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Place Snapshot: South Morang

South Morang is named after the area of Morang where the suburb exists today. In 2021 there were an estimated 24,973 people living in South Morang. In 2021, almost 25 per cent of residents were aged between 35 to 49 years.

This place snapshot provides a summary of future development in the South Morang 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 South Morang

  1. Plenty Valley Town Centre
  2. Mernda Rail Extension
  3. Quarry Hills Regional Parkland
  4. Mill Park Lakes meeting space
  5. Riverside Community Activity Centre
  6. Hawkstowe Recreation Reserve
  7. Proposed Mill Park Lakes East Primary School
  8. Farm Vigano
  9. Le Page Homestead at Plenty Gorge Park
  10. City of Whittlesea Council Offices
  11. Mill Park Lakes Maternal and Child Health Centre

Local history

South Morang is located 23 kilometres northeast of Melbourne’s city centre and covers an area of approximately 19 square kilometres.

South Morang is named after the area of Morang where the suburb exists today.

European settlement started from 1870s with the post office opening in November 1873 followed by the first primary school in 1877.

Planning and development

The South Morang Local Structure Plan (1997) guides development within the South Morang area, but can be subject to change.

South Morang development plans

These plans show the proposed development for a number of developments within South Morang. Development of these sites will generally follow the plans but is subject to change.

Some of the plans below 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.

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

Proposed South Morang civic precinct

Council is advocating to the state government to invest in a Civic Precinct on the Civic Centre at Ferres Boulevard that potentially includes:

  • Magistrates’ Court
  • Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal
  • Victims of Crime Assistance Tribunal
  • County Court
  • Victoria Police
  • Community Correctional Services
  • Social services, non-government agencies, businesses and residential development

Precinct Structure Plans

Precinct Structure Plans are high-level master plans for whole communities. They lay out roads, retail hubs, schools, parks, housing, employment, connections to transport and generally address biodiversity, cultural heritage, infrastructure provision and funding through the development contributions plan.

The State Government’s, Metropolitan Planning Authority, in partnership with Council, has currently prepared the Quarry Hills Precinct Structure Plan.

Population

In 2015 there is an estimated 21,000 people living in South Morang with a 9 per cent increase forecast by 2036 to 23,100.

In 2015, 25 per cent of residents are aged between 35 to 49 years. The number of people aged 50 plus is expected to almost double by 2036.

Births

It is estimated there will be 386 births in South Morang in 2015 (7 births per week on average) and by 2036 this is expected to decrease to 357 births per year (6 births per week on average).

Diversity

The most common languages spoken other than English are Macedonian, Italian and Greek and the most common countries-of-birth other than Australia include India, Italy and Republic of North Macedonia.

Families and households

In 2021 there are 8,304 dwellings, with more than half of all households consisting of couples with children (58 per cent).

Employment

The most common types of occupation are professionals (19 per cent), and clerical and administrative workers (15.5 per cent), with more residents working in hospitals and retail than any other industry.

Education

There are proportionally more residents who are attending school (primary, secondary and pre-school) compared with the broader population of Greater Melbourne (21 per cent versus 16 per cent).

Travelling in and out

About 70 per cent of households have access to 2 or more vehicles with residents more likely to drive a car to work, compared with the broader population of Greater Melbourne (74 per cent).

Advocacy priorities for South Morang

  • Complete Findon Road
    Council is advocating to the state government to fund the completion of Findon Road between Williamsons Road and Gorge Road in order to ease current traffic congestion and dangerous traffic conditions. Findon Road is the only planned main east-west arterial road north of the Metropolitan Ring Road.
  • Transport Network
    The State Labor Government made a pre-election commitment in 2014 of $600 million to extend the South Morang train line to Mernda. Council is seeking state government funding to extend the number 86 tram line from RMIT University Bundoora to the South Morang Transport Hub and then through The Lakes Boulevard to join with Plenty Road.
  • 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.
  • Yan Yean Road duplication: Yarrambat to Doreen
  • E6 construction from Metropolitan Ring Road to Bridge Inn Road

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