Warrnambool Set for Historic 50% Population Boost with New Residential Precinct

Warrnambool, Victoria's largest regional city, is poised for a significant expansion with the state government approving a new residential precinct. The East of Aberline project is expected to add 4,500 new homes, schools, and a town centre over the next two decades, boosting the city's population by 15,000 people.

Located at the end of the Great Ocean Road, Warrnambool currently has a population of 36,000 people, with previous projections indicating growth to 43,000 residents by 2031. The development, spanning 407 hectares, will include community facilities, a supermarket, retail shops, parks, and new schools, as well as walking and cycling paths.

The Warrnambool residential precinct will be one of the largest single expansions in the city's history since it was planned and surveyed in 1845. The city's population has grown by 2,250 over the past decade, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics. However, Warrnambool has long struggled with a housing shortage, with a rental vacancy rate of 0.8 per cent as of 2026.

On Friday, the Minister for Planning approved the East of Aberline Precinct structure plan. A government spokesperson said construction would begin in one year, and the development would gradually progress over 15 to 25 years. Warrnambool City Council welcomed the approval, with mayor Ben Blain saying the development would see a 50 per cent population increase, or the equivalent of adding a small town to the city.

"It's going to be about the size of Colac, on the edge of Warrnambool there," he said. Cr Blain said the council had worked closely with the government on the development, and continued to advocate for improved council facilities to allow for sustainable growth.

"It's so important that we can have more housing diversity across Warrnambool, and that's a really exciting part of this plan," Cr Blain said.