It includes the suburbs of Doreen and Wollert.
Doreen, VIC
10. BRINGELLY-GREEN VALLEY, NSW
NSW just scraped into the top 10 with growth in this southwest Sydney region at 28 per cent, tied with Whittlesea-Wallan. This area next to Camden and Campbelltown saw its population increase by 80,339 to 102,811. It includes the suburb of Oran Park, built on the site of Oran Park Raceway.
Oran Park, NSW
Ipswich is Queensland's fastest growing city103103
Ipswich is Queensland's fastest growing city
