Central Goldfields · Council (LGA)
How well-off the area is, how fast its population is growing, and the businesses and new homes here.
A typical score of 867 for overall advantage means Central Goldfields faces more hardship than most of Australia. The area struggles with limited access to money and job skills, placing it among the most disadvantaged regions in the country.
All council (lga) areas, 2021. The marker is Central Goldfields — lower than 99% of areas.
SEIFA indexes ranking relative advantage and disadvantage.
Overall advantage is very low here, with a score of 1 out of 10 compared to other areas. This is linked to low levels of education and job skills, which are smaller than about 90% of similar regions.
1
Lower than 99% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% most disadvantaged areas in Australia, 10 = among the 10% most advantaged. IRSAD summarises both advantage and disadvantage, so a high score reflects relatively many high-income, well-educated households and few low-income, low-skill ones.
2
Lower than 86% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Disadvantage, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% most disadvantaged areas in Australia, 10 = among the least disadvantaged. IRSD focuses on disadvantage alone (low income, low education, unemployment, unskilled occupations), so a higher decile means relatively less disadvantage.
2
Lower than 86% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Economic Resources, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% lowest areas for economic resources in Australia, 10 = among the highest. IER reflects the income, housing costs, dwelling size and assets of households, so a higher decile means relatively greater economic resources.
1
Lower than 99% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Education and Occupation, 2021, as a national decile: 1 = among the 10% lowest areas for education and occupation in Australia, 10 = among the highest. IEO reflects residents' qualifications and the skill level of their jobs, so a higher decile means a more highly educated and skilled workforce.
867
Lower than 88% of council (lga) areas.
ABS Index of Relative Socio-economic Advantage and Disadvantage, 2021, as a raw index score (standardised so the Australian average is about 1000). Higher scores indicate relatively greater advantage; lower scores greater disadvantage.
Annual population estimates and change since the census.
The population grew by 2.7% since 2021, though this is lower than most areas and well below the Victorian figure of 8.0%.
13,753
Lower than 51% of council (lga) areas.
Estimated resident population (ABS), 2025.
2.7%
Lower than 59% of council (lga) areas.
Population growth since the 2021 Census, from ABS annual estimates.
Operating businesses and dwellings approved.
There are 859 businesses operating in the area. Approval for 44 new dwellings is smaller than about 51% of similar areas.
859
Lower than 60% of council (lga) areas.
Operating businesses (ABS Counts of Australian Businesses), June 2025.
44
Lower than 53% of council (lga) areas.
Dwelling units approved in 2024-25 (ABS Building Approvals).
Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Economy & Advantage in Central Goldfields [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/lga/LGA21670/central-goldfields/topic/economy-advantage
