Lilydale (Vic.)
VICLilydale (Vic.) is a growing suburb in VIC with 17,348 residents.
- SAL code
- 21504
- SA2
- 211051278
- Population
- 17,348
- LGA
- Yarra Ranges
Lilydale (Vic.), VIC had 17,348 residents at the 2021 Census, with the broader statistical area showing a 4.8% growth over the last five years. The predominant age group is 45-54 years, and the median age sits at 40. Households are most often couples with children, and those with a mortgage repay a median of $1,950 a month. Around 77.6% of homes are owner-occupied, with the largest single tenure being owned with a mortgage at 44.5%. Most dwellings are separate houses, making up 80.7% of the suburb's housing stock. The suburb has 45 parks and reserves mapped within its boundary. Source: ABS Census 2021 and Estimated Resident Population, with amenity counts from state Open Data and OpenStreetMap.
Suburb analysis
Lilydale (Vic.), VIC at a glance
Lilydale is the major activity centre at the foot of the Yarra Valley, ~34 km north-east of Melbourne CBD and the terminus of the Lilydale rail line. Stock mixes older family homes on solid blocks with newer townhouses and a large quarry-redevelopment pipeline. The data tiles below cover the demographic baseline; this card adds the live market, lifestyle, and council context they don't.
For homebuyers
Lilydale reads as a proper town rather than a dormitory suburb: a working main street, an activity centre, and the rail terminus all within walking distance of older weatherboards and brick-veneer family homes. Lilydale Lake is the local anchor — a 3 km loop with playground, water park, and BBQ shelters. Mount Lilydale Mercy College, Lilydale High School, Lilydale Heights College, and Lilydale Adventist Academy give four secondary options on the doorstep. The Lilydale line runs to the city in roughly an hour; the elevated station was rebuilt during the 2020-22 level-crossing removal. Wineries and the Yarra Valley start a 10-minute drive east, while Chirnside Park shopping is ~3 km west. In short: an established outer-east town with rail, lake, and the Yarra Valley on its doorstep — practical for families who want space without losing the train.
For investors
Lilydale is a moderate-yield, growth-led market with healthy turnover. Median house sale $935,000 against $620/week rent gives a ~3.71% gross yield; units sit at $643,500 / $550 with ~4.62% yield (Your Investment Property / CoreLogic, Jan 2026). 12-month house growth +7.53%, units +6.72%; the REIV March 2026 quarter showed a sharper ~15% rebound to a $950,000 median. 196 house and 132 unit sales in 12 months — well-traded for an outer-east suburb. Days-on-market 19 (houses) / 14 (units).
Strengths
- Major activity centre + Lilydale-line terminus — rare combination for the outer east, supports tenant demand.
- Solid 12-month growth (+7.53% houses, +6.72% units; CoreLogic Jan 2026) with a ~15% Q1 2026 rebound per REIV.
- Two-tier stock — houses near $935k and units near $643k — gives entry points across budgets.
- Healthy turnover (196 house + 132 unit sales in 12 months) means realistic exit liquidity.
Trade-offs
- House yield ~3.71% — below outer-corridor benchmarks; cashflow is the soft spot.
- Lilydale Quarry / Kinley Estate is rezoned for 500+ dwellings (VPA / Yarra Ranges C203yran, gazetted Jan 2022) — meaningful new supply over the staged build-out.
- Days-on-market 19 (houses) is healthy but not tight; the REIV quarter rebound followed two softer quarters in late 2025.
- Distance to CBD (~34 km, ~1-hour train) caps the pure-commuter premium relative to middle-ring suburbs.
What's coming
Yarra Ranges Council's $58.3M 2025/26 Capital Works program lists multiple Lilydale items: Chapel St drainage ($386k), Stuart Reserve flood works ($300k), Cobden Cres drainage ($400k), and the Lillydale Lake masterplan kickoff (~$1.08M, state-grant matched). The Kinley Estate quarry redevelopment — 163 ha for 500+ dwellings with 8% affordable — continues its staged rollout under the gazetted Comprehensive Development Plan.
Bottom line
For homebuyers: a real town with rail, lake, and Yarra Valley access — strong amenity for the price band. For investors: a growth-led outer-east hold with moderate yield and a large supply pipeline to track.
Population
?17,348
Suburb · Census 2021
5-Year Growth
+4.8%
3yr: +5.1% · 10yr: +8.8%
SA2 · 5yr
Household Income
$1,764/wk
Suburb · Census 2021 median
Median Age
40
Suburb · Census 2021
Socio-Economic Index
?7/10
SA2 · middle-range
Unemployment
?3.9%
SA2 · Q4 2025
Schools
8
4 primary, 4 secondary
Hospitals
?1
Within suburb
Childcare services
?14
8 long day, 4 OSHC
Parks & green space
?45
Parks, reserves
Transport stops
?98
GTFS stops
Dwelling approvals
?53
Yarra Ranges · Feb 2026
Median Weekly Rent
Based on rental bond lodgements recorded by the state government.
Median House Sale Price
Source: Valuer-General Victoria (suburb-level quarterly medians).
→ Calculate stamp duty on this suburb's median price→ Estimate mortgage repayments→ Calculate rental yield (price + median rent)
Safety & Crime
2025 Q4Reported incidents from VIC police. Offence rates may not reflect all crime.
Population over time — Lilydale - Coldstream (SA2)
ABS publishes annual estimates only at SA2; Lilydale (Vic.) suburb alone is ~17,348 (Census 2021).
Source: ABS ERP (latest release · 2025) · Census 2021. Numbers refreshed quarterly.
Growth at a Glance
Population grew from 16,176 to 20,905 over 24 years, averaging 1.1% per year.
Schools
8 in suburbSector
4 public · 4 private
Type
3 primary · 3 secondary · 1 K-12 · 1 special
Total enrolment
5,926
Avg per school
741
Government school catchment
Catchment data is not yet available for VIC.
Source when available: Victorian Department of Education / Vicmap School Zones.
Profile
Census snapshot
Housing
Public housing 1.6%Almost entirely detached houses (80.7%), owner-occupied (77.6%), built for families (41% are 3 bed).
Dwelling mix
Tenure
VIC 29%
Number of bedrooms
Bushfire risk
Source: VIC DTP Designated Bushfire Prone Area
As of Apr 2026
Overlap is the percentage of the suburb's land area inside the mapped bushfire polygons. Always verify the exact property address with the relevant authority before making decisions.
Flood risk
Source: VIC DTP Vicmap Planning Overlay (flood codes)
As of Apr 2026
Overlap is the percentage of the suburb's land area inside the mapped flood polygons. Always verify the exact property address with the relevant authority before making decisions.
Planning zones
25 zones in suburb| Code | Zone | % covered | Area |
|---|---|---|---|
| GWZ2 | Green Wedge Zone Schedule 2Rural | 27.6% | 8.06 km² |
| NRZ1 | Neighbourhood Residential Zone Schedule 1Residential | 16.1% | 4.71 km² |
| LDRZ | Low Density Residential ZoneResidential | 7.7% | 2.23 km² |
| GWAZ2 | Green Wedge A Zone Schedule 2Rural | 6.9% | 2.01 km² |
| CDZ1 | Comprehensive Development Zone Schedule 1Business | 4.9% | 1.44 km² |
| SUZ1 | Special Use Zone Schedule 1Special use | 4.7% | 1.37 km² |
| PPRZ | Public Park and Recreation ZoneRecreation | 3.7% | 1.07 km² |
| RGZ1 | Residential Growth Zone Schedule 1Residential | 3.6% | 1.04 km² |
| GWAZ1 | Green Wedge A Zone Schedule 1Rural | 3.5% | 1.03 km² |
| GWZ4 | Green Wedge Zone Schedule 4Rural | 3.5% | 1.02 km² |
| PUZ1 | Public Use Zone Schedule 1Special use | 3.0% | 0.89 km² |
| TRZ2 | TRZ2Special use | 2.5% | 0.72 km² |
| IN1Z | Industrial 1 ZoneIndustrial | 2.0% | 0.60 km² |
| PUZ2 | Public Use Zone Schedule 2Special use | 1.6% | 0.46 km² |
| PUZ5 | Public Use Zone Schedule 5Special use | 1.4% | 0.41 km² |
| PUZ6 | Public Use Zone Schedule 6Special use | 1.2% | 0.36 km² |
| RLZ2 | Rural Living Zone Schedule 2Rural | 1.0% | 0.30 km² |
| C1Z | Commercial 1 ZoneBusiness | 0.8% | 0.24 km² |
| TRZ1 | TRZ1Special use | 0.8% | 0.22 km² |
| TRZ3 | TRZ3Special use | 0.8% | 0.22 km² |
| GRZ2 | General Residential Zone Schedule 2Residential | 0.7% | 0.19 km² |
| PCRZ | Public Conservation and Resource ZoneEnvironmental | 0.6% | 0.18 km² |
| NRZ3 | Neighbourhood Residential Zone Schedule 3Residential | 0.6% | 0.17 km² |
| C2Z | Commercial 2 ZoneBusiness | 0.6% | 0.16 km² |
| IN3Z | Industrial 3 ZoneIndustrial | 0.2% | 0.05 km² |
Source: VIC DTP Vicmap Planning Zones (ZONE_VIC/2026-04-29/08783d2926383881) · As of Apr 2026. Zone boundaries are amended periodically; verify the exact property with the relevant council before relying on permitted use.