City of Melbourne Kensington Small Area Demographic Profile 2013

Kensington Small Area Demographic Profile 2013

Contents

Disclaimer 3

Data sources 3

Further information 3

1. Key findings 4

2. Profile 5

2.1. History and environment of Kensington 5

2.2. Geography of Kensington small area 5

2.3. Demographic profile 5

2.4. Social profile 7

2.5. Income profile 8

2.6. Socio-economic Index for Areas (SEIFA) 8

2.7. Housing 10

2.8. Land use and business activity 11

2.9. Workforce 11

2.10. Future outlook 14

Disclaimer

While all due care has been taken to ensure that the content of this report is accurate and current, there may be errors or omissions in it and no legal responsibility is accepted for the information and opinions contained within.

In addition, as the report is based on historic information that is subject to revision and assumptions in preparing forecast figures that are both difficult to predict and liable to change, we do not guarantee the reports currency.

Data sources

Unless otherwise stated, all data in this report are based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2011 Census of Population and Housing.

City of Melbourne’s own Census of Land Use and Employment (CLUE) 2010 database also utilised for various economic, land use and employment related analysis.

Forecast population estimates provided via 2011-2036 Population and Household forecasts, id Consultants, last updated October 2013.

Further information

For further information about this small area, another small area with the City of Melbourne or the municipality overall, see the City Research webpage found via the City of Melbourne homepage:

http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/AboutMelbourne/Statistics/Pages/Statistics.aspx

This link also contains other demographic reports related to various elements of the City of Melbourne and the small areas contained within it, such as: Workers Profile, Students Profile, High rise Dwellers profile, Younger Persons Profile, Older Persons Profile and Key Changes between 2006 and 2011 Censuses.

1.  Key findings

The Kensington small area had a mid-range number of residents relative to all the City of Melbourne’s (the ‘municipality’) small areas, with four small areas housing more residents and five housing fewer. The 9790 residents in Kensington represented 10 per cent of the municipality’s overall population.

There were 4913 dwellings in Kensington representing around eight per cent of the municipality, with the highest proportion of houses or townhouses (64 per cent) among the small areas. The houses or townhouses in Kensington represent 35 per cent of all that dwelling type in the municipality.

The proportion of households renting (43 per cent) was slightly lower than the municipality average (49 per cent). The proportion of residents with a mortgage or owning their dwelling outright (42 per cent) was higher than the municipality average (27 per cent) and the highest proportion across all the small areas.

The median age of 32 was the third highest in the municipality, with only the small areas of South Yarra (West) (35) and East Melbourne (36) achieving a higher median age. Despite being higher than the municipality median age of 28 years, Kensington’s median age of 32 was younger than the median of 36 years for Greater Melbourne or 37 years for Australia.

Around one third (32 per cent) of Kensington’s residents were born overseas with one quarter (26 per cent) speaking a language other than English at home. China was the most common country of birth (4 per cent) and Mandarin was the most common language spoken at home (4 per cent).

The median personal income of $921 was higher than the municipality average of $711 but was mid-range relative to the other small areas, with four small areas recording higher median incomes and five small areas recording lower median incomes than Kensington.

Kensington had the highest proportion of family households (54 per cent) among all the small areas and the municipality average (41 per cent). Lone person households accounted for a further 30 per cent with group households accounting for 12 per cent; which were both comparable to the municipality averages (34 per cent lone person households and 15 per cent group households).

Kensington scored slightly higher than the overall municipality for three out or four SEIFA (Socio-Economic Index for Areas) metrics. Kensington scored lower for Education and Occupation than the municipality average and with results only marginally higher than the municipality average for two other metrics, these results indicate the possibility of pockets of social disadvantage in the area.

Around 4750 people worked in Kensington with the most common occupation ‘professionals’ (17 per cent), followed closely by ‘technicians and trades workers’ (17 per cent). 83 per cent of the workforce lived outside the City of Melbourne but within Greater Melbourne.

Kensington’s population is forecast to reach around 15,000 by 2036, living in around 7000 households.

2.  Profile

2.1.  History and environment of Kensington

TheMelbourne municipalitytakes in Kensington and a small slice of the neighbouring suburb of Flemington. That slice encompasses Flemington Racecourse, Australia’s most famous racetrack and home of the Melbourne Cup, and the Royal Agricultural Showgrounds (also called the Melbourne Showgrounds).

The area has a distinctive character, a quirky mix of housing types and a village-like shopping hub. Houses range from small period dwellings and public housing flats to new townhouses and Kensington Banks – built on a former abattoir and army depot site.

The area also features a scattered mix of industry and commerce, major roads, rail yards and electricity facilities.

2.2.  Geography of Kensington small area

Figure 1: Kensington small area geography within City of Melbourne

The small area of Kensington includes the suburb of Kensington and the Flemington Racecourse.

Kensington’s boundaries consist of Racecourse Road, City Link and South Kensington Railway, with the small area of Kensington including Flemington Racecourse.

2.3.  Demographic profile

Figure 2: Key metrics of Kensington residents

Kensington’s residential population of 9790 represents 10 per cent of the City of Melbourne’s (the ‘municipality’) overall population.

With a median age of 32 years, Kensington’s median age was slightly older than the overall municipality’s median age of 28 years. Kensington had the third highest median age of all the municipality’s small areas, with older median ages in East Melbourne (36 years) and South Yarra (West) (35 years) only.

Just under one in five (18 per cent) residents were aged 12 to 25 years, positioning Kensington as a small area with a slightly older population than most. Seven small areas had a larger proportion of 12 to 25 year olds, while two small areas had a smaller proportion than Kensington.

One in 10 (10 per cent) Kensington residents were aged 60 years and over, with five small areas containing a lower proportion than Kensington and four small areas with a higher proportion of this age. The most common age range of Kensington residents was 25 to 39 years (40 per cent).

Just under one in five (17 per cent) Kensington residents earned an income of less than $300 per week, while just over one quarter (28 per cent) earned an income in excess of $1250. An average personal weekly income of $921 ranks Kensington mid-range relative to all of the municipality’s small areas, with four small areas earning a higher average income and five earning a lower average income.

Kensington had half the average proportion of higher education students (10 per cent c.f. 21 per cent), with only East Melbourne (10 per cent) and South Yarra (West) (9 per cent) housing a lower proportion of higher education students. Around four in 10 (39 per cent) held a bachelor degree qualification or higher, a comparable proportion to the municipality average (40 per cent).

Figure 3: Kensington age profile

Median age is 32.

As Figure 3 depicts, four in 10 (40 per cent) Kensington residents were aged 25 to 39 years. Kensington had the highest number of school-aged children (under 15 years) across all the small areas (around 1380, or 14 per cent).

2.4.  Social profile

2.4.1.  Education

Just over one in five (22 per cent) Kensington residents attended an educational institution, a proportion lower than the overall municipality (30 per cent).

Higher education students comprised 44 per cent of Kensington’s total student population, the lowest proportion of all small areas and below the municipality average of 70 per cent.

Kensington housed the highest number of primary and pre-school attendees (around 569), resulting in this small area doubling the municipality’s average proportion of primary and pre-school attendees (6 per cent c.f. 3 per cent).

Four in 10 (39 per cent) Kensington residents held a bachelor degree qualification or higher, which was on par with that of the overall municipality (40 per cent).

2.4.2.  Household and family structure

Family households* accounted for just over half (54 per cent) of household types in Kensington, making this the most common household type in the small area. Lone person households comprised 30 per cent, with group households accounting for 12 per cent.

*Note: a family is defined by the ABS as two or more persons, one of whom is at least 15 years of age, who are related by blood, marriage (registered or de facto), adoption, step or fostering, and who are usually resident in the same household.

2.4.3.  Culture and language profile

Around one third (32 per cent) of Kensington’s residents were born overseas, the second lowest proportion of all small areas with only East Melbourne purporting a lower proportion (27 per cent). The most common countries of birth other than Australia included: China (4 per cent), Vietnam (3 per cent), England (3 per cent) and New Zealand (3 per cent).

One quarter (26 per cent) of Kensington’s residents spoke a language other than English at home, with the most common languages spoken including: Mandarin (4 per cent), Cantonese (4 per cent), Vietnamese (3 per cent), Somali (1 per cent) and Spanish (1 per cent).

2.4.4.  Internet connection at home

Kensington was equal to the municipality’s overall proportion of households to have a broadband connection at home (71 per cent). Kensington had the second highest proportion (13 per cent) of households without an Internet connection compared to all small areas, with only North Melbourne (15 per cent) containing a higher proportion of households not connected at all.

Only 2 per cent of households maintained a dial-up Internet connection, 6 per cent accessed the Internet via another* connection type, and 8 per cent of households did not provide an answer to this Census question.

* Note on Internet connection types:

·  Broadband connection includes: ADSL, Cable, Wireless, Satellite, Fibre and Mobile connections

·  Dial up connection includes: analogue modem and ISDN connections

·  Other connection type includes: Internet access through mobile phones, etc.

2.5.  Income profile

Figure 4: Kensington income comparisons

The median total personal income for Kensington ($921) was the fifth highest among all the municipality’s small areas, with the small areas Southbank ($983), Docklands ($1060), South Yarra (West) ($1108) and East Melbourne ($1164) higher.

Kensington’s median incomes, as listed above in Figure 4, were all higher than overall municipality medians. There was, however, just under one in five (17 per cent) residents earning less than $300, despite the relatively high median incomes. The highest data bar in Figure 5 for Not applicable, is due to the relatively high number of school-age children who were not yet in the workforce living in Kensington.

Figure 5: Kensington personal weekly income profile

2.6.  Socio-economic Index for Areas (SEIFA)

SEIFA is a suite of four indexes compiled from data collected in the ABS 2011 Census which rank areas in terms of the socio-economic characteristics of persons and households in that area. SEIFA allows for comparisons of areas whereby the lower the score, the greater the disadvantage relative to other comparable areas.

The Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage (IRSAD) summarises information about the economic and social conditions of people and households within an area, including both relative advantage and disadvantage measures.

The Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage (IRSD) is a general socio-economic index that summarises a range of information about the economic and social conditions of people and households within an area. Unlike the other indexes, this index includes only measures of relative disadvantage.