Hmas Cerberus
With a median age of 21, HMAS Cerberus sits 19 years below the national median, a direct consequence of its identity as Australia's principal naval training base on the Mornington Peninsula. The 1,124 residents are almost exclusively serving Royal Australian Navy personnel and dependants, which explains why 100% of the population rents, 71.5% are male, and 92.9% of employed residents work in Public Administration. Household income falls in the 88.6th percentile nationally despite the young demographic, reflecting military salary structures and the near-zero 1.0% unemployment rate. This is not a suburb in the conventional sense but a self-contained defence precinct that operates on its own economy and tenure rules.
Population
1,124
Median Age
21.0
Household IncomeiMedian weekly household income (ABS Census)
$2,323/wk
DAs (12 months)iDevelopment Applications lodged in the past year
0
Private home purchases inside HMAS Cerberus are not possible because the land is Commonwealth defence property. There is no recorded median house price and no sales history for the locality. All 1,124 residents occupy service housing, which explains the 100% renter figure and the absence of owner-occupier data. Weekly rent of $260 is well below comparable Mornington Peninsula suburbs, consistent with subsidised defence accommodation rather than market-rate rents. Buyers interested in proximity to the base typically look to neighbouring areas such as Somers, Balnarring, or Hastings, where median prices reflect the broader Mornington Peninsula market rather than this unique defence footprint.
For Buyers
Private home purchases inside HMAS Cerberus are not possible because the land is Commonwealth defence property. There is no recorded median house price and no sales history for the locality. All 1,124 residents occupy service housing, which explains the 100% renter figure and the absence of owner-occupier data. Weekly rent of $260 is well below comparable Mornington Peninsula suburbs, consistent with subsidised defence accommodation rather than market-rate rents. Buyers interested in proximity to the base typically look to neighbouring areas such as Somers, Balnarring, or Hastings, where median prices reflect the broader Mornington Peninsula market rather than this unique defence footprint.
For Investors
Private investment in HMAS Cerberus real estate is not feasible. The suburb contains no privately owned dwellings, meaning the 100% renter figure reflects occupancy of Commonwealth housing rather than a private rental market. Weekly rent of $260 and zero recorded development applications in the past 12 months confirm no private supply pipeline exists. For investors weighing the Mornington Peninsula's Westernport corridor, the base's presence as an employer supporting roughly 1,000-plus residents acts as an indirect demand anchor for surrounding suburbs such as Hastings and Somers. However, yields and capital growth in HMAS Cerberus itself are not applicable, and any property comparisons must reference adjacent localities.
Demographics
The population skews sharply younger than national averages, with a median age of 21 compared to the national median of 40, a gap of 19 years driven by the recruit and trainee cycle at the naval base. Males make up 71.5% of residents, the inverse of most civilian suburbs. University qualifications reach 19.3%, which is 10.8 points below the national figure, reflecting the trade and technical focus of naval training rather than tertiary study. Overseas-born residents account for 12.5%, some 9.1 points below national. English-descended ancestry leads at 464 residents, followed by Irish (111) and Scottish (97), giving a predominantly Anglo-Celtic profile. Average household size is 3.0, above the national 2.5, consistent with family accommodation quarters.
Age Distribution
Dwelling Structure
96.0%
Houses
4.0%
Townhouse
N/A
Apartment
Tenure
The housing stock is entirely rental with a 100% renter rate, a figure far above any Australian state average and explained wholly by the defence estate model. Separate houses dominate at 96.0% of dwellings, with semi-detached at 4.0%, and no apartments recorded, reflecting the low-density layout typical of military bases. Three-bedroom homes account for 75.2% of the stock and 4-plus bedroom homes for the remaining 24.8%, pointing to family-sized units rather than barracks-style dormitories for most residents. No median house price exists for this locality; weekly rent of $260 represents below-market defence housing. Rent-to-income sits at 11.2%, low compared to the national average because rents are subsidised relative to military salaries.
Mortgage / mo
$0
Rent / wk
$260
HH Size
3.0
Personal Income / wk
$1,087
Vacancy Ratei% of dwellings unoccupied on Census night (ABS 2021)
0.0%
Rent / IncomeiMedian rent as % of household income. Over 30% = housing stress
11.2%
Community Profile
Ancestry
Household Composition
23.6%
Couples, no children
280
Total families
Economy & Employment
Public Administration employs 92.9% of the working population, compared to a national share of around 6%, reflecting the singular purpose of the base as a Royal Australian Navy training facility. Healthcare employs 2.8% (14 workers) and Construction and Education each contribute 1.4%. The employment picture is exceptional even by defence standards: the full-time employment rate is 88.4%, participation is 90.5%, and unemployment is 1.0%, all well above national benchmarks. Community and Personal service occupations, which cover defence service classifications, account for 334 of the roughly 910 employed residents. Personal weekly income averages $1,087 and household weekly income reaches $2,323, placing households in the 88.6th percentile nationally, a high rank given the young age profile.
Socio-Economic Indexes (SEIFA)iABS index ranking suburbs from 1 (most disadvantaged) to 10 (most advantaged)
Full-time
88.4%
Part-time
10.6%
Participation
90.5%
Employed
910
Occupations
Top Industries
University
19.3%
Postgraduate
2.9%
Born Overseas
12.5%
Dwellings
101
Transport to Work
Active and non-motorised travel dominates how residents get around: 79.1% walk or cycle, far above the national average, because the compact base layout makes car trips unnecessary for daily routines. Only 15.5% drive and 5.0% use public transport. Crime is very low at 5.3 incidents per 1,000 residents, with only 6 total offences recorded, giving a crime rate well below the Victorian average. The need-for-assistance rate is just 0.6%, reflecting the young and physically fit demographic. No schools are recorded within the suburb boundary, but the base sits near Somers and Balnarring primary schools on the Mornington Peninsula. Rent-to-income at 11.2% is low, meaning housing affordability stress is minimal for residents receiving subsidised accommodation.
Drive
15.5%
Public Transport
5.0%
Walk / Cycle
79.1%
Work from Home
N/A
Safety & Crime
Total Offences
6
Year ending June 2024
Rate per 1,000 People
5.3
Offence Categories
Source: Crime Statistics Agency Victoria / SA Police
National Ranking iPercentile rank among ~15,000 AU suburbs. 90% = higher than 90% of suburbs
How Hmas Cerberus compares to ~15,000 Australian suburbs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hmas Cerberus a good suburb to live in?
HMAS Cerberus is a Royal Australian Navy base, not an open residential suburb. Its 1,124 residents are naval personnel and dependants. Household income sits in the 88.6th percentile nationally, unemployment is 1.0%, and crime is very low at 5.3 incidents per 1,000 residents. Living here requires an ADF posting, not a purchase or private rental application.
What is the median house price in Hmas Cerberus?
There is no recorded median house price. HMAS Cerberus is Commonwealth defence property and 100% of residents occupy subsidised service housing. Weekly rent is $260, well below market rate, with a rent-to-income ratio of just 11.2%. Buyers interested in the nearby area should look at Somers or Hastings on the Mornington Peninsula.
What schools are in Hmas Cerberus?
No schools are recorded within the HMAS Cerberus suburb boundary. The base's population of 1,124 includes families who access schools in neighbouring Mornington Peninsula localities. The median age of 21 and the 71.5% male population reflect the trainee and personnel-heavy demographic rather than a family-oriented residential community.
Is Hmas Cerberus safe?
HMAS Cerberus records a crime rate of 5.3 offences per 1,000 residents, with only 6 total incidents, among the lowest figures for any Victorian suburb. The 2 main categories were property and deception offences (5 incidents) and drug offences (1 incident). The secure defence base environment and active 90.5% labour participation both contribute to an extremely low crime profile.
Is Hmas Cerberus good for property investment?
No private property investment is possible inside HMAS Cerberus as all land is Commonwealth defence property with 100% service housing. Zero development applications were lodged in the past 12 months. Investors seeking Mornington Peninsula exposure should target adjacent civilian suburbs where private title land exists and the base's roughly 1,000-strong workforce provides indirect demand support.
How is Hmas Cerberus's population changing?
Population at HMAS Cerberus is set by Navy posting cycles rather than residential demand. The turnover rate is 67.9%, meaning only 32.1% of residents were in place at the previous census, one of the highest mobility rates in Victoria. The current population is 1,124 residents. Long-term headcount will track Australian Defence Force resourcing decisions rather than housing supply.
What is the employment situation in Hmas Cerberus?
Employment is exceptional: 92.9% of workers are in Public Administration (defence service), the full-time employment rate is 88.4%, participation is 90.5%, and unemployment sits at just 1.0%. These figures are substantially above national averages because the base employs its own resident population directly, with only 9 unemployed residents recorded from a workforce of roughly 910.
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.
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