Gelorup
Household incomes in the 88.7th percentile nationally and a low 5.3% renter share make Gelorup one of the most owner-occupied pockets in Western Australia's south-west. The suburb's median age of 46 sits 6 years above the national figure, reflecting a settled, older demographic whose stability shows in a 77.9% five-year retention rate. All 100% of dwellings are separate houses, with 77.8% having four or more bedrooms, well above any national average, and the estimated median house price of $492,000 remains accessible compared to Perth metropolitan benchmarks.
Population
2,255
Median Age
46.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,330/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Median House
$492K
Estimated from rent (2025)
At an estimated $492,000 median house price, Gelorup offers detached family housing below the cost of comparable metropolitan markets. The entire housing stock is separate houses, giving buyers certainty of dwelling type rather than the apartment risk found elsewhere. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.8% sits below the 30% stress threshold, so servicing costs are manageable against Gelorup's above-average incomes. The bedroom profile favours larger homes: 77.8% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 20.3% have three, making this suburb well suited to families who need space rather than buyers hunting smaller units.
For Buyers
At an estimated $492,000 median house price, Gelorup offers detached family housing below the cost of comparable metropolitan markets. The entire housing stock is separate houses, giving buyers certainty of dwelling type rather than the apartment risk found elsewhere. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, and the mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.8% sits below the 30% stress threshold, so servicing costs are manageable against Gelorup's above-average incomes. The bedroom profile favours larger homes: 77.8% of dwellings have four or more bedrooms and 20.3% have three, making this suburb well suited to families who need space rather than buyers hunting smaller units.
For Investors
Gelorup's investment fundamentals are mixed. The renter share of just 5.3% means rental demand is thin, and the 6.5% vacancy rate is elevated above the national average of around 2%, signalling more rental supply than tenant demand. Weekly rent of $380 against a $492,000 median implies a gross yield near 4%, which is modest. Net overseas migration averaged 18 residents a year, partially offset by a net internal outflow of 4 per year, leaving population growth at 0.56% annually. The population grew only 5.3% over 10 years, slower than most WA growth corridors, and the gentrification stage reads not gentrifying, so capital uplift depends on the Bunbury regional market rather than suburb-specific demand shifts.
Schools in Gelorup iICSEA: school advantage index. 1000 = national avg, higher = more advantaged
Bunbury Cathedral Grammar School
PP-12 · 663 students
Demographics
The median age of 46 is 6 years above the national figure, driven by a senior share that grew 6.9 points over the decade while the working-age share fell 1.4 points and the young share dropped 4.2 points. Overseas-born residents represent 20.1%, which is 1.5 points below the national average, and ancestry leans heavily Anglo-Celtic: English (1,050), Scottish (263) and Irish (247) are the top three groups, consistent with the suburb's established, low-mobility character. University qualifications at 27.4% sit 2.7 points below national. Average household size of 2.9 is 0.4 above national, because couples-with-children families (763) form the dominant household type alongside 513 couples-without-children households.
Age Distribution
Bedrooms
Dwelling Structure
100.0%
Houses
N/A
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
Gelorup is among the most owner-dominant suburbs in WA: 47.5% own outright and 47.1% carry a mortgage, together accounting for 94.6% of all households, far higher than the national norm. Renters at 5.3% form a very thin layer of the market. Every dwelling is a separate house, with no apartments or semi-detached stock recorded, and the bedroom profile skews large: 77.8% of homes have four or more bedrooms and 20.3% have three bedrooms, while two-bedroom dwellings make up just 1.9%. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.8% and rent-to-income of 16.3% both sit below stress thresholds, indicating that housing costs are comfortably within reach for current residents given household incomes in the 88.7th percentile nationally.
Mortgage / mo
$2,000
Rent / wk
$380
HH Size
2.9
Personal Income / wk
$865
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
6.5%
Unoccupied
50
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
16.3%
Mortgage / IncomeiMedian mortgage as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
19.8%
Community Profile
Languages Spoken at Home
Ancestry
Household Composition
27.5%
Couples, no children
1,868
Total families
Economy & Employment
Healthcare employs the largest share of Gelorup workers at 17.3% (138 residents), followed by Education at 13.4% (107) and Construction at 13.1% (104). Mining at 8.0% and Manufacturing at 8.0% round out the top five, reflecting proximity to Bunbury's industrial and resource base. By occupation, Professionals (261) lead, followed by Clerical/Admin (133) and Managers (131). The unemployment rate of 3.7% is low, the full-time employment rate is 61.5%, and 24.2% of residents volunteer, above the national norm. SEIFA scores reflect a well-resourced community: the IER decile of 10 is the highest tier nationally for economic resources, while the IRSD decile of 9 confirms low relative disadvantage compared to most Australian suburbs.
Unemployment
1.1%
Labour Force
1,948
Unemployed
22
Quarterly Trend
Source: SALM Dec-25
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
61.5%
Part-time
34.8%
Participation
60.7%
Employed
1,078
Occupations
Top Industries
University
27.4%
Postgraduate
4.5%
Born Overseas
20.1%
Dwellings
714
Transport to Work
Car dependency is high in Gelorup, with 89.6% of residents driving to work and only 1.9% using public transport, reflecting the suburban character of this regional WA suburb compared to urban averages. The IRSAD decile of 7 and IRSD decile of 9 both indicate low disadvantage, placing Gelorup above most Australian suburbs on socioeconomic measures. Need for daily assistance is low at 3.2% (70 residents), and housing stress is absent: both mortgage-to-income at 19.8% and rent-to-income at 16.3% fall comfortably below stress thresholds. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, so families draw on schools in the broader Bunbury-Australind corridor. Population density of 91.2 persons per square kilometre across 24.72 square kilometres gives the suburb a spacious, semi-rural feel.
Drive
89.6%
Public Transport
1.9%
Walk / Cycle
2.9%
Work from Home
N/A
Population Forecast
+0.56%/yr
(+18 people/yr)
EstablishedPopulation growth in Gelorup is slow but steady at 0.56% annually, adding roughly 18 residents per year. Over the past decade the suburb grew 5.3%, below WA's broader south-west expansion rate. Medium forecasts project population rising from around 3,224 in 2025 to approximately 3,331 by 2031, modest growth that reflects the suburb's established character rather than greenfield expansion. The migration pattern is balanced: overseas arrivals average 18 per year while internal movement produces a small outflow of 4 per year. The gentrification score is 0 and the stage reads not gentrifying, so the aging trajectory and minimal new dwelling activity are likely to continue. Rent grew 43.9% over the measured period, well above real income growth of 7.4%, a sign of affordability pressure on the small renter cohort.
Historical + Forecast
Hamilton-Perry + Holt smoothing on ERP 2001-2025
Age Cohort Forecast
Primary Driver
Balanced
Net Overseas / yr
+18
Net Internal / yr
-4
Gentrification Signal
Not gentrifying
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Gelorup compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Gelorup a good suburb to live in?
Gelorup scores decile 9 on IRSD and decile 7 on IRSAD, both indicating low disadvantage compared to most Australian suburbs. Household income sits in the 88.7th percentile nationally. Housing costs are manageable, with mortgage-to-income at 19.8% and rent-to-income at 16.3%, both below stress thresholds. The trade-off is high car dependency, with 89.6% of residents driving to work and minimal public transport.
What is the median house price in Gelorup?
The estimated median house price in Gelorup is $492,000 as of 2025. Monthly mortgage repayments average $2,000, and weekly rent is $380. The mortgage-to-income ratio of 19.8% is well below the 30% stress threshold, making purchase costs relatively accessible against the suburb's above-average incomes.
What schools are in Gelorup?
No schools are recorded within the Gelorup suburb boundary in this dataset. Families rely on schools in the surrounding Bunbury-Australind region. Despite this, 27.4% of Gelorup residents hold university qualifications, 2.7 points below the national average, and the suburb's 24.2% volunteering rate reflects community engagement.
Is Gelorup safe?
Detailed crime statistics are not available for Gelorup in this dataset. As indirect indicators, the suburb scores decile 9 on IRSD, placing it among the least disadvantaged areas nationally. Only 3.2% of residents (70 people) need daily assistance, and the high 77.9% five-year population retention rate suggests residents feel settled and satisfied with the area.
Is Gelorup good for property investment?
Gelorup's investment case is moderate. The 6.5% vacancy rate is elevated above the national average, and the renter share of just 5.3% means rental demand is limited. Weekly rent of $380 against a $492,000 median implies a gross yield near 4%. Annual population growth of 0.56% and rent growth of 43.9% over the decade indicate some price momentum, but the aging trajectory and thin tenant pool are constraints.
How is Gelorup's population changing?
Gelorup's population grew 5.3% over the past decade, reaching approximately 3,224 in 2025. Annual growth is 0.56%, adding around 18 residents per year. Overseas migration averages 18 arrivals per year, offset by a small net internal outflow of 4 per year. Medium forecasts project the population reaching about 3,331 by 2031, steady but slow growth.
What industries employ Gelorup residents?
Healthcare employs the largest share at 17.3% (138 workers), followed by Education at 13.4% (107) and Construction at 13.1% (104). Mining and Manufacturing each account for 8.0% (64 workers each), reflecting Gelorup's position near Bunbury's industrial and resource sector. The unemployment rate is 3.7% and the full-time employment rate is 61.5%.
How to read these comparisons
Phrases like "above the national average" reference the unweighted median across Australian suburbs with more than 1,000 residents, not population-weighted national figures. Suburb-level medians are more useful for ranking suburbs against each other; ABS census headlines are population-weighted (so dominated by Sydney and Melbourne) and can read very differently.
Current baseline (refreshed 2026-05-10): median age 40, university-educated 30.1%, born overseas 21.6%, average household size 2.5 people.
Data sources: ABS 2021 Census (demographics, income, tenure), state Valuer-General (house prices), Department of Jobs SALM (unemployment), ACARA (school ICSEA), state Crime Statistics agencies (offences), council DA portals (development applications). Population forecasts use a Hamilton-Perry cohort model calibrated to ABS ERP.
Explore Gelorup on the Map
View parcels, zoning overlays, DA applications, schools and more.
Open Interactive Map