Council (LGA) · Area profile
East Gippsland
20,940 km²
Spanning over 20,000 square kilometres of Victoria's coast and bushland, East Gippsland is a sprawling region with an ageing population. The typical resident is 52, which is far older than the national figure of 38. This maturity is reflected in the community's character, with nearly half of all homes owned outright and a high number of people living alone. While the population grew by 15% since 2011, it remains a quiet area where the lifestyle is largely car-dependent and incomes are well below the state average.
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The community is significantly older than most of Australia, with 30.9% of people aged 65 and over, a figure that rose 7.6 points since 2011. Conversely, children under 15 make up only 15.0% of the population, which is well below the national figure.
Most residents were born in Australia, and those with overseas roots are far fewer here than in the rest of Victoria. English, Australian, and Scottish are the most common ancestries.
English is the dominant language, used by 88.4% of the population. Only 4.0% of people use another language at home, which is far below the national figure of 22.3%.
A large number of residents report having no religion, accounting for 48.4% of the population. This is well above the national figure and rose 19 points since 2011.
Educational attainment is lower than the state average, with only 13.7% of adults holding a bachelor degree or higher. However, Year 12 completion rose 6.5 points since 2011 to reach 39.3%.
Household incomes are well below the national figure, with a typical weekly family income of $1,417. Only 9.0% of households earn $3,000 or more a week, though this rose 6.0 points since 2011.
Health challenges are more common here than in most areas, with 35.9% of people living with a long-term health condition. This is well above the national figure of 27.7%.
Volunteering is more common here than in most areas, with 19.2% of people participating. There is also a higher rate of unpaid caregivers compared to the state average.
The First Nations community consists of 1,683 people. Those in this group are generally younger, with a typical age of 23, and have lower Year 12 completion rates than the national average.
Homes tend to be smaller, with 2.2 people per household. This is consistent with the high number of people living alone, which is well above the national figure at 31.4%.
The area is dominated by separate houses, making up 90.5% of homes. Home ownership is very strong, with 49.0% of dwellings owned outright, far above the national figure of 31.0%.
The region is heavily reliant on cars, with only 0.3% of people commuting via public transport. Very few homes lack a motor vehicle, at just 4.4%.
Migration is moderate, with 35.7% of people moving in the last five years. Recent arrivals from overseas account for 7.7% of the population, which is well below the national figure.
Fewer adults are working or looking for work compared to the state average, at 48.4%. The most common industries are health care, construction, and retail.
The region has a lower overall advantage score than most similar areas. Population growth since 2021 has been slow at 2.5%, which is well below the 8.0% seen across Victoria.
The local climate is wetter and cooler than the state average, with annual rainfall of 815mm and a typical maximum temperature of 19.2 degrees.
Theft and assault rates are higher than in most areas. However, motor vehicle theft is much lower than the national average.
The area is mostly car-dependent, with a walkability score of 3.0. Only 34.5% of homes are within a 15-minute walk of groceries, far below the state figure of 74.0%.