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Place Snapshot: Mernda

Mernda means young girl (derived from murnmurndik) in Woiwurrung the local language of the Wurundjeri people. The population of Mernda has increased from 16,800 in 2015 to an estimated 22,368 in 2021.

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

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For snapshots of development in other areas, see Place Snapshots: A Guide to Development in Your Area.

Snapshot of Mernda

  1. Rail Extension to Mernda
    In 2018 the State Labor Government opened the Mernda Rail Extension.
  2. Mernda Village Community Centre
  3. Jindi Family And Community Centre
  4. Future Mernda Town Centre
  5. Mernda Regional Recreation Reserve
  6. a) Mernda Park Primary School, Riverdale on Plenty Estate
    Opened in January 2017. This school site also includes an integrated Council kindergarten, maternal & child health facility and a long day child care centre. 
    b) Mernda Central College opened in 2017 to Year 7. The College will grow to Year 12 in 2022.
  7. Mernda Police Station was opened in 2018.
  8. Waterview Recreation Reserve

Planning and development

Located 30 kilometres north-east of Melbourne’s city centre, Mernda is a rapidly developing residential area of around 17 square kilometres. As of 2015, it is one of the fastest growing areas in Australia. When fully developed, Mernda will accommodate over 30,000 square metres of retail space for supermarkets and shops and around 80,000 square metres for commercial use for offices, small businesses, medical facilities, gym and child care.

Mernda Strategy Plan

Our Mernda Strategy Plan 2004 (amended in 2008) provides the planning and design framework for development of the Mernda and Doreen growth area.

Mernda development plans

These plans show the proposed development for a number of new housing estates within Mernda. Development of these estates will generally follow the plans but is subject to change.

Some of these plans are only extracts from the full development plans. To request a complete plan with related policy content, or if you are unable to access the information in these documents, please call 9217 2346.

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To view the location of these housing estates, access our interactive map.

Local history

Mernda means young girl (derived from murnmurndik) in Woiwurrung the local language of the Wurundjeri people.

Europeans settled in the 1840s; the land was mainly used for dairy farming. Early industry included a unique concentration of flour mills along the Plenty River.

The post office opened in 1875 and parts of the original school, Methodist church, bakery/store, hotel, railway station and Mechanics’ Institute still stand.

In the early 1900s there were many dairy farms in Mernda that supplied milk to Melbourne.

Population

By 2036 it is estimated that the population of Mernda will increase by about 68 per cent from 16,800 (in 2015) to an estimated 28,200, with an increase in the median age over the same period from 29 to 35.

By 2036 the largest age groups are expected to be 35 to 49 year-olds followed by 50 to 59 year-olds.

Mernda has the third largest Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander population in the municipality, behind Whittlesea Township and Epping.

Births

In 2015, there will be an estimated 403 births (eight per week on average) and by 2036 this is expected to increase 472 births per year (nine births per week on average).

Diversity

The most common languages spoken other than English are Italian Macedonian and Greek and the most common country-of-birth other than Australia include England, India and Italy.

Families and households

By 2036 the number of dwellings will increase from about 6,200 to 10,500; 39 per cent of those households will be couples with children, down from the 2015 figure of 44 per cent.

Employment

In 2015 the most common types of occupation are professionals (18 per cent) and technicians and trades workers (18 per cent). More residents work in the construction industry compared with any other industry.

Education

In 2015, 3 per cent of residents are attending preschool and 10 per cent are attending primary school.

Travelling in and out

In 2015, 72 per cent of dwellings have access to 2 or more motor vehicles and 73 per cent of residents drive a car to their place of work.

Advocacy priorities for Mernda

Duplication of Plenty Road

Council is advocating for the State Government to duplicate Plenty Road from Riverdale Boulevard to Bridge Inn Road and install traffic lights at Plenty Road and Bridge Inn Road, Mernda.

Find out about other advocacy priorities for the whole City of Whittlesea.