Demographics

Our city

The City of Kingston is located in the middle and outer southern suburbs of Melbourne, approximately 20 kilometres south-east of the Melbourne CBD. Kingston covers an area of 91 square kilometres, including significant areas of foreshore.

Every suburb offers something different, from diverse businesses, housing, community facilities, shops and restaurants to beaches and bushland. Our city is also home to 117 playgrounds, as well as parks, and reserves, including significant green spaces such as Bicentennial Park in Chelsea, Kingston Health in Cheltenham, and Grange Reserve in Clayton South.

Kingston is recognised as one of Victoria’s main employment centres and largest industrial sectors, with more than 90,000 people employed across over 18,000 businesses. Almost 30 per cent of our community work locally and can enjoy shorter travel times and an improved work-life balance.

Community and business networks play an important role in linking and supporting local businesses. Kingston’s shopping amenities range from local neighbourhood shops and friendly village strips to Southland Shopping Centre, DFO Moorabbin and major activities centres in Moorabbin, Cheltenham, Mentone, Mordialloc, and Chelsea.

Our community facilities are located across the municipality, providing libraries, arts centres, community hubs, neighbourhood houses, and early years services to residents, workers, and visitors. A diverse range of community groups, programs, and services are also available to our community.

Population

We have is a diverse community with an estimated resident population of over 166,000 people spanning a wide range of ages, cultures, and household types. Our community is consistently growing, and by 2046, Kingston’s population is expected to reach 192,026 people and 81,996 dwellings. Consistent with national trends, Kingston’s oldest residents comprise the fastest-growing population group in the municipality.

Kingston is a culturally diverse city with residents from over 106 countries and more than 84 languages spoken. About 30 per cent of Kingston’s population was born overseas – including in the United Kingdom, Greece, China, Italy, Vietnam, Sri Lanka, and India – with 26 per cent speaking a language other than English at home. We also had 723 community members identifying as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander in 2021. People who need assistance due to a disability make up 6 per cent of our population, and 14 per cent of residents aged 15+ are carers for people with a disability, long term illness or older age (16% female, 11% male).

Suburbs

Kingston's suburbs include Aspendale, Aspendale Gardens, Bonbeach, Braeside, Carrum, Chelsea, Chelsea Heights, Cheltenham, Clarinda, Clayton South, Dingley Village, Edithvale, Heatherton, Highett, Mentone, Moorabbin, Moorabbin Airport, Mordialloc, Oakleigh South, Parkdale, Patterson Lakes and Waterways.

Our history

Kingston has a rich First Nations Australian history, and today we have a proud vibrant Aboriginal culture.

The Bunurong people connected with the land and waterways. In good weather, they camped along the foreshore and in poor conditions they found shelter in woodlands and near rocks. Middens and scarred trees are left as evidence of the Aboriginal’s activities and seasonal campsites.

The Wurundjeri-baluk clan lived further inland and belonged to the Kulin Nation which occupied most of Western and Central Victoria. In the early 1840s a Mordialloc camping reserve was made for the Bunurong people and is now marked with the Aboriginal flag beside Mordialloc Creek. Read more about our Aboriginal heritage.

Amalgamation

The City of Kingston merged with the former cities of Moorabbin, Chelsea, Springvale and Oakleigh in December 1994. Throughout the years Kingston has built a vibrant and lively municipality which residents are proud to call home.

Visit our Kingston’s Local History website to discover stories of the local lives lead here.