Place Snapshot: Bundoora

Bundoora is a local Aboriginal word meaning ‘the plain where kangaroos live’. In 2021, it is estimated 13,750 people live in Bundoora (within the City of Whittlesea) with a projected increase of about 1,800 people by 2036.

This place snapshot provides a summary of future development in the Bundoora area for current and future residents, business owners, investors and community groups.

For snapshots of development in other areas, see Place snapshots: a guide to development in your Area.

Snapshot of Bundoora

Bundoora Netball and Sports Centre
Large recreational facility catering for basketball, netball, badminton, volleyball, tennis, squash, hockey, soccer, running as well as a fitness centre.
RMIT University
The RMIT Bundoora Campus specialises in engineering, biosciences, education and
medical sciences.
Bundoora Square Shopping Centre
Bundoora Square Shopping Centre has almost 100 shops, including a Post Office, medical centres and a range of speciality shops. Council, in early 2015, undertook improvement works at Dennison Mall in the Bundoora Square shopping precinct. Upgrades included the installation of a pedestrian crossing linking Bundoora Arcade and Dennison Mall, car park upgrades, and a new pedestrian walk and wider footpath connection.
Northpark Private Hospital
Northpark Private Hospital built in 1979. It is a 153-bed hospital, with capacity for over 100 healthcare specialists. The hospital provides a range of in-patient, day-patient and out-patient services from surgical, medical, mental health, maternity, nursery care and mother baby services.
University Hill development
University Hill is developed on the former Janefield Training Centre site, which provided housing and support for people with a disability. The land was brought in 2003 by the developer MAB. It is set on 42 hectares between Plenty Road and the Plenty Gorge Parklands. University Hill includes 3 hectares of recreation parks, 5 hectares of wetlands, and 10 hectares of nature reserves. Home to around 3,000 residents, the most popular age group is 25 to 35 years old. The development is a combination of residential, retail and commercial.
RMIT University Bundoora Facility
RMIT University have leased space in the heart of the University Hill town centre to assist with the delivery of further courses.
Norris Bank Reserve Master Plan
Draft Masterplan for Botanica Park

Local history

Bundoora is a local Aboriginal word meaning ‘the plain where kangaroos live’. Bundoora was named after Keelbundoora, which was the name of the parish (land) where Bundoora exists today.

Keelbundoora was also the name of the young boy present at the signing of the Batman treaty, a historic land agreement made by European settler, John Batman with the Aboriginal people of Melbourne in 1835. The treaty was later ruled invalid by the government of the day.

Only a small part of Bundoora is within the City of Whittlesea boundary, the rest of the suburb is served by the Darebin City Council and Banyule City Council.

Approximately 45 per cent of the population resides in the City of Whittlesea, 37 per cent in Banyule and 18 per cent in Darebin.

European settlement of the area dates from 1838, with land mainly used for farming.

The number of residents was small until the late 1800s. Significant development did not occur until the post-war era with Bundoora experiencing substantial growth in the 1960s, due to home affordability and provision of employment.

Planning and development

Residential, retail and commercial growth is expected to continue particularly in the University Hill development.

University Hill contains:

over 130 national and international businesses
over 1,500 employees
over 100 retailers and big name brands at the Uni Hill Factory Outlet (UHFO) and the Town Centre, including a supermarket, bank, post office, cafés/restaurants, and a fitness facility

University Hill Development Plan

The University Hill (The Janefield) development plan shows the proposed development for this housing estate in Bundoora. Development of these estate will generally follow the plan but is subject to change.

Find the location of University Hill on our interactive map

Population

In 2015, it is estimated 13,500 people live in Bundoora (within the City of Whittlesea) with a projected increase of about 1,800 people by 2036.

Bundoora has the largest proportion of young adults aged 18 to 24 in the municipality (13 per cent). This is probably due to the presence of 2 universities in Bundoora. By 2036, the most populous age group is expected to be 35 to 49 year olds.

Births

In 2015, it is estimated there will be 169 births (3 births per week on average) and this will remain reasonably constant to 2036.

Diversity

Almost half of Bundoora’s residents (45 per cent) speak a language other than English at home with the most common languages spoken are Mandarin, Italian and Macedonian.

Families and households

In 2015 there are approximately 5,000 dwellings. By 2036 it is expected to increase to 5,700 dwellings with an average household size of 2.8 people.

Employment

There are more residents working in the retail trade, health care and social assistance, than any other industry.

Education

There are less residents attending primary, secondary and preschool, although there is a larger proportion of people attending university compared with the broader Greater Melbourne.