Council (LGA) · Area profile
Colac Otway
3,437 km²
Car travel is the primary way of life in Colac Otway, where the vast majority of homes are separate houses and public transport use is very low. This is an older community, with a typical resident aged 45 and a significant population of seniors. While the population has grown by 10% since 2011, the area remains largely traditional, with high rates of home ownership and a strong English-speaking majority. It is a rainy, cooler-than-average region where many people live in large family homes.
Modest local incomes, but the area's schools serve a more advantaged intake.
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The area is noticeably older than the state and national figures, with 24% of residents aged 65 and over. Children under 15 make up 16.7% of the population, a figure that has fallen by 2.3 points since 2011.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those born overseas make up only 10.3% of the population, which is far below the national figure. English and Australian are the most common ancestries.
English is the main language for 87.7% of the community, and only 5.8% use another language at home. This is far below the national average, though the number of people using other languages has risen since 2011.
A high number of residents report having no religion at 46.2%, which is well above the national figure. This has seen a significant rise of 20 points since 2011.
While the number of adults with a bachelor degree is higher than in most similar areas, it remains far below the state average at 14.8%. Year 12 completion has risen by 10 points since 2011 to reach 43.2%.
Typical household incomes are well below the national figure at $1,277 a week. Only 11.4% of households earn $3,000 or more weekly, though this is 8.4 points higher than in 2011.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 31.2% of people having a long-term health condition. Those needing help with daily activities are also much more common than in most areas.
Unpaid care is a common part of life, with 14.1% of people providing unpaid care—a figure much higher than most areas. About 19.1% of residents volunteer, which is well above the national figure.
There are 309 First Nations people in the area. This community has a very low unemployment rate of 5.1%, which is well below the national figure of 12.3%.
A high number of people live alone at 32.4%, well above the national figure. However, the most common household type is a couple with children, making up 52.3% of homes.
The area is dominated by separate houses, which make up 91.1% of dwellings. Home ownership is strong, with 43.2% of homes owned outright, far above the national average.
Daily travel is heavily car-dependent, with only 0.2% of people commuting by public transport. The drive time to the city is very long, averaging 116 minutes.
While the movement of residents is similar to other areas, Colac Otway has a much higher proportion of recent overseas arrivals than most, at 20.4%.
The local workforce is largely employed in manufacturing, health care, and agriculture. The unemployment rate is 2.8%, which is much lower than in most similar areas.
The area has a moderate level of access to money and resources. Population growth since 2021 has been -0.4%, which is much lower than the state average.
This is a wet region with an average annual rainfall of 1,041mm, far above the state average. Temperatures are also typically cooler than the rest of Victoria.
Crime rates are generally lower than in most areas, particularly for motor vehicle theft, which is among the lowest at this level.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score far below the state average. Many homes are a long walk from health services, groceries, and schools.